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Chapter 10 - Chapter 10 – Bonds Forged in Ash

The village had quieted after the Stonefang retreat, but the air still vibrated with tension. Kaelen sat atop a blackened boulder, spear across his knees, the golden-silver coils glimmering faintly.

Flint approached, whistling a tune that grated on Kaelen's nerves. "Not dead yet, Ashboy! Congratulations. First battle survived. You can thank me later for keeping your head from… well, leaving your shoulders."

Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "You're more annoying than ever."

Flint grinned. "And yet, somehow, I'm your new best friend. Officially."

Kaelen blinked. The ember inside him flickered at that word—friend. No one had ever called him that since his village burned. He exhaled slowly.

"…Fine," he muttered. "Just don't slow me down."

Flint clapped him on the shoulder. "Deal. But fair warning—I might make a joke mid-battle. Can't help it; part of my charm."

Kaelen shook his head, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

Mira approached, bow in hand, eyes sharp as ever. "Alright, enough bonding. Time to see if that ember of yours can actually grow into something useful."

She demonstrated a sweeping motion, sending a harmless jet of ashen flame across the training grounds—a test of control and flow.

"See this?" she said. "The ember doesn't just burn—it moves, flows, reacts. You don't just wield the Code; you dance with it. Copy me."

Kaelen mirrored her stance. At first, nothing happened—just a faint shimmer along his spear.

"Breathe," Mira instructed. "Flow with it. Don't force it. Let your losses, your anger, your grief guide the fire."

Kaelen closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and remembered his village, the Emberbeast hunt, and the battles fought. Slowly, the ember within responded, moving through his veins, igniting along the spear.

A wave of ashfire spread outward, not enough to harm, but enough to ripple the air, sending sparks skittering across the ground. Mira's eyes widened.

"Not bad," she said, a faint smile. "You're finally starting to listen to your Code."

Flint whistled. "I didn't think that was even possible. Looks like the Ashboy's getting sparkier by the minute!"

Kaelen rolled his eyes but felt a quiet pride.

After training, Kaelen and Flint walked toward the village edge, overlooking the smoldering chasms.

"You know," Flint said, tossing a small pebble into the lava fissure, "you and I… we make a pretty good team. You're strong, serious, broody… and I'm hilarious, brilliant, and modest. It balances out."

Kaelen smirked. "Don't let your ego get bigger than your gadgets."

Flint laughed. "Never! But mark my words, Ashboy—you're stuck with me. Through fire, fight, and failure."

Kaelen's ember pulsed warmly at his chest. For the first time, he didn't feel alone. He had Mira, he had Flint… and the Road before him.

High above, atop a jagged peak, a cloaked figure observed.

So… the outsider with the golden-dragon spear has survived his first trials, the figure murmured. Interesting. Let's see how quickly he draws the attention of others… gods, beasts, sects.

A faint glow surrounded the figure's hand—a sigil of power that Kaelen could not yet understand.

The Road is longer than he imagines, the figure whispered. And it begins now.

Kaelen, unaware of the watcher, turned to Mira and Flint. The three of them stood together, staring at the smoldering chasms, ready for whatever came next.

The ember in Kaelen's chest glowed brighter than ever.

The Golden Road continues.

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