Night in the Radiant Realm was never truly dark.
It shimmered—soft gold, pale silver, warm light woven into the air itself.
But tonight…
All light bent strangely.
Flickered.
Dimmed.
As if something was swallowing it.
As if something was coming.
THE FIRST SIGN
Amila woke with a jolt.
Not from a nightmare.
Not from pain.
But because the light in the room trembled… like a frightened heartbeat.
Claire lifted her head sleepily from the foot of the bed.
"Amila…? What's wrong?"
Amila opened her mouth—
—and the lamp made of celestial crystal shattered.
Claire scrambled up.
"Okay, yeah, that's not normal!"
Amila clutched her chest.
"My magic… it's trying to warn me."
Claire grabbed her shoulders gently.
"About what?"
Amila swallowed.
"…the night."
THE REALM GOES QUIET
Guards rushed through the halls.
Sentries lit their spears with dawnfire.
The Queen stood on the highest terrace, wings unfurled, staring at the sky.
"Mother!" Amila called as she and Claire ran to her.
The Queen didn't turn.
"They found us."
Claire froze."Who found us…?"
The Queen lowered her voice.
"…the Unbound."
Amila's blood went cold."The ones loyal to Seraphine?"
"No," the Queen said quietly."The ones who worship her."
A pulse of black energy rolled across the sky like a stormfront.
Claire stepped closer to Amila instinctively.
"What do they want?"
The Queen finally turned to face them.
"They want the Dawnflare."
Amila's breath caught.
"My power…?"
Claire stepped in front of her without thinking.
"They can't have her."
The Queen placed a hand on Claire's shoulder.
"They do not want her.They want to break her."
THE SHADOW BREACHES
A scream tore through the lower courtyard.
The Queen's wings snapped open.
"Stay behind me."
But before she could launch forward, Amila grabbed her arm.
"Mom—no. Let me help."
"You cannot control the Dawnflare yet."
"Then teach me."
"Now?!"
Amila stepped back and lifted her glowing palms.
"NOW."
The Queen stared at her daughter.
At the power pulsing in her chest.
At the mark burning like a newborn sun.
"Very well."
She positioned Amila's hands.
"Focus on your heartbeat."
"Okay."
"When your fear rises—follow it."
Amila hesitated.
"That sounds… backwards."
"Fear is the rawest truth," the Queen said quietly."And the Dawnflare was born from truth—not comfort."
Amila inhaled.
Closed her eyes.
Let fear rise—
Fear of the Unbound.
Fear of Seraphine.
Fear of losing Claire.
Fear of losing herself.
And then—
Something clicked inside her.
A spark.
A small sun.
A heartbeat of pure light.
She gasped—
—and the power didn't explode this time.
It condensed.
Formed.
Obeyed.
The Queen's eyes widened.
"…you learn too fast."
Claire grinned."That's my sister."
But the moment didn't last.
Because the sky tore open.
A black crack, spreading like ink through fabric.
And from the rip…
stepped a woman.
Tall.Armored in shadow.Eyes glowing white.
A sigil burned on her throat—a twisted star.
An Unbound priestess.
Her voice echoed across the realm:
"By Seraphine's decree—the Dawnflare is claimed."
Claire shoved Amila behind her.
"Oh yeah?" she shouted."Come claim her then!"
The priestess smiled.
"No."
She snapped her fingers—
and the shadows behind her erupted.
Dozens of Unbound knights stepped through.
"All of you," the priestess said softly,"will simply die where you stand."
Claire swore under her breath.
"Amila," the Queen whispered urgently,"stay behind me."
Amila didn't move.
Her heartbeat was steady.
Her hands glowed brighter.
"No…"
She stepped forward.
Claire grabbed her wrist.
"Amila—what are you doing?!"
Amila's eyes lifted.
They were burning gold.
"I'm done hiding."
THE DAWNFLARE SPEAKS
The air tightened.
The ground hummed.
The priestess paused, eyes narrowing.
"You're not strong enough yet, child."
Amila exhaled.
She wasn't.
She knew she wasn't.
But she also knew something else:
Seraphine had finally made her move.
And she would not allow Claire—or her mother—or anyone she loved—to be taken.
Amila lifted her chin.
Her voice trembled but did not break.
"Then you'll have to kill me to get to them."
Claire whispered, horrified:
"Amila…"
But the priestess smiled.
"Oh, little Dawnflare…We were hoping you'd say that."
She raised her hand—
—and the Unbound charged.
Amila stepped forward—
—and the light inside her erupted.
Not wildly.
Not uncontrollably.
But with purpose.
With fury.
With destiny.
The Dawnflare roared across the battlefield like a newborn sun.
Claire screamed her name.
The Queen shouted orders.
And the first true war for the Dawnblood throne—
had finally begun.