The first horn sounded before dawn.
Its mournful cry rolled across Frostvale like thunder trapped beneath ice, echoing through every street, every tower, every forgotten corridor beneath the mountain.
Then another answered.
And another.
Within moments the ancient city was awake.
Watchfires sprang to life atop the frozen walls, their orange glow reflecting against curtains of drifting snow. Bells that had remained silent for decades rang through the valley, warning every soul that war had finally reached Frostvale.
Darian stood upon the eastern battlements, the First Flame resting quietly within him.
The fire no longer fought his will.
It breathed with him.
Every heartbeat carried warmth through his veins, and every breath seemed to awaken the mountain beneath his feet.
Far below, beyond the frozen river, darkness spread across the valley.
An army.
Thousands.
Black banners snapped violently in the wind.
Ranks of Hollow soldiers marched through the snow with terrifying discipline, their armor drinking the morning light. Between their formations lumbered monstrous creatures of bone and ash, each towering twice the height of a man. Hollow fire burned inside their rib cages, glowing through cracked skeletons like molten furnaces.
Behind them rolled enormous siege engines built from black iron and scorched timber.
They looked less like machines...
...and more like beasts waiting to awaken.
Serenya climbed the stairs onto the wall.
"They're here."
Darian never looked away.
"Corvus?"
She nodded.
"Leading them himself."
For several long moments neither spoke.
The army seemed endless.
Then movement caught Darian's eye.
A lone rider emerged from the sea of black armor.
His horse walked calmly across the snow without leaving footprints.
His cloak flowed behind him like living smoke.
Corvus.
Even from this distance Darian could feel him.
Not hatred.
Recognition.
Two flames sensing one another across the battlefield.
The city gates slammed shut.
Captain Aeric hurried across the battlements, issuing commands.
"Archers!"
Hundreds answered.
"Shield wall!"
Steel rang together.
"Seal every lower tunnel!"
Workers dragged enormous chains across ancient entrances leading beneath Frostvale.
Old men sharpened forgotten swords.
Young boys carried arrows.
Women prepared boiling oil above the gates.
The entire city had become a fortress.
Yet fear lingered in every face.
They all knew the stories.
None had ever believed they would live to see them.
Inside the Temple Hall, Lyra stood before the surviving Keepers.
Ancient scrolls covered the great stone table.
"The wards protecting Frostvale are failing," one elder warned.
"The Hollow Crown is weakening every seal."
Another nodded grimly.
"If the eastern gate falls..."
"...the Sanctum becomes exposed."
Lyra looked toward the ceiling.
Toward the mountain above.
"The First Flame has awakened."
"Then why do the wards continue weakening?"
Silence answered her.
Finally the oldest Keeper spoke.
"Because the First Flame has only one half."
Everyone turned.
"The other half..."
"...is marching toward us."
Outside the city...
Corvus halted his horse.
The enormous army stopped with him.
Absolute silence settled across the valley.
Snow drifted lazily between both forces.
Corvus raised one hand.
The Hollow Crown floated above his palm.
Black fire spiraled around it.
His voice echoed unnaturally across the frozen plain.
"Darian!"
The name rolled across the mountains.
"I know you hear me."
High upon the wall, Darian stepped forward.
Their eyes met across impossible distance.
Corvus smiled.
"You've finally found your inheritance."
Darian answered by drawing Emberfang.
Golden fire burst along the blade.
Cheers erupted behind him.
Corvus laughed.
"So predictable."
His smile slowly disappeared.
"Tell me..."
"...did the Flame show you the truth?"
Darian remained silent.
Corvus's eyes narrowed.
"No?"
"It will."
He slowly lifted the Hollow Crown.
"The First Flame lied to you."
Gasps rippled across Frostvale's defenders.
Serenya's hand tightened around her sword.
Corvus continued.
"It told you only half the story."
"The Ember Lords were never saviors."
"They conquered kingdoms."
"They burned civilizations."
"They crowned themselves with living fire."
His voice darkened.
"I ended them."
Darian frowned.
"You're lying."
Corvus merely smiled.
"Am I?"
He lowered his hand.
"Ask the Flame what happened to the First Kingdom."
The words struck Darian harder than any blade.
Because somewhere deep inside...
...the Flame became strangely quiet.
Without warning—
Corvus pointed his sword toward the city.
"Advance."
The valley exploded.
War horns roared.
Thousands of Hollow soldiers charged.
The ground shook beneath their march.
Catapults launched burning stones through the sky.
Archers upon Frostvale answered instantly.
A storm of arrows darkened the heavens.
The first collision came against the eastern wall.
Bone beasts slammed into the gates with earth-shaking force.
Massive cracks spread through the ancient stone.
"Hold them!" Captain Aeric shouted.
The defenders poured boiling oil over the walls.
Flaming arrows rained downward.
Hollow soldiers burned...
...only to rise again.
Their empty armor continued climbing.
"They don't die!" one defender screamed.
"They're possessed!" another shouted.
Serenya leapt from the battlements.
She landed among the attackers like falling lightning.
Emberfang's sister blade blazed white.
Every swing carved radiant arcs through the battlefield.
Three Hollow Knights fell.
Then five.
Then ten.
She spun beneath a spear thrust, severed its shaft, and drove her sword through an enemy captain's chest.
Golden fire erupted from the wound.
The Hollow spirit inside shrieked before vanishing.
"Forward!" she cried.
"The city stands!"
Inspired, Frostvale's defenders surged.
Steel met shadow.
Fire met ash.
The valley disappeared beneath chaos.
Darian stood frozen.
The battle surrounded him.
Yet something deeper called his attention.
A whisper.
Not outside.
Inside.
"He speaks a fragment of truth..."
The First Flame.
"Do not let doubt master you..."
Before Darian could answer—
The mountain trembled violently.
Everyone stopped.
Even Corvus looked upward.
A deep crack echoed beneath Frostvale.
Then another.
The frozen lake beyond the city split apart.
Towering pillars of crimson fire erupted from beneath the ice.
Not one.
Not two.
Seven.
Each pillar reached toward the heavens like colossal beacons.
The sky itself turned scarlet.
Every soldier stared in horror.
Lyra emerged from the Temple.
Her face had gone completely pale.
"The Seven Altars..."
"They're awakening."
Serenya looked toward the mountain.
"No..."
"It can't be."
Darian turned to her.
"What are the Seven Altars?"
Before she could answer
A voice unlike any they had ever heard echoed across the entire valley.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Terrible.
"The Trial of Flame begins."
Every fire
gold...
red...
black...
and white
bowed toward the mountain.
Then the heavens split open.
A colossal gate of living fire slowly appeared above Frostvale.
Behind it...
Something moved.
Watching.
Waiting.
And both Darian...
...and Corvus...
...fell to one knee without understanding why.
The true master of the First Flame had awakened.