Ember sat alone in the small stone room they gave her for the night. The bed was hard, the room cold. Her body hurt from training, but her mind hurt more.
Everything had changed too fast.
Demons. Prophecy. Raven's Peak. Kael.
None of it felt real and yet it was.
On the small table beside her lay the strange book her mother left her. Ember stared at it. She still didn't understand why it was empty one moment and full of strange writing the next.
Slowly, she opened it again.
When she did, new words appeared right in front of her eyes forming like smoke turning into ink.
Her heart stopped.
She has entered the fallen land. The shadows have found her. The first test has begun.
Ember jumped back from the book. "What the no. No, no, no."
She closed the book fast.
Then opened it again.
More writing appeared.
With every step she takes, the curse awakens. The queen of shadows rises.
"Queen of shadows?" Ember whispered. She didn't know why, but reading those words made her feel cold.
There was no name in the book no author. Just strange sentences written in that ancient language but somehow Ember could read it now, even though she didn't understand how.
The book was writing about her.
Like it knew her actions.
Like it was watching.
She slammed it shut again. "No. I can't do this. I'm not part of any prophecy."
Her chest tightened.
She missed her dad. She even missed her annoying stepsister. She wished she could go back to school, act normal again, worry about normal problems.
But that life was gone now.
Someone knocked on the door.
Ember looked up. "Who is it?"
The door opened. Kael walked in.
Ember frowned. "Do you know what a door knock is for?"
Kael ignored her attitude and looked around her room. His gaze stopped on the book. "Where did you get that?"
Ember grabbed the book protectively. "None of your business."
Kael walked closer. "That's not a normal book."
Ember glared. "Really? Wow. Thanks for the information."
He stared at her, not amused. "That book is dangerous."
"I can handle it."
"No," Kael said firmly. "You can't."
He reached for it.
Ember stepped back. "Touch it and I'll stab you."
Kael smirked slightly. "With what?"
Ember grabbed the training knife from her belt. "This."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You kept the knife I threw at you?"
"Yeah," Ember said. "To throw it back later."
For a moment he actually looked impressed.
But then his face turned serious again. "Where did you get the book, Ember?"
"My mom left it to me before she died," Ember said.
Kael looked at her for a long moment like he was studying her face. "Your mother didn't just die," he said. "And if you stay here long enough, you'll find out why."
Ember froze. "What do you mean by that?"
But Kael was already walking out.
Before he closed the door, he looked at her and said quietly:
"Trust no one in Raven's Peak, Ember. Not even me."
The door shut.
Ember stood completely still.
Her heart beat faster…and she didn't know why.
Morning came fast.
Ember barely slept. Her mind kept replaying Kael's words.
Trust no one in Raven's Peak. Not even me.
What did he know about her mother? Why didn't Lyra tell her? Why did everyone act like she was part of a secret she didn't understand?
She changed into the dark training clothes Lyra gave her and went outside. The town looked even worse in daylight empty streets, broken windows, dead silence. Too quiet.
Something moved on the roof of a house. Ember froze but when she looked closer, nothing was there.
Maybe Kael was right. Fear followed her now.
She walked to the training grounds behind the Hall. Kael was already there, swinging his sword like it weighed nothing. His movements were fast, deadly, and controlled.
He saw her and stopped.
"You're late."
"It's sunrise," Ember said.
"War doesn't wait for sunrise," Kael said. "Pick a weapon."
Ember walked to the table of weapons and chose a dagger this time. Small. Light. Fast. She felt better holding it than the wooden sword.
Kael watched her. "Better."
They trained again.
Kael pushed her hard too hard. Ember's arms hurt, but she didn't fall this time. She blocked more attacks. Her feet moved faster. Her anger made her stronger.
Kael struck again, and this time Ember dodged and kicked him in the chest.
He stepped back, surprised.
Ember smirked. "Not bad for a weak girl, right?"
For a second, Kael almost smiled.
Training continued until Ember was breathing heavily. Her hair stuck to her face, and sweat ran down her neck. But she kept going.
She would not give up.
Kael lowered his sword. "Stop."
"Why? I can still fight," Ember said.
"You're bleeding," Kael said.
Ember frowned and looked down. A thin cut ran across her forearm. Nothing big. "It's fine."
Kael walked closer. "Let me see it."
"I don't need help," Ember said.
Kael ignored her and took her arm gently surprisingly gentle for someone so harsh. His touch was warm.
Their eyes met just for a moment and Ember felt something strange in her chest. She pulled her arm away too fast.
"I said I'm fine."
Kael held her gaze. His eyes were unreadable again. "Stubborn."
He handed her a cloth. "Clean it before it gets infected."
Ember took it and pressed it to her arm. Then she noticed something.
The cut burned and dark lines began to spread around it like black veins.
"What what is that?" Ember asked, pulling back her sleeve.
Kael's face changed. He looked concerned for the first time. "That's not normal."
Black symbols formed faintly around the wound.
A mark.
"What is happening to me?" Ember whispered.
Kael stepped back, shocked. "That's a prophecy mark."
"A what?" ember asked
"That mark only appears on someone tied to the prophecy."
Ember stared at her arm. The mark was still forming like ink spreading under her skin.
She backed away, shaking her head. "No. I don't want this. I never asked for this!"
Kael didn't speak. He just looked at her, eyes darker now.
"Why me?" Ember whispered.
Kael watched her for a long moment, then said quietly:
"Because fate doesn't care what we want."
The mark pulsed once like a heartbeat and Ember felt a cold whisper slide into her mind.
He is coming.
Ember stumbled back, eyes wide. She didn't know who "he" was but she knew one thing.
Someone was coming for her.
And she wasn't ready.
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