The heat of the Eternal Flame Crater soaked into the bones of everyone in Emberlyn. A haze of orange and black cloaked the air, and the rhythmic clang of blacksmiths' hammers echoed through the small village perched on the edge of molten chaos. Children dashed barefoot across the ash-dusted streets, their laughter blending with the bartering voices of traders peddling volcanic gems and rare ores. Life in Emberlyn thrived amidst the constant threat of fire and destruction.

At the edge of the village, a boy darted between carts and barrels, a wild grin plastered across his soot-smudged face. Ardyn Kael, with his unkempt black hair and patched clothes, was a whirlwind of energy as he sprinted away from three older boys in pursuit.

"Get back here, Ash Rat!" bellowed Joran, the leader of the pack, a stocky brute gripping a wooden club. His face was red from both anger and the relentless heat.

"Catch me first!" Ardyn called over his shoulder, leaping effortlessly over a barrel of molten slag and landing with a flourish. He turned briefly, sticking out his tongue before darting off again.

"You're dead when we catch you!" another boy shouted, struggling to keep up.

Ardyn laughed, weaving through narrow alleys, ducking under wagons, and sliding past startled villagers. It wasn't the first time he'd been chased, and it wouldn't be the last. He was used to being the outcast—the orphan with no name worth respecting. But he didn't care. He was faster, smarter, and quicker on his feet than any of them, and he reveled in the freedom of outrunning his problems.

As he reached the outskirts of the village, the ground began to slope toward the edge of the crater. The molten lake below churned like a living thing, its heat rising in shimmering waves. Ardyn climbed onto a jagged outcrop of rock, hands on his hips as he turned to face his pursuers.

"Well? You wanted a fight, didn't you?" he called, his voice full of mock bravado. "Come on, then! Let's see what you've got!"

The boys hesitated, their faces pale despite the heat. The outcrop was dangerously close to the crater, and none of them wanted to risk a misstep.

"You're crazy, Kael!" Joran shouted, his voice wavering.

"Crazy enough to beat you," Ardyn retorted with a grin. "Go on, run back to your parents."

The boys muttered curses but didn't dare approach. One by one, they turned and retreated, leaving Ardyn alone on the rocky ledge. He watched them go, his grin fading into a thoughtful expression as he stared out over the crater.

The Eternal Flame Crater was beautiful in its own way, a swirling lake of fire and molten rock that seemed alive. Ardyn often came here to think, to dream of something more than the narrow, suffocating life of Emberlyn. He'd always felt like he was meant for something greater, even if no one else believed it.

But today, something was different.

A strange light caught his eye—a swirling, unnatural glow deep within the crater. The molten lava began to move, spiraling into a vortex. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the air grew heavier, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle.

"What the…?" Ardyn whispered, stepping closer to the edge.

Before he could process what was happening, a column of blue fire erupted from the center of the crater, shooting high into the sky. The force of it knocked Ardyn off his feet, and he scrambled to grab onto a jagged rock to keep from sliding into the abyss.

The villagers below screamed in terror, scattering as the ground continued to quake. But Ardyn couldn't look away from the light. It wasn't just fire—it was alive, pulsing like a heartbeat, and he could feel it pulling at him, calling to him.

Without thinking, he reached out a hand toward the flames.

The rock beneath him gave way.

He fell.

The world around him became a blur of heat and light as he plummeted toward the molten lake. Ardyn braced himself for the searing pain of his body being consumed, but instead, he felt… warmth. Gentle, comforting warmth, as if he were being cradled by the fire.

The blue flames wrapped around him, seeping into his skin. He screamed as searing pain shot through his body, and glowing symbols began to etch themselves into his arms and chest. They pulsed with a light of their own, bright and otherworldly.

In the depths of his mind, a voice spoke, deep and resonant: "You are chosen, Celestarbonded. The flames of creation and destruction burn within you. Prove your worth… or be consumed."

The words echoed in his skull, and then everything went black.

---

When Ardyn opened his eyes, he was lying on a bed of cooling lava, steam rising around him. His clothes were intact, and his skin was unburned, but the glowing symbols remained, faintly pulsing like embers beneath his skin.

He sat up, groaning. "What… what just happened?"

A deafening roar answered him.

From the heart of the crater, a massive figure began to rise. It was a Lava Titan, a towering creature of molten rock and fire, its glowing eyes fixed on Ardyn. The ground shook with each step it took, and its molten fists dripped with liquid fire.

Ardyn staggered to his feet, his heart pounding. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, staring up at the Titan. "Why is it always me?"

As the Titan raised a massive fist to strike, something inside Ardyn snapped. His instincts took over, and he raised his hand to shield himself. Blue fire erupted from his palm, forming a blazing sword in his grasp.

He stared at the weapon, wide-eyed. "What the—?"

The Titan roared again, and Ardyn tightened his grip on the sword. Despite the fear coursing through him, a grin spread across his face.

"This… is going to be awesome."

And with that, he charged.