The memory still burned behind Kai's eyes.
Even as he followed Elder Ragan out of the Sunken Archives, his body felt hollow—like part of him had remained in that vision, wielding the flaming blade atop a tower surrounded by dragons.
It wasn't just a vision, he thought. It was a memory. Mine… or his?
When they emerged into the surface light, the Emberheart grounds were quieter than usual. Word of the beast's defeat had spread, but so had the fear of what came next.
No one knew how many more might come.
And no one knew what Kai had become.
That night, he returned to his quarters and lit a single flame crystal. The golden glow cast long shadows on the walls. He sat cross-legged, calming his breath, attempting to summon the fire willingly—for the first time since the battle.
It didn't come instantly.
But when it did… it was different.
Not wild. Not untamed.
It listened.
He held out his palm. The fire formed into a spear… then shifted, coiling… flattening… forging itself into a shape he hadn't expected.
A blade.
It hovered above his hand, shaped like the one from the memory. Long, narrow, glowing with faint embers. The handle was etched in unfamiliar runes—yet his hands knew how to grip it.
As if they had held it before.
The Sword of Embers.
The flame whispered its name.
Not forged. Remembered.
Kai stared in awe.
This was no ordinary spirit weapon. It hadn't been built from materials or tempered in a forge. It had been called forth from memory, from blood, from flame.
His flame.
It is part of you. And it will grow… as you do.
He stood slowly, testing its weight.
It felt weightless in his hand—but when he slashed at the air, the flame howled, tearing a glowing arc across the room and leaving a burning scar on the stone floor.
His breath caught.
This is power, he thought. But also a burden.
Because now he had a weapon no one could explain. A power no one could control.
And enemies were coming.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
He opened it to find Linya—her arms crossed, her expression serious.
"You're not going to believe this," she said, "but we've received a message. From the Skyhammer Sect."
Kai tensed. "Skyhammer? We've had no contact with them for years."
"They're holding a summit. Every major sect, clan, and city lord is invited. They're calling it… the Ash Conclave."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
"They say it's about uniting the regions against the Nightmares. But rumor is—they're really gathering to talk about you."