The bronze bell from the central tower rang low across the Emberlands sky, heralding the beginning of the Flame Declaration—the rare family assembly held every five years where the House of Virdane affirmed lineage, legacy, and loyalty.
Kael stood alone on a balcony, overlooking the tower's spires. He wore no sigil. No formal robe. In his hand, only a thin cloak of gray—marking a child unrecognized by the house's succession tree.
> "Not invited. Not mentioned. As always."
Footsteps behind him.
"Kael…"
It was Lady Elaira, his mother. Her presence warmed the air itself.
She brought bread and a wool cloak, ignoring the biting wind. Her face was soft with age, yet her eyes burned with a quiet defiance.
"Elaira," Kael said, "Father will name them all today, won't he?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"He won't name them," she whispered. "He'll name what he controls. And fear what he can't."
---
Throne Hall of House Virdane
Within the throne hall lined with ancient obsidian and gold, Lord Therion Virdane sat on a throne shaped like rising flame. His cloak made from drake hide shimmered faintly.
He was the head of House Virdane—an ancient bloodline said to possess pre-systemic fragments within its core.
Around him stood his six official wives, each in ceremonial robes:
1. Lady Virella – First wife, cold and calculating; mother of Dareth.
2. Lady Maelis – Second wife, the spider queen of court information.
3. Lady Tharia – Third, of Umbral descent, unreadable and pale.
4. Lady Cireine – Fourth, manipulator of system-law contracts.
5. Lady Nyzara – Fifth, frost sorceress of ambition.
6. Lady Elaira – Sixth, absent, uninvited.
The children stood in a crescent line—Arwen, poised and unreadable, Gareth, armored in silver flameplate, and the rest—watching for favor or dismissal.
Kael's name was never spoken.
But when Therion spoke Arwen's name, his gaze flickered.
He stared at the empty corner of the room.
> "He's alive," he muttered. "But hidden."
None responded.
But Lady Maelis caught Lady Tharia's eye.
The court's silence was louder than thunder.
---
Outside the Hall
Kael couldn't hear the words.
But he felt it.
A tremor. The air heated.
> [Family System Resonance Detected]
[Flameborn Fragment: Partial Sync]
[Warning: Lineage Rejection – Searching Alternative Path…]
> "Even my blood denies me."
But the system—his system—answered with something else:
> "You are not their heir…
You are the beginning of a new flame."
And far below, in the sealed chamber of black stone,
Three symbols awakened.
One of flame.
One of shadow.
And one… unnamed.
---
📊 STATUS UPDATE – KAEL
[Level]: 10
[Skills]: Ember Pulse (Lv.2), Shadowstep (Lv.2), Veiled Sigil (Lv.1)
[Traits]: Dream-Echo Instinct (38%), Shadow-Forged Memory
[Charisma]: 10 | [Luck]: 12
[Title]: Hidden Flamebearer
[New Status]: Disconnected from Official Virdane Inheritance Tree