《Blind Legacy of Time》 Rebirth Karlin was a puppeteer in his previous life a master at pulling people''s strings with a sharp mind and a heart devoid of emotion. His words were honeyed poison; he''d toppled kings with a whisper and turned friends into foes with a glance. But this talent became his undoing. Those around him saw through his games, banding together to send an assassin after him. In the dead of night, the assassin''s dagger pierced Karlin''s chest, and as his soul slipped from his body, a beam of light pulled him into the presence of a god. "My beautiful son," the god said, his voice both a caress and a curse. "After your flawless creation, you forged your own flaw." With those words echoing in his mind, Karlin''s vision faded, only to awaken with the cry of a newborn. He was now Arden. In this new life, Arden was born the child of a slave in a world where magic shaped everything. One of his eyes was blind a mark, it seemed, of the god''s punishment. His mother, violated by a slave trader''s worker, bore him in shame. When the trader discovered the truth, he slaughtered both the worker and Arden''s mother in a fit of rage. Before he turned one, Arden was sold like livestock. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The family that bought him was modest a childless couple brimming with love yet shadowed by their own past. For nine years, they raised Arden with care, teaching him combat, magic, and mind games. But these lessons stirred old wounds in his soul. Karlin''s cold manipulations whispered through every sword swing, every spell cast. His father, Andre, noticed Arden''s struggle in close combat. The blindness on his right side turned every strike into a gamble. Andre saw it but felt powerless what could he do? Nine years passed. Arden''s childhood was a mix of growing curiosity and lingering shadows. His fascination with magic began to bloom, the god''s words haunting his every step: "After your flawless creation, you forged your own flaw." What did the god mean? Was Arden truly flawless once? And what was this flaw? Lost in thought, Arden grew closer to his family, clinging to this new life. First Spark Arden sat in his room, flipping through ancient magic tomes. The letters danced before his eyes, teasing the spark within him. He read them, but lacked the courage to try yet. Was it too much for a seven-year-old to dream so big? Still, he pressed on. On his seventh birthday, everything changed. Suddenly, his eyes burned as if embers had been shoved inside. His hands trembled, burns scarring his skin. Writhing in agony, he collapsed. "What''s happening to me?" he thought, his heart pounding as if it''d burst. A crimson aura erupted from his body, flames bursting from his hands. It was apocalyptic wild, uncontrollable, terrifying. Arden thrashed, desperate to tame the power, but the flames refused to obey. A voice rose within him: "Others wield magic with ease, but mine devours me." The books never mentioned this. It was too much. After a torturous struggle, Arden barely subdued the flames, his battered body crumpling as he fainted. In this world, magic stemmed from four elements: fire, water, earth, air. Everyone felt their element from birth, adapting to it effortlessly, wielding it without pain. By ten, they awakened their power and aimed for the magic academy''s entrance exams. Arden dreamed of this too but his path was different. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. In his unconsciousness, he found himself in a strange dimension. Time neither flowed nor stood still. A murmur echoed in his ears, words he couldn''t grasp. Then, a red spirit rose from within him a blurry silhouette. "The blind heir has set out with his master," it said, chilling him to the bone. Arden jolted awake. He remembered fainting, but what was that dream? That colorless void, that red spirit, those words¡­ Were they real, or just a nightmare? They gnawed at him, but no answers came. He sought his father and said with resolve, "Help me. I want to control my magic." Andre saw the fire in his son''s eyes and nodded. "I''ll train you for two years," he promised. Time flowed like water. Under Andre''s guidance, Arden explored his power, growing stronger each day. Yet his blind spot lingered a deadly weakness. Failure and Hope By twelve, Arden was relentless in honing his fire magic. He aimed to pass the academy entrance exam but what was it, exactly? No one had explained. Still, he trained for hours daily, pouring his soul into it. Some days he succeeded; others, he tasted defeat. His sessions with Andre were intense. Andre''s aura was like a rabid dog when it struck, it radiated deathly fear. The sensation overwhelmed Arden, knocking him out mid-fight more than once. "Am I really this weak?" he questioned himself. One day, wandering the forest, a sweet scent pierced his nose. Curiosity won, and he followed it. The deeper he went, the stronger it grew, irresistible. In the woods'' heart, he found its source: a girl with blood-red hair and golden eyes, practicing magic. Her beauty was mesmerizing, her poise noble. Arden felt the world fade, watching her as if it were a gift. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She spun around abruptly and shouted, "What are you doing here? Who are you?" Arden stumbled forward, dazed. "I¡­ guess I''m no one," he said, his voice shaky. She burst into laughter, his confusion amusing her. Calming down, she faced Arden''s next question: "What''s that scent?" Approaching, she snapped her fingers. The sweet smell returned, woven with her flames. "It''s my magic," she explained. "Fire, but it shifts with my mood." Arden couldn''t believe it. No book described this. He stepped closer and brushed a finger beneath her chest. Startled, she slapped him but he''d sensed it: her core was fractured. "What''s your name?" he asked, curiosity overriding the sting. Her expression stilled. "Lyra," she said. Flames of Fear After parting with Lyra, Arden wandered the forest, his mind a storm her beauty, her scented flames, her broken core¡­ It burned inside him, a fear he couldn''t name. She couldn''t be human nothing that perfect was real. He had to master his magic. Andre''s training had sharpened him, but his flames still stung. In a secluded clearing, he opened his palms. Sparks flickered, then blood-red flames rose. Unsteady, they lashed at his arms, scorching his skin. He recoiled in pain. "What am I doing wrong?" he wondered, recalling Lyra''s serene fire. Hers danced; his destroyed. A voice cut through: "You''re burning yourself." He turned to see Lyra, arms crossed, a faint smile on her lips. She crouched. "Is this really fire?" she asked. "It''s a terrible color like blood." The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Arden frowned. "What do you mean?" She snapped her fingers. Sweet scent filled the air, her flames swaying softly. "Do the same," she said. "Feel it. Let your flames speak to you." Arden closed his eyes, breathing deep. He sought the fire within. But a jolt struck his mind, and he crumpled. Lyra rushed forward. "What happened?" she asked, voice trembling. Arden couldn''t speak his vision blurred, breath raced. That voice echoed again: "The blind heir has set out with his master." His lungs burned, organs searing. He turned to Lyra. A yellow light burst from his blind eye blazing like the sun, scorching the ground. Yet he felt nothing. Lyra stared, terrified. "Arden, are you okay?" she whispered. He managed a weak smile. "What''s wrong?" She sighed, masking her fear, and hugged him. "It''s nothing¡­ for now. We''ll talk later." The Blind Whisper Arden pulled free from Lyra''s arms, his head still spinning. The yellow light from his blind eye lingered in his mind something had stirred. Lyra''s worried gaze pinned him, but he forced a smile. "I''m fine," he muttered, his voice alien even to himself. Lyra frowned, wanting to press but holding back. The forest''s calm wrapped around them. Lyra knelt beside him. "Show me your flames," she said softly. Arden hesitated, then opened his hands. Sparks flared, blood-red flames rising restless, defiant. Lyra reached out, stopping short of touching. "You''re forcing them," she said. "Your magic isn''t your enemy. Try feeling it." He met her golden eyes, warm and steady. "Why are yours so¡­ calm?" he asked. "Mine burn me, but yours seem to cradle you." Lyra smiled, tinged with sorrow. "Maybe mine''s already broken," she said. She snapped her fingers sweet scent flowed, her flames dancing gently. "My core''s flawed. It''s not in the books, but I feel it. Sometimes my magic doesn''t feel like mine." Arden''s eyes narrowed. "Flawed? You mean¡­ the god" She cut him off. "I don''t know. But your flames¡­ they''re carrying something. Anger, maybe?" Her words sparked a memory Karlin''s chilling laugh, the god''s curse: "After your flawless creation, you forged your own flaw." His hands shook, flames surging, wrapping his arms. He gritted his teeth against the pain, refusing to yield. Lyra stepped closer, but he waved her off. "I can do this," he whispered, mostly to himself. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The flames receded, his breathing uneven. Lyra touched his shoulder. "Why push so hard?" she asked. "Your magic eats at you, but you don''t stop." Arden looked down. "Because I have no choice. This power¡­ it''ll either be mine or destroy me." That night, sleep eluded him. Lyra''s words looped in his mind: "They''re carrying something." Were his blood-red flames tied to Karlin''s rage? Closing his eyes, that colorless void returned. The red spirit appeared, mocking. "The blind heir," it said. "Your master awaits. But first, find yourself." Arden woke, drenched in sweat. His blind eye burned sharper than ever. The next day, he met Lyra again. They sat in a clearing, her flames weaving shapes as he watched. "Teach me," he said suddenly. "Make my flames like yours." She blinked, then nodded. "Alright. But understand this: your magic is part of you. Reject it, and it rejects you." He breathed deep, following her lead. His flames rose still red, but steadier. Lyra guided his hand, her flames brushing his. They merged, her scent softening his fire. The peace didn''t last. A warmth pulsed in his blind eye, then faded no light, just a sensation. Time seemed to pause for a heartbeat. Dance of Flames Arden and Lyra sat in a forest clearing, their days together shifting his world. Lyra shaped her flames into a flower, her blood-red hair catching the breeze. "Look," she said, smiling. "You can play with your magic too. It doesn''t have to scare you." Arden murmured, "Play with it?" He opened his hands, blood-red flames rising. With Lyra''s guidance, he molded them into a rough orb. She clapped. "See? Perfect!" "With you, it''s easy," he said, a rare warmth in his voice. "Alone, they fight me." Lyra''s golden eyes gleamed. "Then you''re not alone anymore," she replied. That day, everything felt right until a shadow loomed. No rustle, just a weight. From the trees emerged a figure its body swirling black smoke, eyes glowing red. Its voice hissed, "The blind heir¡­ but first, the girl." It thrust a hand forward, smoke lashing at Lyra. She summoned her flames, but the smoke seared her arm. She screamed, collapsing. Arden froze then snapped. "Lyra!" he roared, something breaking inside. He slammed his palms down, blood-red flames erupting to encircle Lyra in a blazing barrier. She was safe within, her cries muffled. Turning to the figure, a yellow light flared in his blind eye, a twisted grin curling his lips. "You," he said, voice cold and sharp. "You hurt her. Now it''s my game." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The figure hurled a smoky spear. Arden sidestepped, flames surging precise, alive. "Try running," he taunted, snapping his fingers. Fire coiled into chains, binding the figure''s arms. It writhed, smoke slashing back, but Arden raised a fiery shield. "Is that all?" he laughed, Karlin''s cruel edge in his tone. The fight stretched on. The figure stabbed smoky claws into the ground; Arden leaped, shaping his flames into a spear midair and driving it into its chest. It staggered, shrieking. He spun his fire into a vortex, tightening it slowly. "Too much fun," he muttered, chuckling as he unleashed a final burst. The figure dissolved, smoke scattering. Breathing hard, his flames faded, the barrier collapsing. Lyra lay there, her arm scorched. Arden dropped to his knees beside her, hands trembling as he touched her wound. "Lyra," he whispered, voice cracking. Lyra felt his touch, opening her eyes. She''d seen it the cold fury, the calculated dance with the figure. But now, kneeling before her, he was Arden again. "You okay?" he asked, fragile. She nodded, unable to speak. His rage had terrified her, yet he''d saved her. Arden exhaled, relief washing over him. "I kept you safe," he murmured. Then that voice pierced his mind: "The blind heir, your master awaits." His blind eye burned, vision blackening. He collapsed beside Lyra. Mask of the Shadow Lyra held her breath, staring at Arden''s limp form. The forest''s silence cut like a blade after the chaos. His black hair clung sweaty to his forehead, his blind eye faintly glowing the yellow light gone, but its weight lingered. Her hands shook as she touched his shoulder. "Arden?" she whispered, fear and worry lacing her voice. She''d watched him masterfully toying with the figure, wielding his flames with cold precision. Every move planned, every taunt deliberate. Lyra pulled him close, ignoring her burned arm, resting his head in her lap. "You saved me again," she murmured. "But that rage¡­ what was it?" Arden''s eyes fluttered open, meeting her golden gaze. His mind was clear the fight, the barrier to shield Lyra, every flame bent to his will. The red spirit''s whisper "Your master awaits" echoed, but he pushed it down. Sitting up, he faced her. "I''m fine," he said, calm yet sharp. "And I need to tell you something." Lyra frowned but stayed quiet. Arden took a breath, locking eyes with her. "That fight wasn''t chance. I used my flames that way because I can. Always could." He paused, catching her shock. "No questions, just listen. At first, it was hard they burned me, fought me. But I figured it out. I can shape them, Lyra. Taking down that thing¡­ it was simple." Her lips parted, but he raised a hand. "You''ll ask why I looked helpless. I did it on purpose. I acted like I couldn''t control them so you''d keep helping me¡­ stay with me. Don''t expect sappy lines I won''t say your eyes stop the world. But having you here beats wrestling these damned flames." Lyra''s breath hitched, but he pressed on. "I''m telling you this because hiding it''s pointless. When that thing attacked you, I had to protect you and I did. There''s rage in me, Lyra. I can leash it, but sometimes it drags me. All I ask: don''t dig too deep. You know what you need to." Lyra fell silent, his words swirling in her head. That rage the wild, icy fury as he''d toyed with the figure had chilled her. But his honesty, that steady depth in his voice, softened her fear into trust. "For me," she murmured, meeting his gaze. He didn''t reply just tilted his head, a subtle nod. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Walking home, Lyra stayed by his side. Her blood-red hair danced in the wind, her arm aching, but she held onto him. "You know," she broke the quiet, "your flames scare me that rage scares me. But still¡­ I trust you." Arden glanced at her, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Trust, huh?" he said, relief softening his tone. Her grip silenced the shadow within for a moment. At home, Andre appeared at the door. Seeing Arden''s calm and Lyra''s wound, he scowled. "What''s this mess?" he demanded, suspicion sharp. Arden met his gaze coolly, Karlin''s cunning rising. "Ran into trouble in the forest," he said, voice smooth. "Something crossed us, but it''s gone now. Kept Lyra safe." Andre''s eyes narrowed, weighing the slick confidence. "Trouble?" Andre pressed, lowering his tone. Arden smirked faintly, eyes cold. "Nothing worth losing sleep over, Father. Handled it nice and tidy, right?" His words posed a question but shut down further prying. Andre paused, then nodded. "Fine," he muttered, doubt lingering in his stare. That night, alone, Arden summoned his flames. Blood-red fire rose in his palms controlled, deliberate. He replayed the fight: every move a calculation, every flame a tool. Karlin''s mind was his inheritance and he''d wielded it for Lyra. "You make it bearable," he whispered, the flames flickering. His blind eye warmed, no light just pressure, like unseen eyes. Lyra, at home, studied her burn. Arden''s confession lingered feigned weakness, time spent with her¡­ But that rage haunted her. "That fury," she muttered, calling her flames. Sweet scent spread, calming her. His mind impressed her; his anger tested her trust. As Arden drifted to sleep, the colorless void returned. The red spirit emerged, mocking. "You mask it for her, but your rage can''t hide." He woke breathless, Lyra''s face before him. He''d wield his mind to shield her but taming his fury grew harder. Breath of the Flames Arden and Lyra sat in the forest clearing, the scars of the battle with the shadowy figure still etched into the earth, though the air now felt softer, calmer. Lyra hugged her knees, her blood-red hair dancing in the faint breeze, her golden eyes watching Arden. The burn on her arm had faded, and a peaceful smile played on her lips the calm of being near him.Arden felt her gaze but kept his eyes on the ground. His flames blood-red and wild danced in his mind. He''d wielded them with Karlin''s cunning against the figure, but the rage¡­ it lingered like a shadow. "Sometimes I can''t control it," he said, his voice low but earnest. "My flames¡­ they wake something in me."Lyra smiled, reaching out to take his hand. "I know," she said, her voice soft but steady. "But that rage doesn''t define you. You''re¡­ so much more." Arden looked up, finding warmth in her golden eyes. In that moment, the storm within him stilled.They sat in silence, the forest''s whispers surrounding them. Lyra''s hand was warm in his, and Arden realized her touch warmed him more than his flames ever could. She broke the quiet. "Come on," she said, her eyes sparkling. "Let''s do something different this time. Duel me." Arden turned to her, surprised. "A duel?" he asked, eyebrows rising. Lyra laughed, standing. "Yes! With our flames. But this time¡­ let''s just have fun. No rage, okay?"Arden stood, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Alright," he said, opening his palms. Blood-red flames rose calm, yet still edged with wildness. Lyra summoned her fire, a sweet scent spreading as her flames danced softly. "Ready?" she asked, a playful tone in her voice. Arden nodded. "Always," he replied.The duel began. Lyra shaped her flames into a thin thread, sending it toward Arden gentle but swift. He sidestepped, forming his flames into a shield. "Is that all?" he asked, a teasing edge in his voice. Lyra laughed. "We''re just starting!" she said, her flames blooming like a flower, sending a burst toward him. Arden shaped his fire into a spear, splitting her burst in two.Their flames danced Lyra''s sweet-scented fire weaving with Arden''s blood-red blaze in perfect harmony. Lyra paused, then ran toward him, her flames spinning into a ring around him. "Caught you!" she teased, eyes gleaming. Arden laughed a genuine laugh, the first in a long while. "Not yet," he said, his flames spiraling to scatter her ring.The duel turned into a game they challenged each other with their flames, but there was no anger, only joy. Lyra stumbled, losing her balance, and fell into Arden''s arms. They tumbled to the ground, laughing together. Lyra rested against his chest, breathless. "That¡­ was so fun," she said, her voice brimming with happiness. Arden looked at her, his black hair mixing with her blood-red strands. "Everything''s fun with you," he said, his voice honest but soft.Lyra lifted her head, her golden eyes shining. "You know," she said, her voice low but earnest, "here, with you¡­ the world feels brighter." Arden''s heart raced as he gently touched her cheek. "Everything''s brighter with you," he replied, pressing his forehead to hers. Lyra smiled softly, closing her eyes. "Let''s stay like this, okay?" she whispered. Arden nodded. "Forever," he murmured, a vow.But then, the forest fell unnaturally silent. A chill ran down Arden''s spine. His blind eye burned sharper than ever, and the red spirit''s voice echoed: "The blind heir cannot escape. Your master stirs."Before he could react, a searing pain shot through his eye, the world blurring. Lyra''s voice called his name, but it faded as darkness swallowed him. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Awakening of the Shadow Lyra''s heart clenched as Arden collapsed. "Arden!" she cried, her voice echoing in the forest''s silence. She dropped to her knees, cradling his head in her lap. His black hair clung sweaty to his forehead, his blind eye faintly glowing the yellow light faded, but its weight lingered. Her trembling hands touched his cheek. "Arden, please wake up," she whispered, her voice laced with worry. Arden''s eyelids fluttered, slowly opening. Meeting Lyra''s golden gaze, the pain in his blind eye throbbed sharper than ever. The red spirit''s voice echoed in his mind: "The blind heir cannot escape. Your master stirs." Gasping, he sat up, head spinning. "Lyra," he said, voice weak but resolute. "Something¡­ something''s coming." Lyra frowned, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What''s coming?" she asked, her tone calm but tinged with concern. Arden squeezed his eyes shut, trying to suppress the pain. "I don''t know," he muttered. "But my blind eye¡­ it''s like it sees." A vision flashed in his mind a dark throne, wreathed in blood-red flames, a silhouette looming. And a voice, like the god''s: "Your flaw will find you." Arden shuddered, gripping Lyra''s hand tightly. Lyra felt his fear, wrapping her arms around him. "I''m here," she whispered, her voice full of warmth. "No matter what, you''re not alone." Arden calmed in her embrace, resting his head on her shoulder. Her sweet scent filled his senses not from her flames, but from her, a quiet peace. "If it weren''t for you," he said, voice low but earnest, "I couldn''t handle this curse." Lyra smiled, running her fingers through his hair. "Then it''s good I''m here," she replied, a hint of joy in her tone. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. But then, the air grew heavy. The ground trembled faintly, the trees'' leaves darkening as if a shadow was swallowing the forest. Lyra tensed, standing with Arden. "What''s this?" she asked, voice quivering. Arden''s blind eye burned again, more intensely. "It''s¡­ the god," he muttered through gritted teeth. Suddenly, a wave of magic erupted invisible but palpable. It targeted Arden''s blind eye, the pain becoming unbearable. He fell to his knees, one hand clutching his eye, the other pulling Lyra close. "We need to run," he said, voice ragged with pain. Lyra nodded, lifting him by the arm. "Together," she whispered, resolute. They ran, but the magic wave pursued. Trees blackened, branches cracked, the air thick with a suffocating heat. Lyra summoned her flames, a sweet-scented fire forming a shield around them, but her flames flickered her broken core faltering. Arden noticed, calling his own fire blood-red flames bolstering her shield. "I''m with you," he said, voice strong despite the pain. Lyra met his gaze, her golden eyes shining. "And I''m with you," she replied. The magic wave slowly receded, but the forest remained shrouded in a dark tremor. Arden and Lyra leaned against a tree, breathless. His blind eye still burned, though the pain eased. Lyra took his hand, lacing her fingers with his. "What''s happening?" she asked, voice worried but steady. Arden shook his head. "The god¡­ or something¡­ is awakening," he said, the truth heavy in his tone. Lyra fell silent, then hugged him tighter. "Then we''ll face it together," she said, her voice unwavering. Arden looked at her, seeing strength in her golden eyes. He nodded, pressing his forehead to hers. "Together," he whispered, a vow. But then, the sky darkened. Arden''s blind eye flared again, and the red spirit''s voice rang louder: "Your master is here. Your flaw will destroy you." His breath caught, a yellow light bursting from his eye and a crack tore through the forest, dark energy spilling out. Whisper of the Shadow Arden crumpled, the searing pain in his blind eye plunging him into darkness as Lyra''s voice echoed: "Arden!" But her cry faded, and in an instant, he found himself in that familiar colorless void where time neither flowed nor stood still. Before him stood the red spirit blurry, but clearer than ever, calmer. The spirit laughed, its tone mocking but not threatening. "That fool¡­ what does he think he''s doing, toying with my heir?" Arden frowned, pushing through the pain to stand. "What¡­ what are you talking about?" he demanded, voice laced with confusion and anger. "Who are you talking about? And who are you?" The red spirit glided closer, its voice seeping into his mind like a whisper. "I¡­ am no one but you," it said, words soft but cryptic. "Just a reflection. But you¡­ you''re the blind heir." Arden''s breath caught, his hand clutching his blind eye the pain lingered, now more a pressure, as if something watched him. "Heir?" Arden muttered, anger rising. "I''m no one''s heir! The god¡­ is he doing this? ''Your master stirs ''what did you mean?" The spirit chuckled softly, this time more gentle, more mysterious. "The god¡­ yes, he cursed you," it said. "But your master isn''t him. Something¡­ deeper." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Arden''s heart raced, trying to understand. "Deeper?" he asked, voice trembling. "What?" The spirit paused, its gaze piercing like it held something beyond flame. "Your blind eye¡­ a key," it said at last, voice a whisper. "It unlocks the gate of time." Arden frowned, pieces clicking into place. "The gate of time?" he muttered, his blind eye burning faintly again. The spirit continued. "The god cursed you because he feared," it said. "But what he fears¡­ isn''t just you." Arden''s anger flared. "Feared what? What does he want from me?" he shouted, summoning his flames blood-red fire rising in his palms, but in this void, they flickered, weakened. The spirit drew closer, its voice lowering. "Not yet, heir," it said, a whisper. "But you''ll understand soon." Arden woke with a scream, finding himself in the forest, wrapped in Lyra''s arms. Her golden eyes looked at him, filled with worry. "Arden, what happened?" she asked, voice trembling. Arden sat up, breathless, his blind eye still burning. "A spirit," he said simply, voice flat. Lyra frowned, her hand finding his. "A spirit?" she asked, curiosity in her tone. But at that moment, the crack in the forest trembled and a dark energy began to seep out, slowly. Mark of Darkness Arden came to in Lyra''s arms, the burning in his blind eye unrelenting. Her golden eyes gazed at him, filled with worry. "Arden, what happened?" she asked, voice trembling. Arden sat up, breathless, his blind eye still searing. "A spirit," he said simply, voice flat. Lyra frowned, her hand finding his. "A spirit?" she asked, curiosity in her tone. But at that moment, the crack in the forest trembled and dark energy seeped out like a thick mist. Arden shot to his feet, pulling Lyra behind him. "Stay back," he said, voice firm, but he gritted his teeth against the pain in his eye. The dark energy didn''t form a creature instead, it surged toward Arden, a thin thread drawn straight to his blind eye. He stepped back, summoning his flames blood-red fire rising in his palms, but it couldn''t stop the energy. "Arden!" Lyra cried, calling her own fire, a sweet-scented blaze forming a shield in front of him. But the energy pierced her shield, sinking into Arden''s blind eye. Arden screamed, falling to his knees, hand clutching his eye. A yellow light burst from it, and a vision flashed in his mind a dark gate, wreathed in blood-red flames, a shadow beyond it, whispers echoing: "You cannot escape, blind child." It was the god''s voice, stronger now, closer. The vision faded, but his blind eye burned sharper for a moment, then stilled yet something lingered, as if it had taken root. Lyra rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him. "Arden, are you okay?" she asked, voice laced with panic. Arden nodded, breathless, his face pale. "I¡­ I''m fine," he said, voice weak. "But something¡­ something''s in my eye." Lyra frowned, gripping his hand tightly. "No matter what, we''re in this together," she said, her voice warm with care. Arden met her gaze, seeing strength in her golden eyes. Lyra cupped his face, pressing her forehead to his. "You scared me," she whispered, voice trembling. "But I''ll always be here." Arden closed his eyes, feeling her warmth. "With you, everything¡­ feels bearable," he said, voice honest but soft. Lyra smiled, plucking a small purple flower from the forest floor and tucking it into his hair. "A gift from me," she said, eyes shining. "So you''ll always remember me." Arden chuckled faintly, touching the flower. "Forgetting you is impossible," he murmured. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The crack, having released the dark energy, slowly began to close, but the forest remained under a trembling shadow. Just then, a voice called from the trees: "Arden! Lyra! Where are you?!" It was Andre Arden''s father his voice tense, steps hurried. He reached the clearing, his face a mix of worry and frustration as he saw Arden''s pale expression and Lyra''s anxious gaze. "Are you both okay?" he asked, his tone both concerned and slightly annoyed. "It''s so late I''ve been looking everywhere for you!" Arden and Lyra glanced at each other, then turned to Andre. "We''re¡­ fine," Arden said, voice still weak. Lyra nodded, adding, "We ran into something, but it''s over." Andre exhaled deeply, placing a hand on Arden''s shoulder. "We''re going home," he said, voice firm. "First, let''s get Lyra to her place, then we''ll talk." On the way, Andre dropped Lyra off at her home. Lyra turned to Arden, squeezing his hand. "See you tomorrow, okay?" she said, smiling. Arden nodded. "Tomorrow," he murmured. Lyra thanked Andre and stepped inside, Arden watching her blood-red hair sway one last time the purple flower still tucked in his hair. Arden and Andre walked home under the night sky, stars faintly glimmering above. Andre stayed quiet for a while, then spoke. "You were out so late, your mother and I were going out of our minds," he said, a hint of reproach in his voice. "How are you, son? That eye¡­ did it burn again?" Arden tilted his head slightly, his blind eye still faintly stinging. "Yeah," he said, keeping it brief. "But I''m okay." Andre sighed, placing a hand on Arden''s back. "This academy business¡­ we need to take it seriously now," he said. "You''re twelve. The exams are coming up. You know, in this world, everyone your age has to prepare for the academy. You need to pass those exams." Arden nodded, thinking of his flames blood-red and manageable, but sometimes wild with his anger. "I know," he said. "I can control my flames now¡­ but sometimes my anger¡­ it messes them up." Andre paused, then smiled. "I know, son," he said. "I''ve seen how well you control those flames you''ve been surprising me for years. But you need to watch that anger. The academy will test more than just your flames it''ll test you." Arden fell silent, his father''s words echoing in his mind. "Lyra''s coming too, right?" he asked, a faint hope in his voice. Andre nodded. "Yeah, she''s twelve as well. You''ll both take the exam. But listen the academy''s a tough place. You need to be ready." When they reached home, Arden retreated to his room, but sleep wouldn''t come. His blind eye still ached, and the god''s voice "You cannot escape, blind child" echoed in his mind. The academy might hold answers but the dark mark in his blind eye lingered. Journey to the Academy The first light of dawn crept over the horizon as Arden and Lyra prepared to set out for the academy exams. Andre stood at the door, watching his son and Lyra his face a mix of pride and worry. Arden''s backpack was ready, while Lyra had tied her blood-red hair into a ponytail, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. Andre turned to Arden, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Remember," he said, his voice firm but warm. "Watch your anger. The academy will test your flames, but more importantly¡­ it''ll test you." Arden nodded, his blind eye faintly stinging, though he tried to hide it. "I know," he said, voice resolute. Andre smiled at Lyra. "You take care too, Lyra. Both of you support each other." Lyra grinned. "Don''t worry, Uncle Andre," she said, her tone cheerful. Then she turned to Arden, taking his hand firmly. "We''ll pass together, okay?" Arden felt the warmth of her hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Together," he murmured. Andre gave them one last nod, then saw them off. The journey began with a few hours'' walk through narrow paths and wide meadows. At first, Arden and Lyra walked in silence, but as the path stretched on, they began to talk more. After a while, Lyra spotted a small stream by the roadside and tugged Arden''s arm. "Let''s rest a bit," she said, her voice tinged with slight fatigue but mostly joy. They sat on a rock by the stream, the gentle trickle of water filling the air. Lyra pulled a small piece of bread from her bag, breaking it in half and handing one to Arden. "Here," she said, smiling. "It''s a long road you''ll need the energy." Arden took the bread, a soft smile on his face. "You''re always so thoughtful," he said, his voice gentle. Lyra shrugged. "Always for you," she murmured, her gaze dropping. As Arden ate, he glanced at Lyra her blood-red hair glinting in the sunlight, her golden eyes catching the reflection of the water. "Lyra," he said, his tone serious. "These exams¡­ what if I fail? My blind eye¡­ it''s a weakness." Lyra looked up at him, frowning. "Arden," she said, her voice firm. "Your strength isn''t in that eye. It''s in your flames¡­ and your heart. I believe in you." She reached out, taking his hand and holding it tightly. "We''ll pass together, remember?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Arden felt the warmth of her hand, his heart racing. "With you, everything¡­ feels easier," he said, his voice honest but soft. Lyra smiled, then rested her head on his shoulder. "With you, everything''s better," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Arden caught the sweet scent of her hair, lacing his fingers with hers. They sat there for a while, the sound of the stream and each other''s presence the only things in the world as if time had paused for a moment. The journey continued, but they felt closer. As the sun began to set, Lyra paused, plucking a small purple flower from the roadside the same kind as the one from the forest and tucked it into Arden''s hair. "This one''s a twin to the flower from before," she said, smiling. "So you''ll always remember me." Arden laughed, touching the flower. "Forgetting you is impossible," he said, his voice warm. Lyra''s eyes sparkled. "Good," she murmured, then took his hand again. When they reached the academy, their eyes widened. A massive castle loomed before them, its stone walls stretching into the sky, surrounded by a vast courtyard. Hundreds of young magic candidates gathered in the courtyard some testing their flames, others their winds or waters. Exam overseers in long black robes patrolled the area, their stern gazes scanning the candidates. The air buzzed with excitement and tension. Arden and Lyra blended into the crowd. Lyra didn''t let go of Arden''s hand, her eyes scanning the scene with awe. "This place¡­ it''s incredible," she said, voice full of wonder. Arden nodded, but his blind eye began to sting faintly as if something was watching him. Just then, a haughty voice cut through the crowd: "What''s a blind kid doing here?" Arden and Lyra turned at the same time. Before them stood a tall, broad-shouldered boy black hair neatly combed, dark blue eyes glinting, a mocking smirk on his lips. It was Kael a magic candidate, and one of the most noticeable in the courtyard. A few kids beside him snickered at his words. Kael stepped closer, his gaze locking onto Arden''s blind eye. "Even your flames look flawed," he said, his tone biting. "The exams are too tough for someone like you, blind kid." Arden''s brows furrowed, anger rising, but he felt Lyra''s hand gripping his tightly, signaling him to stay calm. "Ignore him," she whispered, but a glint of resolve flashed in Arden''s eyes. "We''ll see about that at the exams," he said, his voice cold but controlled. Kael laughed. "I''ll have fun with you," he said, his tone mocking, then disappeared into the crowd. Wrath of the Blind Eye The exam grounds buzzed with activity in the early morning hours. Hundreds of young magic candidates awaited the overseers'' instructions. On a large platform, a black-robed overseer addressed the crowd. "Today marks the first phase of your entrance exams to the academy," he said, his voice reverberating across the courtyard. "The first task a duel. You will demonstrate your power, control, and wits. Your pairings will now be announced." Arden and Lyra stood side by side in the crowd. Lyra held Arden''s hand, her golden eyes scanning the scene. "Excited?" she asked, her voice cheerful. Arden nodded, but his blind eye ached the dark energy from the crack had left a lingering pressure. "A little," he admitted, his tone honest. "But being here with you¡­ makes it easier." Lyra smiled. "Always," she murmured. The overseer began announcing the pairings. When Arden''s name was called, his opponent was a familiar one: Kael. The crowd murmured Kael was known as one of the most noticeable candidates in the courtyard, but the true nature of Arden''s flames was yet to be revealed. As Kael stepped onto the platform, he shot Arden a mocking glance. "Blind kid," he said, his tone biting. "Your flames can''t match mine. These exams are too tough for someone like you." Arden''s brows furrowed, anger rising, but he controlled it this time Andre''s words echoing in his mind: "Watch your anger." He met Kael''s smug smirk with a calm tone. "If you''re so strong, why are you so scared?" he said, his voice laced with mockery. The crowd fell silent, Kael''s eyes narrowing. "What did you say?" he hissed, his anger flaring. The duel began. Kael spread his arms, and orange flames erupted strong, heating the air around the platform. But when Arden opened his palms, blood-red flames rose so intense, so feral that Kael''s flames paled in comparison. Arden''s flames shook the platform, forcing candidates to step back their blood-red nature was unique and terrifying. Kael shaped his fire into a spear and hurled it at Arden, but Arden, with a single motion, formed his flames into a shield, dispersing the spear and sending a wave of fire toward Kael. Kael barely deflected the wave, his mocking expression replaced by shock and fear. "This¡­ how is this possible?!" he shouted, his voice trembling. Arden''s flames were far stronger, far more ferocious than Kael''s orange blaze the power gap was palpable to everyone watching. Arden shaped his flames into a whip, sending Kael crashing to the platform''s edge. Kael hit the ground, struggling to his feet, but there was a coldness in Arden''s eyes. Kael attacked again, his flames sweeping over the platform like a storm, but Arden''s blood-red fire sliced through the storm, knocking Kael down once more. On his knees, Kael''s flames flickered weakly. "You¡­ you''re a freak!" he shouted, his voice filled with fear. Arden''s anger flared Kael''s words awakened something dark within him. "A freak?" he hissed, his tone dangerous. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Arden lost control his rage consumed him. He reached for his blind eye, gripping the eyepatch and tearing it off in one swift motion. As the eyepatch fell to the ground, a yellow light burst from his blind eye so intense it shook the platform, dispersing all flames in its wake, forcing the crowd to stagger back. The light felt as if it slowed time everyone seemed frozen, the energy from Arden''s blind eye enveloping the courtyard. Arden stared at Kael, his eyes glowing with yellow light. "The difference between heaven and earth escapes the mind," he said, his voice cold and resonant. "Time kneels before me, and all mortals worship me." He raised his hand to the sky, and a massive clock appeared black with a golden face, its hands sharp as arrows. The clock ticked once every minute, each tick releasing an energy arrow that shot down, piercing Kael''s heart. Kael screamed, collapsing to his knees each arrow that struck sent his body into convulsions, his eyes wide with terror. The first arrow pierced his chest, extinguishing his flames, his body trembling uncontrollably. The second arrow struck the center of his heart, blood spurting from his mouth, his breaths ragged and desperate. The third arrow pinned him to the ground Kael''s hands clawed at the platform, nails scraping the stone, but there was no escape from the agony. The fourth arrow hit, and Kael''s eyes went vacant, his body stiffening for a moment before slumping to the side lifeless, his eyes open, frozen in a mask of torment. The clock in the sky vanished, and the yellow light from Arden''s blind eye dimmed, but the courtyard still trembled. The crowd was too terrified to make a sound frozen in fear, their eyes locked on Kael''s charred remains and Arden, unable to even whisper. Arden collapsed to his knees, breathless, his blind eye still burning, his mind a haze he barely understood what he had done. Lyra rushed onto the platform, kneeling beside Arden. "Arden," she said, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "Are you okay?" Arden shook his head, his gaze drifting to Kael''s lifeless body. "I don''t know," he said, his voice trembling. "This power¡­ it''s bigger than me." At that moment, a shadow appeared in the center of the courtyard a tall, slender silhouette surrounded by a deep purple aura. It was the academy''s headmaster, Vaelis Draven, a legendary figure. His long, silver-gray hair cascaded over his shoulders, his night-blue eyes piercing, his gaze so sharp it sent shivers through the crowd. He wore a black robe with golden embroidery, holding a slender silver staff that glowed with a faint purple light. As Vaelis stepped onto the platform, the air grew heavy, as if time itself bowed to his presence. Vaelis looked at Arden, his eyes locking onto the blind eye. "This power¡­ is dangerous," he said, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a mix of curiosity and caution. "And you¡­ are a threat." He turned to the crowd, his voice filling the courtyard. "Exams are postponed! Disperse immediately!" The crowd scattered in terrified silence, but Vaelis cast one last glance at Arden his eyes held both a warning and a flicker of intrigue. Lyra held Arden''s hand, her voice steady. "I''m here," she whispered, resolute. Arden remained silent, his blind eye still burning and Kael''s lifeless body lay on the platform, a grim warning. Shadow of Darkness Arden sat on his knees on the platform, his breathing still ragged. His blind eye burned, Kael''s final screams echoing in his mind. The crowd had dispersed in utter silence, too terrified to speak Arden''s presence felt like the calm before a storm. Kael''s lifeless body lay on the platform, charred and unrecognizable a grave carved by Arden''s hands. Lyra knelt beside Arden, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Arden," she said, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "Are you okay?" Arden nodded, but his eyes wouldn''t leave Kael''s body. "I¡­ I killed him," he murmured, his voice trembling. "This power¡­ I can''t control it." Lyra took his hand, holding it firmly. "It''s not your fault," she said, her voice resolute. "This power¡­ it''s uncontrollable. We''ll find a way." At that moment, a shadow stepped onto the platform a tall, slender silhouette surrounded by a deep purple aura. It was Vaelis Draven, the academy''s headmaster. His long, silver-gray hair cascaded over his shoulders, his night-blue eyes locking onto Arden. His black robe, embroidered with gold, shimmered with a faint purple glow, and the silver staff in his hand pulsed with power. "Stand, child," he said, his voice deep and resonant. Arden rose slowly with Lyra''s help, but under Vaelis''s gaze, he felt small. Vaelis studied Arden''s blind eye. "This power¡­ is dangerous," he said, his tone more cold than angry. "You¡­ are a threat." Arden frowned, "I don''t want this," he muttered, his voice laced with anger. "This power¡­ it made me a monster." Vaelis''s night-blue eyes narrowed, no trace of a smile on his lips. "Perhaps you are," he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "But my academy has no place for monsters." Arden''s heart clenched, Lyra''s hand trembling in his. "What¡­ what are you saying?" Arden asked, his voice filled with disbelief. Vaelis turned to Lyra, studying her golden eyes. "You," he said, his tone softer. "Lyra, is it? Your flames¡­ they hold potential. You are accepted into the academy." Lyra''s eyes widened, but she looked at Arden, worry etched on her face. "But¡­ Arden¡­" she began, but Vaelis cut her off. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Arden," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "You are expelled. This academy cannot harbor an uncontrollable power. Kael''s death¡­ was a warning. Leave, and never return." Arden''s breath caught, his mind going blank he had been expelled. His dreams, the future he''d imagined with Lyra¡­ all of it shattered in an instant. Lyra turned to Vaelis, "That''s not fair!" she shouted, her voice filled with anger. "It''s not his fault!" Vaelis shot Lyra a stern look. "Fairness comes second to the academy''s safety," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "But I''m making an exception for you if you wish to stay, you may. But he goes." Arden let go of Lyra''s hand, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Lyra," he said, his voice breaking. "Stay. This¡­ is your dream." Lyra''s eyes welled with tears, "But you¡­" she began, but Arden shook his head. "I''ll¡­ find a way," he said, his voice faint. Vaelis turned to the crowd, his voice filling the courtyard. "Exams are postponed! Disperse immediately!" The crowd scattered in terrified silence, and Arden stepped off the platform, squeezing Lyra''s hand one last time. "Find me," Lyra whispered, her voice trembling. Arden nodded, but his eyes were hollow he had been expelled from the academy, and now¡­ he was alone. That night, Arden found refuge in a small inn in a village far from the academy. As he tried to sleep, his blind eye burned again a vision struck him. In a dark void, the god''s voice echoed: "Your flaw will destroy you." Arden woke in a cold sweat, his breathing ragged. A question echoed in his mind: "Where will this power take me?" The next morning, Arden decided to leave the village but he had no idea where to go. All he knew was that this power would either save him¡­ or destroy him. Cold Flames After being expelled from the academy, Arden had taken to the road. Leaving behind the small village where he''d spent the night, he walked with no destination in mind. The sky was gray, the air cold and damp as if nature itself mirrored his mood. His blind eye still ached, the god''s vision "Your flaw will destroy you" echoing in his mind. Lyra''s words, "Find me," were a flicker of hope in his heart, but now¡­ he was alone. As he walked along a narrow path, a scream pierced the air a woman''s voice, filled with fear and desperation. Arden''s steps quickened, and he ran toward the sound. At the end of the path, in a small wooded clearing, two men had pinned a woman to the ground, looming over her. She thrashed helplessly, crying, "Let me go!" but the men laughed one held her arms while the other reached for her clothes. Arden stepped out from the trees, his expression cold as he took in the scene. "Stop," he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. The men froze, turning to Arden one short and stocky, the other tall and lanky, both with vile smirks on their faces. The stocky one sneered, "Who''re you, kid?" his tone mocking. "Get lost, or we''ll gut you." Arden took a step forward, blood-red flames flickering in his palms the flames glowed with a cold light, but carried a lethal energy. "Last chance," he said, his voice still calm but sharp as a blade. "Let her go, and leave." The woman looked at Arden, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but the men laughed. The tall one said, "This kid thinks he''s a hero," pulling a dagger and advancing toward Arden. Arden sighed, maintaining his composure. He shaped his flames into a thin thread, wrapping it around the dagger-wielding man''s wrist and yanking the man yelped, falling to the ground, his dagger slipping from his hand. The stocky one let go of the woman, charging at Arden with a raised fist, but Arden shaped his flames into a shield, knocking the man back several steps. "Last warning," Arden said, his voice still calm but a storm brewing within. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! The woman scrambled to her feet, sobbing as she ran to hide behind Arden. "Please¡­ help," she whispered, her voice trembling. The stocky man glanced at his fallen friend, then turned to Arden, his eyes blazing with rage. "You little brat!" he roared, opening his mouth, but Arden''s patience had run out. Arden opened his palm, and his blood-red flames formed a ring around the stocky man''s neck like an executioner''s blade, the flames pulsed, sharp but not yet cutting. A cold, mocking smile spread across Arden''s face. "Were you about to say something?" he asked, his tone dripping with menacing calm, as he slightly opened his palm, tightening the fiery ring the flames singed the man''s neck, but didn''t yet kill. The man''s eyes widened, sweat pouring down his face. "Please¡­ please don''t!" he begged, his voice thick with fear. But Arden''s eyes were cold Kael''s death echoed in his mind, and now¡­ his anger was rising again. The man opened his mouth once more, "I" he began, but Arden closed his palm. The fiery ring snapped shut, severing the stocky man''s neck like an executioner''s blade his head separated from his body, rolling across the ground, blood splattering the platform. His lifeless body crumpled, and the tall man let out a horrified scream, but Arden didn''t even glance at him. The woman, trembling behind Arden, whispered, "Thank you¡­" her voice filled with fear Arden''s cold composure, even as her savior, was terrifying. Arden extinguished his flames, not turning to her. "Go," he said, his voice icy. "And don''t tell anyone." The woman nodded shakily, fleeing in terror. The tall man tried to scramble to his feet and run, but Arden''s flames lashed out like a whip, wrapping around his leg and pinning him to the ground. "I''m not done with you," Arden said, his voice a deadly calm but at that moment, his blind eye burned again, and the god''s voice echoed in his mind: "Your flaw will destroy you." Traces of the God Arden stood on the platform, his blood-red flames wrapped around the tall man''s leg, pinning him to the ground. The man stared at Arden in terror, his eyes wide with fear. "Please¡­ please don''t!" he begged, his voice trembling. "I¡­ I didn''t do anything! He¡­ he did!" He pointed to the stocky man''s lifeless body on the ground, his head severed, blood pooling on the platform. Arden looked at the man with a cold expression, his flames still gripping the man''s leg tightly. "You didn''t do anything, huh?" he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "While you held that woman¡­ you''re saying you did nothing?" The man''s face went pale, sweat dripping down his brow. "I¡­ I just¡­ please, let me go!" he pleaded, but there was a coldness in Arden''s eyes. For a moment, Arden''s anger flared Kael''s death, the stocky man''s death, they all echoed in his mind, and now¡­ he was on the verge of taking another life. But then Lyra''s voice rang in his head: "It''s not your fault." Arden took a deep breath, trying to suppress his rage, but then he looked into the man''s pleading eyes and something inside him snapped. "Nothing, huh?" he said, his voice a deadly calm. "Then¡­ you''ll feel nothing." Arden opened his palm, and his blood-red flames morphed into four thin threads. The first thread wrapped around the man''s right arm and snapped tight the arm was severed below the elbow, the man screaming as blood sprayed across the platform. The second thread coiled around his left arm, slicing it off with the same swiftness his screams grew louder, thrashing on the ground. The third thread shot toward his left eye, piercing it like an arrow the eye burned in a fiery blaze, the man''s face marred with scorch marks, his screams turning into a guttural moan. The final thread wrapped around his right leg, severing it below the knee the leg fell, and the man collapsed, writhing in a pool of his own blood. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The man writhed in agony, his breaths ragged. "Please¡­ please¡­ enough!" he groaned, but Arden''s expression was blank. "This¡­ is a warning," he said, his voice icy. "If you ever think of touching a woman again¡­ my flames will find you." He withdrew his flames, leaving the man in a pool of blood, still alive but his life reduced to a nightmare. Arden stepped off the platform, continuing down the path the scene he left behind was like a horror story. His mind was a mess Kael''s death, the stocky man''s death¡­ and now this man''s mutilated body. "Am I a monster?" he thought, staring at his hands, the lingering heat of his blood-red flames still tingling in his palms. The god''s vision "Your flaw will destroy you" echoed in his mind, and Lyra''s "Find me" lingered as a pang in his heart. He missed her, but he had been expelled from the academy he had no way to reach her. Hours later, as he walked through a wide meadow, he spotted a figure in the distance a tall man in a tattered cloak, his hood obscuring his face. The traveler walked toward Arden, his steps silent but purposeful. As he approached, he lowered his hood slightly a man with long, graying whiskers, his dark green eyes sharp and mysterious. "You¡­ bear the god''s curse," he said, his voice deep and resonant. Arden frowned, flames flickering in his palms, though he didn''t attack yet. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone wary. The traveler smiled, but it wasn''t a warm smile more like the grin of a hunter. "I¡­ am a magic hunter," he said, his voice a whisper. "My name is Theron. And your blind eye¡­ it carries a divine energy. A power that distorts time." Arden''s heart raced, but his suspicion lingered. "Why should that concern me?" he asked, his voice cold. Theron took a step closer, "Because that power¡­ will destroy you if you don''t understand it," he said. "The gods love to play with their toys and you¡­ might be their favorite." Arden''s blind eye suddenly burned, a vision striking him a dark throne, wreathed in blood-red flames, and the god''s voice: "You cannot escape, blind child." When the vision faded, Arden stared at Theron, breathless. Theron watched Arden''s reaction, then made an offer. "If you want to understand your power, come with me," he said, his tone serious. "But I warn you the gods love to play with their toys." Arden hesitated he didn''t know if he could trust Theron. But one thing was certain: this power would either save him¡­ or destroy him. Shadow of Time Arden stood before Theron, his blood-red flames still flickering in his palms. Theron''s words "If you want to understand your power, come with me" echoed in his mind, but his doubts remained strong. "Why should I trust you?" he asked, his voice cold, his eyes locked on Theron''s dark green gaze. Theron smiled, but it wasn''t a reassuring smile. "You don''t have to trust me," he said, his voice a whisper. "But you need to understand that power¡­ before it destroys you. The gods love to play with their toys and you''re their favorite." Arden''s blind eye throbbed, Theron''s words igniting the fear within him. The god''s vision "You cannot escape, blind child" echoed in his mind. "Fine," he said finally, his voice resolute. "But if you betray me¡­ my flames will find you." Theron inclined his head, "Deal," he said, and the two set off together. Theron began sharing knowledge about divine curses. "A power that distorts time," he said, his tone serious, "is one of the gods'' most dangerous gifts. Your blind eye¡­ might be tied to an ancient god the Lord of Time." Arden frowned, "The Lord of Time?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism. Theron nodded, "Yes. The gods curse their toys and then forget them. But you¡­ haven''t been forgotten." The two entered a forest the trees dense and dark, the air heavy and damp. Theron warned, "Be careful," his voice a caution. "This¡­ is hunter territory." Arden asked, "Hunters?" but before Theron could respond, a fiery arrow shot from the depths of the forest, grazing Theron''s shoulder. Theron let out a cry, "Ambush!" he shouted, and five figures emerged from the trees black-cloaked, their faces masked, wielding daggers and bows: magic hunters. "These¡­ hunt cursed mages," Theron said, his voice thick with anger. "They sensed the energy in your blind eye." The first hunter, his eyes glinting behind his mask, drew a bow, the arrow igniting with flames as he fired at Arden a blazing arrow, heating the air as it sped toward him. Arden shaped his blood-red flames into a shield, the fiery arrow shattering against it, but the explosion knocked him back a step. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The second hunter stepped forward, slamming his hands into the ground earth rose, sharp stone spears shooting toward Arden. Arden shaped his flames into a whip, slicing the stone spears in half, but the third hunter intervened, waving his hands to summon a wave of water that crashed toward Arden. Arden raised a wave of flames, evaporating the water into steam, but the fourth hunter called forth the wind a tornado aimed to sweep Arden off the platform. Arden shaped his flames into a spiral, dispersing the tornado, but his anger was rising. The fifth hunter stepped up, lightning crackling from his hands bolts of electricity shot toward Arden at blinding speed. Arden formed a shield of flames, but the lightning pierced through, grazing his arm the first wound he''d taken. His rage erupted Kael''s death, the stocky man''s death echoed in his mind, and now¡­ he was on the verge of killing another. He shaped his flames into a storm, unleashing it on the lightning hunter the hunter collapsed, engulfed in flames, his screams filling the forest, his charred body falling lifeless. The remaining hunters charged at Arden, but Theron stepped in, a purple light bursting from his staff, knocking the hunters back. "Enough!" Theron roared, his voice commanding. "I want no more blood." The hunters hesitated, one of them shouting, "Theron¡­ traitor!" but Theron''s magic drove them back into the forest''s depths. Arden turned to Theron, breathless, his flames still flickering. "Traitor?" he asked, suspicion in his voice. Theron sighed, clutching the graze on his shoulder as he sat on the ground. "I¡­ used to be one of them," he said, his voice heavy. "A hunter of divine curses. But I tried to save someone cursed¡­ and I lost everything. The gods play with their toys and then break them." He looked at Arden, a warning in his eyes. "You¡­ need to understand your power before it breaks you." That night, they camped in the forest. Arden sat by the fire, thinking of Lyra how she was at the academy, how her golden eyes sparkled¡­ Her words, "Find me," echoed in his mind, but the longing only deepened his sense of isolation. As he tried to sleep, his blind eye burned again a vision struck him. The god''s voice: "The Lord of Time awakens," it said, and a clock appeared in the vision, this time wreathed in blood-red flames. Arden woke in a panic, his breathing ragged. Theron noticed Arden''s awakening, pulling out a map. "We need to go to the Lord of Time''s temple your power''s origin lies there," he said, his tone serious. But at that moment, a shadow emerged from the forest''s depths a hunter, recognizing Theron, shouted, "I found you, traitor!" and fired an arrow.