Chapter 32 - Volume 3, Chapter 1- Shadows Linger

🔥 Chapter 1 — Shadows Linger

The northern highlands were silent, but the air was heavy with the echo of Kael's battle. The Harrowed King's fragments had been shattered, yet the King himself had vanished into shadow, leaving only tremors across the land. Kael's Ember pulsed faintly, coiling along his arm like a living thing, still warning him that danger was far from over.

Rhyne stood beside him, gaze sharp and wary. "We've won battles… but the war isn't finished. The King has retreated, yes—but he's learning. Every strike, every encounter—it makes him stronger."

Kael clenched his fists. The Ember responded, brighter now, pulsing like a heartbeat. "I know. But we've learned too. The fragments were only the beginning. Now we have a chance to strike first, to turn the tide before he can consolidate his power again."

Rhyne's eyes scanned the horizon, lingering on distant mountain peaks. "The highlands are scarred, villages destroyed… there are survivors, scattered. And there are rumors—those who fled speak of new generals, unknown even to the King's old records. If he's sending them, he's preparing for something bigger… something that could sweep across the entire realm."

Kael felt a chill, though the Ember burned warm against his skin. "Then we find them first. Each general we defeat gives us an advantage, and each victory strengthens the Ember. We have to be proactive… not reactive."

As they mounted their horses and rode toward the shattered villages, Kael sensed faint pulses of magic in the distance, subtle traces of the King's influence. He could feel the Ember reacting differently now, guiding him, warning him. He was no longer just wielding fire—it was part of him, and he was beginning to understand its rhythm.

Rhyne's hand rested on the hilt of his blade. "Kael… this next phase won't be easy. The King himself might intervene. We need every ounce of strength, strategy, and courage we have."

Kael's eyes glowed with blue fire. "Then we'll rise to meet it. Whatever comes, we fight. For the highlands, for the Ember, for the realm."

Above them, the sky pulsed faintly with dark cracks—the heartbeat of the Harrowed King, waiting, watching, and preparing.