The air in the clan’s main hall was tense. Elders sat in a semi-circle, their gazes heavy as Kaito stood before them. Beside him, Sayuri remained silent, her expression unreadable.

“You intend to leave at a time like this?” one elder asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. “The Hunters of Ash have already shown they can strike at will. And now you’re abandoning us?”

“I’m not abandoning anyone,” Kaito replied, gripping the relic’s hilt. “The Hunters won’t stop coming until they get this. The only way to protect the clan is to learn how to control it—fully.”

“And you trust this outsider?” Ryo’s father, Elder Kenta, sneered, his eyes narrowing at Sayuri.

“I trust her,” Kaito said firmly. “She’s the only one who understands the relic.”

Sayuri stepped forward. “The boy is right. The Hunters won’t stop until the relic is theirs. The Ember Forge is the key to unlocking its true power—and understanding how to stop them.”

Elder Kenta scoffed. “And what if this ‘forge’ doesn’t exist? What if it’s a fool’s errand?”

Kaito’s gaze hardened. “Then I’ll find another way. But sitting here and waiting for another attack isn’t an option.”

The hall fell silent. Finally, the head elder nodded. “Very well. You have our blessing, but know this: failure is not an option.”

As Kaito and Sayuri left the hall, Genji caught up to them.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, his tone worried.

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“I have to do this,” Kaito said. “For the clan. For myself.”

Genji sighed. “Then promise me you’ll come back in one piece.”

Kaito smirked. “I’ll do my best."

The path through the forest was overgrown and treacherous, each step bringing them closer to the unknown. Kaito carried the relic strapped to his back, its weight a constant reminder of the responsibility he bore.

“You’ve been quiet,” Sayuri said, glancing at him.

“Just thinking,” Kaito replied. “About what the elders said. What if the forge isn’t real?”

Sayuri chuckled softly. “Doubt already? You won’t last long like that.”

“It’s not doubt,” Kaito said defensively. “It’s... realistic.”

Sayuri stopped, turning to face him. “The Ember Forge is real. I’ve seen it. But it’s not just a place—it’s a trial. If you’re not ready, it will destroy you.”

Kaito swallowed hard, but he nodded. “Then I guess I don’t have a choice.”

They continued in silence until the sound of rustling leaves stopped them in their tracks.

“Stay alert,” Sayuri whispered, drawing her blade.

A pack of shadowy beasts emerged from the undergrowth, their glowing red eyes locked onto the pair. The creatures growled, their forms flickering like embers in the wind.

Kaito drew the relic, its flames roaring to life. “I thought the Hunters couldn’t track us this far.”

“They’re not Hunters,” Sayuri said, her eyes narrowing. “They’re something worse.”

The beasts lunged, and the fight began.

As Kaito fought off the last of the shadow beasts, the relic pulsed in his hands, its heat searing his skin. He fell to his knees, the world around him fading.

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the forest. He stood in a burning village, the air thick with smoke and the screams of its people.

A figure loomed before him—a warrior wielding a blade identical to the relic. The warrior’s face was obscured, but their movements were fierce and unrelenting, cutting through waves of enemies with ease.

“This is what the relic was forged for,” a voice echoed in Kaito’s mind. “To protect. To destroy. To decide.”

The scene shifted, and Kaito saw the warrior fall, the relic slipping from their grasp. The flames around them died, leaving only ash and silence.

“The relic chose you for a reason,” the voice continued. “But will you be strong enough to wield it?”

Kaito gasped as the vision ended, his chest heaving. Sayuri knelt beside him, her expression uncharacteristically concerned.

“What did you see?” she asked.

“Something... or someone,” Kaito said, his voice shaky. “I think the relic is trying to tell me something.”

By nightfall, the pair reached the edge of a canyon. Across the chasm, a massive stone structure loomed, glowing faintly with fiery runes.

“The Ember Forge,” Sayuri said, her voice reverent.

But before they could move closer, a shadowy figure emerged from the canyon’s edge, blocking their path.

“It seems the relic has finally returned,” the figure said, their voice cold and menacing. “But you’re far too late.”

Kaito gripped the relic, the flames igniting once more. “We’ll see about that.”

The figure laughed, drawing a blade wreathed in dark fire. “Let’s see if you’re worthy of it.”