The Ember Crown

Twilight bled through the canopies of Elowen, casting dappled gold across the forest floor. Kael, a sixteen-year-old apprentice blacksmith, trudged along the moss-covered path, his satchel heavy with ore samples. He often came here for solitude after the clangor of the forge—alone among the whispering leaves and the soft chatter of birds. But today, something was wrong.A chill snaked down his spine, unrelated to the crisp air. The wind had stilled, and the woods held their breath. That was when he saw the light.