Chereads / Embers of the Celestial Flame / Chapter 3 - The Silent Stranger

Chapter 3 - The Silent Stranger

Zhao Liang awoke to the gentle sound of rustling leaves, the cool breeze brushing against his skin. His body felt heavy, sore from the ordeal of the previous night. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was or why he felt such exhaustion, but then the memories flooded back—the village's destruction, the blue-eyed cultivator, and the flames.

Opening his eyes, Zhao found himself lying in a small clearing within the forest. A makeshift campfire crackled softly nearby, its warmth a welcome contrast to the cold dawn air. The smell of smoke and earth filled his senses, but more than that, he felt a presence—someone watching him.

Slowly, he turned his head and saw her. The woman who had found him last night sat across from him, her features still hidden beneath the hood of her dark cloak. She was motionless, her gaze fixed on the fire, but Zhao could feel the weight of her attention, even if she didn't look directly at him.

"Who are you?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from fatigue.

The woman didn't respond immediately. Instead, she reached into her cloak and tossed something toward him. It landed with a soft thud next to him—his medallion, the Celestial Flame Medallion.

Zhao's hand instinctively shot out to grab it, his fingers closing around the familiar shape. Its surface was cool to the touch now, no longer radiating the intense heat from the night before. Relief washed over him at the sight of it, but also confusion. "Why did you help me?"

The woman finally spoke, her voice calm and measured. "You're reckless, but you have potential. That medallion is no ordinary object, and if you want to survive, you'll need to learn how to use it."

Zhao sat up slowly, wincing as his muscles protested. "How do you know about the medallion? Who are you?"

She paused for a moment, then lowered her hood, revealing her face. Zhao blinked in surprise. She was younger than he had expected, perhaps only a few years older than him. Her dark hair framed sharp features, and her eyes held an intensity that spoke of experience far beyond her years.

"My name is Yun Xia," she said. "I've been tracking the medallion for some time. I didn't expect to find it in the hands of a boy from a small village."

Zhao bristled at her words, feeling a flicker of indignation. "I didn't ask for this! My village—"

"—was destroyed because of that medallion," Yun Xia interrupted, her tone harsh but not unkind. "You're not the first to suffer because of it. And you won't be the last."

Zhao's heart sank at her words. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders, but there was something else too—a burning desire for answers. "What is it?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "What's so special about this medallion?"

Yun Xia's expression softened slightly. She glanced at the fire, as if deciding how much to reveal. "The Celestial Flame Medallion is a remnant of an ancient power, one that was lost to the world centuries ago. It's said to hold the key to awakening the Celestial Flame, a force that can either bring salvation or destruction, depending on who wields it."

Zhao stared at the medallion in his hand, its cool surface now feeling like a burden. "Why me?" he whispered. "Why did it choose me?"

Yun Xia shook her head. "I don't know. The medallion has a will of its own. It responds to those with potential, but it's also dangerous. Without the proper training, it could destroy you."

A chill ran down Zhao's spine. He had already felt the raw, uncontrollable power the medallion held, and the thought of it consuming him was terrifying. "So, what do I do now?" he asked, feeling lost.

Yun Xia stood up and dusted off her cloak. "You need to train. Properly. If you keep relying on instinct alone, you won't survive long enough to understand the true nature of the Celestial Flame."

Zhao frowned. "And you're going to teach me?"

She looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "I don't have a choice. If the wrong people get their hands on that medallion, the consequences could be catastrophic. I'll teach you how to control its power, but you'll have to keep up."

Zhao nodded, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. He wasn't sure he was ready for this new world of cultivation, ancient artifacts, and deadly enemies, but what choice did he have? His village was gone, and the medallion had already marked him for something far greater than he could have imagined.

Yun Xia turned and began to walk away, her cloak billowing slightly in the morning breeze. "We'll start with the basics," she called over her shoulder. "Follow me."

Zhao pushed himself to his feet, still sore and weary, but determined. Clutching the medallion, he took a deep breath and followed Yun Xia into the forest, unsure of what lay ahead but knowing that there was no turning back.