“I sincerely apologize, but there is no sign of the target.”

  A Seeker materialized before Raffael Torch, head bowed, shoulders trembling. “I believe it is time to leave, Your Excellency. There is nothing left to–”

  Raffael silenced the Seeker with a glance. The gesture was small, insignificant, but the result was not.

  His hand shot forward at blinding speed. Fingers clamped around the Seeker’s face, and sparks erupted into a roaring inferno. The Seeker’s scream smothered inside the flames, his body going limps within seconds.

  “Your beliefs,” Raffael said coldly, “are irrelevant. You exist to follow orders.”

  The Ruler of Fire swept his gaze across the hollowed expanse. Hours ago the cavern had boiled with liquefied ether – hotter than magma, denser than life. Now the battlefield was nothing but collapsing stone and fading scorch marks. Not a trace of the Elemental Phoenix remained. Not even the Caldera’s lingering ether.

  As if they had never existed.

  “Get back to work,” he snarled.

  Sparks drifted from his skin like burning snowflakes. The remaining Seekers flinched and scattered, desperately combing through the ruins. But there was nothing for them to find. No ether frequency to trail, no rebirth signature to hold onto. Only the devastation left behind by a battle that had cost mankind two Rulers.

  Molten stone dripped from the ceiling. Cracks thundered across the expanse. Raffael didn’t spare them a glance.

  “No matter where you hide,” he growled, “I will find you.”

  ***

  “You failed, huh?”

  The mocking voice broke the silence of the Council chamber. One of the Rulers lounged in his chair, feet propped on the polished table. His golden hair spilled like silk as his bright blue eyes gleamed with amusement.

  Theor Windborne.

  Raffael’s fists kindled with sparks.

  “Be compassionate, Theor,” an elderly man said. His tone was soft, but his words sliced neatly through the rising tension. “There is no need to provoke him.”

  “Why not?” Theor scoffed. “He screwed up. The war with the Fire Caldera? Fine – I’m all for that. I love it. But if he’d at least captured that stupid bird, all that danger putting the Bastions at a risk would have been worth it. Now, however?” He shook his head.

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  This was the largest Council gathering since it had been founded. More than a dozen of the greatest powers were present. News traveled fast like wildfire. It reached all corners of mankind’s territories and stirred what should have never been touched.

  Ruler Xadrak was present as well, his eyes blank as he listened to the discussion around him. The woman seated beside him listened to the quarrel as well, a sigh escaping her lips.

  “We broke multiple truces and lost five Rulers in four days.” She spoke quietly but everyone present had supernatural senses befitting their title. “It’s a disgrace. A disaster. The only success we have to show is Saphira’s.”

  “And she started a war with Outsiders far more dangerous than the Caldera,” a dark-skinned man added. “Is one Emperor worth that much? Five Rulers gone, two treaties void and shattered, and we’ve dragged into a conflict with…how many races now? Five? Six? Sure, most of them are not even our fault, but was it really necessary to push our luck? Because that's exactly what we did. If the people from Dracos weren't too busy with their own issues they’d be in our Bastions right about now, greeting us with cold steel to our necks.”

  Raffael Torch leaped to his feet, eyes set ablaze with determination, lips parted, but the elderly man raised his hand and silenced the Ruler of Fire before he could utter a word.

  “Do you know where the Elemental Phoenix will be reborn?” The old man asked. “Your report says it killed itself without hesitation. That means preparations were made. If we can find its rebirth location, our Seekers may still track it. Capture and bind it, and the war will be worth the cost.”

  Raffael Torch’s mouth snapped shut. He had no idea where the Elemental Phoenix could be. It was like a goose chase, only that he did not have a hint.”

  “What about the boy?” Ruler Xadrak asked, looking up to meet the other Rulers’ gazes.

  “What boy?” The old man inquired.

  Raffael scowled. “The one who survived the flames. Kazriel’s Scion.”

  “Kazriel had a Scion?” someone muttered. “That old shithead?”

  His insult was pointedly ignored, his question answered by Ruler Xadrak, “We didn’t know about that either. Kazriel picked him up when the Katrak was announced. He’s a nobody, but he was close to the Caldera and survived the phoenix fire.”

  “Kazriel’s Scion won the Katrak and guided you to the Elemental Phoenix, didn’t he?” The elderly man asked even if it sounded more like a statement.

  “Adam Savier.” Raffael Torch’s eyes lit up, a myriad of thoughts flashing through his mind.

  Reports from the cadets and the Rulers present during the Katrak flashed through his mind. Rumors of the Caldera’s love for Adam. How much they respected him, and that they helped him acquire a natural treasure from the Pyrosh or whatever the Fire Caldera had called it.

  A sacred flame, most likely. But what if it was more?

  Raffael straightened suddenly, eyes blazing with greedy clarity.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” he said, voice tight with suppressed excitement. “I have a matter to attend to.”

  The Ruler of Fire strode out of the chamber, sparks lighting his path.

  Now…where are you, Adam Savier?