The Last Sovereign: Rise of the Forgotten King

Kael felt the burden of failure pressing down on his chest. His hands trembled as flickers of flame flickered to life, then died in the

oppressive darkness as he gasped for oxygen. He was unable to control his fire.

Seemingly mocking his lack of control, the power of the Sovereign Core surged

within, wild and uncontrollable.

Across the tight alley, the Shadowborn creature loomed—a shapeless nightmare of sinewy darkness with incandescent eyes

that burned into his soul. As it moved forward, claws raking the stone, its maw

split into a grin of sharp fangs.

Kael gathered his strength and clinched his fists. Bright, ferocious heat erupted from his hands. But when it touched the beast, the

flames were swallowed by the shadows, dissolving into nothing. It was the

Shadowborn. Kael was flung against the icy, unforgiving wall as its claws tore

through his shirt and swept across his chest. As he collapsed to the floor,

pain shot through his rib line. He tasted blood as he coughed.

The thing muttered, "You are weak," in a spooky multilingual voice. "The fire will consume you… as it consumed the others."

The Sovereign Core was burning hotter and hungrier as Kael fought to rise. His vision became hazy. The creature lunged back for the final blow.

Through the gloom, a glint of silver light broke through. In an instant, the Shadowborn was sliced to pieces by a blade engraved with runes.

The beast howled, its body shifting as another blade followed, faster than Kael

could track. The atmosphere changed. A graceful, ferocious figure stepped

between him and death. A girl, not much older than him, with a slender braid

hanging over one shoulder and sapphire-like, keen eyes. Her dual swords flashed

as they struck the thing once more as she spun in a flawless arc. The Shadowborn writhed as its black essence burned away and the runes ignited with

silver fire.

Kael could only stare as she struck the fatal blow, sinking both swords into the creature's core. There was only silence as the Shadowborn shrieked and then burst into smoke. His breath was shallow as he blinked. The girl lowered her hood and faced him. Her features were ferocious but youthful,

and she had a dark scar across her cheek. She was tall. Her eyes remained calm

as a winter breeze.

She questioned, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Still trying to comprehend with what had transpired, Kael blinked. "I was in control

of it."

She grinned. "Really? Is it under control to lie face down in the dirt now?" He became agitated. "I was only regaining my strength."

Unimpressed, she glanced over him. "Yes." She extended her hand. After staring

at it, Kael hesitantly accepted it. Her power as she hauled him to his feet was

unexpected.

Rubbing his ribs, he said, "Who are you?" "Aelira," she remarked plainly as she sheathed her blade after wiping it on her cloak.

"You're welcome, by the way." Kael whispered, "I didn't ask for your help."

"You were not required to." She looked at where the beast has fallen. "I'm glad I could was here on time. That beast was prepared to destroy you".

"I am capable of fighting." Kael said

She squinted a little. "No, you don't. Not in

opposition to them. Not with that kind of power. Faint embers still glinted in his

hands, which she indicated. "You don't even realize that you're burning out."

The fury Inside Kael roared once more as he clinched his fists. "You know absolutely nothing about me."

"I am sufficiently knowledgeable." Her voice became icier. "You possess the Sovereign Core, don't you?" He stopped. "How—" "I've witnessed it previously." Her expression steely, she took a step closer. "And it will destroy you if you continue to let it run

wild."

A wave of frustration washed over Kael. What am I then expected to do? Hide? "Hide?" Aelira laughed. "You'll die within a week." She

folded her arms. "Or worse—someone who isn't nearly as kind as I am will take

that authority away from you." "Good?" Kael gave her a fierce look. "You're too

self-centered." She retorted, "And you're out of your depth." "You can survive

with my aid. However, only if you quit being such a fool.

His pride and terror were at odds, and he tightened his jaw."What makes you concerned?"

Aelira's voice stayed piercing, but her eyes

briefly softened. "Because I understand the experience of being hunted." Additionally, because Her gaze grew gloomy. "We all burn if you fall."

Once more, the air changed. Before he could see it, Kael sensed it—a coldness that crept into his bones and brought with it the obvious

presence of other Shadowborn. Aelira's fingers gripped her sword hilt tighter

as she murmured, "They're coming." This time, Kael's flames blazed stronger.

"I can do this myself" A tiny, sly smile tugged at her lips as she avoided looking at him. "Then prove it."

The shadows surged like a tidal wave of doom, and a sea of

hollow eyes glimmered from the darkness. With the Sovereign Core throbbing,

Kael held up his hand. Alongside him, the flames arose, ravenous and savage.

And he held his ground as the first of the beasts rushed.

In a whirl of teeth and claws, the first Shadowborn struck

with terrifying speed. Kael felt the heat inside him flare and clinched his

hands. He didn't attempt to control it this time. The flame exploded from his

palm, and he let it come, pouring his anger and fear into it. As its shape

dissolved into black smoke, the creature let out a screech as it was engulfed

by the flames. From the side, another lunged. With a smooth, well-practiced

attack, Aelira's blade sliced clean through its head as she glided like a

whisper of wind. "Not too bad," she whispered. "But don't exhaust yourself too

quickly."

Kael was about to respond when a second set of bright eyes

appeared in the shadows. The tight passageway was illuminated as he twirled,

flames flowing from his palms. As the flames burned its flesh, the creature

screamed, but others came pouring out of the darkness, ravenous and

unrelenting. "There are too many!" he exclaimed. "You think?" Aelira's tone was

sardonic and piercing. "We must relocate." As he battled, Kael's heart pounded,

his fire dwindling with every outburst. He sensed the power becoming more

difficult to control as the Sovereign Core pulsed erratically. Exhaustion began

to creep in, blurring the corners of his vision. Aelira took hold of his arm.

"Go on!"

Her steps were quick and light as she dragged him into a

little passageway between two deteriorating buildings. With strained breath,

Kael staggered after her. The grotesque "Somewhere they are unable to follow."

Although Aelira's remarks were incisive, she held Kael's arm steadily and drew

him forward with unwavering assurance. In her other hand, she still held her

twin swords, their edges glittering slightly with rune carvings. The Shadowborn

surged behind them, a wave of living darkness that snapped and clawed at their

heels. The Sovereign Core blazed inside Kael, a source of power and a raging

inferno that threatened to devour him from the inside out, causing him to

stumble once more and lose his strength. Aelira pulled him upright with

unexpected power as his feet dragged on the cobbles. With a low but stern

voice, she said, "Keep moving." "I—can't—" The words were hardly more than a

whisper as he gulped. resounded like a death knell as the darkness swirled

behind them. He exclaimed, "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere they are unable to follow." Although Aelira's

remarks were incisive, she held Kael's arm steadily and drew him forward with

unwavering assurance. In her other hand, she still held her twin swords, their

edges glittering slightly with rune carvings. The Shadowborn surged behind

them, a wave of living darkness that snapped and clawed at their heels. The

Sovereign Core blazed inside Kael, a source of power and a raging inferno that

threatened to devour him from the inside out, causing him to stumble once more

and lose his strength. Aelira pulled him upright with unexpected power as his

feet dragged on the cobbles. With a low but stern voice, she said, "Keep

moving." "I—can't—" The words were hardly more than a whisper as he gulped.

"You certainly can," she yelled. Determination shone in her

eyes. "You're not allowed to pass away here." Behind them came the sound of a

snarl. Just as Kael turned to look behind him, he saw a massive Shadowborn,

bigger and more substantial than the others, emerge from the shadows. Its maw

parted into a hideous smile as its claws shone in the moonlight. "Come down!"

He was pushed away by Aelira. Where Kael had stood, the air was shredded by the

monster's claws. With her swords gleaming, Aelira turned around. She slashed

across the beast's face with one blade while driving the other hard and deep

into its shoulder. The beast screamed in agony as black ichor spewed. She

shouted, "Go!"

With his heart pounding, Kael forced himself to stand. His

terror fueled the fire within him as it flared up once more. Flames spiraled

into the air as he raised his fists. "Remain back!" The flames sputtered, but

the larger Shadowborn flinched away. Kael lost his strength and went to his

knees as his vision swam. Then Aelira muttered a curse. "You're exhausting

yourself!" As more animals closed in, she suddenly rushed and slashed through

the darkness. "Don't throw it all away at once! Keep the flame under control or

it will devour you. "I'm making an effort!" Kael yelled, his anger exploding. "I

can't get it to listen!" "Then get it to pay attention."