the war begins

Title: Crimson Ashes – Chapter 1: The Forgotten Flame

The year was 972 A.X. in the realm of Kaeloria — a land torn by endless war, ruled by corrupt monarchs and ancient, hidden orders. Legends spoke of a warrior who once wielded the Crimson Flame, a power so intense it could reduce mountains to ash. But like all legends, it faded with time... until the night the sky bled red again.

A distant village, Yuno Ridge.

Rain splattered against scorched rooftops as villagers huddled in silence. A boy, no older than 17, stood atop a hill overlooking the ruins of what once was his home. His cloak flapped violently in the wind, blood staining his bandaged arms. His name was Raien Kael, a blacksmith's apprentice. But tonight, he was something else — a survivor, forged in vengeance.

He gritted his teeth, eyes burning with fury as flames flickered unnaturally around his hands.

"I’ll find them. The Scorch Blades. I’ll burn their sins with the fire they gave me."

FLASHBACK: One day earlier.

Raien was working at the forge, sparks dancing in the dim workshop as he shaped a blade for the village guards. He had always been fascinated by old war tales — especially those of the Crimson Flame, a forbidden power sealed by the ancients. His father, Master Kael, used to say, “Power drawn from rage consumes more than just your enemy.”

That evening, masked soldiers with armor black as obsidian descended upon Yuno Ridge. Without warning, they slaughtered everyone — men, women, and children — in search of a scroll sealed beneath the Kael forge. Raien’s father fought valiantly, wielding an ancient curved blade, but was no match for the Scorch Blades’ commander — a six-eyed demon warrior named Vaelor.

Before dying, Master Kael whispered to Raien, “The Flame... is in you.”

As Vaelor raised his halberd to strike Raien, something erupted within the boy. His scream shook the earth. Fire exploded from his body — red, not orange — unnatural, violent, alive. It incinerated half the soldiers and left Vaelor scarred, forced to retreat.

Present day – the journey begins.

Raien wandered through the Ashlands, a desert of soot and ruins, seeking the hidden Monastery of Emberfall — a place where ancient warriors once trained to control elemental powers. Along the way, he was ambushed by desert bandits.

The leader, Kura, a dual-sword rogue, mocked him. “Pretty fire tricks, kid. But fire without control? Just a candle waiting to die.”

They attacked. Raien fought back, but his flames were wild. They scorched everything around him, even his own clothes. Kura’s blade slashed across his chest, and he fell to one knee, gasping.

Suddenly, a figure leapt from the cliffs — a tall woman cloaked in flowing white robes. Her eyes glowed blue. With a single swing of her palm, icy chains froze the bandits in place.

“You’re not ready,” she said, pulling Raien to his feet. “But I can teach you.”

Her name was Ishen, last guardian of Emberfall. She had once trained under the Crimson Flame wielder before he vanished decades ago.

Emberfall Monastery – one week later.

Surrounded by flaming scrolls, elemental statues, and glowing glyphs, Raien began intense training. Ishen was ruthless. He learned to breathe in rhythm with the flame, to feel it as a part of his soul, not just a weapon. He trained with weighted gauntlets, meditated under waterfalls of boiling lava, and sparred against elemental constructs.

But every night, his dreams were haunted — visions of Vaelor, eyes burning, laughing as his father screamed.

Chapter climax – the trial of fire.

To ascend as a Flamebearer, Raien had to pass the Trial of Scars — a duel inside the Infernal Hall, where one faced their darkest fear made manifest.

There, Raien stood in a circular arena, the ground glowing. Before him, a figure emerged from the molten walls — it was himself, but twisted — crimson eyes, scorched skin, a demon version of Raien who had embraced the fire completely.

“You're weak,” it hissed. “Power is meant to be used, not controlled.”

The fight began — fiery fists clashed, blades of ash danced. Raien’s clone was faster, more savage. Every time Raien hesitated, the clone grew stronger.

Finally, bruised and on the verge of collapse, Raien remembered his father’s words. “Rage is fuel. But purpose... is the fire.”

With a final cry, he channeled his flame not through anger — but resolve. His fire turned from crimson to white-gold, pure and steady. He sliced through the illusion with his father’s reforged blade.

As the vision faded, Ishen watched from afar. “He’s ready,” she whispered. “But the war... is only beginning.”

To be continued..

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***