Flame Archon

Chapter 19: The Flames of Emberlight

The Emberlight Guild Hall was alive with energy—mug slams, bursts of magic, and laughter echoed through the towering stone walls. Warm torchlight bathed the interior in a golden glow, reflecting off polished wooden tables and weapons hanging along the walls. It wasn't just a guild; it felt like a home.

Cynus, Lyric, and Ren stood at the entrance, taking it all in.

Ren grinned. "Alright, I take back what I said earlier. This place is amazing."

Lyric crossed her arms. "We're here to see if it's worth joining, not to start drinking."

Ren smirked. "Why not both?"

Before Lyric could retort, Dante strode toward them, flanked by two other guild members—a tall woman with deep red hair and a staff strapped to her back, and a stocky man with burn scars on his forearms.

"Welcome to Emberlight," Dante said, arms spread wide. "You three made the right choice coming here."

Cynus met his gaze. "We haven't made a choice yet."

The red-haired woman smirked. "We'll see about that. Name's Elara, second-in-command. And the grumpy one beside me is Brann."

Brann grunted. "You want in? Then you prove yourselves."

Dante clapped his hands. "And that's what tonight's about! Consider it an introduction to Emberlight."

Dante led them through the hall, passing wizards engaged in practice duels and guild members swapping stories of completed missions. They reached a massive circular training ring at the heart of the guild, surrounded by raised stone seating.

A crowd was already gathering. Some whispered about the newcomers, others leaned forward eagerly.

Elara hopped onto the edge of the ring and crossed her arms. "Every new recruit who wants to join Emberlight has to prove they can handle themselves. You don't have to win—but you do have to show us you belong."

Brann stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "One of you fights me. The rest of you? Keep up."

Cynus felt the fragment in his satchel pulse slightly. He took a step forward, but Ren placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Relax, fire-boy. I've got this."

Cynus hesitated, then nodded.

Ren stepped into the ring, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, big guy. Try not to break too easily."

Brann smirked. "You talk too much."

The air grew tense as Elara raised her hand.

"Begin."

Ren vs. Brann

Brann moved fast for his size. The moment the match began, he was already closing the distance. Ren barely managed to sidestep, twisting away as a flaming fist slammed into the ground where he had just been standing.

"You call that fast?" Ren taunted, flipping backward as another strike came for him.

Brann didn't respond. Instead, he stomped his foot down, sending a wave of fire through the arena floor. The flames surged toward Ren, forcing him to leap high into the air.

"Damn," Ren muttered. "You don't mess around."

Drawing his dagger, he slashed through the heatwave, his weapon glowing with a faint blue sheen—enchanted to withstand fire. He darted forward, using Brann's own attack as a distraction.

The moment Ren landed, he twisted low, aiming for Brann's side.

Brann smirked. "Not bad."

At the last second, Brann shifted, letting Ren's blade barely graze him before he grabbed Ren's arm. With a powerful pivot, he hurled Ren across the arena.

Ren landed hard, rolling before skidding to a stop. He groaned. "Alright, that one hurt."

The crowd roared in excitement.

Dante leaned toward Cynus and Lyric. "Your friend's good. But Brann's fought in a hundred real battles. He's testing how much fight Ren's got."

Cynus clenched his fists. Come on, Ren…

Ren pushed himself up, breathing hard. He wiped a bit of blood from his lip and grinned. "Okay. My turn."

With a sudden burst of speed, Ren vanished.

Brann's eyes widened as Ren reappeared behind him, dagger aimed at his back.

The crowd gasped—except Brann was already moving.

With a last-second twist, Brann blocked with his armored forearm, forcing Ren's blade away. Before Ren could retreat, Brann sent a powerful punch into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

Ren collapsed to one knee, panting.

Elara raised her hand. "That's enough."

Brann stepped back, offering a hand to Ren. "Not bad, thief."

Ren grinned, taking it. "Not bad yourself, fire-punch."

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Elara turned to Cynus and Lyric. "Alright. That was fun. But what about you two?"

Lyric smirked. "I don't need a fight to prove myself."

Dante grinned. "Smart. Emberlight isn't just about brute force—we need all kinds of skills. You're in."

She nodded.

All eyes turned to Cynus.

Dante raised an eyebrow. "And you?"

Cynus took a slow breath. He could feel the fragment's warmth pressing against his chest, waiting.

He stepped forward. "I don't need a fight either. But…"

Raising his hand, he summoned a flame—not red, but golden, pulsing with life. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Even Brann and Elara looked surprised.

Cynus let the flames swirl around him, controlled and steady. "If you want proof that I belong, then watch."

With a flick of his wrist, he directed the fire upward. It spiraled into the air, forming intricate patterns—symbols that burned for a brief moment before fading into embers.

For a long moment, there was silence.

Then Dante threw his head back and laughed. "Well, damn. If that's not a statement, I don't know what is."

Elara nodded. "He's in."

Brann crossed his arms but smirked. "Took the flashy route, huh? Welcome to Emberlight."

The crowd roared in approval.

Ren staggered up beside Cynus, grinning. "See? Told you we'd be famous."

Cynus smiled. For the first time, it really felt like they were part of something.

Dante clapped a hand on Cynus's shoulder. "Welcome to the family."

A New Beginning

That night, Emberlight welcomed its newest members with drinks, laughter, and a promise—one that would take Cynus, Lyric, and Ren into the heart of the kingdom's greatest battles.

For Cynus, it wasn't just about joining a guild.

It was about taking the next step toward his destiny.

And the flames of Emberlight burned brighter than ever.