A month later, Valoria's royal palace hosted a feast—though not for the king, nor for princes. For the four bloodlines. For the heroes who saved the realm.
Kael stood on the palace balcony, the night breeze brushing his face. Below, elves danced with humans, phoenixes soared overhead, their flames lighting the sky, and griffins lounged in the gardens, their feathers glowing in the moonlight. Leah stood beside him, her silver hair flowing loose, a smile on her face.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" she said.
Kael nodded. "I never thought I'd see this. The realm, united. No more fear. No more darkness."
Lira joined them, a goblet of wine in her hand. "The Phoenix Elder says the peace will last—for now. But darkness always lingers. Waiting for a chance to rise."
Gareth landed nearby, transforming into his humanoid form. "The griffins will keep watch. We'll protect the realm, together."
Merlin approached, his staff in hand. His eyes were serious, a tattered scroll in his fingers. "I found something. In the royal archives. Ancient texts—about the Emberborn. About a prophecy."
Kael frowned. "A prophecy?"
Merlin nodded, unrolling the scroll. "'When the Emberborn unites the bloodlines and seals the Dark One, a new light will rise. But the light will attract a new darkness—one older, more powerful, than the Soul-Eating Lord.'"
Leah's smile faded. "A new darkness?"
"Not yet," Merlin said. "The texts say it will come in time. When the realm is at peace, when we least expect it. But we'll be ready. We have the four bloodlines. We have Kael."
Kael looked at his friends, at the feast below. The fire in his veins hummed, a quiet promise.
"I'll be ready," he said. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together. As a family."
The others nodded. They raised their goblets, clinking them together.
"To the realm," Leah said.
"To the four bloodlines," Lira added.
"To the Emberborn," Gareth said.
"To the light," Merlin finished.
Kael raised his goblet, staring at the moon. The fire in his veins burned bright— a beacon, a promise, a light in the darkness.
His journey as the Emberborn had just begun.
And whatever the future held, he was ready.