Kael left Hearthglen at dawn, the ember's glow hidden beneath the folds of his cloak. The road ahead was uncertain, winding through dense forests and war-torn lands, but he had no choice. The shadowy figures that had set his village ablaze would not stop hunting him.
For days, Kael traveled alone, his footsteps heavy with grief and determination. The ember pulsed faintly against his chest, a steady heartbeat guiding him forward. He avoided main roads, wary of patrols and spies. His father's hammer, now his only weapon, hung at his side, a reminder of the life he had lost.
On the third night, as a silver moon cast pale light over a quiet riverbank, Kael prepared to rest. The gentle lapping of water was a rare comfort in these dark times. He had just settled when the snap of a twig shattered the stillness.
He sprang to his feet, hammer raised, eyes scanning the shadows.
From the darkness emerged a figure—a young woman clad in battered armor, her sword gleaming under the moonlight. Her hood shadowed her face, but her eyes were sharp, alert, and wary.
"I don't want trouble," Kael said, voice steady despite the pounding in his chest.
"Too late for that," she replied, her gaze flickering to the faint light beneath his cloak. "You're being followed."
Before Kael could respond, a monstrous growl erupted from the trees. A creature, twisted and unnatural, lunged toward them—claws extended, eyes burning with malice.
The woman moved with lethal grace, her sword slicing through the air. Kael swung his hammer in desperation, and the ember flared brightly, sending a pulse of heat that staggered the beast. Together, they forced it back into the shadows.
When silence returned, the woman lowered her sword and studied Kael carefully.
"Name's Lira," she said, voice softening. "I'm a runaway princess."
Kael blinked, disbelief mingling with curiosity. "A princess?"
Lira nodded, a flicker of pain crossing her features. "And I've been running from more than just my family."
Kael hesitated, then extended his hand. "Kael. Thank you for saving me."
Her eyes drifted to the pendant, the ancient crown of flames. "That mark… it's the symbol of the Ember Crown. You don't know what you're carrying, do you?"
"No," Kael admitted. "But I intend to find out. Before the darkness catches us both."
Lira smiled faintly, the weight of her secret momentarily lifted. "Then we'd better stick together. The road ahead is darker than you think."