🔥 Chapter 12 — The Hunt Begins
Kael and Rhyne mounted their horses at dawn, the northern highlands bathed in pale light. The scorched battlefield behind them still smoldered, a reminder of their recent victory—but there was no time to linger. The King's next general was on the move, and they had intelligence from the villagers pointing to a path through the southern forests.
Rhyne tightened the straps on his pack, eyes scanning the horizon. "If the reports are accurate, the general is moving fast, leaving few signs behind. We'll have to rely on speed and strategy. One misstep, and he could vanish like the last time."
Kael felt the Ember pulse gently, attuned to his thoughts. "The Ember can sense disturbances in the magical flow," he said. "It might help us anticipate his route, even through the forest."
They rode in silence for hours, navigating the twisted paths of ice and stone, through forests scarred by previous attacks. Kael concentrated, letting the Ember extend like a faint, glowing thread, probing for magical energy. Faint pulses led him forward—like footprints in the wind only he could feel.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them. Rhyne raised his blade. "He's close. The aura… I can feel it."
From the shadows of the forest, green energy flared, whipping toward them with deadly precision. Kael immediately reacted, Ember spiraling into defensive whips and barriers that deflected the strike. Sparks and shards of frozen earth erupted, scattering around them.
The first wave was just a warning. Kael's eyes narrowed, flames coiling tighter. "He's testing us… probing our defenses. We need to draw him out, force him into open ground."
Rhyne nodded, stepping forward, blade ready. "Then let's lead him where we want. One misstep, and we can strike decisively."
Kael's Ember flared, sending arcs of fire into the trees, illuminating the forest in spiraling light. The general's aura flickered in response, and Kael smiled faintly. "The hunt begins. And this time, we set the terms."
From the shadows, the King's new general watched, green flames flickering with anticipation. The chase had begun—and the Ember's true potential was about to be tested like never before.