The forest’s canopy shrouded the trail in twilight, the dim light casting long shadows across the rugged terrain. Kaito followed Sayuri in silence, each step a reminder of the battles they had barely survived. The relic pulsed faintly at his side, its presence a constant reassurance and a burden.

“You need to rest,” Sayuri said, glancing back at him. “Your strength won’t last if you keep pushing yourself like this.”

“I’m fine,” Kaito replied, though his legs felt like lead. “We can’t stop. Not with the Hunters on our trail.”

Sayuri hesitated but nodded, her expression unreadable.

As they rounded a bend in the trail, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. Cloaked in dark robes, their face was hidden beneath a deep hood. The figure leaned on a staff, its surface engraved with glowing, intricate patterns that mirrored the runes on the relic.

“Who’s there?” Kaito demanded, drawing the relic. Its flames sprang to life, illuminating the clearing in a warm glow.

The figure raised a hand, their voice calm and low. “Peace, Flamebearer. I am not your enemy.”

Sayuri stepped forward, her blade half-drawn. “That remains to be seen. Who are you, and what do you want?”

The stranger chuckled, their voice carrying an edge of amusement. “I have many names, but you may call me Eryon. I’ve been waiting for you, Flamebearer.”

Kaito hesitated, the relic’s flames flickering as he lowered it slightly. “You’ve been waiting for me? Why?”

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Eryon stepped closer, the runes on their staff glowing in rhythm with the relic’s light. “Because the relic you wield is not merely a weapon—it is the key to a power greater than you can imagine. And it is the power the Hunters seek to unleash.”

Sayuri’s eyes narrowed. “Unleash? What are they planning?”

Eryon sighed, their tone turning grave. “The Hunters are not just after control—they seek to awaken the Forge’s twin flame, the Abyssal Ember. While your relic holds the power to create and purify, the Abyssal Ember embodies destruction and chaos. Together, they could reshape the world—or destroy it.”

Kaito felt a chill run down his spine. “And you expect me to believe you? How do you know all this?”

Eryon lowered their hood, revealing an aged face marked by scars and glowing runes etched into their skin. “Because I was once the Keeper of the Abyssal Ember. I know its power and the devastation it can bring. I failed to protect it, and now its shadow falls upon you.”

Sayuri’s grip tightened on her blade. “Why help us? What’s in it for you?”

Eryon smiled faintly. “Redemption, perhaps. Or maybe it’s because I see in him what I once saw in myself—a chance to succeed where I failed.”

Night fell as the trio set up camp near a small stream. Eryon sat by the fire, their staff resting across their lap. Sayuri kept her distance, sharpening her blade while casting wary glances at their new companion.

“You trust him too easily,” she said to Kaito when Eryon stepped away to gather water.

Kaito frowned, poking at the fire with a stick. “He knows things about the relic—things no one else could. If he’s telling the truth, we need his help.”

“And if he’s lying?” Sayuri countered. “What if this is a trap?”

Kaito met her gaze, his voice firm. “Then I’ll deal with it. But we can’t do this alone, Sayuri. You said it yourself—the Hunters are too strong.”

Sayuri sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Just don’t let your guard down. Trust is a luxury we can’t afford.”

As Kaito lay by the fire, the relic resting beside him began to glow faintly. Its warmth spread through his body, pulling him into a vivid dream.

He found himself standing in a vast, fiery expanse, the ground cracking beneath his feet. In the distance, two flames burned—one a brilliant white-gold, the other a smoldering crimson-black.

“Beware the shadows,” a voice whispered, low and resonant. “The flame burns brightest when the darkness is near.”

Kaito turned to see a figure emerging from the crimson flame, their features obscured by smoke and shadow. They reached out, and the ground beneath him crumbled.

He woke with a start, the relic’s light fading as he gasped for breath.

Sayuri was at his side in an instant. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Kaito said, his voice shaking. “But something’s coming. And I think it’s closer than we thought.”