The Reborn Knight: Flames of Destiny

The night air was thick with tension as the armored soldiers flooded into the ruined shrine. Their torches cast flickering shadows on the ancient stone walls, and the metallic clang of swords being drawn filled the space. At the forefront stood Captain Seraphis, her crimson cape fluttering slightly as she raised her sword.

"Arin Valdris, surrender now!" Her voice was sharp, commanding. "Your fate has already been decided."

My heart pounded. Nowhere to run. No weapon. No plan. Only the flickering warmth inside me—the strange fire I didn't yet understand.

Beside me, Lyria, the rogue who had saved me, tightened her grip on her dagger. "They found us faster than I expected," she muttered.

I swallowed hard. "That makes two of us."

Seraphis took a step closer, her piercing gaze locked onto mine. "Your blood is a threat to the throne. You won't leave this place alive."

That single sentence triggered something deep inside me—an overwhelming rush of heat, anger, and something else—power. The embers inside me flared, licking at my veins.

Lyria noticed it too. "Not here, prince," she warned under her breath.

But before Seraphis could strike, Lyria hurled a small glass vial at the ground. The moment it shattered, a thick white smoke exploded outward, swallowing the shrine in an impenetrable fog.

"Move!" Lyria grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the hidden passage she had uncovered.

The world became a blur of shifting shadows and urgent footsteps.

Beneath the Surface

The tunnel beneath the shrine was cold and damp, its walls lined with ancient carvings barely visible in the dim glow of Lyria's torch. The air was thick with dust, and every hurried step sent echoes bouncing through the passage.

"Where does this lead?" I asked between breaths.

"Outside the capital, if we're lucky," Lyria answered. "It's an old royal escape route—one of the few secrets your enemies haven't erased."

The mention of my enemies sent a shiver down my spine. I still didn't fully understand who they were, but the emotions tied to my fragmented memories were undeniable—hatred, betrayal, fire, and blood.

A sudden tremor shook the tunnel, and the walls groaned in protest. Dust rained down, cracks splitting across the stone ceiling.

"They're collapsing the passage!" Lyria shouted.

The sound of crumbling rock roared behind us. I forced my legs to move faster, even as exhaustion threatened to drag me down.

Then, I saw it—a symbol carved into the tunnel wall, glowing faintly as we ran past.

It was the same burning sigil I had seen in my fragmented memories.

I skidded to a stop, my heart slamming against my ribs. "Wait!"

Lyria yanked my arm. "We don't have time for this!"

But I couldn't move. Something inside me recognized that mark. It called to me—an echo of a past life. And then, like a lock clicking into place, a rush of forgotten knowledge slammed into me.

The Mark of the Phoenix.

Before I could process it, the tunnel gave out.

The ceiling collapsed in a cascade of stone and dust, forcing me and Lyria forward. We barely made it through the exit, tumbling onto the damp grass as the tunnel behind us sealed shut.

We had escaped.

But we weren't safe.

The Fire Within

Lyria pulled herself up first. "We need to move. They'll send scouts to search for us."

I forced myself to stand, my lungs still burning from the sprint. The cool night air should have soothed my racing heart, but it didn't. The fire inside me was growing stronger.

"Where are we?" I asked, scanning the towering trees around us.

"The outskirts of Eldoria," Lyria replied. "We're beyond the capital, but not beyond the king's reach."

The king.

The tyrant who had stolen my throne.

A sudden surge of heat pulsed through me. My body reacted before my mind could catch up.

A rush of golden fire flickered around my fingertips. The same fire from my memories. The same fire from the sigil in the tunnel.

Lyria's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't step back. "That power of yours… you need to learn to control it."

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the heat. "And who's going to teach me?"

She smirked. "Luckily for you, I know someone who can."

Before I could question her, the distant sound of horses galloping reached our ears.

Lyria's expression darkened. "Come on, prince. Your journey is just beginning."

She turned and sprinted into the forest.

I hesitated for only a moment before following her into the unknown.

Behind us, a golden glow still shimmered in the air where I had stood.