In the house of Ranzu, A secret was whispered.
"The Suran King offered us protection… in exchange for silence."
The betrayal was clear as day:
Some of the lesser bloodlines were cooperating with House Suran, hoping to spare their people.
They gave the Suran ancient Hashi kuru texts, maps of the pure Temple, even records of the Eternal Flame Core.
And Battle intelligence.
And their weaknesses.
But no one dared to speak openly.
Not until the massacre.
—Trial:
Mai stood trial for treason– she didn't commit.
A flame council of all houses was called.
"You trained him," spate Lord Molte. "You awoke Suran fire within our Borders."
"I trained him because he is Hashi kuru," she said.
"He is both," replied Lady Ranzu coldly. "And both is what will destroy us."
The flames flickered around the court.
Mai stood and said:
"If I'm guilty of anything, it is believing that our future needed fire strong enough to burn fate."
Then she turned and left — choosing exile.
—Vowe:
When Astraeus learned Mai had been cast out, his heart shattered.
He took the Eternal Flame Core and fused it into his chest, burning a seal onto his heart that locked away half of his overwhelming power.
"I will not destroy this world… unless it tries to destroy me first."
He would not seek war.
But the war was already coming.
—Invasion:
With the clans divided, the Suran attacked.
Not in disguise. Not in secret.
Thousands of lava Soldiers marched through the Ash Pass, wielding molten steel and hellfire bombs.
They burned three temples in one night.
The House of kioren fell.
The House of Ranzu surrendered.
Only Astraeus and few Purebloods remained.
But Astraeus had been waiting.
—Rise:
At sunrise, the sky split open.
Astraeus walked barefoot into the warfield.
His aura shimmered with lava feathers.
"The time for peace is over," he said.
He clapped his hands together. Lava erupted beneath them.
From the ground, a giant flaming phoenix rose behind him—born of Suran and Hashi kuru.
The battlefield trembled.
And Astraeus declared:
"Let the false blood burn."
—Flame king reborn:
Suran flame general laughed.
"No," Astraeus said."I am the Flame that made kings Kneel."
To be continued…