The Auraseer Council chamber was a cavernous hall beneath the heart of Aurestra, walls shimmering with veins of living metal that pulsed faintly, echoing the blood that ran through our veins. It was where the clan's elders met to decide futures—and fates.
I stood at the center, my scythe resting lightly against my shoulder. The five elder council members—each a legend in their own right—watched me with a mixture of curiosity and judgment. They had shaped my childhood, tested my limits, and now, they weighed whether I was ready to face the world beyond.
"Your training has been… adequate," Elder Malren said, his gaze piercing through me like tempered steel. "But the world outside is not the silent fortress you've known. It is chaos, unpredictability, and brutal ambition."
His words settled heavy on my chest.
Aurestra had been hidden for centuries, shielded by spells, warriors, and the very earth itself. But the clan's leaders had made a decision—a reckoning. We would reveal ourselves to the world. The time of shadows was ending.
"You will leave the territory soon," another elder, Maelis, added, her voice sharp but calm. "Titanfell Academy will be your first step into this new era. There, you will face others like you—heirs, prodigies, and predators."
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
The thought of leaving the only home I'd ever known, of stepping into a world that might see us as monsters or threats, twisted something deep inside me. But beneath the fear was a fire—something raw and unyielding.
"I understand," I said, voice steady even if my heart raced. "I will not fail the Pure Clan."
Elder Kaelen, the youngest of the council but no less formidable, stepped forward. "Remember, Azel, your platinum eye is not a gift to flaunt. It is a tool for survival and control. Overuse can lead to madness. Do not let pride be your downfall."
His warning lingered in the cold air as the council dispersed, leaving me alone with the weight of a destiny I wasn't sure I was ready to carry.
Back in my chamber, I stared out at the sprawling city beneath the protective mountains. Aurestra was a kingdom forged in secrecy, every stone and street a testament to survival and strength. Yet, it felt smaller now, as if the world beyond threatened to swallow it whole.
My siblings came to me one by one that evening—Nirae with a rare softness in her eyes, Korin with his usual blunt honesty, and the others with their silent support. They reminded me I wasn't alone, even if the path ahead was mine to walk.
But even among family, there were tensions. Each of us carried expectations and rivalries that shaped who we were.
The night settled in, thick with unspoken fears and hopes. I turned my gaze inward, to the flickering glow of my platinum eye. It pulsed faintly—an enigma tied not to my body, but to my mind, my thoughts, and my will.
The clan was stepping into a new age. And I was at its razor edge.