Destiny's Forge

The amber liquid burned a fiery trail down my throat, but did nothing to warm the cold dread creeping through me. I gazed out the rain streaked window of my grandfather's study, tumbler dangling from my fingers. Somewhere out there in the darkened city, forces were aligning silently against me.

I couldn't shake Alex's ominous words upon returning to the estate, his usual unflappable demeanor shaken. He had come directly from a covert meeting with the notorious gatekeeper Naomi, proxy to the shadowy titans who secretly ruled Avalon. Her message was unambiguous - the coming days would push me to my limits under trials by fire. For good or utter ruin.

Behind me, grandfather brooded in his leather chair before the crackling hearth, face etched with hard lines by the dancing flames. Our empire navigated treacherous straits indeed. But still he refused to speak first, ceding the opening move to me in this newest round of appointments and power plays. The game of thrones intensified among A