The sanctum had changed.
Since Seren's ascension, the dreamfire no longer merely glowed—it breathed.
The roots of the Spiral Tree extended into the caverns below, weaving ancient trial-wards once dormant. Echoes of old flame-masters whispered again. The Hollow had become something between a shrine and a forge.
Cael Maerok – The Broken Blade Reforged
His hands trembled, not from weakness, but from echo.The Maerok Blade responded, pulsing with a name no longer severed.
In his trial, he walked a bridge of ash—where the path collapsed behind each step.
Each whisper beneath his feet was a disciple he had once trained beside.
Each one lost.
But as he walked, they did not curse him.
They sang.
And when he reached the altar, his flame did not burn red, nor gold—
But silver-black, spiraled with memory.
"I will not forget again," he whispered.
"And I will not be silent."
Trial Passed.
✦ Flame Title: Echoblade Sovereignling✦ Talent: Spiralstep Sword✦ Trait: Ash-Linked Soul
Rin Orev – Storm that Seeks Meaning
Rin's trial was not in silence.
It was in conflict.
He faced himself—not as he was, but as he might become: arrogant, unfeeling, wrathful with power.
The false-Rin mocked him.
"You want to protect others? You can't even protect your own doubt."
But Rin did not answer with words.
He answered with storm.
The lightning did not strike his opponent.
It struck his hesitation.
And shattered it.
Trial Passed.
✦ Flame Title: Stormbrand Disciple✦ Talent: Tempest Oath✦ Trait: Thunderline Instinct
Veyra Silen – The One Who Listens
Her trial was quiet.
She walked through a memory-garden filled with withered roots.Each step brought a voice—her own doubts, her mother's fading blessings, her sister's fading laughter.
"You think memory is a weapon? It's a burden," a voice whispered.
But Veyra reached into the roots and breathed life back into them.
Not to erase the past.
But to let it grow.
"What withers isn't always gone.Sometimes it just waits… to be remembered."
Trial Passed.
✦ Flame Title: Verdant Echo Keeper✦ Talent: Bloomthread Binding✦ Trait: Memoryroot Harmony
As the disciples emerged, Kaien stood waiting.
They bowed.
He did not speak.He only lit a candle from each of their flames.
Then set them in the Hollow's Heart, where the true fire waited.
He had known.
Even before the Reaper failed.Even before the Council dared vote green.
He had known the Spiral Flame would return.
But a Dreamsovereign?
That was heresy shaped into a girl.
He stood before the Ninefold Brand, Crownfire's internal system of flame-law.
And shattered the 4th Seal.
"No more emissaries."
"No more assassins."
"Send for my Mantle."
"I go to burn it myself."
Crownfire roared.
System Update:
✦ Velrith Crownfire – Status: Mobilizing✦ Authority: Sovereign Fullfire – Execution Mandate✦ Objective: Eradicate Spiral Flame Memory Cluster✦ Risk Level: Absolute
Sovereigns gathered once more,but this time, not to judge Kaien.
Now they feared Seren.
The Circle buzzed with unease.
"She wasn't born a Sovereign.""Her flame is blended. It doesn't follow Pillar law.""What if others begin awakening Dreamflames too?""She sings to memory. Even dead sects are beginning to whisper again."
Only Seyara of Verdant Halo remained calm.
"The Tenth Flame was never an error. It was a pause.""And now it speaks again."
Wildflame Aerris chuckled.
"Perhaps the world needs a little madness."
But Velrith's throne sat empty.
And that silence screamed loudest.
Sovereign Decree Proposal:
✦ Restriction of Flame Memory Echo Techniques✦ Watch Status on All Hollow Disciples✦ Second Trial for Kaien's Sovereign Status✦ Classification of Seren as Class-Unknown Entity
Votes remained undecided.
For the first time in centuries—the Circle split.