"Let the flames consume him. Maybe then he'll be worth something."
A boot slammed into the kneeling boy's ribs.
He gasped, blood splattering across the cold black stone beneath him. The Trial Chamber reeked of smoke and superiority. He could barely raise his head—his long black hair clung to his face, soaked in blood and sweat.
The Primordial Flame Altar stood quiet.
For the third time in his life, the sacred fire did not awaken for him.
"You're pathetic," hissed Draven, one of his elder brothers. "You shame the bloodline just by breathing."
Exedra didn't speak.
He couldn't.
His body was broken. His pride crushed. His flame? Still silent.
The noble elders turned away and didn't interfere. No one would question the beating. Not when it was a failure like him.
Only one didn't walk away.
Cecilia Salvatore.
She stood at the far edge of the chamber, arms folded, crimson battle cloak draped over her shoulders. The moment her piercing red-gold eyes met his, the room froze—though not a word was spoken.
Her face was beautiful—divine, even. Not a single imperfection marred it. Her body, curvaceous and powerful, radiated a terrifying aura. She was cold, distant, unapproachable.
Yet even she... watched.
Even she... had once shielded him from a blade behind closed doors.
And he—Exedra—loved her.
No one knew. No one could know.
Not her.
Not his grandmother.
Not even his beloved mother.
Because how could a failure love goddesses?
---
Later that night, the elders announced it:
> "Exedra is hereby stripped of training rights and family privileges. He is no longer recognized as an heir candidate."
---
His mother Selena wept silently in the outer courtyard as she nursed his wounds.
She was once the most beautiful woman in the estate. Now worn thin by years of grief and isolation, she was still his everything. Her soft hands touched his bruises with trembling reverence, but her eyes… held guilt.
> "You should have been born with flame," she whispered. "Maybe then they wouldn't… treat you like this."
Exedra stared at the darkened skies through the window.
He said nothing. He only clenched the blanket and repeated the words he'd always buried in his heart.
> "One day… they'll regret everything."
---
🌑 After three days he regained some energy and healed a little.
He left his mother after eating breakfast and talking with her for a while and entered the forest near the domain of the family to begin his unending training.
While he was working out he heard a noise from deep in the forest, it was a knowing fact that it's a forbidden area.
He tried to focus on his training but the noise got louder and he started to get curious and gone there to see what's happening.
While he moved deep in the forest unknown to him there was shadows following him from behind .
After he reached the place of the noise he didn't find anything.
He kept searching for a while but in the middle of his search he felt danger from his back, but before he can dodge he got knocked by a powerful hit on his head and fall to the ground.
He had been lured into the forest.
The one ho hit him was none other than his elder sibling, Draven, and other members of the family, they beat him. Cut him. Dragged him to the Edge of the Abyss, a cursed ravine said to be haunted by fire spirits of the old gods.
> "This is mercy, brother," one sneered. "No flame. No future. No place here."
> "Jump—or we'll push you."
He didn't jump.
How could he jump and leave his mother?
How could he jump before claiming his beloved step sister, Cecila?
And while thinking about them.
They shoved him.
"NOOOO"
"BASTARDS, I WILL KILL EVERYONE OF YOU
I WILL TORTURE YOU UNTIL YOU WISH FOR DEATH
JUST WAIT
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
He scream with despair on the top of his lungs, but his voice kept going down until it stopped.
His body fell like ash, slamming against jagged rock before vanishing into blackness below.
"Hmph", Draven who pushed him snorted and walked away in a hurry with his other siblings.
---
🔻 In the Darkness Below…
The world faded. His thoughts blurred.
He felt fear.
He felt despair.
He was fearing dying and leaving his mother alone.
He was regretting his life.
He didn't take revenge.
He didn't reach the top of the world.
He didn't claim his beloved ones.
His eyes was lifeless and he was on the verge of death.
But something in the void called to him.
A warm hum pulsed through his chest. His broken body touched a glowing altar hidden in ancient ruins buried far beneath the Forest.
Suddenly—text appeared before his eyes.
> [Gacha System Activation Initiated...]
[Bloodline Analysis: Unique Variant Detected]
[Primordial Flame Resonance: 100.00%]
[Error... Authority Overload]
[You have awakened the Sealed Bloodline: "Crimson Genesis Flame"]
[Welcome, Exedra. Your vengeance begins now.]
A burst of light surged through him.
His wounds vanished. His soul burned.
And floating above him… a golden crystal shimmered.
> [Beginner Gacha Pull x3 Available]
[Do you wish to summon?]
He was emotionless in the first, but after feel his body healing at a visible rate.
He laughed—blood dripping down his chin, eyes glowing gold, his face, his wide devilish bloody grin was able to spread terror to any normal being who saw it.
> "Yes."
---
End of Chapter 1
---