The morning sun had barely cleared the ancient spires of the capital when Kale Ardentis began his work.
On his workbench, the silver scroll of the Grand Imperial Zenith Competition lay open. Its characters, written in dense imperial ink, described the strict rules.
With only six days remaining, the tension in Emberheart was rising rapidly. The capital's noble families were gathering their rarest resources. They prepared their young heirs for a public display of strength.
Kale ignored the distant and bustling hum of the city. His full attention was focused on a single crystal matrix. The previous night's encounter with Princess Aria left a lingering warmth.
Her distinct scent of wild ginger was present near the entrance. But more than her scent, her words remained in his mind. She had challenged him to win the ancient rank elemental core.
