The Temple of Eternal Light rose above the jungle canopy of the Divine Kingdom of Sucaria, its gilded spires gleaming in the fading sunlight. Inside its hallowed halls, the Council of Flamebearers convened in urgent secrecy. The room, illuminated by enchanted flames that danced in their sconces, felt charged with tension.
Cardinal Velen sat at the head of the crescent-shaped table, his weathered hands resting on a scroll before him. Around him, the other council members exchanged uneasy glances, their robes marked with the crimson insignia of the Radiant Flame.
Velen broke the silence, his deep voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. "The oracle has spoken," he began gravely. "A prophecy unlike any we have encountered before."
Archbishop Lirien, a sharp-eyed woman whose fiery red hair matched her fierce temperament, leaned forward. "What does it say?" she demanded.
Velen's fingers unfurled the scroll with deliberate care. The parchment seemed to pulse with the energy of the divination etched upon it. His voice, steady yet weighted with foreboding, echoed in the chamber as he read:
[ "From the lands beyond the flame, an elementless one shall rise.
Unbound by the balance of the world, their power shall grow.
If left unchecked, they will bring ruin upon us all." ]
The council sat in stunned silence as the words hung in the air like a smoldering ember.
Lirien's voice was the first to break the quiet. "An elementless one? That defies the very foundation of our faith. Every soul is gifted an element by the Radiant Flame. To be without one…"
"It's an aberration," interjected Bishop Maltrius, his booming voice tinged with righteous indignation. "An affront to the divine order!"
"We have reason to believe this is not a mere metaphor," Velen continued. "Reports from the empire of Breles speak of a knight with no discernible element—a commoner who rose to prominence under unusual circumstances."
"Breles," Lirien muttered, her lips curling slightly. "Of course it would be them. Their imperial ambitions have always lacked respect for divine law."
"Do not let prejudice cloud our judgment," said High Priest Dorian, his calm tone a stark contrast to the rising tension. His eyes, half-closed as if in meditation, flicked toward Lirien. "We must first confirm if these rumors are true."
"What is there to confirm?" Maltrius shot back. "The prophecy is clear. This elementless knight is a threat. The very existence of such a person is blasphemy. They must be eliminated."
"And if they are not yet aware of their potential?" Dorian countered. "Acting without proof could provoke the empire and undermine our credibility. Let us not forget that Breles is an ally—for now."
"This is no time for half-measures!" Lirien snapped, her frustration evident. "The Radiant Flame does not issue warnings lightly. If we hesitate, we risk the ruin foretold."
As the council descended into heated argument, Velen remained silent, his expression unreadable. Finally, he raised a hand, commanding their attention.
"We will send agents to investigate," he declared. "Quietly. If this elementless knight exists, we must determine their nature—and their intent. Only then will we decide how to act."
* * *
The meeting adjourned, but the tension lingered as the council members filed out, their whispered discussions echoing through the temple halls.
Velen remained seated, his gaze fixed on the scroll. The prophecy unnerved him not just because of its content but because of what it represented: a challenge to everything the Divine Kingdom stood for.
"Elementless," he murmured to himself. "What are you, truly? A test of faith or a harbinger of destruction?"
* * *
Far from the jungles of Sucaria, Adrian Falter stood in the training grounds of Arvendale. Sweat dripped from his brow as he practiced his forms, his blade cutting through the air with precision. He was unaware of the prophecy, the council, or the danger his very existence posed to the world's balance.
What Adrian did know, however, was the truth of his abilities—or rather, the lack of one fundamental trait. Unlike his comrades, who wielded elements tied to the natural forces of fire, water, earth, or air, Adrian had none.
His strength came from his aura—a force that, while powerful, was a rarity and often misunderstood. He had learned to hide this anomaly, knowing that to reveal it would invite questions, scrutiny, and possibly worse.
* * *
In Ulcea City, Princess Fiona sat in her chambers, poring over reports from Sucaria and the Breles court. Her sharp mind pieced together the threads of a troubling puzzle. The Divine Kingdom's sudden interest in Adrian's exploits had not gone unnoticed.
"Adrian," she murmured, her brow furrowed. "You don't realize how much you've already changed the world."
Fiona had taken great care to protect Adrian's secret, ensuring that any mention of his elementless nature was erased from official records. She understood the delicate balance of power in Autera and the chaos that could erupt if the truth were known.
But she also knew that such a secret couldn't remain hidden forever.
"If Sucaria discovers who he truly is…" she thought, the weight of her decisions pressing heavily on her. "No. I won't let that happen. Adrian's destiny is his own."
* * *
Back in Arvendale, Adrian sheathed his sword and leaned against the training post, his breath coming in steady bursts. Lucas approached, tossing him a water skin.
"You're pushing yourself harder than usual," Lucas said, a grin tugging at his lips. "What's going on?"
Adrian took a long drink before answering. "I just… feel like something's coming. Like I need to be ready."
Lucas clapped him on the shoulder. "You're always ready, Adrian. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Adrian managed a small smile, grateful for his friend's unwavering support. Yet, as he stared into the fading light of the evening, a sense of unease lingered in his chest.
Unbeknownst to him, the Divine Kingdom's agents were already on their way, their mission clear: uncover the truth about the elementless knight.
And in the shadows of Autera, forces greater than any of them could comprehend were beginning to stir.
As the night deepened, Adrian returned to his quarters, his thoughts heavy. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he resolved to keep moving forward, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
For now, he trained and prepared, unaware of the prophecy that had marked him as both a savior and a threat.
The world was watching, its gaze fixed on Adrian Falter. And soon, the choices he made would determine the fate of all Autera.