BATTLE OF MIRRORS

The Shadow Realm was his final challenge. The King of Shadows, a reflection of Corvus's dark nature, stood in his way.

It was a battle of mirrors, each move countered by an equal force.

But Corvus's determination and anger gave him the edge. He overpowered his counterparts, merging their powers into one.

With each victory, Corvus grew stronger, his once weakened form now brimming with dark energy.

He returned to his throne in Shadowspire, his presence more menacing than ever. His eyes burned with a renewed intensity, and his aura of power was palpable.

In his throne room, the Shadow King sat brooding, his mind racing with strategies and dark magic.

The Ember Child was a formidable adversary, but Corvus was determined to see her fall. The warning voice echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the threat she posed.

But Corvus was not a ruler to be easily bested. He would rise to the challenge and crush any who stood in his way, even one as powerful as the Ember Child.

Yet, the mystery of his entombment lingered. He needed to know who had the power to imprison him and why.

Shadows of doubt crept into his thoughts, but he shoved them aside, focusing on the task at hand.

The Ember Child must be destroyed, and then he would uncover the truth behind his resurrection.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

The Shadowspire was one of the castles Corvus took over after reincarnating. He liked it.

Its dark, foreboding architecture and oppressive atmosphere were perfectly suited to his taste.

The fact that the last ruler's soul was now locked deep in the dungeons, while he happily ran the place, added to his satisfaction.

Yet, despite being the king of the nine realms, there was one realm he couldn't enter, no matter how hard he tried.

The Inferno!

Its impenetrable barriers frustrated him as much as the mysterious Ember Child, about whom he knew nothing.

For all he knew, the Ember Child or her family could have been the reason he was killed and locked in the mountains, possibly for eternity, if something hadn't awakened him. That, too, remained a mystery.

None of his subordinates knew how he woke up. They speculated that he was tied to something, destined to rise again when a certain person was reborn. Corvus dismissed these ideas as absurdity. He didn't even consider them.

But The Inferno remained a vexing enigma.

The Inferno was a realm of perpetual fire and rebirth, an endless expanse of molten lava rivers and fiery storms.

The air was thick with ash and smoke, choking any who dared to breathe it.

Towering spires of blackened rock jutted from the ground, their surfaces glowing with the heat of the infernal flames within.

The very ground seethed and bubbled as if the realm itself were alive with a burning rage.

At the heart of The Inferno, there once stood a colossal, flaming entity that resembled a phoenix, known as the Flame Sovereign.

This ruler was said to be as old as the realms themselves, a being of pure fire and eternal rebirth.

Every time the Flame Sovereign was defeated, it would rise again from its ashes, stronger and more fierce than before.

The Inferno's power and essence were tied to this cycle of destruction and renewal, making it nearly impossible to conquer.

However, in a twist of fate, the Flame Sovereign had grown weary of the endless cycle. In a final act of defiance against his fate, he transferred all his powers to a mere child.

This descendant was an unknown entity, not bound by the ancient cycles of The Inferno. Now, the realm had no true ruler, yet the barriers remained as formidable as ever.

Corvus learned of this shift in power through his spies and dark magic. The knowledge that The Inferno was without its sovereign ruler should have made it easier to conquer, but the barriers still repelled him.

It was as if the very essence of the realm had taken on a life of its own, protecting itself against any would-be conqueror.

This impenetrability gnawed at Corvus, a constant reminder of his limitations.

The mystery of The Inferno's new guardian and the possibility that the Ember Child was somehow connected to this realm added to his unease.

The Inferno was the last piece of the puzzle, the one realm that eluded his grasp.

He had to find a way to break through its barriers and confront whatever force now guarded it.

Only then could he hope to uncover the truth about the Ember Child and her connection to his resurrection.

For now, he continued to send his minions on fruitless missions, each failure a bitter reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

But Corvus was nothing if not determined. He would find a way into The Inferno, and when he did, he would bring the full force of his wrath upon those who had dared to oppose him.

Until then, he would watch, wait, and gather his strength, preparing for the day when the barriers would finally fall.

The Inferno's cycle of rebirth echoed the mystery of his resurrection. Corvus wondered if there was a connection, a deeper reason he was awakened at this particular time.

The thought lingered in his mind, fueling his obsession.

He would unlock the secrets of The Inferno and the Ember Child, even if it meant delving into the darkest corners of his soul.

Only then, if he could harness the powers from The Inferno and wield its unlimited fire, hell would break loose.

The whole universe would know his name, and all would bow before the Shadow King.

The vision of ultimate power drove him onward, a dark flame burning in his heart, promising domination and chaos.

While gazing into the mirror beside him that revealed his realms, he caught a glimpse of the void souls, Corvus noticed something amiss, a presence that didn't belong there. He watched it intently, trying to discern who dared to trespass into his realm and escape unscathed.

In the reflection, he saw Mia sprinting frantically as the Headless Horsemen pursued her. Confusion etched itself on his face as he wondered why it was proving so difficult for them to capture a mere curious soul wandering in his domain.

Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior. He turned away from the mirror and scanned the dimly lit room, searching for the Headless Horseman assigned to the void.

"You, come here," he commanded, his voice echoing with authority.

A headless figure, clad in a long black coat with a whip coiled at his waist, stepped forward. The eerie sight of the headless man was a common one in Corvus's realm, yet it never failed to unsettle those unaccustomed to it.

The headless Horseman bowed slightly, awaiting instructions.

"Who's that?" Corvus asked, pointing at Mia.

The Horseman straightened, his body language conveying a mix of uncertainty and frustration. Without a head, he couldn't speak, but Corvus understood the gestures.

"Where did she come from, and where is she heading?" Corvus asked, his frustration mounting.

The Headless Horseman gestured again, indicating his lack of knowledge. Thornwood Academy was protected by powerful barriers, making it difficult for mundane eyes to see and obscuring it from those with malicious intent. Only those who had studied or taught there could typically find their way in.

Corvus's eyes narrowed. "I want her found and brought to me," he demanded, his tone icy. "She might even be worth more than the idiot I sent to that academy to find the Ember child."

The Headless Horseman nodded, turning sharply to relay the orders. Corvus watched as the reflection in the mirror shifted, showing Mia darting through the shadowy void, her breath coming in ragged gasps. He allowed himself a grim smile.

"Let's see how far you can run, little soul," he muttered, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "I think you're worth more to me alive than dead."

It dawned on Corvus that despite the academy's secrecy, he seemed to know of its existence.

No one was supposed to know about Thornwood... unless there was an inside betrayal or a force more powerful at play.

The Headless Horseman bowed and swiftly departed to carry out the commands. Corvus remained by the mirror, watching Mia's desperate flight. His fingers drummed a slow rhythm on the arm of his chair, a sign of his simmering impatience.

"Little soul," he whispered to the empty room, "you've piqued my curiosity. Let's see what secrets you carry with you."