Andrew_Nickene

This is the journey of another young swordsman that was raised in a commoner family until a young age Andrew discovered that the had excellent skills to wield a sword.
The story starts when Andrew joins the biggest competition on his continet of swordsmanship 
were he is given the opportunity to get an artifact rarity of a sword called Ashren that has the power to show the past lifes of whoever wields it. 
The sword gave Andrew the power of his past life to forge his own new journey.

Ashren: The Shadow Within

Chapter 51: The Girl in the Flames

The forest east of Norvangar burned under a crimson sky.

Andrew stood at the edge of the trees, watching the fire twist like a living creature. Villagers had reported "a demon"—but what Andrew saw was a magical firestorm, unnatural and tightly controlled.

"This isn't a wild blaze," Mihai said, eyes narrowed. "Someone's testing something."

He stepped into the fire without hesitation. Ashren's shadow aura coiled around him, parting the flames like curtains.

In the heart of the inferno stood a girl.

Young—barely his age—but radiating power like a collapsing star. Her white cloak was untouched by ash, her eyes a blazing gold. Fire danced across her arms like pets. And yet… she looked lost.

"Who are you?" Andrew asked, his voice steady.

She turned, startled, then narrowed her eyes.

"You're him," she said softly. "The one they warned me about."

Ashren pulsed violently. A flash overtook Andrew's vision—a fractured memory not of war, but of awoman standing beside him, wrapped in flame, smiling as the world burned behind them.

"You fought with me," Andrew whispered.

"I died because of you," she snapped. "I was your Flamebearer. I followed you into the abyss… and you left me there."

"My name is Elira. And I've come to see if you've changed. Or if you're still the monster."

Without warning, Elira launched forward, a wheel of fire forming around her. Andrew barely raised his sword in time. The ground beneath them cracked, turned molten. She didn't hold back.

"Prove to me you're different!" she shouted."I'm not him!" Andrew yelled.

But her attacks kept coming. And deep down, a part of him was tempted to fight like the old Andrew—to crush her, dominate, destroy.

Instead, Andrew lowered his sword mid-clash.

It burned—but he stood his ground.

"If I deserve your hate," he said, "then I'll take it. But I won't hurt you."

Elira stared at him, trembling—not with rage, but confusion.

"Then maybe… maybe there's still hope."

That night, by the edge of the now-calm forest, Elira sat beside Andrew. No words. Just silence. The kind that said: We've both lived lifetimes of war.

"If you really want to change the fate this world's heading for… you'll need me."

"Because I'm the only one left who knows how to stop you. And maybe… how to save you."

Ashren hummed between them, quietly approving.

Far to the north, Kaelreth smiled in his black citadel.

"The Flame returns. And the Shadow doubts.""Then the game begins."