Full Chapter – The King Must Burn or Rise
Location: Ruins on the edge of Thalum — Grim has returned from the dragon's dream realm. Scars fresh. Power rekindled. But peace never lasts.
The Return of the Three
The horizon rippled with heat and shadow as Max, Hadi, and Tristan emerged from the dustcovered path leading out of the Velthari borderlands.
Grim stood by the old watchtower ruins, blade buried in the dirt beside him, eyes narrowed.
Sparks floated beside him—glitching, flickering, watching.
He turned slowly as the trio approached.
"You're late."
Max tossed a wrapped satchel at his feet—stained with dried royal wax and arcane runes.
"We found something more important than punctuality."
Grim pulled the satchel open. Inside were forbidden sigils, torn from letters written in invisible ink. A cracked pendant bearing the Royal Crest of Velthar… and one that shimmered blackred.
Court insignia.
The Truth Unfolds
"Velthar is compromised," Max said. "Not all of it—but some nobles have aligned with the Court."
"They've infiltrated the upper ring," Hadi added. "The king's old guard is being replaced. And the twins? They were meant to die on that field trip."
Grim's jaw clenched. Sparks emitted a soft static pulse—anger, pain, something deeper.
Tristan stepped closer.
"The king's been isolated. Word is, a false ailment was staged to keep him bedridden. We intercepted plans—assassination within seven days. Possibly sooner."
Grim sheathed his sword slowly.
"So… we don't have time to waste."
"No," Max said. "And the enemy is Embergrade. Maybe higher."
"We're only at Kindle," Hadi reminded. "This won't be a warmup."
A Flame Reforged
Grim looked toward the rising sun. Its color wasn't golden—it was red, like a wound.
He spoke calmly.
"Then we go anyway. Not because we're ready. But because no one else is."
Sparks hovered beside him, her voice low.
"If you fall, I fall."
He glanced at her.
"Then stay close."
Setting the Stage
The group reassembled—Ayesha arriving not long after, silent and deadly as always. Even she had felt the shift in the ether.
Kaia sent a message via echobird: "The Court is watching from the west. I'll delay them from moving, but the window is tight."
The Headmaster sent a scroll sealed with timebent wax:
"Intervening in royal matters is frowned upon.
But so is letting history burn.
I'll cover your exit.
Return alive. I'm not refunding tuition."
~ Thorne
At the Edge of War
Grim placed a hand on the ancient scale the dragon had given him—feeling it hum beneath his palm.
"Sixty days of training. One day back. And the fire still burns."
Sparks crackled.
"Then let it rage."