Darkness swallowed Solflare as the sun sank beneath the horizon. Only the weak glow of streetlamps cut through the night, stretching long shadows across the stone bridge where Kael and Bram huddled, breath fogging in the cold.
Kael didn't notice any of it. His mind replayed the knight's words, over and over:
"Ashreach is next."
A shiver ran down him. His hands trembled. His heartbeat felt wrong—too slow, too faint, like it belonged to someone else.
"Kael!" Bram shook him. No reaction. Nothing.
Then, with a crack, Bram punched him across the jaw.
Kael inhaled sharply. Eyes snapping into focus. "W-What…?"
"Finally," Bram muttered, rubbing his knuckles. "Listen. We have to go back. Warn our people."
"Y-Yeah…" Kael's voice quivered violently. "But… the capital… the guards…"
"No buts," Bram said, eyes hard. "We don't have time."
They crawled from beneath the bridge, slipping into Solflare's shadowed streets. Ahead, the gate tower loomed, torches blazing atop its battlements. Dozens of guards stood watch—spears, bows, blades, and rifles ready.
Zero chance of getting through.
Bram exhaled shakily. "Now what?"
Kael pressed his palm to his forehead, trying to steady his trembling. And then—something terrifying happened.
A faint glow spread beneath his skin. Veins pulsed orange, like embers burning under the surface.
"Kael—what is that?!" Bram hissed. "Your veins… they're—"
"I don't know!" Kael stammered, panic sharpening his voice. "I can't… stop it!"
"Then use it!" Bram whispered urgently. "If a guard sees—"
"I don't know how!"
Before they could argue further, a voice cut through the night:
"Who's there!?"
Bram froze. Kael's glowing veins reflected in his terrified eyes.
"We're dead…" Bram whispered.
Three knights approached, boots thudding. Kael and Bram pressed against the wall, hearts hammering, lungs burning.
Then—silence.
The knights reached the corner. Nothing. They passed.
Kael exhaled, relief mixing with dread. "They didn't see us."
Or maybe… they didn't want to.
Bram's eyes flickered with sudden understanding. "Kael… I have an idea."
"What?"
"What if we create noise—everywhere? Pull them away from the gate."
The plan clicked instantly.
"That's… Bram, that's brilliant!"
They scavenged tin cans, bottles, rusted metal—anything that could make sound. Bram used his fishing rods, snapping strings across the alleys, looping them through the cans and bottles. Ten spots. Ten guards. Perfect.
"Three… two… one—pull," Bram whispered.
Chaos erupted. Metal clattered. Bottles shattered. Echoes ricocheted off stone walls.
"What was that!?" a knight shouted.
"It's coming from everywhere! Move!"
Ten guards bolted to investigate.
Kael and Bram sprinted for the unmanned gate. Bram shoved with all his strength. The heavy wood groaned.
"Someone's opening the gate!" the watchtower knight barked.
Kael slipped through. Fast. Silent. Gone.
Bram… wasn't so lucky.
A hand clamped around his collar. "Where do you think you're going, little rat?" The knight's grip was iron.
"Let go!" Bram twisted.
A calm, measured voice echoed behind them. Cold. Commanding.
"That will be enough."
The knights parted. Even the air seemed to bow.
A high-ranking Arcanist Knight approached, Expression unreadable. Worse than anger. Worse than cruelty.
Bram's blood froze. The man who had kicked the boy on the ridge.
"Bring him," the knight said simply.
Subordinates dragged Bram forward, toward the cliffside path.
---
Kael ran, every muscle screaming. Heart hammering, lungs burning, adrenaline mixing with raw fear.
"Bram! Bram?"
No answer.
He retraced his steps. The alleyways blurred. The city gates loomed.
Nothing. Bram was gone.
"No… please…" Kael's knees buckled. Tears stung his eyes. "This is my fault… Bram… it's my fault…"
The only person who had ever understood him. The only true friend he had.
Gone. Because of him.
His veins flared again—and this time, stronger. A spark pulsed beneath the surface. Small. Yet undeniable. A whisper of power, raw and hungry.
Kael pressed his glowing hands to his face, wishing the world would swallow him whole.
---
At the cliff, Bram struggled, forced forward until his toes hung over empty air.
"So this is how knights protect people?" he spat, voice breaking. "You're supposed to protect—"
"Yes," the knight interrupted calmly, eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Our people. And that is exactly what we're doing. We remove the cancers from our kingdom."
A boot planted against Bram's chest.
"We won't let filth like you near our kind again."
And then—
A kick.
Bram's scream tore through the night. And then… silence.