Flamebound: Rise of the Cursed Prince

The fires in Gezana had changed color.

No longer blue. No longer crimson. Now, they burned orange — hungry, wild. The fire of the people.

Smoke billowed from noble estates. Banners were torn down from windows. Guards stripped off their armor. In the heart of the capital, rebellion was no longer whispered — it was marching.

From the rooftops, Aaron watched silently.

At his side stood Ashen, his cloak too large for his slender frame, pale silver eyes fixed on the chaos below.

---

🏙️ Flames in Takoba

"They came from Takoba," Kain said, appearing behind Aaron.

"The beggars, the burned, the forgotten. They call themselves the Ember-Faithful."

Aaron frowned. "What do they want?"

"Justice. Revenge. Or both."

Ashen tugged at Aaron's sleeve.

"They're not led by nobles," he said.

Aaron knelt down.

"Then who leads them?"

Ashen blinked once.

"Someone like me."

---

🔍 The Forgotten Name

Later that night, Ashen sat across from Aaron beside the ruined reflecting pool. No fire—only moonlight.

Aaron offered him bread. The boy refused.

"I wasn't born in Gezana," Ashen said suddenly.

"I was brought here."

Aaron remained still, letting him speak.

"I had a brother. Or… a mirror. A boy who remembered things I didn't. He screamed in his sleep. Spoke in blue."

Aaron's breath caught. "Was he like me?"

Ashen looked up. "No. He was stronger. And they erased his name from the records."

"The Ember-Faithful… they follow his memory."

"They believe you are his shadow. Not his equal. Not his heir. His… echo."

---

🧠 Flame of Doubt

Aaron rose and paced.

"So, what am I to them? A symbol?"

Ashen nodded.

"A mistake that survived."

Aaron's hand flared blue — then faded.

"You knew this. Why didn't you tell me before?"

Ashen whispered:

"Because your fire doesn't burn when it's angry.

It burns when you start to doubt who you are."

---

🗡️ Meanwhile — In the Ember Camp

A woman in red rags stood before a crowd of broken, angry souls.

"The cursed prince still breathes," she cried. "But he has yet to burn the throne. What is a fire that hesitates? Smoke."

The crowd answered in unison:

"Smoke cannot rule."

Behind her, in shadow, someone murmured:

"We either ignite the Flamebound… or we snuff him out ourselves."

---

🔚 Final Scene

Aaron stared into the pool's dark surface.

No flame. No reflection. Only weight.

"If I am an echo," he said,

"then I'll find the voice I came from… and silence it."

Ashen closed his eyes.

"Then you'll have to kill the one they worship."