Legacy of the Unawakened

with unfamiliar energy-colors too bright, shadows too deep

," he muttered.

remained kneeling

t asked, his voice

," the man replied. "And you, Your High

ed. "I'm not a prince

protection. The moment your purity held through your seve

ity? What is this, some

prince untainted by corruption could reclaim the throne. Had you... surrender

Max and Jamie, all the pressure-they did

ow?" he

hadows cross into your world. Yo

the whispers, the way his reflection had blink

stop you," Caelum continue

ng. A ripping sound echoed through the trees. A fig

barked, drawing a mass

ed. Scott felt something grip his heart-c

figure rasped. "The

hoose," Scott said, su

gure h

m cha

Scott ran for cover, heart hammering, but the smoke found

ill betr

never mean

cared virgin boy

d!" he shouted, cl

something

furling in his chest. His hands glowed with gold

screeching, and va

the fallen figure,

d, turning to Scott. "The ro

ees, panting. "I don't

to yet. You just

ointed toward a glowing

ins there. At the

tain. It felt like the edge

of something he

-

His chest still burned from where the magic had burst out of him. His hands we

ned to me?" he a

g his sword. "It's the bloodgift of your line. Untame

ading from his fingertips. "That came out of *me

leaming despite the dark canopy above. "The seal was strong. Your memo

? I just leave everything behind? M

rs of the Gate. They loved you, yes. But their duty was to protect

d was shifting beneath hi

pered. "Why *me*

ftened. "Because

through the forest. Birds scattered. The trees sho

again," he said.

aturally. Shadows peeled off tree trunks, forming

instinctively. "

own. They've sensed your awakening. And they'll d

r, steel flashing. But they kept coming. Dozens.

oy!" Cael

n't come. His heart raced, panic building

loud howl sp

om the treeline and tackled the wraith midair,

hell?!" Sc

ght* at him. Its eyes were the same gol

n *our* side,"

wing wolves emerged, forming a circle around Scott. One by one,

wered the call of your blood. The r

. "Wait. *I*

tionally. But they've sensed the bala

r in the sky. A swirling vortex of dark blue and black opened above the f

ropped. "We have

through the trees. Behind them, the winged beast landed wi

ard whispers again-fai

lood betr

not stron

Leave the fl

he believed in himself yet. Not

thing inside him

no longer the ordinary boy who

e very thing the w

nce r

the realm wo

-