The flames roared around Leon, crackling with relentless intensity as they licked at his small frame. Sweat poured down his brow, but he remained still, his breathing steady despite the scorching heat surrounding him. His muscles screamed in protest, yet he did not falter.
His grandfather stood a few feet away, observing with sharp, unwavering eyes. "You've lasted longer than yesterday. Good."
Leon exhaled slowly, his golden eyes flickering like molten fire. He could feel it—his body was adjusting. The pain, though present, was no longer unbearable. Instead, it became fuel, feeding the fire inside him.
Seraphina, watching from the balcony, clenched her hands into fists. She could barely believe what she was witnessing. Her son—just a baby by all standards—was enduring something that even seasoned warriors would struggle against.
Yet he refused to break.
After several more moments, the flames died down, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of heat in the air. Leon staggered but caught himself before he could fall. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes burned with determination.
His grandfather nodded in approval. "You're ready for the next step."
Leon barely had time to process those words before the old man stepped forward, his presence suddenly overwhelming.
"Your mana control has improved, and your body has begun adapting to fire. But there's one thing you're still lacking—instinct."
Leon tilted his head, listening carefully.
"Understanding fire isn't just about wielding it," the old man continued. "It's about reacting to it, feeling it in your bones before it even touches you. That is what separates a true master from a mere practitioner."
He suddenly moved—fast.
Before Leon could react, a small ember shot toward him. It wasn't large or dangerous, but it was unexpected. His eyes widened, and he barely managed to shift his mana to block it.
But before he could fully deflect it, another ember came. And another.
His grandfather's hands flickered like lightning, sending tiny bursts of flame at unpredictable angles. They weren't meant to harm, but they forced Leon to move, to react on instinct rather than calculation.
At first, he stumbled. His reactions were too slow, his mind struggling to keep up.
But then—something clicked.
Instead of thinking, he felt.
The heat, the movement, the flicker of mana in the air—he sensed it before each ember came, his body adjusting before his mind could fully process it.
His grandfather smirked. "That's more like it."
Leon's breaths came in short gasps, but he didn't stop. He was beginning to understand.
Fire wasn't just a tool—it was alive.
And if he wanted to master it, he had to become one with it.
---
Far away, within the Solaris Palace, Prince Alistair stood before a towering stained-glass window, the image of a golden sun emblazoned across its surface. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression unreadable.
Behind him, an armored knight kneeled. "Your Highness, the King has summoned you."
Alistair turned slightly, his sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Has the Oracle spoken again?"
The knight hesitated before replying. "No… But something else has happened."
Alistair said nothing, waiting for the knight to continue.
"Scouts report that an unknown force has been moving in the eastern regions—one that does not belong to any known kingdom or faction."
A flicker of intrigue passed through Alistair's gaze. "And what do we know of them?"
The knight hesitated. "Very little. But the descriptions of their warriors… some claim they possess unusual abilities, unlike anything seen before."
Alistair exhaled softly. "Then it seems the tides of fate are shifting."
He turned fully, his presence radiating an aura of absolute command. "Prepare my horse. I will meet with the King at once."
As the knight rushed out, Alistair gazed back at the window, his fingers brushing against the golden insignia on his hand.
What is coming…?
---
A Hidden Figure
As the world prepared for inevitable change, another shadow moved in the darkness.
Near the outskirts of the Aeternis Estate, a lone figure in a dark cloak stood hidden among the trees, watching the estate with a piercing gaze.
They had been observing for days now, carefully noting every movement within the household.
But their true focus was on one person.
The child…
Their lips curled into a small, knowing smirk. "So it begins."
With a faint whisper of wind, the figure vanished—as if they had never been there at all.