—Even the weakest spark can burn down a throne—
The night air was cold, but the embers on Kael's hand sizzled defiantly, a subtle glow pulsing with every heartbeat. He stood alone under the crumbling stone arch of the Guild's armory vault, the ancient gauntlet now fused to his arm like a second skin. Its blackened steel and red rune veins shimmered, radiating the warmth of a dying fire — or perhaps, the birth of a new one.
Around him, murmurs had turned into whispers, whispers into silence.
He had no magic.
No divine blessing.
Yet the Ember Gauntlet had chosen him.
---
Garron, the seasoned A-rank warrior, stared with wide eyes as Kael ascended the steps from the vault, hand still glowing. Behind him, Lyla, her soft features pale with disbelief, clutched her cloak tighter.
Garron: (gruffly, breaking the silence)
"...No one without mana has ever bonded with a relic weapon before. Not in a hundred years."
---
Morning – Outside the Guild Gates
The wind rustled the red banners above as Kael adjusted the simple traveler's cloak over his shoulder. A bag slung across his back. His destination: unknown. His purpose: unshakable.
Garron and Lyla stood before him.
Lyla: (pleading)
"Kael… please. Stay. Let us help you. We can train together, plan a strategy. You don't have to walk this road alone."
Kael: (quietly)
"I do."
Garron: (firmly)
"She's not just a princess. She's the kingdom's strongest , Kael. You'll die."
Kael: (eyes hard)
"I'd rather die fighting for truth than live under a lie. I won't risk anyone else's life. This burden… is mine."
Lyla's eyes brimmed with tears. Garron clenched his fists.
Kael: (softly)
"You two gave me more than anyone ever did. But I can't drag light into my darkness."
And with that, he turned away.
His footsteps echoed like drumbeats of war — quiet, but final.
---
Days Passed – On the Road, Among Mountains
Kael walked alone — through forests shrouded in mist, through crags lit only by moonlight. He trained without rest. He no longer had time to bleed or cry. He forged his own path with fists and fire.
Each night he sparred with shadows, letting the gauntlet burn hotter. It hurt. It scarred. But the more pain it consumed, the more powerful it became.
He carved scars into trees, made mock duels against armored dummies he built from rocks and branches.
His body ached.
His spirit did not.
He studied tomes in abandoned ruins, searching for weaknesses in magical barriers, battle formations, and historic duels fought against royal mages.
And that's when he found it.
---
In a Dusty Tavern – Village of Redmere
Kael sat quietly at the back, sipping bitter ale, his hood drawn. Locals gossiped near the fire.
Drunk Merchant: (slurring)
"...I still remember it... that day... when that black-haired witch tore through Visalka's border knights like paper…"
Old Woman: (nervously)
"Shhh! Don't speak of her. You'll curse yourself!"
Kael's ears twitched. He rose, calmly walking toward them.
Kael: (soft but sharp)
"Who was she? The witch?"
They recoiled at his tone. The merchant sobered slightly, looking around before leaning in.
Merchant: (whispers)
"No one knows her name. She came from the east. Black cloak, hair like ink, eyes like fire... She challenged Princess Valeria two years ago and survived."
Kael: (coldly curious)
"Survived? Or won?"
Old Woman:
"They said Valeria was forced to retreat. Some say the princess still bears the scars beneath her golden armor."
That night, Kael left without finishing his drink. The nameless witch had become his only lead. His only hope of learning how to defeat the monster in a crown.
---
Final Scene – Campfire in the Rain
Kael sat near a flickering flame beneath a stormy night, the gauntlet drying his soaked cloak with its warmth. He clutched a torn map — scribbled with rumors, trails, and the witch's last known location.
Lyla's voice echoed in his memory:
"Stay with us. Don't go alone."
He stared into the fire.
Kael: (whispering)
"I can't lose anyone else…"
The firelight flickered.
In the distant darkness, thunder rumbled like the growl of fate.
The road ahead was treacherous.
But his war had already begun.
He would find the witch.
He would unravel Valeria's weakness.
And when the next tournament came…
He would not just fight.
He would end her reign.
---
[To be continued…]