The village of Ashroad stirred with alarm. Smoke rose from the distant eastern ridges, where scouts had reported massive movements—hundreds of Stonefang warriors advancing, axes glinting, banners snapping in the wind.
Kaelen stood atop the central watchtower, spear in hand, the golden coils catching the morning light. Flint clutched his satchel of gadgets, while Mira nocked an arrow, eyes sharp and alert.
"This isn't a drill," Mira muttered. "Stonefang isn't here to play. They want the ember lands—and they won't stop until they get them."
Flint swallowed nervously. "Well… at least I got my gadgets ready. I mean… mostly. Maybe."
Kaelen exhaled, feeling the ember pulse stronger in his chest. This is what the Code of Ash prepares you for. Fire tests, loss teaches, and survival hones the spirit.
The Stonefang charge erupted like a tidal wave of molten fury. Warriors screamed, axes raised, and behind them, strange creatures—wolf-like beasts with molten veins—prowled, adding chaos to the battlefield.
Kaelen gritted his teeth, stepping forward. He focused on the ember, letting it flow into the spear. Ashfire danced along its coils, spreading outward in a protective wave that slowed the enemy advance.
Mira loosed arrows that split mid-flight, forcing the molten wolves back, while Flint deployed spring-loaded nets, traps, and small explosions that scattered groups of Stonefang warriors.
"You're actually doing well, Flint!" Kaelen shouted.
"I know! I'm basically a genius!" Flint yelled back, ducking under a swinging axe.
Kaelen inhaled deeply. The ember within roared in response to the chaos around him. He had felt the spark growing, but now it demanded control, focus, and will.
He planted the spear into the ground. A wave of ashfire erupted, scorching the ground in a wide radius, forming a protective barrier around Mira and Flint.
The Stonefang commander, massive and armored, roared and charged. Kaelen's spear glowed gold and silver as the ember surged, forming a spinning vortex of ashfire along the shaft. He struck the ground—**a surge of the Code of Ash—Ember Surge—**and the commander was thrown back, his molten axe clanging against stone.
Mira and Flint stared in awe. "That… that was amazing," Mira breathed.
Flint grinned. "And that, Ashboy, is why I'm sticking with you. Sparks like that? Legendary!"
High above, atop the jagged peaks surrounding the village, two pairs of glowing eyes watched.
One was serpentine, slitted, faintly glowing with gold. So… the boy survives his first test. His ember… unusual. Interesting.
The other, humanoid, radiated a faint silver light. He draws attention not just from tribes, but from the world beyond. Gods, beasts, and the hidden sects… soon, he will rise, or fall. And every choice matters.
Below, Kaelen fought unaware, but the world had already begun taking note.
By nightfall, the Stonefang forces had retreated, leaving charred earth and ash in their wake. Villagers cheered, but Kaelen stood silently, spear in hand, staring at the horizon.
Flint stumbled beside him. "Well… that was fun, wasn't it?"
Kaelen looked at him, then Mira, then at the smoldering battlefield. "Fun isn't the word I'd use."
Mira smirked. "Survived, didn't we? That's all that matters."
Kaelen's ember pulsed warmly, a quiet heartbeat in the night. He had survived—but he knew this was only the beginning. Tribes, mythical beasts, even gods—they were all watching, waiting to see how the boy of embers would walk the Golden Road.
And he would walk it. No matter the fire, no matter the loss.