The Flame's Ascent

The morning broke with a pale, watery light that struggled to pierce through the gray clouds. Lynx sat at the edge of the Fenwyk estate gardens, the wooden box containing the shard balanced on his knees. The hum of the artifact felt stronger in the stillness of dawn, as though it pulsed in rhythm with his thoughts.

Vera and Veryl approached silently, their cloaks wrapped tightly against the chill. Veryl carried a small leather-bound journal under his arm, its corners worn from use.

"You look lost in thought," Vera said as she sat beside him.

Lynx glanced at her, his mismatched eyes shadowed with worry. "Just trying to make sense of all this. The shard, the queen's searches, the rebellion… it's all connected, but I don't know how."

Veryl plopped down on the grass in front of them, his usual smirk firmly in place. "That's why we're here, cousin. To solve the grand mystery before it solves us. And I brought something that might help."

He opened the journal and flipped through its pages, revealing sketches of runes and handwritten notes. "This is from the Astrielle family archives. Don't ask how I got it—it's better if you don't know. But it mentions House Caervyn and their work with artifacts like this one."

Lynx leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What does it say?"

Veryl's finger traced a line of text. "Caervyn's power wasn't just about creation. They specialized in amplification—taking latent energy and magnifying it. If this shard is one of theirs, it could be a piece of something much larger. Something capable of wielding enormous power."

Vera's expression grew serious. "And the queen would want that for herself."

"Exactly," Veryl said, closing the journal. "But here's the thing: amplification works both ways. It can strengthen, but it can also destroy. If this shard falls into the wrong hands, it could be catastrophic."

Lynx's grip tightened on the box. "So what do we do? Keep it hidden? Destroy it?"

Veryl tilted his head, his smirk softening. "Neither. Not yet, anyway. We need to understand it first. And for that, we'll need help."

Vera's brow furrowed. "Help from whom?"

Veryl hesitated before answering. "The rebellion."

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves in the wind. Lynx's jaw tightened as he stared at his cousin.

"You can't be serious," he said. "The rebellion is dangerous. They'll use the shard for their own ends."

"And the queen won't?" Veryl shot back, his tone sharper than usual. "At least the rebellion's goal is to challenge the crown's grip on power. The queen will use this to tighten it. If we approach the right people, we might find allies instead of enemies."

Vera placed a hand on Lynx's arm, her voice calm but firm. "Veryl's right. We can't do this alone, Lynx. If the rebellion has knowledge or resources that can help us understand this shard, we have to consider it."

Lynx sighed, his frustration evident. "Do you even know how to contact them? Or are we just supposed to wander into the woods and hope for the best?"

Veryl's grin returned, though it was tinged with mischief. "As a matter of fact, I do. There's a contact in Duskfall. They're cautious, but they've been known to trade information with those who approach them carefully."

"And how do you know this?" Vera asked, her eyes narrowing.

"I have my sources," Veryl replied, waving her off. "Trust me, they're reliable."

Lynx shook his head, his mind racing. He didn't like the idea of involving the rebellion, but he couldn't deny that their options were limited. If the shard truly was as powerful as Veryl claimed, they couldn't afford to let ignorance guide them.

"Fine," Lynx said finally. "We'll go to Duskfall. But we do this carefully, and if I sense anything off, we're pulling back."

"Agreed," Vera said.

Veryl grinned. "A family outing, then. How charming."

As the three of them rose and began preparing for the journey, Lynx couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping into something far more dangerous than any of them realized. The shard's hum seemed to deepen, its rhythm matching the unease growing in his chest.

The rebellion was a risk, but it might also be their only chance to uncover the truth. And in a world where truth was often buried beneath lies, Lynx knew they couldn't afford to turn back now.