The ash still clung to Kael's skin like whispers. The battle with the Rift Reaver had scorched more than the ground—it had cracked something deeper inside him.
He staggered through the shifting terrain of Emberlands, glyph burning faintly beneath his palm. The world outside the Trial was quiet, yet too quiet.
Too aware.
---
> [System Notice]
▪ Status: Hollowflame Sync at 14%
▪ New Quests Available
▪ Faction Alert: House Virdane - Anomaly Ping Detected
▪ Tracking Node: Activated (Hidden)
[Main Quest Unlocked]
🜁 The Ember Thread
▪ Objective: Reach the Vein-Watch Tower
▪ Warning: Political Eyes Awakening
▪ Reward: ??? / Class Route Reveal
---
Kael frowned.
(They're watching now…)
He felt it—shadows moving not in secret, but in scrutiny. House Virdane's internal trackers had likely picked up his surge in power. Somewhere in the Emberlands, agents were probably already deployed.
He moved quickly, crossing a shallow ravine where old lava veins glowed faintly.
A wind brushed past.
But it carried no dust.
Only the scent of violet flowers.
---
He stopped.
There, by the cliff's edge—stood a woman.
Raven-black hair, robes lined with silver-embers. A mask of porcelain shaped like a half-moon covered half her face.
> "You shouldn't be alive, Kael Virdane," she said.
Kael raised his stance, not yet summoning his emberwhip.
> "...You're from the House?"
She laughed.
> "No. But they're watching too."
She moved like a breeze—appearing a step closer without walking.
> "Do you know what the Ninth Flame really is?"
Kael narrowed his eyes.
> "Do you?"
She tilted her head.
> "We'll both find out. But you have something that doesn't belong in this era."
> "You've drawn attention—from things that sleep beyond time."
Suddenly, her presence shattered.
Kael blinked—she was gone.
---
> [World Triggered: Vein-Watch Awakens]
▪ Entities in Play: The Masked Flame / House Observers / Third Watcher
---
As Kael approached the base of the ancient tower, flames whispered from its seams.
A small beast blocked the path.
Not a monster. A familiar—but corrupted.
A Trial Guardian, left behind.
> [Monster Encounter: Glassback Emberling – Tier 1.5]
▪ Trait: Reflective Core
▪ Immune to Fire-based frontal attacks
▪ Weak Spot: Lower back seam
---
Kael circled it.
> [Skill Used: Shadowstep – Lv.3]
▪ Range Increased
▪ Blur Duration Extended
He moved behind the beast in an instant—saw the seam.
> [Skill Used: Veinlash Ember – Lv.1]
▪ Bind Mode
The whip wrapped tight. The beast shrieked, twisting.
Kael jerked the emberwhip, lifting the creature briefly—
> [Skill Used: Ember Pulse – Lv.2]
▪ Amplified Burn
▪ +10% against Bound Targets
The blast ripped through the weak spot.
Victory.
> [Loot Acquired: Reflective Scale Shard x1 | Minor Ember Core]
---
Kael reached the tower's door.
But behind him—atop the cliff—a figure watched from a hawk-shaped glider.
Red sigil upon his cloak.
A House Virdane enforcer.