Beyond the peaceful estate where Leon trained tirelessly, the world of Eldora moved forward, shaping its own tides of power and destiny. While the young heir tempered himself with fire, another figure, one equally touched by divine hands, was beginning to make his mark on history.
---
The Royal Capital of Valtara – Kingdom of Solaris
The grand halls of the Solaris Palace shimmered under the light of enchanted crystal chandeliers, their glow illuminating the marble floors and intricate golden inlays carved into the walls. Regal banners adorned with the kingdom's emblem—a radiant sun eclipsed by a burning crown—fluttered lightly in the evening breeze.
In the heart of the throne room, kneeling before the king, was a young man of noble bearing. His striking silver hair and piercing blue eyes held an air of regality, yet there was something else—something beyond mere human presence.
This was Prince Alistair Solaris, the firstborn son of King Edric Solaris and heir to the mightiest kingdom in the western continent.
But it was not his birthright that made him special.
It was the blessing of a god.
Though few knew the details, Alistair had received a divine mark at the age of ten—a golden insignia burned into the back of his right hand. It was neither the symbol of Solaris nor that of any known deity worshipped openly in Eldora. Even the kingdom's greatest scholars and priests had been unable to identify its true nature.
But there was no denying its power.
Alistair had grown at an unnatural pace. His swordsmanship surpassed even the most seasoned knights before he was fifteen. His ability to wield divine energy—despite never training as a holy warrior—had left the temple's priests in awe. And his very presence commanded loyalty, as if the world itself had bent to his will.
Even now, as he knelt before his father, a sense of divine authority radiated from him.
King Alden, a stern yet wise ruler, studied his son carefully. "You've been called by the Oracle once again."
Alistair nodded. "Yes, Father. The priests say the stars have shifted, and a great change is coming."
The king's gaze darkened. "And what did they see?"
"A shadow," Alistair replied, his tone calm, yet edged with something unreadable. "Something vast, ancient, and beyond mortal comprehension. The Oracle claims it is neither friend nor foe—but it will shape the fate of Eldora."
King Alden frowned. "And what do you make of it?"
Alistair hesitated for a brief moment before standing.
"I do not know, Father," he admitted. "But something tells me… that whatever is coming, it will challenge even the gods themselves."
---
Back at the Aeternis Estate
While Alistair pondered celestial omens, Leon remained focused on the fire before him.
His grandfather had increased the intensity of his training, forcing him to withstand greater flames and circulate fire mana at a higher density. The pain was excruciating, but it was refining him. Each moment in the inferno forced his body to adapt, to grow stronger.
Seraphina watched anxiously from the sidelines. "Father, isn't this too much?"
The old man merely crossed his arms. "The boy is enduring it just fine. He must learn that fire is more than destruction—it is transformation."
Leon clenched his tiny fists, pushing through the burning sensation crawling over his skin. Stronger… I need to be stronger.
Unbeknownst to him, far across the lands of Eldora, another young prodigy was preparing himself for an uncertain destiny.
And soon, their paths would cross.