The halls of Eldwyn trembled as Darian ascended from the Deepfire Vault.
Sareth and Kaelin stood at the ready, tense—but froze when they saw him. His eyes burned with golden light, and heat radiated from his skin. The very air shimmered around him. Behind him, the massive Guardians followed—silent titans of stone and fire.
Kaelin let out a low whistle. "You've… changed."
Sareth stepped forward, eyes wide. "What happened?"
Darian's voice was steady, but deeper, echoing slightly. "I claimed the Deepfire. I passed their trial. The Guardians are ours."
Lioren approached, awe in his eyes. "No one has ever wielded the Deepfire and lived. You… are the first in a thousand years."
Darian's gaze was distant. "And if we fail, I'll be the last."
---
The War Council
Later, within Eldwyn's council chambers, maps and scrolls lay scattered. The air was thick with tension.
