The wind bit at Kael's face as he sat on the edge of the rooftop, his legs dangling over the side. The market below had returned to its usual hum of life, as though nothing had happened. The guards eventually gave up the search, their angry shouts fading into the distance.
Kael couldn't stop staring at the ring. The silver band seemed so ordinary now, no longer pulsing or burning — just a plain piece of metal. Yet he knew it wasn't. He could still feel the echo of power deep in his chest, like an ember smoldering under his skin.
"What are you?" he murmured, turning the ring between his fingers.
The voice didn't answer this time.
His mind raced through the events of the last hour. The frozen marketplace. The voice. The flash of light that had pulled him from certain death. None of it made sense. He wasn't special — he was just Kael, the orphan who scraped by on odd jobs and leftover bread.
His stomach growled in protest, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since morning. He sighed and pushed himself up, wincing as his legs throbbed. He needed food — and answers.
The only person who might have both was Mira.
---
The sun dipped lower as Kael made his way through the winding backstreets of Draymoor. The city felt different now, quieter somehow, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Mira's shop was tucked away in an alley near the river. It wasn't much to look at — a crooked wooden sign that read "Mira's Remedies" dangled above the door, and the shutters hung unevenly. But Mira wasn't known for her carpentry. She was known for knowing things.
Kael knocked lightly before pushing the door open. A faint chime rang out. The air inside smelled of herbs and smoke, sharp and earthy. Shelves lined the walls, filled with vials of strange liquids, dried plants, and things Kael didn't want to think about.
Mira was exactly where he expected her — hunched over her worktable, her wiry silver hair pulled into a messy bun, goggles perched on her forehead.
"Back already?" she asked without looking up. "You usually wait a week before you crawl in asking for bread or bandages."
Kael hesitated. He wasn't sure how to explain what had happened.
"I… need answers," he said finally.
Mira snorted. "Don't we all?" She glanced up, her sharp green eyes narrowing as they studied him. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Worse." Kael stepped forward, holding up the ring. "I found this. Or… it found me."
Mira's eyes locked onto the ring. For the first time, her usual sarcastic smirk faded.
"Where did you get that?" Her voice was low, almost cautious.
"The market. It… did something. Everything froze. I heard a voice. It—it saved me."
Mira slowly took off her goggles, setting them aside with care.
"You're sure it spoke to you?"
Kael nodded. "It knew my name."
For a moment, Mira said nothing. Then she stood up, moving to a shelf near the back of the room. She pulled out an old, battered book, the leather cover worn and peeling.
"You shouldn't have touched it," she murmured.
Kael felt his stomach tighten. "Why? What is it?"
Mira didn't answer right away. She flipped through the book, her finger trailing over yellowed pages.
"There are things in this world, Kael, that are older than kings and empires. Things that shouldn't exist — but do." She stopped on a page, her expression darkening. "This ring… it's not just a trinket. It's a mark. A tether."
Kael swallowed hard. "A tether to what?"
Mira looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To a forgotten throne."
Kael blinked. "A throne? You mean like a kingdom?"
"No. Not a kingdom." Mira closed the book softly. "A dominion. The realm of emotions. Rage. Joy. Sorrow. Fear. Love. All of it — ruled by one soul." Her voice dropped lower. "The King of Emotions."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Kael laughed nervously, though the sound felt wrong in his throat. "You're joking, right? I'm no king. I'm a nobody."
Mira didn't laugh.
"You wouldn't have found the ring if you were nobody."
Kael shook his head. This was insane. He was a street kid — not some legendary ruler.
"I don't want this," he said, voice shaking. "I didn't ask for it."
Mira's eyes softened. "It doesn't matter what you want. It's chosen you."
Kael felt his heart hammering against his ribs again. His hands trembled.
"What… what am I supposed to do?"
Mira studied him for a moment longer, then sighed. "For now? Survive."
Before Kael could ask what she meant, the door slammed open.
A man stepped inside — tall, draped in black leather, his face hidden beneath a hood. A faint silver emblem gleamed on his chest: a broken crown surrounded by chains. His voice was low and sharp.
"Give us the boy."
Mira moved faster than Kael had ever seen. She grabbed a vial from the table and hurled it. It exploded in a burst of thick, choking smoke.
"Run!" she shouted.
Kael didn't hesitate. He bolted through the back door, the ring burning in his hand once more.
The last thing he heard before the smoke swallowed the room was Mira's voice — strained and desperate.
"Find your power, Kael. Or they'll find it for you."