Chapter 28: The Weight of Destiny

Kael hurried out of the house, refusing to turn back, unwilling to see the expression on Eira’s face. He regretted giving her false hope, knowing she was meant for something greater—promised to another. His duty was to protect Eira, not to love her. He couldn’t allow himself to fall too deep. He had to keep her at a distance.

Deep down, Kael knew the time had come for Eira to find the village. He only hoped she had let go of her thirst for vengeance and would seek the truth instead. Sighing to himself, he strode toward the village, determined to consult with the council about Eira’s transfer of training—even if it meant leaving her behind.

Eira stared after Kael, watching him disappear into the distance, quiet sobs escaping her lips. Why does he run from me? she thought. Yes, I’m his student, but we could be so much more.

Fueled by emotion, she sprinted after him, unaware of the fire and frost swirling around her arms. Her hands glowed red, raw power crackling at her fingertips.

"Fight me, Kael!" she shouted, voice thick with fury. "If you can't love me, fight me!"

She lashed out, intending to summon a frost whip—but instead, a searing fire-frost whip erupted from her hands, striking out toward Kael. He barely dodged the attack, the whip slashing his arm. Had he been a fraction slower, it could have been fatal.

Kael stared at Eira, mouth agape. Both stood frozen, neither able to find the words. His heart ached—but at the same time, pride swelled within him. Eira had finally broken through to her other powers. It had taken his betrayal to unlock them.

Lowering his gaze, Kael exhaled heavily. "You’ve passed all that I can teach you, Eira," he murmured. "I must prepare the village for your transfer. There, you will continue your training with the Fireborn."

Without another word, he turned away, leaving her standing in stunned silence.

Eira’s mind raced, unable to process what had just happened. Shock and confusion gripped her, emotions warring within her.

Nyx pressed his body against her, a silent comfort in the wake of chaos. She placed a trembling hand on him, tears spilling freely down her cheeks.

She hadn't meant to hurt Kael. And worse—she knew he was right.

She had a mission to complete.

Kael traveled for two days, his mind consumed by thoughts of Eira. As exhaustion weighed on him, he heard a sudden noise behind him. He froze, instincts kicking in, muscles tensing as he readied himself for a fight.

A voice broke the silence.

"Young man, I’m looking for my daughter. I have searched these woods for months, but I have yet to find her. The king’s men have all returned to the castle, convinced she is too deep in the wild to be found. But I know she is near—I can feel it."

Kael’s eyes glistened as he listened to the stranger’s words. A father searching for his child.

His expression hardened. "Does your daughter have a gift? Did you try to hide it from the world? Did you proclaim she was not yours?" His voice was sharp, edged with fury as Eira’s own words echoed in his mind.

What Kael didn’t know was that this man, Michael, was not King Alex. He was Ember’s adoptive father—his identity mistaken in Kael’s anger.

“She doesn’t want to see you. Go home,” Kael commanded.

Michael hesitated, taken aback. He exhaled slowly before speaking, his voice gentle. “It was a misunderstanding. I raised her since she was a little girl…”

Kael’s patience wore thin. His jaw clenched. "Go home—or die."

Michael took a step back, his resolve firm. "Young man, I only wish to see my daughter. I will not let you stand in my way."

Kael didn’t respond. Without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful bolt of energy toward Michael. The impact was swift and devastating—Michael had no time to cry out. His body hit the ground, unmoving, unconscious but alive.

Kael stared at him with cold disgust before turning away. The village was close—he had no time for distractions.

Kael pressed forward, his mind clouded with the weight of his actions. The village was within reach, but his thoughts drifted back to Michael—his resolve, his desperation.

Was I too harsh?

He shook the thought away. Hesitation had no place in his mission.

As Kael approached the outskirts of the village, the dense forest gave way to towering stone structures. The air was thick with the scent of burning embers and damp earth. The Fireborn’s training grounds loomed ahead, their presence unmistakable.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

"You're late," the man said, arms crossed over his chest. His crimson cloak swayed slightly in the evening breeze.

Kael met his gaze. "There were delays."

The man—Orin, one of the council elders—narrowed his eyes. "Eira’s transfer has already been discussed. We expected you sooner."

Kael exhaled, glancing back toward the woods. He could still feel her presence, even from here. The fiery display of her powers, the heartbreak in her voice—it lingered like smoke in his chest.

"You hesitated," Orin observed, his voice tinged with knowing.

Kael clenched his jaw. "I did what I had to."

Orin studied him for a moment before nodding toward the entrance of the village. "Regardless, she will arrive soon. And when she does, the Fireborn will be ready."

At Orin’s words, Kael’s mind raced. Had the Fireborn arrived?

“Council Orin, have they reached the village?” Kael asked, his voice steady but laced with quiet urgency.

Orin shook his head. “Not yet, Kael. We await their arrival—just as we wait for the Frostborn.” His gaze darkened as he glanced toward the horizon. “The tension in the air grows stronger. The twins are close.”

Kael felt his stomach tighten. Eira.

Orin continued, his voice grave. “We must prepare them for their future. Their training will shape their destiny—they must be ready to face King Alex and his soldiers… and reclaim our priestess.”

He fell silent, staring into the distance, lost in thought. Memories surfaced—the day King Alex stole Priestess Melanie away, the moment he ensured his own downfall.

She had been radiant—kind yet formidable, a force beyond any man. But Alex had feared her power. He had sought control. And in his desperation, he had cursed her, binding her abilities so she could never escape.

Had she forgotten the village that once nurtured her?

Orin’s eyes clouded with sorrow.

Kael watched him, sensing the weight of remembrance settling upon the elder’s shoulders. He took a step back, intending to leave, but Orin turned toward him, his expression unreadable.

“Master Kael,” he commanded, “send Eira to us at once.”

Kael stiffened.

“And after you send her away…” Orin’s gaze sharpened. “You are to have no further contact with her. Do you understand?”

Kael hesitated, his heart constricting painfully.

But he nodded.

He understood.

He was about to break Eira’s heart—again.