Chapter 12: THE GIRL IN FLAMES

The sky above the palace turned red.

Not from the Blood Moon — but from a fire that was msummoned in the King's name.

Trumpets were blaring and the scared courtiers gathered. The Hall of Ascension, that was long dormant, opened for the first time in that generation.

"It is time the Crown Prince proves himself," the King declared, voice echoing across stone and silence. "Not just in battle... but in control. But you have to lose controlo gain it."

The hall was a sacred space where heirs were tested in public combat — not against enemies, but against their own fears and energy. It was said to be alive, forged from ancient stone and sealed with moon magic.

"You will enter alone, into the ancient temple of despair, the temples searches deep into mind, past, future and fate." said the High Priest. "You will face what lies within."

Wangyeon said nothing.

But inside, he already knew:

This wasn't a test, it was a spectacle. The king knew he won't fail, he just wanted to show off.

⸻

Inside the Hall

The stone doors sealed behind him.

All was darkness. 

Wangyeon stayed on the same spot fora moment before takinga superficial step.

Immediately, the torches flared.

And a voice from the hall whispered:

"They say you are shadowborn. Prove you are more than shadow."

Before him, the flames rose... and took shape.

They became a child crying, covered in blood.

His younger self.

Then it shifted — his mother, eyes hollow, staring at him in silence.

Then... his brother, Wanghain, smiling with warmth — before dissolving into black smoke.

Wangyeon clenched his fists.

"You think you can break me with ghosts these illusions?"

"Its not the illusion that is breaking you, its your resentment, you don't admit it but you know everyone hates you. You try to avoid the fact that your brother wanghain is turning into something else because he wants to be like you, you saw it but you won't admit it. You just hope for one person that is your friend but you have non."

Yeon's face hardened. 

"You think ill fall for your tricks?

You're just trying to use the one person that truly likes me against me and you think i'll fall for that?"

"Yes, i'm trying to scare you but I also I'm not lying to you, you need to find someone else."

Then the flames before him immediately arose to take the form of a girl wielding a blue power. His eyes immediately shifted and his head started banging his heart was squeezing in his chest and he started loosing control.

 He saw the girl in pain of loneliness just like him.

He wanted to reached towards the girl but suddenly the ground cracked beneath him, the rage was getting into him.The blood in his veins hummed.

Suddenly, the flames surged toward him—

And he unleashed it.

⸻

Outside

From the temple balcony, the Queen watched calmly.

"He's losing control," a general whispered.

"No," she said. "He's becoming what the king needs him to be."

The ground trembled and the air rippled with pressure. A crimson aura exploded from the center of the Hall.

A moment later

The doors opened and a black smoke diffused in the surroundings.

Wangyeon stepped out, eyes burning red, cloak in tatters... alone.

He was clearly holding his power in his hands. Now he had control, he no longer had to hold back. 

Even the High Priest bowed.

The King smiled like a lion watching its cub bare teeth.

" The crown prince has proven to us that he is no longer just a teenager he's a man, a warrior, a soldier and a king.

⸻

Later That Night – Wangyeon's Chambers

He sat alone staring at the scorch marks on his arms.

His servant entered.

"Do you require healing herbs, Your Highness?"

"No."

"Then... shall I call for Lady Min Ah?"

He turned slowly.

"If anyone enters again without being summoned, I will burn this room and everyone in it."

The boy left in terror. The prince was now more dangerous than ever, not to be stirred up. 

Wangyeon was alone again.

he remembered the girl in the flames, she wielded power in her hands. That meant that she was a Val (just like Min Ah) 

No, she wasn't Min Ah, though Min Ah provoked him, she would never provoke him enough for him to lose control. She was different.

She made him feel…different.

"Is she my future or my fate?" he asked himself.

He looked down at his hands and research membered how flames oozed from his body.

And for the first time in years...

He was afraid of himself. He had control but he still felt like he had none. He felt that he was even more dangerous than before. Why? 

His conscience was being eating up. Though he wouldn't admit it, he knew deep down that he was starting to doubt his brother after what the voice said.

His brother was the only thing holding his sanity and the hook was starting to lose anchor.

⸻

Deep in the Queen's Wing

"He passed," Wanghain said, eyes shadowed.

"He survived," the Queen replied. " though, but now... he's cracking."

"He's starting to doubt me , I saw it in how he was staring at me. It was different" wanghain said with distant eyes.

"That's just telling us that we no longer have any more time." 

She placed a scroll before her son.

"Begin your studies, my son. You'll need more than blood to take the crown. You'll need..."