Aedus watched as Kallai paced back and forth across the meeting room. Over and over. Ever silent, thinking, his face contorted into a pensive scowl. It was as if he spent every quiet moment planning, scheming, conspiring.

But all that pacing was about to wear a hole through the floor. Not the best idea. The room looked rather important with the expansive obsidian table and countless ornate seats. Aedus rubbed his jaw wearily.

"So," he began.

"What the hell." Kallai stopped for one moment to shoot him a dark glare. His violet eyes flared with a fervent light no fire could produce. Those eyes were unnerving. It was like staring into the eyes of a god.

Or the Dragon. That's what Elementals worshipped. What he was now expected to worship.

Kallai was still staring at him. Aedus blinked. He was so used to his uncle's harsh tone after the time they've trained that now it hardly fazed him.

Kallai the Living Blaze was his uncle. And they even looked to be the same age. The thought brought a smile to Aedus' lips.

Which only sharpened Kallai's cruel glare. "What were you thinking?" he demanded. "Do you want to get yourself killed?"

"Killed?"

"Yes, killed." Kallai released a deep sigh, softening the harsh glow in his eyes. "Last time we let someone offer their power to the Dragon, She drained his fire entirely. Killed him."

His voice was quieter than usual. Aedus leaned forward. "You mean you've seen Her?"

Kallai shook his head. "No, but I've seen what She's done." He met Aedus' gaze. "I know the humans don't respect the Dragon. She pays them little attention, lets them have their gods. But here, you must learn quickly to fear Her. She is more real than the human gods ever were."

That was disheartening to hear. Yet another thing Aedus had to learn to dance around and consider with every choice he made.

"Why did She kill that Elemental?"

Kallai stood impossibly still as he narrowed his eyes at him. "You think She needs a reason?"

"I do."

"Not everything here can be rationalized, Aedus." Even how Kallai said his name sounded like a threat. Everything about Kallai sang of danger: his dark brown hair that constantly had a molten red glow brewing beneath it, his dark skin laced with muscle honed from years on the battlefield, his fierce violet eyes that constantly searched every room he entered- taking note of who was present, what objects were scattered around, where the exits were- as if readying for the next fight. Aedus rarely spotted a weapon on him. Either they were hidden very well, or he didn't need any- after all, he himself was a living, breathing weapon.

"That's just what you think." Aedus winked. "I'm bringing in a fresh perspective."

"Of course." The sarcasm tempted Aedus to shoot a spark of fire at Kallai. Instead, he rose to his feet and stretched.

"Perhaps that Elemental's show wasn't good enough. Maybe She's picky."

He expected Kallai to roll his eyes and dismiss Aedus' proposal. Instead, his brows drew inward. "Possibly. I can't say I was impressed."

"In that case, I'm sure you'll be fine." He flashed a broad smile and patted Kallai's shoulder. "Both of us. We can get through this."

Kallai immediately snarled at Aedus' touch, but he bit it back just as quickly. "Stop being so damn optimistic," he growled. Aedus laughed.

"I think it helps. And I'm telling the truth. From what I've heard, you've got a lot going your way."

Kallai's face softened, if only a little. Not nearly enough to make him appear any less intimidating.

"Then why did you volunteer?" He arched an eyebrow at Aedus.

He hesitated.

Because an ally like Kallai would be extremely helpful for what he had planned.

"Because I need to prove myself to Fire. I have yet to set foot beyond the castle grounds. The Elementals out there don't know who I am or what I can do. This is my opportunity to prove myself to them."

Kallai watched him for a very long moment. He tried not to crumble under the cold stare.

"I suppose that makes your idea slightly less terrible." Kallai offered dour grin that sent chills down his spine. "I need to see just how well Adara has trained you. Then we can prepare for the demonstration."

Without waiting for consent, Kallai spun away and marched from the room, leaving sparks of fire behind every step.

Aedus ignited a small fire in his hand and smiled, following behind the Living Blaze.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The sky was black. No stars, no moon. Nothing.

Nothing but a trail of fire and stone.

Pillars of gold and orange blazes lined the smooth pegmatite walkway.

And an inconceivable amount of Elementals lined that walkway. Not just the Severim, the only type of Elemental Aedus had seen roaming the castle, but also monsters of myth. Creatures that those on the human continent dreaded. Creatures that Aedus had grown up dreading.

Now he was expected to rule them.

Elementals with skin of molten lava. Smoke escaped their deadly jaws through every breath hissed at each other. Massive talons and razor sharp teeth flashed before his eyes. Animals with spiked pelts and yellow eyes shuffled just at the edge of the path as if waiting for him to trip and fall into their grasp. Others cast him menacing smiles, revealing fires brewing in the backs of their throats.

Terrifying. That was how everyone else saw the kingdom of Fire. Ruthless and vile and barbarous.

And they reveled in it.

King Taro and Queen Adara, his parents, walked on either side of him. His mother wore a vibrant golden dress, and his father complemented her with a black suit that made him look older than the usual mid-twenties appearance. They had given Aedus a matching dark suit, proof to everyone that he was his father's son. The Elementals cheered and roared and shrieked as they passed.

But Aedus knew the moment Kallai entered.

Because every single creature grew utterly silent.

He resisted the urge to look back at his uncle and focused his attention on the path ahead.

Maybe smiling for this crowd wasn't a very good idea. They might leap forward and swallow him whole. Aedus took a page from Kallai's book and put on a scowl, pushing his shoulders back and lengthening his stride.

Only two thrones rested at the top of the steps at the end of the walkway- for the king and queen. Kallai and Aedus would be busy making an offering to the Dragon.

Aedus sent a silent prayer to the gods that he wouldn't die tonight. And another one to the Dragon for good measure. His heart pounded so loudly against the thick quietude that he didn't doubt everyone heard it.

But he would not be afraid. Aedus Baletru Valadysian would not fear his kingdom. He didn't have a choice. Not when so many were relying on him. He had to pull through.

He led his parents up those steps and stopped, watching them pass by and stand before their thrones.

Kallai appeared at his side, his shoulders squared and eyes scanning the crowd. He wore a dark suit the color of wine with hints of darker flames crawling across the material's surface.

Aedus peered over the edge and nearly yelped at shear enormity of the mob sprawling outwards, deep into city beyond. Every single one of them silent. The air seemed heavier, and something stirred at the base of Aedus' stomach as a weight settled on his chest.

What if he couldn't do it? What if he couldn't call up his fire? What if he couldn't do what Kallai said he should?

He cast the other Fire prince a sideways glance and nearly jumped when he realized Kallai was glaring at him. "Did I offend you?" Aedus muttered, throwing the Severim a dirty look. Kallai's lip twitched, but only a little.

"Try not to look so ruffled, okay, princess?"

"What did you just call me?" Aedus snapped, only then realizing his words practically echoed across the sky.

"Did I offend you, Your Highness?" Kallai tilted his head, the look predatory. He ignored his gut instinct screaming to run run run run run

"I will... rip out your throat and eat in front of you." Aedus cringed as the words poured out. Trash talk was not his specialty. Kallai barked out a sharp laugh, making his blood boil. What did he want?

"You can hardly stomach meat when it's cooked. I'd almost like to see you try."

Aedus could feel the heat of his fire racing outwards, spilling through his veins.

"'If I had your looks, I'd also like to watch someone rip out my throat," he said, adding the smile that always made Kallai's eyes glow with rage.

"That's enough," Adara snapped, but her voice did not even begin to alleviate the flames gathering inside him. Nevertheless, he turned towards her. After a few moments, Taro drew the Sword of Fire, and the silent crowd roared so loudly the earth shook.

The Sword of Fire. The Weapon crafted by the Dragon and gifted to the first ruler of Fire. Its strength was said to be that of a thousand of the greatest armies. It was a sort of empty black, a lack of all color that made Aedus' head spin. It seemed to suck away the light, but it only became impossibly darker and darker. Beautiful, but deadly. That's what his father kept calling it. Beautiful and deadly, just like Fire! Hilarious.

"Priestess, bring forward the cup," Taro called, and the crowd's roar loudened. Aedus caught Kallai smirking at him from the corner of his eye. He hardly heard anything over the blood pumping in his ears as his power rose and rose while he tried to stomp down his anger.

An Elemental shrouded in red walked up the stairs, a glass cup between her hands. She knelt before Taro and Adara.

"Kallai," Taro said sharply. "Step forward."

Kallai's eyes gleamed with hardly masked fury as he prowled to his king. He held out his left arm. Taro took it and Kallai stiffened as the Sword was dragged across the surface of his skin. The priestess held out the cup, and Kallai flipped his arms to allow blood to drip into it. Taro looked up and met Aedus' gaze.

"My son." He beckoned him forward. "Prince Aedus. Step forward."

Times like these made him wonder if he was just Taro's pawn in some sibling rivalry. He walked up to his father and held out his arm. Taro nodded and took it, then the Sword of Fire bit into his flesh.

And an ancient glorious power coursed through his veins. Aedus gasped as it was ripped away, and he was barely able to focus enough to spill his blood into the priestess' cup. She turned away and held it up for the crowd to see. Bellows and cries and roars. Aedus was certain he would be deaf by the next morning.

She flicked her wrist, and blue flames encircled the cup.

In a sudden breeze of smoke, the cup filled with prince's blood faded from existence. Aedus tried not to gape as the priestess turned to them and bowed. Taro, Adara, and Kallai bowed back.

Aedus' back was rigid. He stared at the priestess, trying to discern her features beneath the hood. He could only make out eyes as red as her cloak before she swept away.

A trumpet blasted from high upon the castle, and Kallai spun towards the massive crowd and threw his arms outwards.

And fire rocketed from him, blue and gold and red and violet. A sweeping storm that shook the earth with light so bright he needed to shield his eyes. The fire poured out over the crowd and spread, carving itself into the figures of Elementals: fiery wolves pounding across the sky, great serpents hissing and spitting more fire, and monstrous beasts that Aedus had never even imagined.

And he felt that tightly coiled and angry fire brewing within himself. He stepped forward thrust his arms forward, releasing it to the Dragon above.

The fire burned from him with such vitality that he nearly stumbled back a step. All his anger coursed with the fire, meager compared to Kallai's, but more focused. He created stallions and sent them running through the crowd. Elementals leaped out of the way as they tore their way through, and he could barely hang on to them tight enough to draw them upwards and back towards him.

He shaped the horses into massive birds that swept over the endless plain of Kallai's own fire.

But there was more. He could feel more fire inside himself. So he dragged it up and formed fiery warriors that battled their way across the field of smoke. Vicious violent attacks.

That was his anger. His emotions gave him strength.

He glanced at Kallai and smiled broadly.

To his surprise, he returned it. Briefly, but it wasn't missed.

And the Elementals cheered and swept their hands and claws through the flames, spilling smoke across the sky. Slowly, Kallai's fire veered back towards him. Taking a deep breath, Aedus reigned his back in, too.

And his uncle's fire gathered and folded into itself, forming something colossal. Larger than the massive castle looming behind them. And it compacted and sifted in itself. Then a massive head the size of a mountain rose up, its eyes a vivid violet, its fangs forming a cage of death.The body grew out of it, long and slender, with four powerful legs with claws longer than a river was wide. Elementals gasped as they watched.

But Kallai clenched his jaw as if forming a beast that size was hard even for him.

Or because he had to prevent it from growing larger, deadlier.

But something was missing from the giant beast.

Aedus took a deep breath and spread his arms wide. And on that massive beast grew wings. Mammoth wings that spread and cast light over every face.

His breathing grew heavy and his hands shook as those wings spread from the back of the beast, unfurling like curtains.

It opened its monumental jaws and breathed fire that swept far into the horizon, spreading across the entire continent. Then, as if it had a mind of its own, it pushed off the earth and leaped into the air, rattling the ground like an earthquake.

Aedus only stared as it soared above them.

He looked down at his hands.

Then back up at the dragon.

Oh, that could not be good.

"Kallai," he said quietly, not taking his eyes off the blinding creature as it circled above them, "we have a situation."

A deafening roar like a thousand thunderstorms sent everyone falling to the ground. And he felt so cold. So, very cold.

He glanced towards his uncle, now on his hands and knees as he watched the dragon they had created. His skin had become a dreadful pale.

The dragon bellowed again, sending the smoke flying outwards. Then it dived back down, its jaws spread wide.

Aiming right for the dais he was standing on.

His stomach dropped to his feet as it grew bigger and bigger. A shield. He needed a shield. Could fire shield against fire?

He began to draw a circle in front of himself, his palm flat. A shield began to form, pathetic compared to the dragon falling towards them, its wings tucked in. He looked at Kallai to see if he was doing the same.

Instead, the Living Blaze watched with narrowed, glowing eyes as it neared. So close. It was so close he could feel the heat radiating off it.

Kallai met his gaze. Glanced at the shield. Glanced back to the dragon they dared to create.

He suddenly leaped to Aedus and folded his body around him, amorphous fire leaping around them. Aedus yelped as his shield crumbled away and he hit the hard stone with enough force his head bounced back off of it.

Elementals screamed and cried out. Taro roared, and Aedus felt the surge of power flowing from the Sword.

He waited for the massive collision, his entire body shaking despite Kallai pressing him against the ground.

It never did.

He opened his eyes and watched as waves of fire poured outwards, making the world so bright it looked like sunlight. It rolled over them, bright and peaceful. Like waves of the ocean lapping onto a shore. Kallai rolled off a him and kneeled on one knee, squinting at the sky. No sight of the dragon.

Taro gaped at them, the black Sword now covered in golden webs.

Aedus clambered to his feet, wincing as his head throbbed. He offered Kallai a hand and helped pull him to his feet. He turned and faced the crowd. The Elementals stared back at him.

Kallai stepped beside him. "Act like you meant it," he muttered.

"Curling up in a ball doesn't exactly send that message," he whispered back.

"I doubt they even saw it."

Oh, well. They would find out soon enough. He put on a smile and raised a fist.

And Fire's cheer was as loud as the dragon's roar, sending a clear message to the other Elements: Fire is united and indestructible.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for reading. If you liked it, pleased consider commenting and voting. I really appreciate the support!

A big moment for Aedus! Do you think he is ready to be Fire's next king?