Royal Capital · Flame Tower Council Chamber
Night hung heavy. At the highest level of the Flame Tower, three sets of knightly armor stood in the firelight.
They were the sharpest soul blades beneath the Flame Palace—Ilea·Frostsong, Tal·Xuan Yan, Kael·Scarlet Eagle.
Flame Soul Knights, wielders of life-and-death authority beyond the throne: sheaths of the Flame Lord, and blades of the Flame Lord alike.
Today, for Knox's fate, they finally gathered before the fire-rune stone platform.Fissures Among KnightsIlea spoke first, her tone as cold and hard as her sword:
"You saw it. The Cracked Moon has come. Next will be the Nine Inland Provinces, or the king's own body."
Tal leaned against a stone pillar, his gaze icy. His face, eroded by soul fire, bore a half-metallic sheen:
"So we hand over the child? Like a tribute?"
Kael sat on a crimson-gold seat, swirling a feather-engraved wine cup lazily, a faint smile on his lips:
"That's 'His Majesty's' blood. He won't part with it."
His eyes slid to Ilea, sarcasm undisguised:
"Especially you—you'd never let him go, would you?"
Ilea's brows furrowed, but a cold smile tugged at her lips:
"Want to provoke me? Then come test me."
The air froze instantly. Soul fire surged between them, and the fire runes at the center of the stone platform dimmed and trembled.
But just as Tal reached for his blade, Ilea suddenly turned, slamming a scroll of diagrams onto the stone:
"This is my choice—the Flame-Moon Joint Campaign Draft."
"If the king refuses to hand over Knox, we'll the apostle first, then shatter the Cracked Moon."
Tal stared in shock: "You'd overstep your authority?"
Kael stood, clapping lightly, his smile widening:
"Fierce as ever. Does his majesty know how loyal you are? Or are you just afraid that woman will bear another child, making you a dog?"
Interlude: Tides of Nighttime Passion
Deep into the night, the Flame Chamber.
Lucian had summoned no one, yet he allowed Ilea into the inner sanctum.
She wore no armor, only a thin black silk robe. The moment she entered, he dragged her into his arms, his lips and teeth clashing with hers.
"You want to kill him, don't you?"
"You want to kill my son."
He panted, fingers roughly sliding between her thighs—longing tangled with rage and desire in that moment.
Ilea didn't struggle. Instead, she rolled atop him, her long legs clamping around him, her body sinking down to take him fully.
"Your son shouldn't be traded like a bargaining chip. But I won't betray you."
They coupled on the flame-woven couch, like two beasts trapped by fate. Each thrust felt like an attempt to prove loyalty and power with flesh.
Lucian's voice was hoarse: "You want to kill that woman?"
Ilea bit his shoulder, laughing wildly:
"She is my enemy. You... are my only king."
She trembled in his arms as she climaxed, murmuring softly:
"But if you hand over Knox, I'll kill you with my own hands."Decision ImminentThe next dawn, the Flame Tower Council Chamber reconvened.
Kael cast his opposing vote: "The prince should not be handed over. But I will not obey any blade driven by selfish desire."
Tal fell silent for a moment, then drove his longsword into the stone platform:
"If the Cracked Moon declares war, I will fight."
The three blades had spoken. Fire runes flared to life in the chamber, their soul auras merging into a searing oath stone, etched with Lucian's name.
Ilea stood before the oath stone, her gaze blazing:
"If the Cracked Moon strikes first, I'll kill the apostle."
"If the Flame Lord bends first, I'll the lord."
This was no vow—it was a final gamble.Epilogue: The Return of the Cracked Moon EnvoyAt that very moment, outside the Flame Palace, a silver-inlaid carriage stopped silently.
Murka·Silver Eyes appeared again, bearing a single message:
"If Knox does not come to us, we will come to take him."
And this time, behind him stood not just six Enforcers, but a sealed ancient soul—the Cracked Moon King's Second Successor Soul, "Lilos."
War had already ignited.