Lord of Ascension: The Birth of Chaos-Chapter 68 Flame Key

Scarlet muttered under his breath but didn’t argue further. He dragged the corpse through the portal, grimacing with each step.

They dropped the corpse in Lady Artherine’s garden after wandering through several fields of poisonous blooms. The path was narrow, and the fragrance of the flowers filled the air.

Scarlet nearly tripped twice, gagging each time the brittle body bumped into his leg. Her skin was flaking apart, leaving little gray shreds along the trail. He cursed under his breath, dragging the body faster just to get it over with.

Kaelith didn’t say a word. He walked a few steps ahead, watching the petals curl slightly as they passed. Even the plants recoiled from the corpse.

They reached the center of the garden. A pond surrounded by white blossoms lay right in the middle, capturing the moon’s light. Kaelith paused. "Drop her here," he said quietly.

Scarlet hesitated. "Are you sure this spot is good?"

Kaelith turned to him, his expression blank. "This is the perfect spot."

Scarlet sighed and pushed the corpse forward. It slumped into the pond, sinking to the bottom.

"Let’s go," Kaelith said, already turning. He made another portal that led to his room. "We’ve wasted enough time."

The moment they stepped into Kaelith’s room, Scarlet discarded the gloves.

"I’m going to gather the supplies we’ll need for the trip," he muttered, scrubbing his hands against his tunic. "We’ll leave tomorrow?"

Kaelith gave a small nod, already walking toward the back wall of his chambers.

Scarlet lingered at the door. "See you tomorrow."

Kaelith didn’t respond.

The moment Scarlet left, he pulled the invisibility cloak from its hiding place and draped it over his shoulders.

He moved swiftly down the hidden corridor, and the torches flickered slightly as he moved past them. The guards stood with a serious face and unmoving before the sealed door.

With his usual sleeping spell, he passed the high mages who were standing guard at the door.

Kaelith pushed open the ancient door.

Chains rattled softly in the dark, echoing through the air.

"You’ve returned," the dragon’s deep voice rumbled through the air.

Kaelith stepped closer. "I wanted to see your face again." A smirk formed on his lips.

The Dragon blinked at him, before narrowing them at him. His nose flared. "Liar."

Kaelith hummed. "Fine. The dragon egg that accepted me drained a servant’s mana dried, reducing it to nothing but a shriveled corpse. But the surprising thing is that it barely woke it up. Do you know what type of dragon it is?"

The dragon shook his head. The heavy chains made noises as they scraped against the ground. "Then you’ve touched power beyond your understanding."

"Good." Kaelith took another step forward. "Because I need that power."

The dragon was silent for a moment, the heat moving faintly from its breath. "The mountain will not let you pass unless you have a pure heart. You’ll die before you reach the peak."

Kaelith tilted his head. "Is there a way I can get through it?"

The silence that followed stretched long enough to make tension grow.

Then the dragon exhaled slowly, and a flicker of fire stirred at the base of its throat. The flame turned into a curled leaf glowing deep gold. It floated in the air for a moment before drifting toward Kaelith.

He caught it easily with one hand.

"A flame key," the dragon said. "It will guide you through the barrier."

Kaelith stared at it. "Why give this to me?"

The dragon’s voice lowered, thick with something unreadable. "Because you’re the only one foolish enough to return. I need you to come back alive to free me."

Kaelith smiled faintly. "I’m far from foolish. Anyway, I’ll put it to great use."

He slipped the key into his coat and turned towards the door. "See you when I return."

...

When he returned to his room, the silence greeted him like an old friend.

Kaelith pulled the cloak from his body and laid it neatly on the chair. He placed the flame key on his table.

He walked toward the egg and pressed his palm against its shell.

It was warm.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Everything I need is beginning to fall into place.."

He pulled the map from under a stack of scrolls and spread it open across the desk. His fingers traced the path toward the Northern Mountain.

Kaelith studied the map carefully. His eyes moved slowly across the markings, noting every detail. He looked at the cliffs, the valleys, the forest, and the water channels.

After a moment, he picked up a quill and circled a narrow path on the eastern side of the mountain.

"We’ll go through here," he said to himself. "It’ll take longer, but it’s safer and less likely to draw attention."

He set the quill down and leaned back in his chair. The flame key on the desk flickered softly, casting a faint glow across the room. A distant bell rang once, echoing through the night.

It was midnight.

Kaelith turned toward the dragon egg again. The shell was glowing faintly now.

He reached out his hand, stopping just before touching it. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The mana surrounding the egg moved slightly, brushing against his fingers like a warm breeze.

Kaelith pulled his hand back and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Beautiful."

...

The next morning, Kaelith was still bent over the map when a loud crash echoed from the hallway.

A moment later, Scarlet rushed into the room, out of breath and wide-eyed. His hair was messy, his clothes were wrinkled, and there was a small stain of blood on his sleeve.

"I might have... accidentally set the eastern library on fire," he said between gasps.

Kaelith finally glanced up. "Accidentally?"

"I was only trying to create a distraction," Scarlet explained. "Maybe cause a little chaos so the guards would get worked up. I didn’t expect the curtains to catch fire that quickly."

Kaelith folded the map with a calm expression. "Did anyone see you?"

"No," Scarlet said, then hesitated. "Well... yes. Two mages. But I made sure they saw me running the other way."

Kaelith let out a quiet sigh. "You never disappoint."

"You said we needed a reason for punishment, right? Something the palace wouldn’t ignore. I gave them one. Half of the records are probably ash now." He nervously scratched the back of his neck.

Kaelith leisurely rested his back. A glint of mischief passed his eyes. "Then we wait for someone’s fury."

Just after noon, a sharp knock landed on their door.

"Prince Kaelith. Prince Scarlet. By the Emperor’s order, you are requested in the throne room."

Kaelith smiled. "Perfect."