NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: The Prophet of Ash
The mountains of Nareth did not welcome travelers.
The wind bit like a knife. The stone whispered secrets long forgotten. The fire refused to light.
Aaron climbed the final ridge alone, leaving the others far below in the foothills. With every step higher, the world grew quieter—until even his own breath felt like a trespass upon ancient silence.
At the summit, he found what he sought:
A circle of standing stones, charred and broken, encircling a single campfire burning with cold gray flame.
A figure sat cross-legged beside it, draped in ash-colored robes, hands folded calmly.
The man looked up, as if expecting Aaron all along.
> "Aaron Hotveil," he said, voice calm but heavy with weight.
"Born of sky, raised in shadow, hunted by fire. You look… smaller than I imagined."
Aaron's hand hovered near his blade—but he did not draw.
> "Who are you?"
The man rose slowly, brushing ash from his robes. His voice was deep, warm—and unsettling.
> "I am Lucien Virell. Once a Skyborn. Now… the only one who remembers what that truly means."
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🧠 The Dialogue
Aaron narrowed his eyes. "You're with the Thorn."
Lucien smiled faintly. "Was. Until I uncovered the lie beneath their truth. I no longer serve them—I watch them rot."
He paced slowly around the cold fire.
> "You seek answers. I offer them freely."
Aaron held his ground.
> "Your mother," Lucien said softly, "was my teacher. She chose you over the fire. She broke the Pact. And she died for it."
Aaron froze.
> "She taught me to control the ash. But you—she taught you to feel. That was her mistake."
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💥 The Strike
Aaron summoned a flicker of flame in his palm. "You don't know her."
Lucien's eyes glowed—not with flame, but with memory.
> "I knew her better than you ever will."
He plunged his hand into the gray fire, pulling forth a twisting strand of smoke.
The smoke morphed—forming Ashen's pale face.
> "Would you like to know what he remembers? What he fears? What he doubts about you?"
Aaron's fists clenched tight. "What did you do to him?"
Lucien smiled, sad and cruel. "Only reminded him. That when his brothers burned, you did not come. You never even knew."
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💔 The Betrayal
Back at camp, Ashen rose slowly, his face blank, eyes distant.
Without a word, he turned from the firelight—and walked into the dark forest, away from Aaron.
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🩸 Return to the Summit
Aaron felt a blade slice through his ribs.
> "He'll come back," Aaron whispered, voice trembling.
Lucien stepped close, voice low and sharp.
> "You cannot lead what you do not understand. Burn the lies. Let the ash speak."
Aaron raised his hand—but the flame would not answer.
Lucien's tone hardened. "That is the curse of inherited power. You think it is yours."
He turned away.
> "When you are ready to stop being their son… and start being fire—come find me."
The cold flame extinguished.
Lucien vanished into the mist.
Aaron was left alone on the mountain—surrounded by silent stones—with a heart no longer sure if it burned… or broke.