The forest was silent, save for the rustle of leaves and Elira's labored breath. The pendant the rebellion leader gave her still pulsed faintly against her chest, its warmth guiding her deeper into the unknown.
She had fled Ilyras Palace under moonlight, cloaked in shadows and desperation. Prince Auren had risked everything—his title, his family, his life—to get her past the guards and out into the wilds.
Now, Elira wandered through the dense Ashen Wood, where the air was thick with old magic and older rumors.
She paused by a creek, drinking deeply from her cupped hands, then glanced behind her.
No sign of pursuit. Yet.
By nightfall, the trees opened to a clearing where firelight flickered in a circle of stones. Hooded figures watched her approach but did not draw weapons.
The same man who had lowered his hood near the temple stepped forward again.
"You returned," he said. "Good. The fire chose wisely."
"I didn't return," Elira replied, exhausted. "I ran."
He nodded. "Even a spark runs before it burns."
They offered her food, shelter, and—most surprisingly—a place among them.
This was the rebellion. Scattered, secretive, and waiting for a leader with fire in her veins.
---
Back in the capital, the Council fumed.
Lady Seraphine stood before the throne with narrowed eyes. "The girl is gone. If she reaches the outer provinces, the flame will spread."
One of the lords snarled, "She must be silenced. The last time a Flameborn rose, an entire city fell."
Auren sat in shadow, his expression blank. But inside, his resolve was iron.
He had given Elira the maps. The horse. The signal to find the rebellion.
And if it meant treason—so be it.
---
That night, Elira sat at the edge of the fire, watching the flames curl upward. The rebel leader sat beside her and placed a scroll in her lap.
A war map. With Ilyras at the center. Marked in red.
"You must understand," he said. "This isn't just about your magic. It's about breaking a kingdom built on fear."
She looked up slowly. "And what if I don't want to break it?"
He met her gaze evenly. "Then we'll burn only the part that tried to break you."