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In a world bound by celestial forces and ancient archetypes, Theo was never meant to exist. When Samuel, a man from another world, awakens in the body of a boy long dead, he inherits not only Theo’s life but also a dark, fiery power—one that whispers of destruction.

Marked by the Ember Crown Ascendant, a force tied to an ancient archetype, Theo is both a vessel and a weapon. But this power is volatile, and as he struggles to conceal his true identity, he realizes that the truth itself is dangerous. His "family"—Gregory and Lily—cling to the illusion that their son is still the boy they knew, but cracks are forming. And as the silent weight of his deception grows, so too does the peril that lurks in the shadows.

Haunted by a past that isn’t his and hunted by forces beyond his understanding, Theo must navigate a world where fate is bound to the stars and power demands sacrifice. But when the time comes to choose—to embrace his role as a harbinger of fire or carve his own path—will he be able to escape the chains of destiny?

Silence of Ash

The library's lanterns flickered, casting shifting shadows across the towering shelves. The scent of parchment and aged leather filled the air as Theo stood before Father Emmanuel, his heartbeat steady, but his thoughts spiraling. He could still feel the weight of the priest's words from moments ago.

"Your second trial begins soon."

Had he already undergone the first? The thought gnawed at the edges of his mind, stirring something deep—something blurred and distant. He remembered death—the sensation of unraveling, of something vast and hungry swallowing him whole. He had awakened as Theo after that.

Gregory exhaled, arms crossed. "You're not actually considering putting him through something dangerous, are you?"

Father Emmanuel met his gaze calmly. "The trials are dangerous by nature, but he has already survived one." His expression turned thoughtful. "I wonder when."

Lily's fingers tightened at her sides. "Are we really going to let him go through with this?"

Gregory sighed. "He's handled worse."

Lily shot him a sharp look. "And how would you know that?"

Gregory didn't answer. He only looked at Theo.

Theo himself remained quiet, weighing his choices. His mind drifted back to the first trial—or what he suspected had been his first trial. If he was right, then it had cost him everything. His past, his name, his very existence.

He wasn't sure what to expect now. Would it be like that? Would he die again?

Father Emmanuel studied him. Theo could feel the priest's gaze, searching.

"When did it happen?" Emmanuel murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Father Emmanuel exhaled slowly. "Your Archetype. It has already awakened." His tone was calm, but his sharp eyes held a weight that couldn't be ignored. "That means you've already faced a trial."

A silence settled over the library.

Gregory frowned. "That can't be right. He's never—"

"He has," Emmanuel interrupted. "It's not a matter of belief. The Ember Crown Ascendant would not be as it is now without one."

Theo forced himself to stay still, to keep his expression neutral. But his mind was racing.

The priest was too perceptive. If he kept pushing, would he realize what really happened?

Lily's voice was tight. "Then when? When did he undergo it?"

Emmanuel turned back to Theo. "That is what I'd like to know."

Theo met his gaze, feigning uncertainty. "…I don't remember."

Because how could he explain a trial that had ended with him becoming Theo?

Encouragement and Doubt

Father Emmanuel studied him a moment longer before exhaling. He didn't press the question further.

Instead, he placed a hand on Theo's shoulder. "Theo, I won't force you to face something you aren't ready for. But this trial is not meant to destroy you. It is meant to reveal you."

The priest's grip on his shoulder was steady. "Then you will stand again."

Something in his voice made it feel less like a reassurance and more like a certainty.

A voice interrupted them from the side.

Father Emmanuel's student stood at the edge of the lamplight, arms folded. Her jet-black hair framed her face, her dark eyes steady as she looked at Theo. She had been listening.

Theo tensed at the familiarity. He knew her—though he couldn't say how. The old Theo's memories whispered at the edges of his mind, but nothing surfaced clearly.

She held his gaze. "You'll pass. Because you don't have a choice."

Theo didn't know if it was meant as encouragement or warning. Maybe both.

Chapter 13: The Weight of the Trial