Prologue - Before the Flame (Updated)

"Do you really have to go...?"

Her voice was soft. Barely above a whisper. Aveline stood near the window, sunlight wrapping her in gold, like the world was trying to hold her still.

"Yeah. I do." I kept my gaze forward. "For your safety. For the Empire's."

She stepped closer. "You always say that."

I smiled, turned to her, and ruffled her hair. "And I always come back, don't I?"

She didn't smile. Not really.

"You promise?"

Her eyes—god, they looked like Mom's. That same worried look. That same desperate hope.

"I promise." I paused, then added, "Thanks for worrying, Aveline."

I turned to leave.

"Goodbye, brother!"

I looked back. Gave her one last grin.

Then kept walking down the hall. My armor clicking with every step.

–

I knelt.

The throne room was quiet, stained glass throwing red and gold across the marble floor. The Emperor stared down at me, his presence like gravity.

"Vincent Velcrist." His voice echoed, slow and sharp. "In this upcoming battle... you may lose something you've spent your life building. This is your only chance to back out."

I raised my head.

He looked untouched by time. Hair like gold-threaded silk. Eyes colder than winter. Fifty years old, at least—but his face held no wrinkles. The kind of beauty only magic could cheat.

But none of that mattered to me.

"I understand, my liege." My voice didn't shake. "But I won't back down. Not for the Empire. Not for my family."

He studied me for a moment. Then nodded.

"If the worst happens... use the name I gave you. You'll need it."

"I will."

"Dismissed."

I stood. Bowed. Turned and walked out, armor echoing behind me.

–

The battlefield was dead silent—until it wasn't.

I arrived just in time.

The ground trembled. Claws. Wings. Roars.

Dragonic beasts stormed across the horizon like a black tide. Teeth like sabers. Scales that shimmered with heat. A hundred of them. Maybe more.

I took a breath. Looked up at the sky.

The sun was dipping low. The moon already rising. Both lights sharing the sky for a brief moment, like the world couldn't decide what to be.

My grip tightened around my weapon.

"Here goes nothing."

Then I ran.

Steel tore through scales. Blood sprayed across my face. Roars. Screams. My own breath growing ragged. Mana draining fast. Every strike took more out of me.

"ARGH!!" I roared, carving a path through flesh and bone. My body burned. My vision blurred.

But I kept going.

Because I had to.

Because someone was waiting.

Sunlight and moonlight lit the battlefield—this cruel, dying world bathed in both warmth and cold.

–

[End of Prologue]

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