The Phoenix’s Heir

Chapter Three: Echoes of the Flame

The sun was rising when Kael and Ryn finally stopped running. They had put as much distance as possible between themselves and the site of the battle. The path had led them to a small clearing by a stream, where the soft trickling of water provided a brief moment of solace.

Kael sat on a fallen log, his head in his hands. His body ached from the strain of channeling the fire, and his thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, confusion, and exhaustion.

Ryn crouched by the stream, washing the soot and dirt from her face. Her bow lay broken at her side, a silent reminder of how close they had come to death.

"You need to talk," she said without looking at him.

Kael didn’t respond immediately. The words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. What could he say? That he was as lost as she was? That he had no idea what was happening to him?

"You summoned fire," Ryn continued, her voice calm but firm. "Twice. And that thing—" she gestured to the trail behind them "—it came after you. Why, Kael? What did you do to make it hunt you?"

"I didn’t do anything!" Kael snapped, louder than he intended. He immediately regretted it when Ryn flinched.

"Sorry," he muttered, his voice softer. "I don’t know, Ryn. I swear. I’ve never… this has never happened before."

She stood and walked over to him, her expression unreadable. "Then explain the fire. Explain how you killed the drakos when the village hunters couldn’t even slow it down."

Kael hesitated. He thought about the voice in his dreams, the phoenix that had appeared in his vision.

"I… I think it’s connected to the dreams," he admitted.

"Dreams?" Ryn’s brow furrowed.

"For weeks now, I’ve been having these dreams," Kael said. "A voice calling me ‘Phoenix’s heir.’ I didn’t think much of it at first, but now…"

"But now it’s real," Ryn finished for him, her tone skeptical. "A voice in your dreams told you that you’re… what, chosen?"

Kael nodded reluctantly. "I don’t know what it means, but when I fought the drakos, I saw something. A phoenix, huge and burning. It said I had to awaken."

Ryn stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head. "This is insane."

"You think I don’t know that?" Kael shot back. "Do you think I wanted this? I just wanted to be a tracker, like my father. I didn’t ask for any of this!"

The frustration in his voice made Ryn step back. She crossed her arms, her gaze softening. "I believe you," she said finally.

Kael blinked. "You do?"

Ryn sighed. "I saw what you did back there. Normal people don’t summon fire out of nowhere. And if that thing came after you because of it, then we need to figure out why. Together."

Her words were a small comfort, but Kael couldn’t shake the fear that had taken root in his chest. What if he hurt her? What if the fire got out of control again?

Before he could voice his concerns, the ground beneath them began to tremble. Both Kael and Ryn froze, their eyes darting around the clearing.

"Another drakos?" Ryn whispered, reaching for her broken bow instinctively.

Kael shook his head. The tremors were too rhythmic, too controlled. It wasn’t a creature. It was something else.

A fissure opened in the earth a few feet away, and golden light poured out, illuminating the clearing. Kael and Ryn backed away, shielding their eyes as the light grew brighter.

From the fissure rose a figure, shrouded in flames. It was humanoid, with fiery wings that stretched wide, casting an imposing shadow over the clearing. Its eyes burned like molten gold, and its voice rumbled like thunder.

"Kael Adric," it said, its gaze locking onto him.

Kael’s heart stopped. "How do you know my name?"

The figure stepped closer, its fiery aura pulsing with power. "I am Kheron, guardian of the Phoenix’s flame. I have watched you since the moment of your birth. The fire that burns within you is ancient, a legacy passed down through generations."

Kael stared at the being, his mind struggling to process its words. "Legacy? What are you talking about?"

Kheron spread its wings, the flames intensifying. "You are the Phoenix’s heir, the last in a long line of flamebearers. The power within you is not a gift—it is a responsibility. One that you cannot run from."

Kael took a step back, shaking his head. "No. This has to be a mistake. I’m just a tracker. I don’t want this!"

Kheron’s gaze hardened. "The drakos was only the beginning. Dark forces are rising, and they will come for you, Kael. Whether you want it or not, you are the key to stopping them."

Ryn stepped forward, placing herself between Kael and Kheron. "What do you mean, ‘dark forces’? What’s coming?"

Kheron’s expression softened as it turned to her. "The Shadow King has returned. His armies gather in the east, and he seeks the Phoenix’s flame to fuel his conquest. If he succeeds, your world will burn."

Kael clenched his fists, anger rising alongside his fear. "Why me? Why does it have to be me?"

"Because the flame chose you," Kheron said simply.

The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. Kael wanted to argue, to reject the burden being thrust upon him, but deep down, he knew it was futile.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kheron extended a hand, and a small, glowing ember floated toward Kael. It hovered in front of him, warm and pulsing with life.

"Accept your destiny," Kheron said. "Take the flame, and I will guide you."

Kael hesitated, his hand trembling as he reached for the ember. He glanced at Ryn, who gave him a small nod of encouragement.

When his fingers closed around the ember, a surge of heat coursed through him. The fire roared to life, filling him with strength and clarity.

Kheron’s voice echoed in his mind. "Your journey begins now, Phoenix’s heir. Rise, and let the flame guide you."

As the fiery guardian disappeared, leaving only the faint glow of the ember within him, Kael turned to Ryn.

"Looks like we’re in this together," he said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside him.

Ryn smirked, picking up the pieces of her broken bow. "Guess we are. Let’s not get ourselves killed."

Kael nodded, a faint spark of determination igniting in his chest. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but for the first time, he felt ready to face it.