đ Normal is a Lie
The next morning, Rael showed up for his enchantment class precisely on time.
Robes crisp. Hair charred only slightly.
No sign he'd uncovered an ancient war vault, unlocked a forgotten flame sigil, or remembered a past-life betrayal by a current instructor.
> "Fake it 'til you destroy it," he whispered under his breath.
Fayden leaned over. "Hey, you didn't scream in your sleep last night. I'm worried."
Rael offered a tight smile. "Progress. Or repression. Time will tell."
---
đ Class of Illusions
Master Veylor stood at the front of the class, teaching illusion weaving with his usual calmness.
> "Illusion is not about lying," he said. "It is about redirecting truth."
Rael watched him closely.
Same silver-gray robes. Same soft eyes.
But now Rael knew.
> You were one of mine. One of the Flame Twelve. You bowed before me. Then stabbed me in the back.
Rael tapped his stylus slowly, eyes half-lidded.
> I wonder if you know who I am yet⊠or if you're waiting.
---
đ„ Inside Rael â Veyliss Awakens
Deep in Rael's core, the flamebeast stirred.
> "You saw the traitor. Shall I burn him?" Veyliss hissed.
"No," Rael thought. "Not yet. We watch."
> "You are more patient than I remember. That is⊠unsettling."
> "I've had two lives to practice."
---
đŹ After Class: The Not-So-Casual Talk
As the students filed out, Veylor approached Rael.
"Mr. Halewyn. A word?"
Rael turned, all innocent calm. "Of course, Professor."
They stood by the glowing glyph board.
"I've been meaning to askâŠ" Veylor said. "Your arcanaâit's stabilizing in unusual ways. There's⊠a resonance to it. Almost ancient."
Rael nodded slowly. "Inherited flame, perhaps."
"From your family line?"
"Or from my last one."
A pause.
Just a flicker in Veylor's eye. A twitch in the brow.
Then calm returned.
"You're a curious young man, Rael."
"I get that a lot."
---
đ§Ș The Serpent in the Flask
That evening, Rael snuck into the alchemy lab under the library. Not to brew potions â but to inspect the trace memory glyphs left on his robes from the vault.
He spread the fabric on the table, activated the echo rune⊠and watched as flickers of flame and shadows of whispers danced across the cloth.
One whisper stood out:
> "The traitor wears the face of wisdom."
Rael muttered, "Then wisdom must be blind."
Suddenly, his palm burned.
The flamecore sigil lit upâand Veyliss roared inside:
> "EVOLUTION. NOW."
---
đ Beast Awakening: Veyliss Phase II
Rael barely had time to brace himself.
Flames burst from his chestânot outward, but inward. Bones shimmered. His spine glowed. His skin pulsed with heat.
Then a shape appeared behind him in the echo light:
> A great serpent-dragon coiled in shadow flame, with six ember horns and glowing runes across its wings.
Rael fell to one knee.
> "Veyliss⊠what's changing?"
> "You've grown strong enough to unlock my second aspect. I now serve not just your defenseâbut your memory."
The flames wrapped around Rael's head for a moment.
And suddenlyâhis past life's vision sharpened.
He could recall names, faces, rooms, even secrets he'd once sealed away.
---
đ The Memory Returned
Rael stood again, heart pounding.
One name burned in his mind.
Not Veylor.
But the one who ordered the betrayal.
> "High Flame-Prince Sareth. My blood. My brother."
---
đ Twist: Veylor Was Just the Knife
Rael whispered aloud.
> "You didn't choose to kill me, did you?"
> "You were told to."
He stared out the window, jaw tight.
> "Then who told Sareth?"
He needed answers. But to get them⊠he'd need to enter the one place not even gods dared linger.
The Dreamfire Crypt.
---
đ End of Chapter 11