Chapter 24: The Strength to Endure

Liam strode into the grand halls of the castle, his thoughts clouded with lingering traces of Ember—the fiery-haired stranger who had unsettled something deep within him. But as he approached his father, King James, the weight of duty forced his focus back into place.

The king stood before the towering windows, arms folded behind his back, his posture rigid with command. His presence alone demanded obedience, yet Liam had never been the kind of son to bow without question.

“You were seen with the outsider,” King James said without turning around. His voice was calm, but Liam knew better than to mistake it for neutrality.

“She is no threat,” Liam answered carefully.

The king finally turned, his sharp gaze locking onto Liam’s. “She is an unknown,” he corrected. “And unknowns are dangerous.”

Liam exhaled slowly, choosing his next words with caution. “She seeks only survival.”

King James narrowed his eyes. “Is that what she told you? Or is that what you want to believe?” He stepped forward, his heavy robes sweeping the floor as he stopped mere inches from Liam. “You are my son. You know the importance of our lineage, of our kingdom’s safety. You do not offer kindness to strangers unless they serve a greater purpose.”

“She could serve a purpose,” Liam said without flinching.

The king scoffed, shaking his head. “No. Your purpose has already been set, and it does not include her.” He paused before continuing, his voice dipping lower. “Do not forget—your bride has already been chosen. She is no ordinary woman, Liam. She possesses gifts far beyond what this world can fathom. And when you meet her, you will understand.”

Liam remained silent, though something inside him twisted. He had known about the arrangement his entire life, but hearing it spoken aloud—especially now—felt different. Off.

King James studied him closely before adding, “You will notice her soon enough. The fireborn is your destiny, not some wandering girl with red hair.” His tone was final, as if he believed Liam’s fate had already been sealed.

Liam swallowed hard, suppressing the strange ache growing in his chest. He should agree. He should accept his father’s words without hesitation.

But as he stood there, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on him, his mind drifted again to Ember—the way she had stood her ground, the strength in her golden-red gaze.

And for reasons he couldn’t explain, a part of him wanted her to be more than just a stranger.

Liam strode into his chambers, the heavy doors closing behind him with a soft thud. The room was dim, illuminated only by the golden glow of the fireplace, but its warmth did little to ease the tension in his chest. His mind was restless, tangled in thoughts he didn’t want to acknowledge—thoughts of Ember, of his father’s warning, of the prophecy that had dictated his future before he was even old enough to understand it.

With a deep breath, he held out his hand, summoning the presence that had been bound to him since birth.

The flames in the hearth twisted, reshaping themselves until a magnificent phoenix emerged, its fiery wings unfurling as it landed gracefully on Liam’s shoulder. Ignis—his protector, his guide, and the one who knew far more than he ever let on.

Liam exhaled, running a hand down his face. The weight of expectation pressed heavily against his chest, suffocating in a way he had never allowed himself to acknowledge before. He sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the flickering glow of the fireplace, his thoughts tangled in frustration and doubt.

“I can’t do this, Ignis,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “The prophecy… What if she never comes? What if she was never meant to?”

The words tasted bitter as they left his lips.

Ignis remained silent, his glowing eyes unreadable as he watched Liam with an unwavering gaze. The phoenix had always been bound to him, a protector, a silent guide—but never an answer. He did not interfere. He did not dictate Liam’s path. He merely existed within the flames, watching the world unfold in the way it was meant to.

But Liam had never hated that silence more than he did now.

He clenched his fists. “Will my fate be the same if she never appears? Am I bound to something that doesn’t exist?”

Still, Ignis did not speak.

Liam huffed in frustration, shaking the phoenix off his shoulder as he stood abruptly, pacing the chamber. “You never tell me anything directly. You never interfere. I know, Ignis,” he said sharply, his voice edged with unspoken pain.

He stopped in front of the window, his gaze drifting toward the villa where Ember rested, unaware of who she truly was—who she was meant to be.

Was she even meant to be?

Liam swallowed, pushing past the question clawing at his mind. “But you don’t understand,” he muttered, his voice quieter now, almost fragile. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be bound to a future that might not exist.”

Ignis finally stirred. His fiery body pulsed with ancient energy, his golden-red feathers shifting as he spread his wings slightly, his presence growing warmer, heavier.

"You doubt your fate," the phoenix finally spoke, his voice deep, steady, far older than anything Liam could fathom. "But fate does not doubt you."

Liam stiffened. “That’s not an answer.”

Ignis tilted his head, the embers beneath his talons pulsing softly. "You look for certainty where there is none. You wish for control over what is beyond you."

Liam let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. “And what would you have me do? Wait? Hope?”

"You do not need to wait," Ignis murmured. "She is already here."

Liam’s breath hitched. He turned sharply to face the phoenix fully. “What do you mean?”

"The fireborn walks among us, though she does not yet know herself."

The words sent a chill down Liam’s spine, despite the warmth radiating from the hearth.

His mind raced back to Ember—to the defiance in her gaze, the quiet strength in her stance. Could it be possible? Could she be the one?

Ignis studied him carefully. "Patience, Liam. She will come—but expect the unexpected."

Liam exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “That phrase again,” he muttered. “What does it even mean?”

The phoenix flickered in the firelight, his form shifting as his voice softened. "It is not my place to tell you. You must discover her on your own."

Liam swallowed hard, fighting against the storm rising within him. He wasn’t ready for this—not for answers he couldn’t fully understand, not for a fate that felt more like chains than purpose.

He forced himself to turn away, stepping toward his bed. “I must sleep,” he muttered. “I have to train a new soldier tomorrow.”

Ignis bowed his head in understanding, then dissolved into the flames of the hearth, his presence retreating but never truly gone.

But even as Liam settled into his bed, trying to will Ember from his thoughts, the doubt remained.

And so did the fireborn, resting unknowingly just beyond his reach.