NARRATOR
To understand the fire that burns in the arena today, one must look back eight hundred years, to the ashes of the Second War of Fall.
When King Toren Ignis carved the Agnikhaat Empire out of chaos, he did not do it alone. Four monoliths supported his throne—four Great Clans whose names were synonymous with war. There were the Sunfire, the native masters of the scorching dunes; the Hearts Clan, the immovable guardians of the East; the Crenis, the Golden Lions who wielded the terrifying power of Arson; and the strongest among them all... the Farburns.
But history is a ruthless editor. Today, only two remain in the light.
The Crenis Clan met a violent end. In the wake of the catastrophic Joming Slaughter—an event that shook the continental shelf—Emperor Nicolas ordered the Great Purge. The Arson bloodline was hunted to near extinction. Now, the Golden Lions are nothing but whispers in the dark, rumored to be barely surviving in the frozen hell of the Northern Labyrinths.
The fall of the Farburn Clan, however, was a tragedy of a different design. They were not broken by war. They were broken by peace.
Following the Third War of Fall, the world signed an Oath of Peace. For the Farburns, a lineage whose very biology was tuned for combat, this new era was suffocating. Peace was not rest; it was stagnation. For years, they suppressed their instincts, a caged beast pacing behind bars, waiting for a release that never came.
The dam finally broke when the seat of the Clan Head fell vacant. Two warriors of equal brilliance and equal ferocity stepped forward. Neither would yield.
The clan fractured. Half rallied behind one, half behind the other. It began as a political stalemate, but in a house built on war, words quickly failed. A trivial dispute in a dining hall ignited the powder keg, escalating into a brutal civil war. The Empire's strongest sword began to sharpen itself against its own reflection.
The Emperor of that era intervened before they could wipe each other out. He realized that a unified Farburn clan was too volatile for a peaceful world, but too valuable to destroy. So, he issued a decree that severed the bloodline forever.
He split the clan geographically. The faction sent to the frigid North of Lyra, to the Laresas Region, became the Cinders. The faction exiled to the humid borders of the South, in Lorienten, became the Celyns.
For centuries, they remained separated, their love for their kin twisting into a deep, genetic resentment. They blamed each other for the loss of their former glory.
That hatred should have remained a distant memory. But Emperor Stromas, in a move that defied all political logic, decided to marry into both. He took Maria Celyn as his First Empress and Krona Cinder as his Second.
The separation ended. The Cinders and Celyns returned to Solaren, bringing their ancient vendetta into the majestic halls of the capital.
When the prince's born.its also a way for the Celyns and cinders to release their also born and a reason to enter solaren
Celyns supported "AURIN" son of maria and cinders supported rocian son of krona
Every time they met at streets of solaren it's tough day for low level city guards. A occasional nightmare.
NARRATOR: What does this have to do with the current battle ceremony? Just watch.
MINK: "People of the Empire! We have arrived at the final match of this year's battle ceremony. As with every year, we have a special match, but since Ashes Academy joined this year, we have an odd number of contestants. The representative of Ares War Academy was left without an opponent, so we have included him in the special match, making it a three-way battle!"
MINK: "Let the battle commence! Om of Ares War Academy vs. Ray Cinders of Imperial Knights Academy vs. Kevin Celyns of Royal Solaren Academy!"
Om: "Dudes, I hop—"
Kevin: "I'm gonna kill you, bastard!" (Kevin, next son of Celyns head and next heir of Celyns. Brown medium hair, brown eyes. Was in dark orange and dark blue Celyns clan dress)
Ray: "Try me, sucker!" (Ray, the heir of Cinders. Full green hair, small ponytail, green eyes and in light green and blue Cinders clan dress)
Om: "I'm a contestant too, guys."
Stency (In waiting room): "Hehehe, they ignored him."
Houren Cinders: "Don't embarrass us, kid!"
Cinders Elders: "Show that Celyn brat we are always superior to them!"
Cinders Clan Members: "Yes! At least break one of his limbs!"
On the opposite side on the Celyn clan stand:
Celyn Members: "Kill him, young master!"
Celyns Member: "Yeah, make those Cinders bastards suffer."
At that moment, a tall man in his fifties with a huge belly and half-bald head with a brown beard came forward in the Celyn stands. Houren looked annoyed. He is the clan head of Celyns and father of Kevin: "Montas Celyns."
Montas: "Boy, if you lose today, forget that you ever had a clan. Destroy that Cinder kid."
Kevin: "You don't need to tell that, old man."
MINK: "Battle commence!"
Kevin unsheathed two long swords from his back while Ray released his two chained daggers strapped around his hands. But none cared about Om.
Om (IV): "Guess I'll wait by the side and take the victory."
Kevin: "Infernal Twin Blades — First Form!" He dashed forward while performing various sword moves, unleashing multiple heat slashes that targeted Ray as he moved past his own slashes.
Ray: "Green Flame Daggers — 5th Form!" Ray began spinning his chain daggers as green flames enveloped them. When he charged forward, it was like green rings that revolved around him.
SWOOOOOSSSSSH! When they clashed, Ray's spinning daggers cancelled out the incoming heat rays, and Ray blocked the blazing sword of Kevin with his wrist covered with chains. Ray pulled his other dagger back, pointing at Kevin's blind spot. But Kevin ducked and performed an upward slash, but Ray jumped several meters high using Flame Burst (similar to Flame Thrust but different principle). He pulled his daggers way higher and swung them down from above. They struck at Kevin as he flipped back with a Flame Thrust, but when he landed, Ray was right in front of him.
Ray did not land down, but used a second Flame Burst mid-air to close the gap between him and Kevin.
Slow-mo: Kevin looked at Ray's hand; he was holding the dagger with flames on. Ray stabbed Kevin right on the shoulder, then turned his position and kicked Kevin in the chest, pulling his dagger out as he used the force to flip back.
Cinders Bald Elder: "Yes, boy! That's it! Humiliate him!"
Celyn Elder: "Young Master, pull your weight!"
Kevin (Raging): "Infernal Twin Blades — Fire Fury!" Kevin jumped forward, turning horizontally with his blades thrusting heavy flames from his legs like a rocket. Spinning at insane speed, he struck Ray. Even though Ray blocked, it still broke his left forearm. Kevin went past and used Flame Thrust to reduce momentum, then used another thrust to accelerate back. He swung his left sword in a sideways arc; Ray ducked. Ray stabbed up with his dagger; Kevin deflected with his right sword. Ray pulled his right dagger closer and swung at Kevin, locking onto Kevin's left arm. He swung it along with Kevin, dragging him around in an arc. Kevin lay on the ground; Ray swung the left dagger in a vertical arc, landing and stabbing Kevin's thigh.
Montas glared at Kevin as Celyn members cursed.
Om: "Lord, these guys are really mad."
Ray walked forward, spinning his daggers with both hands while ignoring his broken arm. Kevin stood up in a fierce rage.
Kevin: "Infernal Twin Blades — Sixth Form!" He raised both swords above while heat magic condensed around his blade. He swung it immediately before the charging Ray could reach him.
WOOOOOM! Two vertical lines of heat slashes went ahead like laser blades. Ray used Flame Burst to dodge sideways, but still, one hit him, breaking several ribs.
Both losing their minds, they screamed in rage while releasing their final attacks.
Ray: "Twin Daggers — Vortex of Death!"
Kevin: "Infernal Twin Blades — Blades of War!"
Ray spun his daggers violently above his head, making a green flame vortex around him. Kevin made a stance and charged forward at hyper-speed as flames rose behind him in trails. Just as they were about to clash, MINK spawned between them. He grabbed Kevin by the head, slamming him to the ground, and struck Ray with a compressed flame blast that sent him flying back, knocking both unconscious.
MINK: "Ray Cinders and Kevin Celyns have been disqualified for not equipping safety runes, violating ceremony rules. As such, the bystander, Om, will be announced as the winner!"
Rocian: "Fools."
Aurin: "What? These guys are nuts, just like my brother."
Om (Shivers): "What the hell? These guys really tried to kill each other right now. My god, that gave me chills."
Anjan: "Well, that is expected, but I did not know the announcer is actually a powerful guy (Ethereal stage)."
Melvin: "He was supposed to be the original commander of the City Guards, but he left and opened a drama theatre for some reason."
Long-Beard Celyn Elder: "Lord Montas..."
Montas: "Since the Cinder kid didn't win either, go get him."
As such a bloody event occurred, the ceremony ended with a heavy mood
Night — Imperial Palace Council Room
Present:
David Tarlent (mystical stage) — Minister of War (a fat man with ginger hair in his 50s but looks 30s, wearing expensive blue clothes laced with gems)
Anjan Meril (thread master 24 knots) — Imperial Adviser and Strategist
Melvin Hearts (ethereal stage) — Commander of City Guards Solaren
Steven Darans (ethereal stage) — Commander of Northern Border Guards (a tall bald man with small red beard and fit physique, wearing a yellow knight armor with border symbol a horse in red at chest)
Horlen Hearts (mystical stage) — Commander of Imperial Estate Guards. Elder brother of Melvin (a young man in twenties sharp mustache and well-combed black hair, wearing the imperial guards armor with pale reddish shade with ignis symbol at chest)
Stromas Ignis (descendance): "Since one-quarter of the Imperial Council is assembled here, let us hear from the Imperial Adviser first."
Anjan: "Your Majesty, it is confirmed that both the Cinders and Celyns clans orchestrated today's incident. They utilized the sacred ceremony as a stage to manifest their rage."
Stromas: "I have been far too lenient on these two clans. They dared to desecrate the sacred ceremony with blood. Send them a formal warning in the Court's name. They shall be banned from the Summer Festival if such transgressions occur in the future."
Horlen: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Stromas: "Then let us address the primary concern. Steven Darans, speak."
Steven: "My Majesty, recently to the north of the Nortin mines—precisely where the Labyrinths begin—the activities of the Arson survivors have significantly increased."
Anjan: "By that, what do you mean?"
Steven: "Last week, three hundred miles s north of the Line of Control, we detected a massive explosion—likely the self-destruction of a mystical-level powerhouse."
David: "What do you imply? That there are still mystical-level powerhouses remaining among the Arson clans?"
Steven: "What I am suggesting is that there may be even more formidable powers at play."
Anjan: "Indeed. If a mystic stage expert is forced to self-destruct, then there must be a far stronger opponent involved."
Stromas: "So the Arson clans are infighting; what is the problem?"
Steven: "That is not the only concern. A few weeks ago, a merchant vessel spotted a Raakton ship near the eastern edge of the Amilan River."
Stromas: "And what of it? Those Raakton fools may approach, but what can they possibly achieve against our might?"
Anjan: "Your Majesty, I am afraid that is not the case. I understand what the Commander of the Border Guards is implying."
Stromas: "Explain, Adviser."
Anjan: "Behind Nortin, the colossal mountain valleys hold an abundance of resources that cannot be depleted in a thousand years. There are Magistones that harbor high-purity mana and materials essential for formations and runes. There is a high probability that the Arson clans have also found a way to process them."
Stromas: "And so?"
Anjan: "So they can cultivate at an accelerated rate with those resources and escape their sealed fate."
Steven: "And we suspect they may have contacted the Raakton. In exchange for Magistones, they likely requested refuge or assistance to conquer Nortin. Some factions among the Arson clan surely refused to let the Raaktons in, which must have offended the man currently in power."
Stromas: "Foolishness. How dare they scheme against our Empire?"
Anjan: "Your Majesty, I believe we must prepare in advance before the Arsons augment their strength any further."
Stromas: "Very well. Prepare the strategy, Adviser. We shall launch another expedition to purge the Arsons once again."
The heavy atmosphere within the Imperial Council room remained unnoticed as the capital celebrated. The entire city glowed with the light of countless lanterns and lamps, a sea of warmth against the coming dark.
Next chapter: ------------- LIFE OF FREAKS