đŻ The Arena of Ash
The Ember Duel Grounds were carved from obsidian and bounded by ancient runes that shimmered with dormant power. Hundreds of students lined the stone balconies, whispers sharp as blades.
Torches roared to life as Kael Draven stepped into the ring â tall, vicious, and confident in his family's legacy.
> "You're a ghost walking, Rael," he sneered.
"You should've stayed buried."
Rael stepped forward slowly. Calm. Focused.
Wearing black flamecloth.
Carrying no staff.
Just his hands â and something far more dangerous beneath his skin.
> "I did stay buried," Rael murmured. "But now I burn."
---
đ„ Duel Rules
Instructor Varn's voice echoed over the circle.
> "This is a Flamebinding Duel. No external relics. No summoning beyond Tier III. Victory by submission, flamebreak⊠or incapacitation."
Kael grinned. "I choose Ashfang protocol."
Gasps rippled. Even Varn looked disturbed.
> "You do realize that level of duel allows for soul scarring?"
Kael nodded. "He's a crownless traitor. I want to leave a mark."
Rael's gaze didn't waver.
> "Let's see if you survive your own venom."
---
đ First Strike: The Ash Viper
Kael summoned a long, whip-like flame construct â writhing, spiked, and tipped with ashen poison.
> "Ash Viper," Lumiera whispered. "Illegal in most circuits. Kills nerves⊠and memories."
Kael struck.
The whip lashed toward Rael, fangs bared.
Rael stepped left â the fire grazing his arm. Pain flared, nerves searing.
But instead of backing down⊠he smiled.
> "Now I remember what pain feels like."
---
đȘ Counterstrike
Rael raised one hand.
No glyph.
No chant.
Just fire â pure, jagged, golden-red â bursting from his palm like a reborn sun.
The crowd gasped.
> "That's⊠that's not Academy fire."
"It's raw soulfire."
"Impossible!"
Kael staggered as the blast melted his whip mid-air. He fell backward, hand scorched.
Rael advanced.
> "You wanted to leave a mark?" he said.
"Let me show you mine."
---
đ„ Velisandre Awakens
As Rael stepped into the final strike, a voice rang in his ears.
> "Let me help you."
Velisandre.
He hesitated â then let her flame flood his veins.
His eyes ignited.
The runes on the floor trembled.
The air itself curved around him like glass warping under heat.
He pointed two fingers.
> "Flamebind: Soul Echo."
A ripple of gold fire exploded in a ring â not aimed at Kael, but at the runes around the arena.
The ancient flameweb reconnected.
The dueling circle glowed with the sigil of the Uncrowned.
---
𧚠Victory and Panic
Kael tried to stand â but collapsed, eyes wide, twitching.
His flame was gone.
Burned away cleanly, painlessly â as if the duel had rejected him.
The crowd screamed.
> "That wasn't a spellâ"
"It was a domain!"
"He awakened a flame domain!"
Instructor Varn stepped forward, hand raised.
> "The duel is over. Rael Soren wins."
Kael was dragged out unconscious.
Rael turned slowly to the crowd.
Not smiling.
Just burning.
---
đ The Rebellion Echoes
That night, whispers became something louder.
Not fear.
Not gossip.
Hope.
> "Did you see it?"
"He made fire bend."
"He used a flame domain without divine sigil."
"He's not just powerful⊠he's right."
And somewhere in the deepest part of the Academy, a forgotten mirror cracked down the middle.
The old world was breaking.
And the Crownless was rising.
---
End of Chapter 16