Page 36 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

T he brisk air bit into my skin as I stirred awake, the damp earth beneath me sending a chill through my bones.

I groaned, my side throbbing with a dull, insistent ache.

Gingerly, I touched the wound where the spear had grazed me, hissing at the sharp pain that shot through my body.

The blood was dried and crusted, clinging to my skin like a grim reminder of the battle I had fled.

I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled, and I stumbled, falling back onto the forest floor.

The world spun around me, the shadows of the trees merging into a dizzying blur.

I was alone, surrounded by the eerie silence of the Faewood, the only sounds the distant hoots of an owl and the rustling of leaves above.

A heavy weight settled in my chest, a mixture of guilt, fear, and self-doubt. How could I have been so foolish to think I could fight alongside Cade and Hunter? I'm just a slave girl from Bramblebash, unremarkable and weak. What good is my magic if I can't protect those I care about?

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the moonlit forest around me.

I had failed. I had run, leaving Cade and Hunter to face the Sythers alone.

I'm no warrior, no savior. I'm a burden, a liability.

The Blaze Queen is coming for me, and there is nowhere I could hide, nowhere I could run that she wouldn't find me.

I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth as despair washed over me. The weight of my failures pressed down on me, threatening to crush me beneath their weight. I was just a pawn in a game I didn't understand, a game where the stakes were too high, and the odds were stacked against me.

"I can't do this," I whispered, the words tasting like bitter ash in my mouth. "I'm not strong enough. I never will be."

Just as I was about to give in to the overwhelming hopelessness, a soft, familiar voice cut through the darkness. "Ash, you are stronger than you think."

I looked up, wiping the tears from my eyes, and saw Cornelius standing a few paces away. His deep yellow eyes with streaks of fiery oranges and reds glowed in the moonlight, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

"Cornelius," I said. "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I failed them. I failed Cade and Hunter. I failed Bella."

Cornelius moved closer, his sturdy tortoise legs carrying him with a slow, comforting gait. "You did not fail, Ash. You fought bravely, and you survived. That is a victory in itself."

I shook my head, the weight of my failures pressing down on me. "I ran. I left them behind. The Sythers said the queen is coming for me. I can't face her. I'm just a slave girl from a miserable small town. I'm not strong enough to go on."

Cornelius's voice was gentle yet firm. "You had to run, Ash. You were outnumbered, and Cade and Hunter could not have reached you in time. If you had stayed, you would have died, and the dragons were incapacitated by the nets. I'm glad you listened to me. You did the right thing. You survived."

His words did little to comfort me. The image of Cade, injured and fighting valiantly, flashed through my mind. I had left him behind, left him to face the Sythers alone. "I can't fight the queen. I'm not strong enough. I never will be. "

Cornelius's gaze was steady and unwavering. "You are strong, Ash. You are still alive, and that is a testament to your strength. You killed the lead Syther. That was a huge accomplishment, and I am proud of you."

His words sent a ripple of warmth through me, a flicker of hope in the despair that threatened to consume me. But the doubt lingered, a shadow that refused to be banished. "How can I be strong when I couldn't protect them? When I couldn't protect Bella?"

Cornelius's voice was filled with wisdom and patience.

"Strength is not just about physical prowess, Ash.

It is about resilience, determination, and the will to keep going even when the odds are against you.

You have shown all of these qualities and more.

You are strong because you continue to fight, continue to seek a way forward despite the obstacles in your path.

Strength is not the absence of fear or weakness, but the ability to face them and keep moving forward. "

His words struck a chord within me, a spark of hope that grew into a flame.

I was still alive. I had survived. I had faced the Sythers and emerged victorious.

Maybe, just maybe, I can face the Blaze Queen someday.

Maybe I can be the Gold-Marked, the one destined to wield this magic and help those in need.

But the doubt still lingered, a stubborn shadow that refused to be banished. "But how can I face the queen? She is powerful, ruthless. I am just a slave girl from a shit town. How can I hope to stand against her?"

Cornelius's gaze softened, filled with a gentle understanding.

"You are more than just a slave girl, Ash.

You are the Gold-Marked, the one chosen to wield the power of the Gilded Radiance.

The queen fears you because she knows the power you possess, the power that could bring an end to her tyranny.

That is why she seeks you, why she will stop at nothing to capture you. "

His words ignited something within me, a spark of defiance and determination.

Maybe I'm not just a slave girl. I'm the Gold- Marked, chosen to wield the power of the Golden Rune on my neck.

I have a destiny, a purpose. I could not let fear and doubt hold me back.

I had to embrace my strength and face the challenges ahead.

"But how can I face the queen when I can't even protect those I care about?" I asked, the doubt still gnawing at the edges of my newfound resolve. "How can I stand against her?"

Cornelius's voice was calm and reassuring.

"You will learn, Ash. You will grow stronger.

You have already taken the first step by acknowledging your strength and facing your fears.

With time and practice, you will become a formidable force, capable of standing against the queen and protecting those you care about.

But remember, you do not have to do this alone.

You have allies, friends who will stand beside you and support you in your journey. "

His words filled me with a newfound sense of purpose and determination.

I was not alone. I had allies, friends who believed in me and would support me in my journey.

I had to embrace my strength, face my fears, and continue to grow and learn.

With their help, I could face the Blaze Queen and bring an end to her tyranny.

Cornelius extended a sturdy leg, offering it to me. "Come, let us get you to your feet. You have a long journey ahead of you, but you are not alone. I will be with you every step of the way."

I reached out, gritting my teeth against the pain in my side, and gripped his leg.

With a grunt, I pulled myself to my feet, the world spinning around me for a moment before steadying.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the pain and the doubts that still lingered in the corners of my mind.

"Thank you, Cornelius," I said, my voice filled with gratitude and determination. "I will not give up. I will face my fears and continue to grow and learn. I will become the Gold-Marked and bring an end to the queen's tyranny."

A soft smile spread across Cornelius's face, his eyes filled with pride and encouragement. "That is the spirit, Ash. Now, let us get you to safety. You are injured and depleted from using your magic. You need rest and healing."

He led me through the moonlit forest, his sturdy tortoise legs carrying him with a slow, comforting gait. I hobbled along beside him, each step sending a jolt of pain through my side. But I gritted my teeth and pushed forward, refusing to let the pain hold me back.

We walked for what felt like an eternity, the darkness of the forest engulfing us as we made our way deeper into the Faewood. Eventually, the sound of rushing water reached my ears, and we emerged into a clearing bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight.

A magnificent waterfall cascaded down the side of a cliff, the water shimmering in the starlit night.

The waterfall fed into a pristine spring, its surface seemingly incandescent under the celestial light.

The sight was breathtaking, a sanctuary of peace and tranquility amidst the chaos and turmoil of my journey.

I stumbled toward the water, my legs giving way as I reached the edge of the spring.

I collapsed into the water, letting the cool liquid envelop me.

The coldness was a shock to my system, but it also brought a sense of relief and rejuvenation.

I let myself sink beneath the surface, allowing the water to wash away the blood, sweat, and tears of my fight.

The water felt like magic in itself, soaking into my body, making me feel whole again, pieced back together.

It felt something like I would imagine a father holding in your arms would feel like; a foreign feeling that I'd never had, and never would. ..

As I lay there, letting the cool water lap around me, I felt a ripple of water splash into my face. I blinked, opening my eyes and peering into the depths of the spring. And that's when I saw it—a massive shadow moving behind the waterfall.

My heart leaped into my throat as I glared at the waterfall, the shadow growing larger and more distinct. Cornelius gasped and turned to me, his eyes wide with alarm. "Ash, get to your feet! You need to run!"

But I was frozen in place, my limbs heavy with fear and exhaustion.

The shadow emerged from behind the waterfall, its form becoming clearer with each passing moment.

And then I recognized it—the same dark blue dragon I had seen nights prior with Cornelius.

Its body was immense, its scales shimmering in the moonlight, and its eyes burning with a primal, predatory intensity.