ch 33,34,35
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Chapter 33 – Bonds Forged in Flame
The mountains breathed cold mist into the valleys as dawn rose over Ardyth Vale. Frost clung to the narrow paths, and Kael's breath came out in visible clouds as he stepped through the courtyard in his new training robe. The fabric still felt stiff against his skin, but his chest carried a strange warmth.
He wasn't sure if it was pride or fear.
Probably both.
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Unexpected Company
"You swing like an old man," came a teasing voice.
Kael turned to find a girl around his age, maybe a little older. She had coppery skin, long twin braids tied back with feathers, and sharp eyes that reminded him of a hawk.
"Thanks," he muttered, gripping the wooden training sword tighter.
"I'm Lani. You're the 'city boy' who fought Rivan's summon?"
Kael nodded, unsure whether she was here to mock him or not.
She grinned. "You didn't run away. That makes you ten times better than most."
Kael chuckled. "That's not a high bar."
"Well, neither are you," she said, smirking. "C'mon, shorty. Let's train. I need a partner who doesn't cry when I land a hit."
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Sparring and Scars
Swords clashed in the chilly air.
Lani was faster than him, and smarter. She danced in and out of range, light on her feet, while Kael braced and blocked with raw instinct. Still, every time their wooden blades met, he felt more alive.
More real.
By the end of the hour, Kael was sore, bruised, and smiling.
"Not bad," Lani said, offering him a hand as he lay flat on his back. "You'll survive out here."
"Gee, thanks," Kael said, groaning as she helped him up.
She tilted her head. "You're not like them. Not cold."
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"I'm trying not to be."
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Blood and Quiet
That night, a quiet dinner brought an unexpected guest.
Kael's grandfather.
The room grew silent as the old man entered, dressed in traditional armor with a dark fur mantle. His presence filled the small space like thunderclouds before a storm.
Kael's mother stood slowly. "Father."
He didn't look at her.
His eyes landed on Kael.
"You didn't break."
Kael blinked.
"Your trial. You faced it head on. You didn't crumble."
"I…" Kael tried to speak, but the weight of the old man's gaze silenced him.
"You'll train with me at dawn," the old man said, then turned and left without another word.
The room remained silent.
Then Kael's little brother piped up: "Grampa's scary."
His sister giggled.
Kael smiled faintly.
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Midnight Talk with Seventeen
That night, Kael couldn't sleep.
He expects too much, he whispered in his mind.
Seventeen answered softly. He expects nothing. But he's watching.
Not helping.
Some of the best teachers don't speak. They wait. Just like trees. Like bones buried under frost.
Kael stared at the ceiling.
I feel like I'm supposed to become something. I don't know what.
Then just become you, Seventeen replied. We'll shape the rest together.
Kael smiled.
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Absolutely! Here's:
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Chapter 34 – Dawn of Training
Frost clung to the edge of the training field like a forgotten breath, glinting under the pale orange sky. The sun hadn't risen fully, but Kael was already standing in the courtyard, wrapped in a thick cloak, wooden blade at his side.
His grandfather stood ahead of him, still and silent as stone.
No greeting.
No warm-up.
Only the cold air between them.
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The First Strike
"Draw your sword," his grandfather said, voice like cracking bark.
Kael obeyed, uncertain.
"Attack me."
"What?"
"Attack."
He barely had time to think before instinct kicked in. Kael rushed forward, raising his blade, trying to replicate the stances he'd practiced with Lani.
But the old man moved like wind behind a blade.
In a blink, Kael found himself on the ground, staring up at the sky, back aching.
"You hesitate. You think. Out here, hesitation means death."
Kael grunted, sitting up.
"I'm just a kid…"
"No," the old man said, stepping closer. "You are an Awakener now. You've touched power, whether you asked for it or not. That world doesn't wait for age."
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A Battle of Wills
The training continued.
Kael swung, blocked, stumbled, and fell. Again. And again. His arms trembled. His legs burned.
"Too slow."
"Too open."
"Too soft."
Each correction came with pain, and yet… there was no cruelty in the old man's eyes. Only weight. Expectation.
By the time the sun crested over the trees, Kael was collapsed in the snow, breathing heavily, blade beside him.
His grandfather finally spoke with something different in his voice.
"You lasted longer than your mother did her first day."
Kael blinked up.
"...What?"
"She cried. You didn't. You fought."
That small smile, barely visible under the man's thick beard, felt like the warmth of an entire fire.
Kael smiled back, just a little.
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A Visit From Lani
Later that afternoon, Kael limped back into the training yard. He wasn't sure why he was dragging himself back there. Maybe it was pride. Maybe something deeper.
"Hey shorty," Lani said, appearing from behind the barn. "You look like you got trampled by a boar."
Kael gave her a dry look. "Feels like I got trampled by five."
She threw him a canteen and sat beside him.
"You know, not everyone keeps going after facing your grandpa."
"You met him?"
"Once. He told me my stance was worse than a drunk duck's."
Kael snorted. Then winced.
They laughed quietly, sharing a silence that felt like understanding.
"Kael," she said softly. "Why are you trying so hard?"
He looked at her.
"I don't want to be weak when the world starts falling apart."
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Dinner and Dreams
That night, Kael sat with his family. His sister was humming, his baby brother was covered in stew, and his parents looked tired—but alive.
He watched his mother laugh, his father sneak sweets to the little ones.
And Kael felt it.
This was why he trained.
Not for power.
But to protect this.
Seventeen spoke gently in his mind. You're starting to understand. Power is just a tool. Purpose… that's what builds kings.
Kael didn't want to be a king.
He just wanted to keep them all smiling.
And maybe, just maybe, find a way to smile like that himself.
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Absolutely! Here's:
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Chapter 35 – A Grandmother's Gift
The scent of roasted meat, spiced wine, and sweet bread wafted through the wind as night approached. The village was alive with music. Lanterns floated mid-air like stars brought to earth, glowing softly with orange and gold light. Tonight wasn't just a festival—it was a gathering of roots. Kael's grandmother, Lady Varena, had returned.
And that meant one thing: the family was whole again.
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The Arrival
The carriage that rolled in wasn't grand. It was silent, made of deep-black wood carved with intricate lines, pulled by two horned elk-like beasts that barely made a sound on the cobbled road.
From it, stepped an old woman draped in a silver-fur cloak, her black eyes sharper than a blade. She held herself like the wind bowed to her wishes.
Kael stiffened as her gaze met his. A flicker of something ancient passed between them. She smiled, a slow and knowing smile.
"My grandson."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it echoed through the courtyard.
Kael bowed slightly, unsure what to say.
Lady Varena walked forward and wrapped him in a tight, surprising hug.
"You're warm," she whispered. "Good. You didn't turn into one of those ice-hearted nobles."
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Family Fires
That evening, the manor was louder than it had ever been. Kael's aunt and uncle had arrived with their children, cousins running across the yard, shrieking with joy.
Food covered every table—wild roast, sweet buns, crisp vegetables drizzled with golden butter. Kael sat beside his sister and brother, staring as stories were shared, laughter echoed, and his father… smiled without weight on his face.
For once, he didn't feel like he was just training to survive.
He was living.
And then his grandmother tapped her glass, and silence fell.
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A Small Inheritance
"I don't speak often," Lady Varena said, standing. "But when I do, it's because I see a storm coming. And in storms, you don't wait for the lightning to strike. You build your shelter in advance."
She turned toward Kael.
"My grandson will inherit something rare. Not money. Not titles. But a place."
She waved a ring forward—plain, silver, and old.
"This," she continued, "was given to me by a god-blessed warrior who once served in a dying war. It stores memory. Power. And most importantly... a map."
Kael stood frozen.
"You're too young for the world's true weight," she said softly, only to him. "But I've seen the light behind your eyes. You're not meant to live quietly."
The ring floated to his hand.
"Wear it when you're ready. It will show you your next step."
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Lantern Light
That night, Kael stood alone under the stars.
The silver ring rested against his chest, still warm.
"Seventeen?" he whispered.
Yes, Kael?
"Am I really… meant for something greater?"
That's not the right question.
Kael looked up.
The question is—what kind of greater do you want to become?
He held the ring tightly.
And for the first time, the sky didn't feel so big.
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