The Forgotten Kingdom: The Flamekeeper

CH05 | Embers of The Past

CHAPTER 5

The days following her awakening passed in a blur of training and study. Under Calla’s guidance, Elara learned how to control the flame’s power, drawing strength from it without letting it overwhelm her. The ancient knowledge of the Flamekeepers flooded her mind, memories of their battles, triumphs, and defeats merging with her own.

Each day, she grew stronger, more confident, but with that confidence came a gnawing unease. The enemy Calla had spoken of remained unseen, lurking in the shadows. The fire that had consumed the valley was a warning—a signal that the forces working against her were already in motion.

Today, Elara stood alone in the grand hall, the blue flames from the statues casting eerie shadows on the walls. Her palm burned with the familiar heat of the flame, and she focused on controlling it, letting it pulse in her hand without losing control. She had learned much, but she knew that her training was only the beginning. The flame was vast, its power limitless—and she had barely scratched the surface of what it could do.

As she concentrated, a soft rustling echoed through the hall, followed by the sound of footsteps. Elara turned quickly, her flame dimming as Calla appeared in the doorway, her expression grim.

“There’s something you must see,” Calla said, her voice laced with urgency.

Elara extinguished the flame in her hand and followed Calla out of the hall. They moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the mountain, the stone walls pressing close on either side. It wasn’t long before they emerged into the open air, the cold wind biting at Elara’s skin as they stepped onto a narrow ledge overlooking the valley.

The sight that greeted her made her stomach twist.

The once green valley was now scorched black, the earth cracked and broken. The fire that had consumed it had left nothing in its wake—no trees, no grass, only ash and ruin. In the distance, she could see the smoke rising from what remained of her village.

But it wasn’t just the destruction that caught her attention. Standing at the edge of the ruined valley were figures—clad in dark cloaks, their faces obscured by hoods. There were at least a dozen of them, their presence ominous and unsettling.

“Elara,” Calla said, drawing her attention. “They’re here.”

Elara’s heart raced. “Who are they?”

Calla’s expression darkened. “The Order of the Black Flame.”

The name sent a chill down Elara’s spine. She had heard stories—whispers of a shadowy group that had long opposed the Flamekeepers, their sole purpose to extinguish the flame and prevent its power from returning to the world.

“They’re the ones behind the fire,” Elara said, her voice low.

Calla nodded. “They’ve been waiting for the flame to reawaken. Now that you’ve been chosen, they will stop at nothing to destroy you and the flame once and for all.”

Elara stared at the figures in the distance, her fists clenching at her sides. She had feared this moment, feared what the flame would ask of her. But now that it was here, now that the enemy was standing before her, she felt the fire inside her burn hotter, fueling her resolve.

“We can’t just stand here and watch,” Elara said, stepping forward. “We have to stop them.”

Calla placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. “You’re not ready yet. The Order is powerful. You can’t face them alone.”

“I’m not alone,” Elara said, her gaze hardening. “I have the flame. And I have you.”

Calla’s grip tightened. “There is more you need to know before you face them. The Order was responsible for the fall of the Flamekeepers, but their power comes from a source darker than you realize.”

Elara turned to her, confusion flickering in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Calla hesitated, her eyes searching Elara’s face. “The Order draws its power from the same flame you carry. Long ago, one of the Flamekeepers betrayed us, and in doing so, they created a dark reflection of the flame—a corrupted version. The Black Flame. It feeds on destruction, on death. That’s why the valley burns.”

Elara’s breath caught in her throat. “So they’re like me?”

“No,” Calla said sharply. “They are nothing like you. The flame inside you is pure, the last remnant of the Forgotten Kingdom’s true power. The Black Flame seeks to destroy everything it touches. If they gain control of the Eternal Flame, all will be lost.”

Elara’s mind raced, piecing together the gravity of the situation. The Order wasn’t just an enemy; they were a twisted mirror of what she could become if she lost control of the fire inside her. They were the embodiment of everything the Flamekeepers had fought to protect the world from.

“Then we have to stop them,” Elara said firmly. “Before they reach the Eternal Flame.”

Calla’s gaze softened, and for a moment, Elara saw a flicker of pride in her ancestor’s eyes. “We will. But you must be careful. The Black Flame is cunning, and they will try to turn the flame against you.”

Elara nodded, her mind made up. She had come too far to back down now. The flame had chosen her, and she wouldn’t let the Order destroy everything her ancestors had fought for.

As she turned to leave, Calla’s voice stopped her. “There’s something else.”

Elara turned back, her brow furrowed in concern. “What is it?”

Calla hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. “The one who leads the Order… he is not just a follower of the Black Flame. He is the one who created it. The first betrayer.”

Elara’s blood ran cold. “He’s still alive?”

Calla nodded, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow. “He has lived for centuries, sustained by the power of the Black Flame. He was once one of us, a Flamekeeper. His name is Kael.”

Elara’s mind reeled. A former Flamekeeper, the one responsible for the fall of the kingdom, was leading the Order. The weight of the revelation pressed down on her, and for a moment, doubt crept into her thoughts. How could she possibly stand against someone who had once wielded the same power she now carried?

But then she remembered the flames that burned in the statues, the strength of the ancestors who had come before her. She wasn’t alone. She had their knowledge, their power. And she had the flame.

“I won’t let him destroy us,” Elara said, her voice steady.

Calla smiled softly. “You are stronger than you know, Elara. But be careful. Kael will try to break you. He will use the flame’s power against you if you let him.”

Elara straightened, the fire in her chest burning brighter with each passing moment. “I won’t let him.”

With that, she turned and walked back toward the mountain, her mind set on the path ahead. The Order of the Black Flame was here, and Kael was leading them. But Elara would not let the past repeat itself.

The flame had chosen her for a reason, and she would not fail.