Before the Fire

LOCATION: AETHERION — SANCTUM OF THE SEVEN

It was cold, not because of the stone and not because of the air. Because of the silence.

Seven thrones. Seven rulers.

One room where the world always changed and it was about to again.

Halix Varn stood slowly, her white robes glowing under the divine lights. She didn't raise her voice, she didn't have to.

"I bring a formal charge," she said. "Ashvale was invaded."

Everyone looked now.

Seraphine Velloren didn't move.

Ezekar Nythe raised an eyebrow.

Lady Nyssra tilted her head, a small blade already in hand.

Halix took a breath.

"Three trespasses. Three fronts. All aimed at Ashvale in the last week."

She lifted a scroll, unrolling it with one hand.

"Hollowguards from Mirrorhold," she said, eyes on Seraphine. "Nightbounds from Shadereach." Her gaze shifted to Ezekar. "And Mirageborn — from the Veiled Reach." She finished, her eyes now on Lady Nyssra.

No one said anything at first.

Then Seraphine spoke. Her voice was cold and flat.

"You took my daughter."

Halix smiled a little. "She committed a crime. The Creed of Chains handles criminals."

"You kidnapped her," Seraphine growled.

"Prove it." Halix smirked.

Seraphine stepped forward, a mirror-symbol glowing faintly behind her like a ghost.

"I don't need proof to know she's suffering."

Dren Voskar, Warlord of the 5th Throne barked a laugh.

He stood up, his fur cloak falling back.

"I told you all," Dren said, voice loud. "Halix always plays clean. She looks clean but everything she touches turns black."

Halix's eyes narrowed.

"You support these trespasses?"

Dren smirked. "I support any chance to shove a blade through your perfection."

Ezekar finally stood. His coat shifted as if it had weight from another world.

"My Nightbounds moved without permission," he said. "But I won't apologize for what I believe."

"And what do you believe?" Halix asked.

Ezekar looked straight at Halix.

"That sometimes, darkness moves to protect light."

Nyssra hadn't spoken yet. Her eyes never blinked. Then:

"The Mirageborn went because I let them." Her voice was calm. "I knew what they were doing. And I'll do it again if I must."

Halix raised her chin. "You've all broken the treaty."

"No," Seraphine snapped. "You broke it when you laid chains on my daughter."

Halix's guards stepped forward. Hands on hilts. No words.

Dren unsheathed a glowing blade and grinned. "Let's skip to the good part."

Two more guards moved. Weapons hummed and tension cracked.

Then came the voice of the First Throne.

Cardinal Vael. Quiet, but final.

"No blood in the Sanctum."

His words stopped the room colder than steel. Even Dren froze.

High Seer Elvar stepped forward after him, fingers glowing faintly with oathlight.

"The flame will come," Elvar said. "But not in this room."

The thrones stayed standing but the blades didn't rise.

And the war that almost started… waited.

---

LOCATION: ASHVALE — IRON SANCTUM, WAR CHAMBER

Verrick didn't move at first.

He was standing over a long table with maps and iron markers, all showing borders, routes, and spots where people had already died. His armor was dark and scratched, not from war, but from training. The kind of training that broke bones, not just sweat.

A soldier rushed in with his helmet under one arm and dirt still on his boots.

"Commander," the soldier said, breathing hard. "The Hollow Creed… they hit the convoy."

Verrick didn't blink.

"Prisoner?"

The soldier nodded. "Intercepted. Whole team wiped. Cart broken. They didn't say what happened after but… it's gone."

Verrick looked at the map. Just stared for a second.

Then he spoke, low.

"Ready the Chains."

The soldier hesitated. "Sir?"

Verrick looked up now.

"Prep the strike team, me move on the Hollow Creed's camp. We don't wait. We remind them what happens when they steal from Ashvale."

The soldier saluted and ran off.

Verrick didn't watch him leave. He just turned to the map again.

"See you soon, Lucan... Malryk."

And this wasn't about a prisoner anymore.

---

LOCATION: AETHERION — COUNCIL HALL, EXIT STEPS

Halix's footsteps echoed as she walked down the wide marble steps of the Council Hall. The whole place still felt tense, like the walls were holding in everyone's anger.

Behind her, guards followed, white-cloaked and silent.

One stepped closer and whispered, quiet and fast.

"The prisoner's been intercepted. Creed's report just came in."

Halix stopped walking. Her hands clenched once at her sides then she spoke without turning.

"Send soldiers."

The guard nodded, but Halix added, colder now:

"If she resists… kill her."

The wind picked up for a second.

Then nothing.

Just her walking again. Slower this time. But heavier.

Like the start of a fire no one would survive.