Later that evening, the injured Luminarian sat with Satoshi in their small home, his voice low and urgent as he spoke. Renjiro stood nearby, trying to absorb the weight of the conversation. The soldier was asking for Renjiro to leave the village, to join the Azeron Guardians and train with them. The idea set Renjiro's mind spinning—this was the chance he had always longed for. To see the world beyond the mountains, to understand his strange connection to Lumina. It felt like everything he had ever dreamed of was finally within reach.

Yet, at the same time, the thought of leaving filled him with doubt. His uncle, the man who had raised him, was all the family he had ever known. The village was his home, the only place he truly understood. Could he leave it all behind?

After the Luminarian had gone, Satoshi remained quiet. He sat by the fire, the crackling flames casting long shadows across his face. Renjiro could sense the weight of something unspoken between them, a burden Satoshi had carried for years. Finally, with a deep sigh, his uncle spoke.

"Renjiro," Satoshi began, his voice heavy, "there's something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you years ago."

Renjiro frowned, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. "What is it?"

Satoshi stared into the fire for a long moment, his expression troubled. "You're not from here... not from this village."

Renjiro's heart skipped a beat. He leaned forward, confusion swirling in his mind. "What do you mean?"

With slow, deliberate movements, Satoshi stood and crossed the room. He bent down and pulled an old, weathered casket from beneath the bed. As he placed it gently on the table between them, Renjiro's eyes were drawn to the black-and-gold symbol engraved on its surface—a design that gleamed faintly in the firelight.

"I found you outside the village, many years ago," Satoshi said, his voice quieter now, as if the memory itself pained him. "You were inside this casket. I don't know where you came from or why, but I took you in... and raised you as my own."

Renjiro's eyes widened as he stared at the casket. His uncle's words felt distant, like they were happening in a dream. "I… I don't understand." His voice cracked, a mix of fear and disbelief. He glanced down at his arm—and froze. There, faint but unmistakable, was the same symbol engraved into his skin.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

He touched the mark, his fingers trembling. It had always been there, a strange birthmark he had never questioned. But now, it felt like a key to a past he didn't know existed.

"I don't know where you're from," Satoshi continued, his voice gentler, "but I've always believed you were destined for something greater than this village. This may be your chance to find out who you are."

Renjiro's head spun. The life he thought he knew, the roots he had planted in this village, suddenly felt like an illusion. His identity—his past—had been torn apart in an instant, leaving him with nothing but more questions.

"What… what should I do?" Renjiro whispered, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

Satoshi's eyes softened with emotion. "That's up to you. But whatever you choose, just know that I've always seen you as a son."

Renjiro remained silent, his mind racing, his heart aching with uncertainty. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words wouldn't come. The room felt suffocating, the flames casting shadows that danced too fast for him to follow.

The next day, Renjiro still couldn't shake the revelation. His hands moved mechanically in the blacksmith shop, hammering at the steel, but his mind was elsewhere—lost in the swirl of memories, doubts, and questions about who he truly was. The rhythm of the forge, once soothing, now felt distant and hollow.

Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet trembled.

Renjiro paused, frowning. A strange rumbling echoed through the walls, and the tools on the shelves rattled. The tremors grew stronger, sending a cup tumbling off the workbench. It floated briefly in the air before crashing to the floor.

A jolt of panic shot through him. This wasn't normal. Something was wrong.

He stepped outside, and the world turned upside down.

In the distance, explosions ripped through the village. Red Lumina energy crackled through the sky, casting an eerie, crimson glow over the landscape. The ground shook again, and Renjiro stumbled backward as the shockwave hit. His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the scene.

The streets were chaos. Flames licked the rooftops of homes, black smoke billowed into the sky, and terrified villagers ran for their lives. Buildings collapsed under the force of the blasts, their wooden frames splintering like kindling. Renjiro's pulse raced. He had to find Satoshi. He had to find Kaelan.

Without wasting a second, he darted through the rubble-strewn streets, dodging falling debris and frenzied villagers. The heat from the fires scorched his skin, and the acrid smell of smoke filled his lungs.

Then, through the haze of destruction, he saw Kaelan near the village square. His friend's face was pale with fear, his eyes wide as he took in the devastation.

"Renjiro!" Kaelan shouted, running toward him. "We need to get back to your home—your uncle is still there!"

Renjiro nodded, his mind snapping into focus.