Kael's boots echoed through the narrow hallway as they ascended from the depths of the Ruins of Caldan. The glow of the recovered fragment pulsed softly in his satchel—a heartbeat against the quiet tension that hung over the group.
Outside, the sky was bruised with twilight, the horizon bleeding shades of purple and gold. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and distant rain, a reminder that the world still breathed beyond their struggles.
Elara walked beside Kael, her sword sheathed but her eyes sharp and watchful. "Malric's shadow lingers," she said quietly. "We may have won the battle, but the war isn't over."
Kael nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle heavy in his chest. "He fights not just with power, but with cunning. We must be ready."
Behind them, Lysaria moved carefully, her fingers tracing the worn edges of a scroll she had salvaged earlier. "This text speaks of a betrayal—not just by the Flamebearers, but from within their own ranks. Someone who sought to harness the flame for themselves."
Therin grunted. "Sounds like history repeating itself."
Kael's gaze flicked to the fading sky. "And we're caught in the middle."
The group made camp under the skeletal limbs of an ancient oak. As the fire crackled, each retreated into their thoughts, shadows dancing across their faces.
Elara broke the silence first. "Kael, you carry the flame's legacy, but I see doubt in your eyes. What haunts you?"
Kael looked into the flames, memories swirling like smoke. The visions from the Heart of Aethar—the betrayal, the sacrifice—played endlessly behind his eyelids.
"I wonder if I'm strong enough," he admitted. "If the flame's power is truly mine to wield… or if I'm destined to become another broken ember."
Lysaria's voice was gentle. "Strength isn't just in power, Kael. It's in knowing your limits—and still choosing to fight."
Therin added, "We're with you. None of us are alone."
Elara nodded. "We've all faced our shadows. What matters is how we face them now."
Kael felt a spark of warmth amid the cold uncertainty. This wasn't just his burden—it was theirs.
Suddenly, a faint rustling in the underbrush drew their attention. Lysaria's hand flew to her dagger, Elara's sword gleamed in the firelight, and Therin's crossbow was ready.
From the shadows stepped a young woman, cloaked and cautious, her eyes wide but resolute.
"I mean no harm," she said, voice trembling. "My name is Mara. I've been watching you."
Kael studied her carefully. "Why follow us?"
Mara swallowed, then spoke with quiet urgency. "Because the flame is more than legend—it's a force awakening across the land. The Sovereign's darkness is spreading, but so is resistance. I want to help."
Elara lowered her sword slightly, sensing the truth in Mara's words.
Lysaria narrowed her eyes but said nothing, waiting for more.
Mara took a hesitant step forward. "I come from the village of Eldenbrook—one of the last free settlements. We've seen strange signs: flickers of flame, shadows moving without bodies. We believe the Sovereign's power is stirring the land itself."
Therin frowned. "Then time is running out."
Kael felt the flame inside him flare with renewed purpose. "If the flame is awakening in others, then our fight is bigger than any of us imagined."
Mara's eyes shone with determination. "Together, we can find the fragments and build the strength to face the Sovereign."
Kael nodded slowly. "Welcome to our quest, Mara."
As the night deepened, the group huddled closer to the fire, new bonds forming in the flickering light.
Kael glanced at the stars peeking through the canopy—silent witnesses to their journey.
The forsaken flame was no longer just his to bear.
It was a spark that could ignite a revolution.