CH01 | The Whispers of Fire

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CHAPTER 1

The sun dipped low beyond the jagged peaks of Mount Khaldur, casting long shadows over the valley. The air, thick with the scent of pine and the distant crackle of embers, hung heavy with anticipation. In the small village of Norhall, no one spoke of the fire that had been creeping toward them for weeks, despite the signs. Birds fled south early, the rivers ran lower, and the old Seer at the market muttered about "the whispers of fire" before vanishing one night without a trace.

But Elara had known.

For weeks, she had dreamt of the fire. A wall of red, as tall as mountains, roaring toward her with the force of an angry god. No matter how far she ran in her dreams, it always caught her. The flames would lick at her skin, burning but never consuming, and she would hear a voice within them-a voice calling her name.

"Elara!"

The shout snapped her back to reality. She blinked, squinting in the fading light to see her younger brother, Fen, rushing up the hill toward her. His face, always too serious for someone of twelve, was pale with worry.

"It's happening," he panted when he reached her. "The fire-it's coming faster now. The Elders are gathering in the square."

Elara glanced over her shoulder toward the distant horizon. The fire had not yet touched the sky, but she could feel it in her bones. That creeping heat. That quiet, hungry whisper. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.

"Go back to the cottage, Fen. I'll speak to the Elders."

He looked at her, hesitating. "But what if-"

"Go," she said, her voice firm. She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to smile. "I'll be right behind you."

Fen nodded, reluctant but obedient, and took off toward their cottage at the edge of the village. Elara watched him go, her heart heavy. She wished she could protect him from the truth she carried, but even she didn't understand it fully.

The dreams were growing clearer, the voice in the fire louder. It wasn't just a fire, she knew that much. It was something more-something old and powerful, something tied to the stories her grandmother used to tell her before she died. Stories of a forgotten kingdom, buried beneath the mountains, and a flame that would one day rise to reclaim it.

But no one believed in those stories anymore.

Elara pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and made her way down the hill, toward the heart of the village. Norhall was quiet, too quiet. The usual chatter of the market was gone, and doors were shut tight. The air hummed with the tension of those who could feel the danger but dared not speak it aloud.

As she neared the square, she saw the Elders gathered in a circle around the large stone fountain, their faces drawn with worry. Old Mervin, the village leader, was speaking in hushed tones, his weathered hands gripping the staff he always carried.

"We don't have time to wait for help from the capital," he was saying. "We need to evacuate before the fire reaches us."

"But where will we go?" another Elder asked, his voice trembling. "The southern road is blocked, and the river will offer no protection if the fire grows strong enough."

Elara stepped forward, her heart racing. She didn't know what she was going to say, but she knew she had to speak.

"The fire," she began, her voice clear but quiet. The Elders turned to look at her, their expressions unreadable. "It's not just fire."

A murmur went through the group. Old Mervin raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, girl?"

Elara took a breath. She felt the weight of their stares, the disbelief. But she also felt something else-a flicker of warmth in her chest, the same heat that had haunted her dreams.

"I've seen it," she said, her voice steady now. "In my dreams. There's something in the fire. It's... alive. It's searching for something."

The Elders exchanged uneasy glances. Some shook their heads. But Mervin frowned, studying her closely.

"Dreams," he muttered. "You sound like the Seer."

Elara's pulse quickened. "The Seer knew," she said. "She spoke of the whispers in the flames. And then she disappeared. I think-no, I know-she was trying to warn us."

Mervin opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a low rumble echoed through the valley. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and a gust of hot wind swept through the square, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of burning.

Elara's heart pounded in her chest. The fire was closer than she'd thought.

And then, in the distance, a glow appeared on the horizon-a deep, angry red that lit up the sky like the edge of a bleeding wound.

The Elders turned as one, their eyes widening in fear. But Elara didn't move. Her gaze was fixed on the fire, her mind racing.

In that moment, she heard it again.

"Elara," the voice whispered, soft and burning like the heat that now filled the air. "You must come."

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