1. THE REBELLION MOVES
The dawn was red. Not from sunlight—but from the lingering burn of the Soulpyre that now marked the Flamebound's return to the world.
Mira stood atop a black ridge overlooking the plains of Thirelan, Kaen beside her.
"They said no one could survive out here," Kaen muttered.
"Then they've never seen what fire remembers," Mira answered.
Behind them, thousands of Flamebound marched. Some were warriors. Some, survivors. But all were burning with purpose.
Their target: The Bastion of Silphare, an old divine fortress turned Purgeborn stronghold — and the first step toward reaching Velron's hidden sanctum in the Skygrave Mountains.
"We strike fast," Mira told her commanders. "No mercy. No gods."
⚔️ 2. THE BASTION'S GATE
Silphare stood like a spear driven into the earth — spiked towers, gleaming wards, walls etched with divine runes.
Raven, now Mira's second-in-command, scouted ahead with her shadowblades.
"There's a flaw," she said. "Old burn marks from Ashara's siege. Weak point in the west wall."
"Then we make it ash again," Mira said.
That night, the Flamebound moved.
Kaen led the vanguard. Lyric and her windarchers covered the skies. Mira—eyes glowing—charged with the front lines.
At the west wall, her flame surged into a phoenix arc, blasting through the barrier.
"NO GODS!" she roared.
"ONLY FIRE!"
The battle began.
🩸 3. THE FORGOTTEN GUARDIAN
Inside the Bastion, something stirred.
Not a Purgeborn.
Not a god.
A Forsaken Guardian — a weapon sealed since Ashara's fall. A creature of metal, flame, and broken memory.
"Designation: Emberlock," it said. "Kill all Flameborn."
It dropped into the courtyard with a crash that split the earth. One swing of its molten blade sent ten rebels flying.
Mira stepped forward, blood in her mouth, fire in her fists.
"You remember Ashara?"
"I REMEMBER FAILURE."
Their clash shattered stone. Mira couldn't overpower it — until she stopped trying.
Instead, she showed it her soul.
And the guardian paused.
"Your fire… is different."
"I'm not here to conquer," Mira whispered. "I'm here to finish what she started."
The guardian kneeled.
"Command accepted."
Emberlock joined the rebellion.
🔥 4. THE BLADE THAT NEVER DIED
In the heart of the Bastion was a vault — sealed by divine script. Kaen and Lyric helped Mira break the seal.
Inside: Ashara's broken weapon — Cindervow, the blade that once killed a god.
It pulsed when Mira approached.
"It shouldn't be alive," Lyric whispered.
"But it is," Mira said. "Because I am."
She grasped the hilt. Flame roared around her. Visions surged through her mind — battles long forgotten, betrayals, divine screams.
The blade whispered to her:
"Finish the vow."
Cindervow reforged itself in her hands.
Not Ashara's sword anymore.
Mira's.
🌩️ 5. THE SKY TURNS
As the rebellion took the Bastion, dark clouds swirled overhead — but they weren't clouds.
They were wings.
The Skybound Seraphim — godspawn that soared between realms — had been unleashed.
And behind them stood Velron.
Watching.
Smiling.
"You have your sword, Mira," he whispered across the wind. "Now let's see what you're willing to burn."
🕯️ TO BE CONTINUED...