The training chamber was dead silent.
Not because it was empty—but because everyone present was holding their breath.
Sofie stood with her hands clenched at her sides, the air around her rippling with heat. Thin wisps of flame danced up her arms, trailing from her fingertips like molten threads. Her eyes locked on Varion—her father, her obstacle, her judge.
He stood calmly, hands behind his back, dressed in a simple tunic. No armor. No weapon. No aura flaring. Just him.
Unshaken.
Unbothered.
"Begin," he said.
Sofie moved like a gunshot.
In an instant, the space between them collapsed. She shot forward with a burst of fire, feet leaving scorched marks as she launched into a spiraling strike. A hook wreathed in flame aimed straight for Varion's chest.
He sidestepped.
Effortless.
Her blow passed through air—but she didn't slow down. A pivot, a heel kick, a backhand laced with a fiery arc—Varion weaved through it all like smoke through cracks. No energy wasted. No counterattack. Just pure evasion.
Sparks rained as her flames lashed the stone.
"Come on—" she growled, flame coiling tighter around her forearms.
She pressed harder.
"Ignar Element Art: Emberstep Flare."
A jet of fire exploded beneath her feet, launching her into the air. She twisted mid-flight, palms open, sending twin bursts of fire straight down like artillery shells.
Varion didn't move.
The ground around him lit up—then vanished beneath a shockwave of flame.
The gallery gasped.
Dust clouded the floor—but Sofie wasn't done.
Before the smoke cleared, she descended like a meteor, body coated in fire, fists leading.
A boom rang out as she struck the floor—lava veins split across the marble. And there, inside the crater—
Varion stood behind her.
Unburned. Untouched.
He tapped two fingers against her shoulder. "You're wasting energy."
She whirled around, swinging wildly.
He ducked under her elbow and moved behind her again—fluid, precise.
"Relying too much on power."
Another swing. Another dodge.
"Your form breaks when you're angry."
"Shut UP!" she yelled, fire bursting outward in a wave of frustration.
Varion skated back on one foot, letting the heat wash past him, his eyes sharp.
Lady Sera watched from the edge, arms still folded—but now her jaw was tight. Kael's hands gripped the pillar behind him.
Sofie panted, her skin glistening with sweat, flames flickering dimmer now.
But her eyes—still burning.
She reached to her center.
And whispered:
"Ignar Element Art: Blazing Form—Stage One."
The air screamed with sudden heat.
Flames wrapped around her body like armor, forming gauntlets of liquid fire, her boots glowing like smoldering embers. Her aura surged—controlled now, honed, not wild. For the first time, Varion's posture shifted. Barely. But it shifted.
She dropped low, hands against the floor, and whispered "Ignition Step."
Varion blinked.
The ground flashed—a glyph burned beneath her feet—and she vanished.
Boom.
She reappeared behind him, mid-strike.
"Ignar Element Art: Vulcan Knuckle."
Her fist connected.
Right across his jaw.
The chamber exploded in applause.
He staggered back a step, hand at his cheek. Not much. But enough.
Enough to prove she could.
Silence returned. She stood there, chest heaving, fire dimmed but victorious.
Varion's eyes narrowed—and then, slowly, he smiled.
"Well done,I'll allow you to participate"
Sofie collapsed to one knee, the flames dispersing with a hiss of steam, relief flooding her limbs.
And from above, Kael whooped so loud it made a guard drop their spear.
---
The training chamber was quiet now. The heat had faded, and so had the crowd. Only a few embers still glowed in the cracks she left behind.
Sofie sat alone on the edge of the scorched platform, legs dangling off the side, a towel clutched loosely in one hand. Her breath had returned, but her heart still felt heavy—pounding not from exertion, but from something deeper.
She looked down at her hands.
Red. Raw. Burnt knuckles beneath flaking trails of soot.
She flexed them slowly. Every nerve ached. But the flame within still pulsed gently—alive.
"Ignar Element Arts."
She'd finally used them.
Not just mimicked them.But claimed them.
Still, her father had only needed one step, one evasion, one look—to make her feel like a child all over again. The strike she landed—was it skill? Or pity?
She didn't know.
Her reflection shimmered faintly in a shard of polished marble nearby, cracked but still intact.
Hair matted. Eyes hollow. Face flushed.
She looked older. Or maybe just more real.
"What do you even want out of this?" she whispered to herself.
Power? Recognition?
Closure?
No. If she were honest—it was none of those.
She wanted to become strong enough that he never had to fight alone again.
Klaus.
Just thinking of his name sent a rush of warmth through her chest, stronger than the fire still lingering in her blood. But also guilt.
He was still out there—training, bleeding, enduring things she couldn't imagine. Pushing past limits even the Monarchs couldn't define.
And here she was.
Trying to survive under the name Ignar.
She pulled the towel up and wiped her face. The sweat. The ash. The doubt.
"I'm not done yet," she murmured.
Her fingers closed into fists again. The burns still stung, but this time she welcomed the pain.
It meant she was moving forward.
And next time…
Next time, I'll be more than just fire.
---
Sofie sat on the window ledge, wrapped in a soft shawl, the firelight behind her flickering low. Her legs swung gently beneath her, and for once, her expression wasn't clouded by battle or fear—it was calm. Thoughtful.
The door creaked open with a familiar softness.
"Am I interrupting?" Lady Sera asked, her voice as warm as the tea she carried on a silver tray.
Sofie smiled gently. "Only my overthinking."
Lady Sera chuckled and set the tray down. She poured two cups with practiced grace, then joined her daughter on the ledge, sitting beside her.
They sipped in silence for a few moments, the evening sky blushing pink through the window.
"You were incredible today," Sera said softly.
"I still feel like I lost," Sofie murmured.
"But you fought with heart," Sera replied, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Sofie's ear. "Fire can burn wild or warm. Yours is still learning which it wants to be."
Sofie's shoulders dropped a little at the gentle words. "I thought I'd be more like him by now…"
Sera's smile was small but real. "You're like you. And I wouldn't trade that for anything."
They leaned into each other just a little.
Then—
Bang!
The door slammed open with dramatic flair.
"Sofie Ignar! Duelist of Determination! Scorcher of Sand Tiles! What a performance!"
Kael strolled in with mock grandeur, arms wide like he was being introduced at a royal gala.
Sofie groaned. "Kael, please."
Lady Sera raised an eyebrow. "Careful, I nearly spilled the tea."
Kael grinned and bowed exaggeratedly. "Forgive me, dear mother. I simply had to congratulate our little inferno for not combusting entirely."
Sofie stared at him, unimpressed.
Kael continued without pause. "And if anyone is worried, yes, I will be participating in the Ascendant rising tournament. After all, it would be unjust to deprive the galaxy of my brilliance."
Sera covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Kael pointed to himself proudly. "The heir of House Ignar, wielder of the Sixth Form, future flame sovereign—"
Sofie deadpanned, "You stubbed your toe on a lantern last night."
Kael froze. "…That was training-related."
Sera let out a light laugh, her first in days, rich and unrestrained. The sound softened the whole room.
As the siblings continued their banter—Sofie throwing in dry jabs, Kael dramatically clutching his heart—Lady Sera looked between them.
Her heart swelled.
My children… right here, in front of me. Laughing. Healing. Alive.
She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. She just watched them with a soft smile, committing the moment to memory.
Eventually, Sofie asked, still sipping tea, "You're really going to fight?"
Kael placed a hand over his chest, eyes closing like a martyr. "Naturally. If greatness calls, I must answer."
"Even if you trip on your own ego?" she said flatly.
"An acceptable sacrifice," Kael replied grandly.
Sofie turned back to the window. "Gods help us."
Sera laughed again, quietly this time, wrapping an arm gently around Sofie's shoulder as Kael launched into a speech about legacy, destiny, and possibly capes.
And for that one evening, the fire didn't burn with anger or sorrow.
It just warmed.
---
The courtyard smelled of fresh dew and saddle polish. Sunlight filtered softly through the trees, painting the cobblestones in gold. Kael and Sofie stood by their drakehorses, dressed in elegant travel gear—Ignar reds trimmed in bronze, their family crest proudly pinned over their hearts.
Lady Sera stood between them, fixing Sofie's cloak with gentle fingers while Kael adjusted the reins.
"You've grown into it well," Sera said, smoothing the fabric over Sofie's shoulders. "The fire within you doesn't burn recklessly anymore. It breathes."
Sofie looked up. "Thanks, Mother."
Behind them, heavy footsteps approached. Varion strode out from the hall, dressed in his general's garb, but without the usual weight of duty in his expression. Today, he looked only like a father.
"You two ready to make the empire tremble?" he asked with a smirk.
Kael grinned. "Always."
Sofie gave a small nod, eyes glinting with calm fire. "I'll do my best."
Varion stepped toward her, the smirk softening. "Listen, Sofie," he said, his voice lower now. "You don't need to prove anything. Not to me. Not to anyone. Just… burn bright. That's more than enough."
She blinked, caught off guard, then gave a small, almost embarrassed smile.
"Thanks… Dad."
Then she looked between both of them. "Are you coming to watch?"
Varion exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll try, but—duty calls. There's a strategy summit in the capital. I might not make it to the preliminaries."
Sofie pouted, her lips drawing into a small sulk. "Of course there is…"
Before the air could grow heavy, Lady Sera stepped in with a hand on Sofie's shoulder, her voice warm as sunrise. "I'll be there. You'll see me in the crowd, cheering like a noblewoman pretending not to cry."
Sofie's expression softened. "Thank you."
Varion turned to Kael, lifting a hand. "Don't forget who you are."
Kael bumped his father's fist with a grin. "Ignar. Firstborn. Champion-in-waiting."
"Don't let your sister roast you alive."
"No promises."
Sofie snorted quietly.
With final hugs, nods, and a long look back, the two mounted their drakehorses and rode out through the gates, the morning sun behind them and the capital waiting ahead.
As the hooves faded into the distance, Lady Sera stood silently beside her husband, watching.
"I'm a little worried," she murmured.
Varion placed a steady hand on her back. "She's stronger than you think. Stronger than I thought, too."
Sera didn't answer right away. Then, softly, "They both are."
Varion nodded, eyes still on the road. "And this is where they start showing the world."