– The Shado

ain passes, returning with grim tidings: villages charred, bodies left for crows,

no rumor now. He was

every waking moment. Kaelor's drills became mer

boy scrambled up, chest heaving, blood from a split lip staining his chi

g him like a predator. "He will strike when you are weary, when

ed with a flick and sent

Aric's arms felt as th

kept

ing but unyielding, one golden eye flickering strangely in the du

lood in you. But blood alone will n

ody bruised, his spirit restless. She touched his che

rives you hard

"He says I mu

e faint glow of the brazier. "But strength is not only in the arm. It is in the

ndle before him

hispered. "Feel

n and exhaustion clouded him. Then, slowly, warmth stirred in

k caugh

awe. The candle burned w

ression. "Good. But fire must be tempered. Too much, and it consumes. T

nodded s

romi

. Refugees streamed into Ironhold, bringing tales of slaughter. One man

unreadable. "It is not only Toren," she said softly. "I feel... d

l it shadow or storm - I care not. I will fa

cut sharp. "An

or, unshaken in the face of ar

Selvara said, eyes narrowing. "Something fu

oor, listening though they thought him invisible. "An

rtyard, practicing alone beneath the moonlight. His strokes were cl

ttle brother," Darian said, ste

d, panting. "Fat

is gaze met Aric's. "Your father teaches you to fight with steel. Your mo

om the ground and press

as strong as the hand that wields it, and a hand is only as strong as those who s

, small and heavy in his

reme

amed again. The black wolf returned, its red eyes

a tall figure emerged from them. Cloaked in darknes

fire and steel. When your father falls,

his hand. His heart thundered, and his

he dark, his voice

ill be n

rdens of Ironhold. She often stood there at dawn, her pale cloak catching th

ain," she said

. "How do

smile. "I hear things in the stillness

he wolf. And...

feed on fear. They want you to believe you are already theirs. But you a

s pressing into him like

more than you know. And one day, you will carry even more. But f

streamed through narrow slits, catching on the old warrior's scarred face

not lie to you. The world is sharpening its teeth. Toren marches, kingdoms crumble, and men s

mismatched eyes fixed

eady." Kaelor gestured, a

. "You already know I'll always watch your back. But now, I give you more than wo

anted to speak, but the weigh

nd on Aric's shoulder. "Even the strongest blade needs a sh

r's chambers. Selvara waited with a circ

she said, noting the bruises alo

voice soft but steady. "Fire is alive, Aric. It answers to y

warmth stirred like coals waiting to ignite. Slowly, one candle flared

e carried caution. "You are gifted. Perhaps too much so. With every step

ered, "I'l

ding him close as though she feared t

at sharpening his axes, humming an old soldier's tune. Ari

each me?" th

break your arms in half. But... aye. I'll teach you

er. For a moment, there was no war, no prophecy, no l

Aric sai

ittle b

l be stronger tha

ughed softly. "Stronger? No doubt. But remember - strength isn't all that made your

tching the stone Darian

steel. His father gave him discipline and the relentless edge of the blade. His mother gave

s soul. Each would shape

halls that night, Aric felt it - distant, watching, wa

lutching his stone in one h

break. Not n

ted, carrying a low g