The courtyard fell silent.
Students who had been training only moments before now stood frozen, watching as the Royal Envoy's cloak fluttered in the wind. Their eyes—deep amber, like coals beneath ash—remained locked on Sorra.
Sorra felt her pulse hammering hard enough to shake her ribs.
Nico stepped forward without hesitation, placing himself between her and the envoy.
"You are trespassing on Academy grounds," he said, voice firm. "State your purpose."
The envoy didn't even look at him.
"You may step aside," they replied calmly. "We are not here for you."
Nico didn't move.
A faint smile touched the envoy's lips—polite, cold, and amused.
"Very well."
Their voice lowered.
"We are here under direct order of the Crown. A phoenix flame has been detected on these grounds. We have come to escort its wielder to the Capital for evaluation."
Gasps spread through the courtyard.
Sorra's breath hitched.
Phoenix Flame.
They knew.
The magic she felt bloom inside her wasn't chance. It wasn't some awakening born of training or desperation.
It was tied to the same secret that had destroyed House Grey.
And now the Crown wanted to claim her.
Nico's jaw tightened.
"No one here is leaving with you. The Academy is neutral territory. You know this."
The envoy's smile faded.
"Do not presume to lecture the Crown."
Mana swelled — violent, oppressive, heavy — like a stormfront settling over the courtyard. Several students stumbled back. Some dropped to their knees.
Sorra gasped as heat flared inside her chest in response — like her magic was rising to meet the threat.
Not controlled.
Not calm.
Instinctive.
The envoy's eyes sharpened.
"There it is," they murmured.
Their hand raised—
gold flame swirling like a living serpent around their fingers.
Sorra stumbled back, breath quickening. She could hear her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. The heat in her chest rose too fast, like her body was trying to ignite from the inside.
She couldn't control it.
She didn't know how.
The envoy stepped forward.
"Come, Phoenix. Your place is with the Crown."
Sorra's knees buckled.
Nico reacted instantly—drawing his sword.
"You touch her—"
his voice trembled with anger,
"and I will cut you down."
The envoy didn't even spare him a glance.
"You are a child with steel. Do not mistake that for strength."
Far from the Academy — Storm-Worn Plains
Nova ran.
Wind lashed his cloak against his body, rain streaking down his back as the smell of smoke and lightning thickened in the air. His sword pulsed — not with power, but with warning.
Something was following him.
Not footsteps.
Not breath.
Something older.
The forest around him bent, leaves turning silver, shadows warping — as though the world itself was trying to reject what walked behind him.
Nova stopped.
The presence stopped too.
Slowly, he tightened his grip on his sword.
"Show yourself."
The fog parted.
A figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Hunched.
Its shape vaguely human — but its body was forged metal, bone fused with steel, runes burned into its skin. Where eyes should have been, two faint embers glowed.
A Forge-Wrought — one of the Soulbound prototypes.
Unfinished.
Unstable.
Alive only because something refused to let it die.
It spoke, voice hollow and echoing from a mouth that barely moved.
"Grey blood."
Nova's heart slammed in his chest.
"You…" he whispered. "You were one of the experiments."
It took another step.
"Return."
Nova raised his sword.
"No."
He didn't have time to think.
Didn't have time to fear.
The creature lunged.
Silvercrest Academy — Courtyard
Sorra tried to force the fire down—tried to breathe—tried to stay herself—
But the envoy's flame answered hers, calling it forward.
Her knees hit the stone.
Nico shouted her name.
The envoy reached out a hand—
Just inches from her—
And Sorra's eyes snapped open.
Flame erupted.
Not gold.
Not royal.
Grey fire — silver at the edges, white-hot at the core — burst outward.
Wind howled.
Stone cracked.
Students were thrown back.
The envoy staggered, cloak snapping violently.
Their eyes went wide.
"Impossible—"
And above the Academy, a column of flame shot high into the sky — bright enough to be seen for miles.
Far Away
Nova saw the fire.
His head snapped up.
Sorra.
His heartbeat matched the thunder.
Hold on.
He turned to run—
But the Forge-Wrought was already in front of him, blade of bone-metal raised.
There was no escape.
Only battle.