The dawn painted Aurestra in shades of crimson and gold, casting long shadows over the towering spires and veins of living metal that threaded through the city. It was a morning heavy with silence and unspoken words—the kind that only come before a departure.
I stood at the edge of the eastern rampart, gazing out at the forest that cloaked our territory. Beyond those trees lay a world I had only seen in glimpses, in training simulations, in whispered tales. Soon, I would walk among that world, stripped of the safety our walls had always provided.
My siblings gathered behind me, their faces unreadable. Nirae, poised and graceful as ever, broke the quiet.
"You'll change everything," she said softly, her eyes locking with mine. "Not just for our family, but for the world."
Her words held a truth that both comforted and burdened me.
Korin stepped forward, the weight of his presence undeniable. "Remember what I told you. Strength is more than power. It's knowing when to strike and when to hold."
I nodded, feeling the steel in his voice echo in my bones.
The others—Liora, Faelan, and Ryn—offered their own silent support, their eyes betraying pride beneath stoic exteriors. We had all trained under the same unforgiving sun and moon, molded by the relentless discipline of the Pure Clan.
Yet none of us could predict what awaited me beyond these walls.
Inside the family hall, Elder Malren awaited with the Auraseer's blessing. His gaze was grave but steady as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Your journey will test every fiber of your being," he warned. "But it will also reveal who you truly are. Trust your mind, your platinum eye, and your heart."
I bowed deeply, absorbing the weight of his words.
With Duskweaver strapped to my back, I walked through the city's silent streets one last time. The familiar hum of living metal thrummed beneath my feet, a heartbeat of a kingdom built on blood, sacrifice, and hidden power.
Outside the gates, the world stretched out vast and unknown. The forests gave way to mountains, and beyond them lay the sprawling lands of Aurestra's neighbors—some hostile, others indifferent, but all unaware of the storm that the Pure Clan's heir was about to unleash.
As I stepped beyond the veil, the sun warmed my face for the first time outside our hidden city. The scent of earth, pine, and distant fire filled my senses.
Titanfell Academy awaited—a crucible where the children of the world's most powerful clans would clash, form alliances, and write the next chapter of history.
I didn't know what awaited me there, but I knew one thing with absolute certainty:
I would not be broken.
I would not be forgotten.
I was Azel Pure, heir of the Platinum Requiem.
And this was only the beginning.