The Path of Ashes

☀️ Seven Years Later The valley of Aris Vane had long since healed. The burnt forests had regrown, the earth sealed its wounds, and the storms that once ravaged the horizon now slept quietly beyond the mountains. But for Jade Valor, the scars never faded. Each morning began the same way — bare feet on cold stone, air sharp with dawn mist, the echo of flames whispering in memory. He stood atop a cliff overlooking the valley, shirtless, his breath visible in the thin air. The sky above pulsed with shifting colors — faint traces of elemental energy carried on the wind. He extended his hand. A spark of fire flickered to life on his palm. Then a ripple of water, followed by a gust of wind and a tremor of earth. Each one steady, controlled. And then lightning — wild, bright, beautiful. The elements circled him in perfect balance. “You’re improving,” a deep voice said from behind him. Jade turned slightly. Standing on the ridge was a tall man wrapped in a gray mantle — his master, Korran Vale, the elemental monk who had raised him after the Orbit tragedy. “You’ve learned to channel five elements at once,” Korran said, approaching. “Impressive… and dangerous.” Jade smirked faintly. “If danger keeps me from being weak, I’ll welcome it.” Korran frowned. “Still chasing ghosts?” The younger man said nothing, only turning his gaze back to the horizon — where the faint shimmer of the Orbit could still be seen far away, like a scar in the sky. 🕯️ Training and Resolve Korran placed a hand on Jade’s shoulder. “Power means nothing without restraint. You seek strength, but what is your purpose?” “To protect.” “No. That’s what you tell yourself.” Jade’s jaw tightened. “Then what do you think it is?” “Revenge,” Korran said quietly. “And revenge burns even the one who wields it.” The words hung between them. Then Korran stepped back, drawing his wooden staff. “If you think you’re ready to face the world, prove it.” Jade’s eyes glowed faintly gold. “You’ll regret that.” He slammed his foot into the ground — a wave of flame surged forward, instantly countered by Korran’s twisting gust of wind. They clashed, sparks scattering across the cliffside. Fire met air, lightning cut through stone. Each impact shook the mountain. Korran moved like water, smooth and unyielding, while Jade’s strikes were pure fury — the fusion of chaos and control. Finally, with a roar, Jade’s blade of condensed flame shattered Korran’s staff in half. He froze, chest heaving. “Yield.” Korran smiled. “You’ve grown strong, Jade. But strength alone won’t save you from what’s coming.” Jade’s grip loosened. “Then I’ll get stronger.” ⚙️ Decision That night, Jade stood at the edge of the forest, the Aether Morph strapped to his back, his cloak fluttering against the wind. Korran approached quietly. “Leaving without saying goodbye?” Jade turned. “You knew I would.” Korran handed him a small medallion — the sigil of the Arcana Defence League. “Your late father was once a member. His record was erased after the Rift War. If you truly wish to master your power, the League is where you’ll do it.” Jade accepted it silently. “Thank you, Master.” “One last thing,” Korran said. “When you reach the capital, look for Commander Reizan. He’ll see your potential… or he’ll break you trying.” Jade smirked. “Either way, I’ll learn something.” As he turned to leave, Korran called out: “Jade.” “Yeah?” “You can’t carry the dead forever. Let them rest… or their weight will drown you.” The young warrior hesitated — then nodded once and walked into the darkness. The forest swallowed him whole. And for the first time, the road to his destiny truly began. 🌌 Eclipsera Capital – The City of Arcana Days later, the shimmering walls of Aethernova, capital of Eclipsera, rose before him. Towers of crystal and steel reached the clouds, veins of elemental light flowing through their cores. Jade paused at the gates, awed despite himself. “So this is the world my friend never got to see,” he murmured. The guards scanned his medallion, their eyes widening. “Recruit Valor, Arcana candidate — proceed to the League citadel for evaluation.” He nodded, stepping through the massive gates. The sound of energy conduits hummed all around — wind cannons, lightning trams, skyships gliding overhead. But beneath the brilliance of Aethernova, Jade could feel it — a strange undercurrent in the air. Something dark. Something watching. He clenched his fists, unaware that deep in one of the city’s shadowed towers, a hooded figure observed his arrival through a mirrored crystal. “He’s entered the League,” the figure murmured. “Good,” another voice replied. “Then the experiment proceeds as planned.”