The court chamber was filled with tense whispers, the air heavy with disappointment and unease. Nobles, advisors, and generals crowded into the hall, their faces grim as they awaited the king's arrival. The captured beast had been the only glimmer of hope for the struggling kingdom, but days of delay had sown seeds of doubt. The people inside the castle walls were restless, their murmurs of frustration growing louder with each passing hour.
The heavy doors creaked open, and King Alden entered the room, his imposing figure commanding immediate silence. His crown, though simple, carried the weight of authority, but even he looked weary, his face lined with worry. Behind him walked Prince Edward, his posture stiff, his head slightly bowed. His shattered pride was evident in the way he avoided meeting anyone's gaze.
The king took his seat at the throne, his eyes scanning the room. "Let us begin," he said, his voice calm but firm.
One of the advisors stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the people are growing restless. They believed the beast would bring salvation, yet its presence here has only stirred fear. They question why it has not been sent to the neighboring kingdom as promised."
Murmurs erupted again, and the king raised a hand to silence them. "I understand their concerns," he said. "But we cannot act recklessly. The beast is a power we do not fully understand, and its safe delivery is paramount."
Prince Edward, standing to the side, clenched his fists. "Father," he said, his voice strained. " I'm sorry"
"An apology??". An older noble sneered. "Is that what you can do after what you have done?!"
The prince's face flushed with anger and humiliation. "What about you councilor?!. What has been your contribution so far instead of talking, throwing useless agendas in the court !" He argued, though his failure as a prince was visible to everyone presents in the court.
"You've already shown enough weakness," another court member interrupted sharply. "You lost the war, dragged this kingdom into ruin, and now you dare to question the councilor's position !?"
The prince's shoulders slumped, and he looked to his father for support. But the king's expression was unreadable.
"We will send the beast to the neighboring kingdom as promised," King Alden announced, his voice resolute. "The safety of our people comes first. If that is the price we must pay for it."
Before anyone could respond, the chamber doors burst open. Rhys staggered inside, his face pale and his armor dusted with ash. His breathing was labored, and his eyes were wide with fear.
"Your Majesty," he said, struggling to catch his breath. "I bring urgent news."
The room fell silent, all eyes on Rhys as he stepped forward. "Our patrols have reported attacks on the nearby villages," he continued, his voice shaking. "Mysterious fire beasts have appeared, they burn everything in their path. They're enormous, and they travel in high numbers."
Gasps filled the room, and panic began to ripple through the court.
"What do you mean, the beasts'?" the king demanded, rising from his throne.
"The same as one we captured" Rhys replied. "As we speak, we've lost contact with three villages already. The survivors speak of the home shattered and destroyed by fire."
After a long pause, Rhys said "They appeared after we brought the creature back. It's as if they were drawn here, perhaps they're searching for it."
Murmurs erupted, everyone felt the danger.
The king raised his hand, his voice sharp, cutting through the noise. "Enough!" he said. "We must act quickly. Rhys, assemble the troops and fortify the borders. We cannot let these creatures reach the heart of our kingdom."
Rhys bowed, though his expression remained troubled. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king turned to the court. "We will send the beast to the neighboring kingdom immediately. The longer it stays here, the greater the danger to our people."
Prince Edward didn't step forward, or say anything afterward, his face pale and defeated, he scurried away to avoid further humiliation.
Outside, the bells tolled, it's sound echoing across the kingdom. The people of Solara were alerted to brace themselves for what lay ahead.
——————————————
Amara was at home, sitting at her desk, surrounded by the books she had gathered from the old bookstore. The air in her room felt stuffing, as though the weight of the kingdom's despair had seeped into the very walls. She flipped through the pages, one after another, until something caught her eyes, an ancient tome, its cover worn, and the title barely legible. It depicted a symbol of fire, intertwined with a dragon, its coiled form igniting from its own tail. It was an ominous symbol, one she hadn't encountered before. Although dragons were also a myths, taled for their own existence long time ago.
Her heart started to beat faster with each breath she took. She gathered the courage to open the book. And on the very first page she met with the lines that reads.
"Through the fire, life is reborn, a spark, a flame, a beast beyond understanding. They breathe fire as if it is the air of their being."
Amara's fingers paused at the description, her thoughts swirling. She turned the pages slowly, eyes scanning the lines. As she read, the words became clearer, more vivid in their detail. The creatures of fire were born of flame itself, living within the embers, breathing fire instead of air. It was as though they were crafted from the very essence of hot, ancient fire as a molten lava.
"They are not born of flesh as we are, but of flame, taking shape from the ashes and smoke. They are eternal, as long as the fire lives within them, like the smoke that lingers after a fire has burned out."
Her mind raced, trying to grasp the meaning. The beasts they had seen, the one they had captured, were part of a lineage of creatures whose power was tied to the very essence of fire. They weren't simply beasts of flame; they were born from it, and as such, were bound to it. No matter how they tried to contain them, the fire within would always burn.
The words felt like an omen.
Amara's hand trembled as she turned the page, her mind struggling to keep up. But before she could absorb the full truth, a sudden sound from outside caught her attention. Low and distant, like the ringing of bells. The ominous clang echoed through the castle, louder now, a call to arms. Her heart skipped a beat.
She ran to the window, pushing the heavy curtains aside. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked out across the kingdom. Dark smoke billowed into the sky, a suffocating cloud of ash and fire, moving swiftly toward the city's edge.
The people in the streets below were running in panic. Their faces were twisted in fear, their movements erratic, as if the very air around them was threatening to burn. The marketplace, already dismal with its poor condition, now seemed like the edge of the world. Everything was a haze of panic.
Amara's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the heat in the air even from where she stood, and instinctively, she stepped back from the window, her body trembling.
A low growl reached her ears, and Amara froze. She whipped her head around, her eyes wide with terror. The sound was coming from everyone. She panicked and without thinking, her feet moved on their own, pushing her forward, her mind clouded with fear.
She ran, not knowing where she was going, only that she had to run. She bolted down the building but just as she reached the door, she collided with someone, hard.
It was Rhys.
"Rhys !!."She shouted, her grip tightening on his shoulders as she steadied herdelf. "What are you doing here ?!"
Without a reply, Rhys grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the stables. "We're leaving. Now!" he said.
"But where..?!"
Before she could get an answer, they had already reached the stables at the moment
Rhys quickly saddled a horse, helping her up before mounting himself behind her. And without a word, he spurred the horse into motion, racing toward the castle gates. The sound of destruction, of burning villages, echoed in the distance.
As they rode, the smoke grew thicker, choking the very air around them. The sky was heavy with the scent of burning wood, and the heat radiated from fire.
"Where are the soldiers?" Amara shouted, her voice barely audible over the pounding hooves and the growling beasts that stalked behind them.
"They're defending the gates," Rhys replied, his voice strained. His words hung in the air, bitter with the realization of their helplessness.
As they neared the castle gate, the sight behind them was terrifying. The walls of Solara's fortress stood tall and strong, but they could already see the smoke rising from the villages behind. The gates were being closed, soldiers standing at the ready, but even they seemed to falter, their faces pale with fear.
"Move!" Rhys shouted to the soldiers, urging them to hurry. But Amara, gazing turned aroundand saw something that froze her in place.
In the distance, the fire beasts emerged from the smoke. Their enormous, fiery forms were silhouetted against the scattered smoke, There were more of them than they had imagined, their bodies rippling with flame, their eyes glowing with an intensity.
"They're coming," Amara whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rhys turned to her, his expression grim. "Hurry up and get inside !!." He told the soldiers who instantly, opened the gates and stormed inside the castle.
The castle gates slammed shut behind them, and as the sound of the beasts' growls grew outside of the gates.