The Black Gate of Virelyn loomed before them—tall as a mountain and carved with runes older than the kingdom itself. It was said no army had ever broken it.
Valrik cracked his knuckles. "Good thing we brought fire."
The Forsaken surrounded the gate at dusk, their torches painting the stones in red light. Scouts returned breathless with news:
> "Shadow-mages on the walls. Archers. Warhorns sounding from the eastern tower. They know we're here."
Kael turned to Arien. "We don't have the numbers for a siege."
"We don't need a siege," she said, eyes glowing. "We need a miracle."
As night fell, Arien walked alone to the center of the field.
She called the fire again—deeper this time. Not just from within, but from the world itself. The ground cracked. The sky burned gold. Flames spiraled around her like a vortex.
From the top of the Black Gate, soldiers faltered. Some fled.
A commander shouted, "Hold your lines! She's bluffing!"
Arien raised both hands.
Then fire spoke.
It didn't roar—it sang. The ancient song of the First Flame echoed through stone and soul, waking something buried beneath the city.
The gate—carved with spells and blood—shattered.
Ashes rained down like snow.
Kael, Joss, Valrik, Maev, and the Forsaken charged through the breach.
The city was chaos. Citizens screamed. The Crown Guard rallied. Shadow-mages rose like serpents from alleyways.
Steel clashed. Magic flared.
Kael found himself locked in combat with his old mentor, Ser Drennar, now a creature of blackened magic. They fought on the palace steps, swords screaming.
"You trained me to protect the people!" Kael roared.
Drennar's eyes were void. "The king is the people!"
Kael ran him through.
Arien dueled three mages alone in the burning square. They tried to bind her, twist her mind. But the goddess was with her now.
She raised her hand and whispered, "Be still."
The fire surged—pure, divine. The mages fell to ash.
By dawn, the army had taken the outer city. Fires raged. The people hid or fled. The palace still stood—untouched. Waiting.
Kael and Arien stood side by side, bloodied and breathless.
"One gate down," Kael said.
"One left," she replied. "The gate behind the throne."
Inside the palace, the king stared from his window, robes heavy with sigils.
Behind him, the shadow stirred
.
> "They think they've won."
The king turned, smiling.
> "Let them come."