The Hollow burned anew.
The Heart Root chamber was now remade—deep stone carved in spirals, a brazier lit by three living flames: Kaien's soulflame, Nyru's beastflame, and now Yraleth's ancient blue corona, chained in spirit-stasis, dreaming within the newly formed Oathstone.
Above them, the new crest shimmered—a third ring carved into its spiral.
The sect had stepped from spark into blazing identity.
And the world had seen.
[System Update — Sect Ascension Recognized]
Ashen Hollow Sect — Rank Up: Flame-Level 4
+1 Territory Claimed+1 Guardian Beast Awakened+1 Flame Memory Unsealed
Oathstone Forged – Status: Active Core
Sect Reputation: Emerging Threat / Unaligned— Observed by: Two regional sects— Inquisition Risk: Low— Public Perception: "Ghost sect rising in the Deadlands."
Kaien stood before the stone, arms still scarred from the beastfire trial. His cloak was ragged. His soul ached.
But his flame was clear.
Seren approached, veil flickering uncertainly.
"They'll come now, won't they?"
"The others."
Kaien nodded.
"Let them."
That same evening, the Hollow's outer wardstone flared.
A messenger had crossed the Wound Path.
They wore no weapon, only gray robes bound with seven gold threads.
A silver scroll pulsed in their hand, marked with an ancient rune: the crest of the Twilight Mirror Sect.
One of the Seven Celestial Observers.
Kaien stepped out to greet them. Behind him, Rin and Veyra stood armed, silent. Seren watched from the dreamflame boughs.
"You stand before the Hollow," Kaien said, "Speak."
The messenger bowed.
"Not with threat," he said."With invitation."
"Our Seeress has seen your flame."
"She would know if it is… real."
Kaien's eyes narrowed.
"And if she deems it not?"
"Then nothing," the man said.
"But if she deems it true—she will name you flame-borne, and grant passage into the Grandlight Veil."
Seren whispered from the boughs.
"That's... where sects receive their true titles."
[System Notice – External Recognition Event Triggered]
Twilight Mirror Envoy — "The Gilded Oath Test"Optional Trial: Allow Seeress to judge your Sect Flame and LineageReward:— Celestial Recognition (Grants Hollow official standing)— Access to Twilight-Scribed Flame Techniques— Option to ascend to "Outer Flame Circle" (regional flame registry)
Risk:— If rejected, the Hollow will be marked "False Fire" and lose territorial trust across all southern sect domains.
Kaien turned to the others.
"Thoughts?"
Rin shrugged.
"If they're watching us anyway, better to choose how they see us."
Veyra narrowed her eyes.
"This smells like bait. But it's bait we can burn."
Seren stepped forward last.
"They want to see if we're real," she said softly."Then let them."
Kaien nodded.
"We accept."
The messenger smiled.
"Then come, Sovereign of Ash."
"The Mirror Seeress awaits your truth."
The next morning, the Hollow stirred.
Kaien left with only Nyru and Seren.
Rin and Veyra remained to guard the Oathstone—Yraleth had not yet fully awakened, but his presence alone warded off would-be spies.
They crossed three flame valleys and entered a canyon of shimmering glass, where the moonlight never left the stone.
At the end stood a monolithic altar veined with silver, and upon it sat the Mirror Seeress, blindfolded and burning with passive light.
She raised her voice:
"Sovereign of Ash.You carry a flame that bears sorrow.A flame that rewrites memory.A flame... that should not be."
Kaien did not flinch.
"And yet it burns."
She smiled.
"Then show me."
She placed a silver basin between them.
The Trial of Flame Truth had begun.
Kaien closed his eyes and stepped forward—
Pouring not his power, but his memory, into the basin.
Seren felt it the moment it began—her Dreamfire rippling in tandem.
Visions surged:
A boy kneeling in chains beneath golden fire
A girl with a voice like twilight, whispering: "If they take your name, become what they fear"
A sect that never was, rising in ash
A flame older than flame, branded into the boy's palm
The Seeress gasped.
She fell back.
Tears streamed from beneath her blindfold.
"This is... not of the current cycle."
"This is deep fire."
"This is flame that burned in an era the heavens buried."
She rose shakily.
"Ashen Hollow…"
"You are real."
"And if you rise—so too will the truths they silenced."
[System Alert – External Recognition Acquired]
Ashen Hollow — Flame Status: ConfirmedStanding: Independent Recognized SectBenefits Unlocked:— Access to regional flame relic markets— Invitation to Celestial Sect Convergence (1 moon cycle hence)— Acquisition of 1 Ancient Technique: Mirror Echo of the Last Name
Reputation Surge: +270%
As Kaien turned to leave, the Seeress whispered:
"They will come now."
"Not just the watchers…"
"But those who buried you."
Kaien did not turn.
"Let them."
"If they buried me once, I'll teach them how it feels to burn."