The moment the violet glow burst from Ryu's Embermark, everything around him shifted.
He didn't even feel his body move—but suddenly, the air turned cold. Clouds drifted beneath his feet. Strange glowing birds flew overhead. They were standing on black stone, floating high above the world.
The Floating Castle of Xyther.
Ryu had only heard rumors. A sky fortress ruled by the strongest Ember-wielder alive — Director Ansh.
Beside him stood two figures: one was Ansh himself. The other… Ryu didn't know. But something about him felt dangerous, calm, and powerful.
Ansh glanced sideways and smiled.
"Bahut din baad bhai, kahan tha tu?"
("It's been a while, brother. Where were you?")
The other man laughed casually.
"Sora tha bhai."
("Just roaming, brother.")
Ryu stared at them, confused. He couldn't understand their language. It sounded familiar… but distant, like an old memory just out of reach.
Ansh noticed his confusion.
"Can't understand us?" he said. Then gently placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder.
"Try listening with your Ember. Not your ears. Focus on the energy inside you."
Ryu closed his eyes and concentrated.
And then—he understood.
It was like a switch flipped inside him. Words began to make sense. The language wasn't new. It was already inside him. Waiting to wake up.
His eyes opened slowly.
"Better?" Ansh asked.
Ryu nodded. "Yeah… I can understand now."
The second man finally stepped forward.
"I'm Anshu," he said with a grin. "I hold the same Violet Embermark as you."
Ryu blinked. "There's… another one?"
Ansh nodded.
"There are only three of us alive who carry it. Me. Anshu. And now… you."
"We're part of a clan," Anshu added. "A forgotten one. Graveborn."
Ryu felt a chill. That name. He had read it once, in a lost book. But no one believed those people ever existed.
"You're lying," Ryu whispered. "That's a myth."
Ansh's voice grew calm, but serious.
"No myth. The Graveborn were real. And you, Ryu… you are one of us."
Ryu took a step back. "How? I don't even know—"
"It doesn't matter if you know," Anshu said. "It's in your blood."
Ansh looked at his old friend, and a rare smile touched his face.
"Bhai… kitne saalon baad apne clan ka koi mila hai."
("Brother… it's been so many years since we found someone from our clan.")
Anshu nodded softly. "Finally."
Ansh turned to Ryu again.
"The Violet Embermark isn't a rank. It's a symbol. Only those with Graveborn blood can awaken it."
Ryu stood still, his heart racing.
He finally understood… a little.
But then Anshu stepped forward with a serious look.
"But you'll have to prove you're worthy of the Graveborn name."
Ryu's eyes widened. "Worthy? How?"
For a moment, silence.
Then both men started laughing.
Anshu grinned.
"Relax, I'm just messing with you."
Ansh chuckled. "He loves scaring people."
Ryu let out a breath. His hands were still shaking.
"But jokes aside," Ansh said, "you do need training. Real training. You've only unlocked the surface. What's inside you… will take everything to control."
Ryu nodded slowly. "I'm ready."
"Good," Ansh said. "But first—rest. You'll need your full strength. What's coming next… isn't easy."
As Ryu walked toward the guest quarters, he glanced back one last time.
Anshu looked at Ansh and said quietly,
"Think he can handle it?"
Ansh didn't answer right away. Then softly said,
"Usse karna hi hoga."
("He has no choice.")