Chapter 2: A Spark in the Dark
The flame flickered before Lin Tian, its eerie glow casting long, dancing shadows on the stone altar that held it. His fingers hovered just above the fire, drawn to it, as if the flame itself called to him—beckoning him to claim it, to embrace the power it offered. There was no mistaking it now. This was the Eternal Flame, the fire that had once symbolized his reign, his strength, his very existence. Yet now it burned quietly in the heart of this desolate forest, an unspoken promise of something more.
As his hand inched closer, Lin Tian felt a tremor run through his body, not from the heat, but from the sheer force of the connection. He could feel his blood quicken in his veins, a pulse of energy that matched the rhythm of his heart. This flame was him—and he was it. For a brief moment, he was consumed by the sensation, the understanding, that he had not truly perished. The flame that had once burned so brightly inside him had merely been doused, buried under the weight of betrayal.
Now it was returning, and with it, the past.
The faint whispering voice once again brushed against his mind, soft yet commanding.
Reclaim what was lost. Rise once more.
Lin Tian's breath caught in his throat, and his hand, instinctively, reached forward. His fingers brushed the edge of the flame.
A surge of heat exploded through his entire being, a wave of fiery power rushing into him as though the very soul of the fire was being absorbed into his body. His senses were overloaded. His vision blurred, his mind scattered into a thousand pieces as the ancient fire swirled within him. He could see flashes—fragments of his past life. His memories as Xiao Zhan, the Flame Sovereign, burst forth like wildfire.
He saw the grand palaces, the roaring crowds cheering his name, the fear in the eyes of his enemies. He felt the weight of his crown, the edge of his blade. He remembered the way the flames had bent to his will, how he could summon fire with a mere thought, devastating entire armies in seconds. He had been unstoppable. He had been invincible.
And then, as quickly as the memories surged, they faded. His vision cleared, and he was back in the present, kneeling before the stone altar, gasping for air. The forest around him was still, as if holding its breath, waiting for his next move.
The Eternal Flame burned steadily in front of him, its glow not as intense as it once was, but still bright and potent. Lin Tian could feel it now, a part of him, an extension of his own soul. Yet, the flame was incomplete. It burned, but it was not whole. The power he had once commanded, the strength that had once made him the sovereign of fire, was still dormant—still far from what it had been.
But that was the key—he could feel it in his bones. The flame had not been extinguished, it had simply been dormant. And now that it had been awakened, he could rebuild. He could rise again.
Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaky beneath him. His hands trembled, but not from weakness. The power that surged through him was still untapped, a roaring inferno held in check by his untested will.
Rise, the voice whispered once more. Reclaim your throne.
Lin Tian clenched his fists, the warmth of the flame still lingering in his palm. He needed to understand. He needed to know what had happened to him, why he had been reborn. This world, so different from the one he had once ruled, felt unfamiliar, almost alien. But the flame inside him was the same.
His resolve hardened. He could not remain here, hidden in the woods forever. He needed to find answers. He needed to discover why he had been reborn, who had orchestrated his fall, and what had become of the kingdom he had once ruled.
With a final glance at the Eternal Flame, Lin Tian turned away from the altar and walked back into the forest. The mist had lifted slightly, and the path ahead was clearer now, though still treacherous. The world felt quieter than it had before, as if holding its breath, awaiting his next step.
As he walked, the realization hit him—he didn't know where he was going. He had no memory of this world, no knowledge of its politics, its powers, or its people. His memories as Xiao Zhan, though vivid, were distant. He was starting from scratch. But the more he thought about it, the more determined he became. The Eternal Flame was his to command, and with it, he would carve a path forward. This time, there would be no room for mistakes.
The sun had begun to rise higher in the sky, casting a golden hue over the forest. It was a new day, but Lin Tian knew that it would not be easy. Whatever forces had caused his downfall in the past would surely be waiting for him in this new life, watching from the shadows. And he would need every ounce of strength he could muster to confront them.
The village was quiet when Lin Tian returned, but the eyes of the villagers seemed to follow him as he made his way through the main street. The older man from earlier, the one by the well, had disappeared, and Lin Tian was left alone with his thoughts. He had no idea how long he had been in the forest, nor did he know if anyone had been looking for him. But he did know one thing—he couldn't stay in this village. Not with the questions piling up, not with the feeling that something bigger was at play here.
As he passed a small merchant stall, he caught sight of an old man selling dried herbs and trinkets. The merchant gave him a once-over, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if sizing him up. Lin Tian's instincts flared, warning him to be cautious, but he felt a strange pull toward the man. Perhaps he knew something—perhaps he could help.
Lin Tian approached the stall, his steps slow and measured. The old man looked up, his face weathered and creased, but his eyes sharp as he studied Lin Tian closely.
"Looking for something, boy?" the merchant asked, his voice raspy but calm.
Lin Tian hesitated, then spoke, choosing his words carefully. "I'm looking for information. I've… come into some trouble, and I need to know more about this place."
The merchant's eyes flickered with something akin to recognition, though he quickly masked it with a chuckle. "Trouble, eh? Trouble tends to find people like you. Always does. But this place… it's quiet, for the most part. What makes you think you'll find answers here?"
Lin Tian leaned in, his voice low. "I've seen things. Felt things. This village… this place is different. I need to know what's going on."
The merchant's expression shifted, ever so slightly, a glimmer of interest flashing across his face. "Ah… so the flame calls to you, does it?"
Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. He knew the merchant had to be talking about the Eternal Flame, but he didn't understand how the man could know. He had barely spoken of it to himself, let alone to anyone else.
The old man smiled, though it was more a knowing grin than a friendly one. "The forest speaks, lad. It whispers to those who listen. But not all who listen understand what they hear."
Lin Tian's mind raced. The merchant wasn't just a simple herb seller—he knew something about the forest, about the Eternal Flame. The question was, did he know about Lin Tian himself?
"What do you know about the forest?" Lin Tian asked, his voice firm but quiet. "What do you know about the flame?"
The merchant studied him for a long moment before responding. "I know enough to keep my distance. And I know when someone has been touched by the flame. You should be careful, boy. The fire that burns within you is not something you can control easily."
Lin Tian felt a shiver run down his spine. The words rang true. He wasn't ready—not yet. But the fire was his, and he would learn to control it. He would master it once more.
"Where can I find more answers?" Lin Tian asked, his tone almost pleading now. "Where can I learn about the flame… and what it means for me?"
The merchant leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "There's a place, deep in the heart of the forest. It's not far from here, if you're brave enough to seek it. But be warned—the journey is not for the faint of heart."
Lin Tian nodded, his resolve solidifying. He had no choice. The forest was calling to him, and he would answer.
He was done running. This time, the flame would be his guide.
To be continued…