Chapter 3 – A Failure's Flame
"You really didn't awaken anything?"
Kael Draven sat at the cracked wooden table in his family's silent home, arms crossed, eyes unfocused.
The only person speaking was Bren, the one friend who hadn't avoided him after the temple incident. He stood near the window, nervously watching the street below as if guards would storm in any moment.
"No affinity. No talent. No chart data," Kael said with a dry tone. "I'm officially a walking disappointment."
"You broke the orb."
Kael nodded.
"You broke the orb, Kael."
"I didn't mean to break it."
"I'm not mad," Bren said, half-laughing. "I'm just—how does someone even do that? It's been standing for a century. My dad said it was made from condensed mana mined from the First Flame Rift!"
Kael just stared at the hearth. Cold. Unlit. A shadow of what it once was—like the house itself, abandoned by the only people that made it feel alive.
He stood, walked across the room, and pulled up a loose floorboard. From beneath it, he retrieved a small cloth-wrapped package—his emergency stash. Bread, dried meat, fruit.
"Planning to run away?" Bren asked.
"No," Kael muttered. "Just planning to survive."
He sat back down, chewing quietly. The room fell silent, filled only by the distant sounds of Emberlight's celebrations. Someone had probably awakened a Rank-A Wind Affinity or a Divine Flame Talent.
The world worshipped power. It forgot everything else.
Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded letter. He opened it slowly, eyes tracing over the words he'd memorized a hundred times.
Kael,
When the time is right, we'll meet again. Until then… become strong.
No matter what happens—trust the fire.
He folded the paper back up with deliberate care.
DING!
A soft pulse echoed in his mind.
[System Notification – New Feature Unlocked: Flame Codex]
[Would you like to view it now?]
Kael blinked once, then whispered mentally, "Yes."
[FLAME CODEX – ENTRY 01: VOID FLAME]
Name: Void Flame
Tier: God-Origin
Type: Spatial Flame
Status: Dormant (Locked)
Unlock Requirements: Absorb a spatial energy source (natural or constructed).
Special Traits:
– Burns across space
– Allows dimensional slashes
– Can phase through barriers
– Feeds on spatial distortions
Awakened Consciousness: None yet.
"God-Origin…" Kael whispered.
"You're welcome," came Pyra's voice in his head, smug and tired.
"You again," he muttered internally.
"I never left. I was just watching you mope. For what it's worth, I give your performance a solid five out of ten."
Kael ignored her. "So this flame… It's dormant?"
"Needs a trigger," Pyra replied. "A spatial energy source. Broken ring, spatial crystal, dimensional scrap. Anything with space distortion will do."
Kael rubbed his temple. "Those aren't exactly cheap."
"Then steal one."
"I'm not a thief."
"Then work faster."
He sighed and stood, brushing crumbs from his tunic. "You always this helpful?"
"Only to chosen heirs who pretend they're poor."
Kael smirked faintly and walked to the window. Bren was still watching the street.
"I need a favor," he said aloud.
Bren turned. "Please don't say body disposal."
Kael chuckled. "No. Just don't tell anyone I broke the orb."
"You didn't just break it. You un-existed it."
Kael paused. "...I also don't think I actually failed."
Bren blinked. "What?"
Kael turned to him slowly. "It's just a feeling, alright? When the orb shattered… I felt something. Like something lit up inside me. But it's not fully awakened yet. I think I need to trigger it."
Bren studied him for a long moment. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
"Then you've got to figure it out fast. Before the city brands you a cripple and forgets you exist."
"Working on it."
Bren walked to the door. "Alright. I'll keep your secret. But if you explode, I want naming rights to your ashes."
Kael grinned. "Fair deal."
"And don't die."
"No promises."
The door shut.
Kael stood in silence, alone again.
He opened his system interface.
[Unlocked Tabs]
– Flame Codex
– Legacy Trials (Locked)
– Inventory
– Evolution Tree (Locked)
– System Core (Dormant)
Only the Flame Codex was active.
The Void Flame flickered in the corner of his mind like a sleeping star.
Then Pyra's voice returned, softer this time.
"…You're not useless, you know."
Kael blinked. "That sounded almost nice."
"Shut up."
He smiled.
The fire hadn't started yet.
But it would.