Chapter 2 – The Awakening
The first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, casting the world in a soft golden glow. Kael Solis stood at the edge of the cliff, his dark hair whipped by the wind as he gazed down at the sprawling city of Solara, bathed in the same warm light. The city was a marvel, built with the power of the Sunfire in its heart. Towers of glass and stone gleamed like jewels, reflecting the sun's embrace. Below, the streets were already alive with the hustle of merchants, travelers, and nobles. But none of them knew what was happening above them.
Kael's fingers twitched, a strange warmth coursing through his veins. The Sunfire stirred inside him, pulsing like a living thing. It was an ancient power, one that had been passed down through his bloodline for generations—yet, he had never truly understood it. Now, it felt like a fire roaring to life within him, desperate to break free.
He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breath. "What is happening to me?" he whispered to himself, feeling the burn of the power intensify with every passing second. His heart beat erratically, as though in sync with the rising sun. He had felt the power before—faint flashes of it when he was younger, moments of fiery light when his emotions ran high. But never like this. Never this strong.
"Kael?"
He turned at the sound of his sister's voice. Seraphine stood at the top of the rocky path leading to the cliff, her figure illuminated by the light behind her. Her presence was always calming to him—her amber eyes, so like their father's, were filled with a mix of concern and determination.
Seraphine was always the one to hold everything together. She had trained in the ways of the kingdom's court, her mind sharp as a blade, while Kael had always been more of an outsider, a loner, reluctant to embrace the legacy of their bloodline. But now, standing before him, she wore a look of quiet understanding.
"You've felt it too, haven't you?" she asked softly.
Kael nodded, not trusting himself to speak. The fire inside him was growing stronger, and he didn't know if he could contain it much longer. He could already feel the heat rising from his hands, as though the very air around him was about to ignite.
"You've always known this day would come," Seraphine continued, walking closer to him. "The Sunfire has been a part of our family for centuries, Kael. But it's not just a weapon. It's not something to fear. It's a gift, and you are its rightful heir."
Kael shook his head, stepping back from the edge of the cliff. "I don't know if I can do this. Father couldn't, and he was the greatest of all Sun Mages. How am I supposed to control this power?"
Seraphine's face softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Father died because he didn't understand the power, Kael. He was consumed by it. But you... you are different. You've always been different."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Different how?"
"You have the heart of a true Sun Mage," Seraphine said, her voice steady. "Father's greatest mistake was believing the Sunfire was a tool to be wielded like any other weapon. He didn't see that it was tied to the soul, to the essence of who we are."
Kael looked at her, confusion clouding his thoughts. "What do you mean?"
Seraphine took a deep breath, stepping back and turning to face the vast city below. "The Sunfire is not just a force of destruction, Kael. It is light, it is life. It is the balance between creation and destruction. It is both the fire that burns and the warmth that heals. And it is a part of you, whether you accept it or not."
Kael's gaze followed hers, looking out over the city. He could see the Golden Tower, the palace of the ruling family, gleaming in the distance. His thoughts drifted to the stories he had been told as a child—of kings and queens, of great battles fought with the Sunfire as the ultimate weapon. But those were just tales. Real life was different.
"Why now?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why is it waking now, after all these years?"
Seraphine hesitated. "There are... forces at play, Kael. Forces that seek to awaken the darkness, to consume everything in their path. And you... you are the key. The Last Sun Mage."
A shiver ran down Kael's spine. "The prophecy?"
Seraphine nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. "The prophecy speaks of a time when the Sunfire will either save the world or destroy it. And it speaks of the Last Sun Mage, the one who will either rise to become the beacon of light or fall to the darkness within."
Kael felt his stomach twist. "I don't want to be part of this. I don't want to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders."
"You don't have a choice, Kael," Seraphine said gently. "The world needs you. The kingdom needs you."
Kael turned away, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The last thing he wanted was to be the hero. He had spent his whole life avoiding the burden of his family's legacy. But now, as the Sunfire raged within him, he realized there was no running from it.
"Why me?" he muttered, as if to himself. "Why was I chosen?"
Seraphine stepped beside him, placing a hand on his arm. "Because you are the only one who can understand the power. You are the only one with the heart strong enough to guide it. And the world will need you to stand against the coming darkness."
A silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of destiny.
For a long moment, Kael stood there, feeling the heat in his chest intensify. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and then—almost as if on instinct—he raised his hands. The air around him shimmered with heat, and the ground beneath his feet began to crack as though responding to the power building inside him.
"Kael..." Seraphine whispered, stepping back.
With a burst of light, a flame of pure sunlight erupted from his hands, soaring into the sky. Kael stared at the golden fire, feeling its warmth, its power, and the overwhelming responsibility that came with it.
L'auteur:
Abdelali Aitali