The eastern chasms glowed faintly with molten veins, casting flickering shadows across jagged black stone. Kaelen, Mira, and Flint moved in silence, each footstep measured, each breath deliberate.
"This place smells like burnt hope," Flint muttered under his breath, nudging Kaelen. "Lovely, really. Reminds me of home—or the closest thing I have to it."
Kaelen rolled his eyes. "Focus, Flint. This isn't the time for jokes."
Mira snorted. "Ignore him. He'll get us all killed if you take him seriously."
Flint waved his hands. "Hey! I'm serious and hilarious. A rare combo."
Kaelen smirked despite himself.
From behind a jagged ridge, a low growl echoed. Shadows shifted—scouts of the Stonefang Clan emerged, armed with jagged swords and armor adorned with molten iron. Their eyes glimmered with malice.
Mira nocked an arrow instantly, her gaze sharp. "Stay behind me," she whispered.
Kaelen gripped his silver-and-gold spear. The coils glimmered faintly, resonating with the ember inside him. Flint fumbled with his modular weapon, muttering, "Okay… let's hope this thing works in real combat…"
The scouts charged.
Kaelen inhaled deeply, focusing. He remembered Jorah's instructions: Flow, don't force. Let the Code of Ash move through you.
As a scout swung a molten blade, Kaelen sidestepped, channeling his Code. A streak of ashfire licked along his spear, not enough to burn the scout, but enough to melt the edge of his sword mid-swing.
Mira released an arrow that split on impact, forcing another scout back. Flint, panicking, activated a small gadget from his satchel—a spring-loaded net that ensnared two more scouts at once.
Kaelen blinked. "That… actually worked?"
Flint grinned. "I told you. Comics need gadgets!"
Kaelen's ember glowed brighter as the battle continued. He pushed further, guiding his spear with precision. The ashfire surged from his chest through his arms and into the weapon. A wave of ashen flame erupted, knocking the remaining scouts off balance.
Mira's eyes widened. "Kaelen… that's incredible!"
Kaelen gritted his teeth. "Keep your eyes open. It's not over yet!"
The scouts retreated into the shadows, leaving behind scorched footprints and a faint smell of sulfur.
As silence fell, Flint collapsed onto a boulder, panting. "Okay… maybe we're not going to die immediately. That's… nice."
Mira shook her head, half amused, half exasperated. "You'll owe me for saving your life, funny man."
Kaelen lowered his spear, feeling the ember within him dim slightly as adrenaline faded. The battle had been a test—not just of skill, but of his ability to control his Code under pressure.
Elder Druin's voice echoed in Kaelen's memory: Every spark of power must be tempered. Without restraint, the ember consumes everything—even you.
Kaelen clenched his fists. He had survived. But the Stonefang Clan had left a mark—an omen of the firestorms to come.
Flint nudged him. "Hey, Ashboy. Don't think that makes you a hero yet. We still have a lot of training—and probably more trouble."
Kaelen smiled faintly, feeling the ember pulse in his chest.
He wasn't alone anymore. Mira and Flint would walk this Road with him. And together… they would survive whatever fire came next.