A year had passed since the sealing of the Shadowstone and the defeat of the Ancient One. The realm's peace had deepened—trade flourished, villages expanded, and the four bloodlines grew closer than ever. Elven healers traveled to human cities, phoenixes shared their fire magic with griffin blacksmiths, and Kael, as the Emberborn, had become a symbol of unity, traveling the realm to mediate disputes and strengthen alliances.
Yet beneath the surface, tension simmered.
Kael stood in the training yard of Valoria's palace, his merged dragon-phoenix fire flickering in his palms—unsteady, for the first time in months. He'd been practicing for hours, but his magic felt… split. The dragon fire raged, hot and destructive, while the phoenix fire calmed, warm and healing. They fought against each other, not merging as they once had.
"Your magic is off," a voice said.
Kael turned. Lira stood at the edge of the yard, her red hair tied back, her eyes narrowed. She'd been training with a group of phoenix warriors nearby, but she'd noticed his struggle.
"I know," Kael said, frustration evident in his voice. "It's been like this for weeks. The fire won't merge. It's like they're fighting against each other."
Lira stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. Her palm was warm, her phoenix fire glowing faintly. "The Ancient One's fragment—could it have left a mark? Merlin said darkness can linger, even after it's destroyed."
Kael shook his head. "Merlin checked me. There's no dark magic in me. He says it's… something else. The prophecy."
The "split light" prophecy. It had haunted Kael for a year. Merlin had searched every archive, every ancient text, but no one could explain what it meant—"the light will split, and brother will turn against brother."
Leah walked into the yard, her silver hair blowing in the breeze. She carried a rolled-up parchment, her face serious. "Scout reports from the northern borders. There's trouble."
Kael's brow furrowed. "What kind of trouble?"
Leah unrolled the parchment. "A group of human lords have turned against the alliance. They're calling themselves the 'Crimson Order.' They say the four bloodlines are a threat to human dominance. They've been attacking elven caravans, burning phoenix-feather workshops, and spreading lies about the Emberborn."
Kael's jaw tightened. The merged fire in his veins flared—dragon fire dominant, hot and angry. "Why? We've been at peace for a year. Why now?"
"Fear," Leah said. "The lords are afraid of the power of the four bloodlines. They're afraid of change. And someone is fueling their fear—whispers of 'human purity,' of 'reclaiming the realm.'"
Merlin appeared in the yard, his staff in hand. His face was grave, a tattered scroll in his fingers. "I found something. In the elven archives. A reference to the 'split light' prophecy. It says the split isn't just in the Emberborn's magic—it's in the realm itself. Unity will fracture, and the four bloodlines will turn on each other… unless the Emberborn can mend the light."
Gareth landed nearby, transforming into his humanoid form. His white hair was messy, his golden eyes dark. "Griffin scouts spotted Crimson Order soldiers near the Ironspine Cliffs. They're gathering an army. They plan to attack the griffin sanctuary in three days."
Kael closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He tried to calm his magic—to merge the dragon and phoenix fire—but they clashed, sending a wave of heat through his body. He winced, opening his eyes.
"The prophecy is coming true," he said. "The light is splitting. And I can't even control my own magic."
Leah placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone. We're with you. The four bloodlines are still united—for now. We need to stop the Crimson Order. To show the realm that unity is our strength, not our weakness."
Lira nodded. "Phoenix warriors are ready. We'll fly to the Ironspine Cliffs, scout the Crimson Order's camp, and prepare defenses."
Gareth added, "Griffins will guard the sanctuary. We'll send messengers to the Silverwood—call for elven archers. And we'll gather human allies in Valoria—loyal lords who still believe in the alliance."
Merlin smiled faintly. "I'll prepare spells to counter the Crimson Order's magic. And I'll keep searching for answers about the prophecy. There must be a way to mend the split—both in the realm and in your magic."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. He closed his eyes again, focusing on his magic. This time, he didn't force the dragon and phoenix fire to merge—he let them breathe. He felt the dragon fire's rage, the phoenix fire's calm, and slowly, he found a balance between them. The merged fire glowed bright, steady once more.
"Let's move," he said. "We have three days to prepare. We can't let the Crimson Order destroy the alliance. We can't let the prophecy win."
The others nodded. They hurried out of the training yard, each heading to their respective tasks—Lira to rally the phoenix warriors, Gareth to send messengers, Leah to gather human allies, Merlin to prepare his spells.
Kael stood alone in the yard, staring at his palms. The merged fire glowed faintly, warm and steady. But he could feel it—the split, just beneath the surface. The dragon fire's rage, the phoenix fire's calm, fighting for dominance.
The prophecy was coming true.
Brother would turn against brother.
The realm would face a choice—unity or destruction.
And Kael's blood would be the key.
He took a deep breath, dismissing his magic.
He would not let the realm fall.
He would mend the split.
He would fulfill his destiny as the Emberborn.
The fight was beginning again.
But this time, the enemy wasn't darkness—it was fear. It was division. It was the realm itself, tearing apart from the inside.
And Kael knew—this would be his hardest fight yet.