The fire crackled in the predawn stillness, its warmth doing little to ease the chill in the air. Kaito sat cross-legged, the relic balanced on his knees. Eryon’s voice broke the silence, steady and measured.

“I was young when I first encountered the Abyssal Ember,” Eryon began, his gaze distant. “It was hidden deep within the Ashen Keep, guarded by wards and a council sworn to protect it. I thought I could harness its power for good—use it to end the endless wars that plagued our lands.”

Sayuri leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed. “And how did that work out for you?”

Eryon’s expression darkened. “It didn’t. The Ember’s power is not meant to be controlled. It twists intentions, corrupts even the strongest of wills. I was its Keeper, but in truth, I was its prisoner.”

Kaito frowned, gripping the relic tighter. “If it’s so dangerous, why not destroy it?”

Eryon’s eyes locked onto Kaito’s. “Because destruction is not the answer. The Ember and the Forge are two halves of a whole. To destroy one would imbalance the other, unleashing chaos on a scale we cannot comprehend.”

Sayuri stepped forward, her voice sharp. “So, you failed to protect it, and now you want us to clean up your mess?”

“I want to help you prevent the same mistake,” Eryon said calmly. “But make no mistake, the Hunters are not your only enemy. The relic you carry—its power—will test you in ways you cannot imagine.”

The first arrow struck the tree trunk beside Kaito’s head, embedding itself with a dull thud.

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“Get down!” Sayuri shouted, drawing her blade as more arrows rained down.

Eryon raised his staff, a shimmering barrier of light forming around them. “They’ve found us!”

From the shadows emerged the Hunters, their dark armor glinting in the faint morning light. The leader stepped forward, the jagged blade in his hand radiating a menacing crimson glow.

“Kaito, stay close!” Sayuri called, cutting through one of the attackers with swift precision.

Kaito raised the relic, its flames roaring to life. He swung it in a wide arc, sending a wave of fire toward the advancing Hunters. The flames consumed two of them, but the leader pressed on, undeterred.

“Flamebearer,” the leader said, his voice a chilling growl. “You cannot protect what you do not understand. Surrender the relic, and I might spare your companions.”

“Not happening,” Kaito snapped, stepping forward. The relic pulsed in his hand, its heat surging as if in response to his defiance.

Surrounded and outnumbered, Kaito felt the relic’s energy coursing through him, demanding release. He closed his eyes, focusing on the flames, and let the power flow.

A massive wave of fire erupted from the relic, engulfing the clearing in a blinding inferno. The air crackled, and the ground beneath them split, sending Hunters tumbling into the fiery abyss.

When the flames subsided, silence fell. The surviving Hunters retreated, their leader glaring at Kaito with a mixture of fury and fear.

“You will regret this,” he hissed before vanishing into the shadows.

Kaito dropped to his knees, the relic dimming as exhaustion overtook him. Sayuri approached, her face pale.

“Kaito, what were you thinking?” she demanded. “You could’ve killed us all!”

“I had to,” Kaito said weakly. “There was no other way.”

“There’s always another way,” Sayuri snapped. “You’re letting the relic control you. If you keep this up, you won’t survive—and neither will we.”

Eryon stepped between them, his expression grim. “She’s right, Kaito. The relic’s power is immense, but it is not infinite. Every time you draw on it, you risk losing yourself.”

Kaito looked at the relic, its surface dim and cracked. Doubt crept into his mind. Was he truly strong enough to bear its power?

That night, the camp was silent. Kaito sat by the fire, staring at the relic. Sayuri sat across from him, sharpening her blade with slow, deliberate strokes.

“I can’t do this if I can’t trust you,” she said finally, her voice quiet but firm.

Kaito looked up, his heart sinking. “Sayuri, I—”

“Save it,” she interrupted. “I need to know that you’re in control. Because if you’re not, we’re both dead.”

Kaito nodded, unable to find the words to argue.

Eryon watched from the shadows, his expression unreadable.