Narrator:

In the past six years, Acki had come a long way. He was no longer the frightened boy who struggled to summon his soul weapon. The intense trials he had undergone shaped him into a skilled swordsman and a highly capable magician. His blonde hair, now longer and more unruly, framed a face that was harder, more mature. But his eyes still held a spark of the child he had been, even if the innocence had long since disappeared.

Acki had faced countless trials—some physical, others mental. The most grueling was the trial to summon his soul weapon, a process that nearly broke him. But it had forged him into someone much stronger. Alongside Ian, he’d pushed his limits, learning to control his elements. He had mastered fire, water, wind, and earth, and unlike most mages, he no longer needed to chant incantations to summon their power. Each element flowed through him instinctively, a part of his being.

But it was the black flames, his own creation, that truly set him apart. After years of experimentation, Acki had developed them into powerful and unique spells. His signature attack was the Black Flame Blade, a sword forged from pure flame that cut through anything in its path. He had also created Flame Chains, capable of binding enemies with searing heat, and a Flame Cloak that shielded him in battle, burning anything that came too close. He had even mastered teleportation with Infernal Step, allowing

him to disappear in a burst of black flame and reappear instantly.

Despite all this power, Acki’s abilities weren’t without their limits. His stamina could only last so long in battle. The black flames, though potent, were hard to control, and if he lost focus or became emotionally unstable, they could backfire or lose their effectiveness. His mastery of the elements had its own drawbacks, too—if he relied too much on one, the others would suffer. And above all, his mind needed to stay sharp. Distractions or overwhelming emotions could cause his control to slip, making him vulnerable.

Acki had become incredibly strong, but he was far from invincible. There was still more to learn, more to conquer. His journey wasn’t over yet.

The Scene Shifted To Ackis Birthday

The small tavern was filled with the quiet hum of a few scattered patrons, but in the corner booth, the air was warm with the sound of laughter and clinking mugs. It was Acki’s 15th birthday, and he and Ian were celebrating the only way they knew how: with a few drinks and plenty of stories.

Ian slid a mug toward Acki, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Here, kid. You’re old enough now. Go ahead and try it.”

Acki eyed the drink cautiously. “Isn’t this a little strong for me?”

“You’re not a kid anymore. Time to grow up,” Ian chuckled. “Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?”

With a skeptical glance, Acki took the mug, hesitated for a moment, then took a small sip. His face scrunched up in surprise, but then a grin tugged at his lips. “Hey, this isn’t bad at all. I think this would go perfect with a rabbit stew.”

Ian raised an eyebrow. “You’re always thinking about eating rabbits, aren’t you?”

Acki leaned back in his seat, a satisfied smirk on his face. “How can I not? They’re delicious.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I can’t argue with that.”

As the evening wore on, the two enjoyed the alcohol and the rare moment of peace. They spoke of Acki’s future—the upcoming registration at the Adventurer’s Guild. He was finally going to make it official. But there was a hint of something more in Ian’s tone, a quiet sorrow hiding behind the lighthearted conversation.

“So, kid,” Ian began, her voice a little softer than usual, “what will you do once you become an official adventurer?”

Acki grinned, a gleam of youthful enthusiasm in his eyes. “Make a party with you and adventure the world. That’s the plan, right?”

Ian froze for a moment, her eyes drifting away as she let out a quiet sigh. The sadness in her expression didn’t go unnoticed by Acki, but he was too caught up in his excitement to fully understand.

“Why the long face, teach?” he asked, his voice light and playful. “You tired of cooking for me or something?”

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Ian gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, brushing it off. “Nothing. Just thinking about something.”

Acki, a little tipsy and oblivious to the underlying tension, shrugged it off. “Alright, teach. Whatever you say. Hey, order us a couple more drinks.”

The night stretched on, and they continued their laughter, the world outside their booth forgotten. As they got drunk, the conversation flowed from one topic to the next. It was then that Ian, her speech slightly slurred, let slip a surprising piece of information.

“You know,” she said with a drunken chuckle, “I’m over 600 years old.”

Acki, taken aback, nearly choked on his drink. “Wait, WHAT?! I had no idea you were an old hag! I thought you were, like, in your thirties or something!”

Ian leaned in, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “What did you call me? An old hag?”

Acki laughed loudly, his face bright with amusement. “I mean, I didn’t know you were that ancient. How does it feel to be so old?”

Suddenly, the playful atmosphere shifted. Ian’s eyes hardened, her voice dropping into a low, serious tone. “What did you say?”

“Uhhh… That you’re an old hag?” Acki said with a nervous chuckle, not realizing the gravity of his words.

Ian’s eyes flared with fiery red intensity, and her voice turned sharp. “You really repeated that? You must have a death wish, don’t you?”

Realizing he’d crossed a line, Acki’s heart skipped a beat. “Okay, okay, I was just joking!” he said, jumping to his feet and bolting toward the hotel.

Ian’s gaze darkened, and with a swift movement, she was after him, chasing him through the streets. Acki ran, laughing through the panic, “Don’t kill me, aaaa!”

The game of tag continued until they reached their hotel room, both breathless and a little worse for wear. Acki, bruised from the chase, flopped down on the bed. “Damn, teach, you didn’t have to go that rough on me.”

Ian stood over him, hands on her hips. “NEVER EVER make fun of a woman’s age. Especially not your teacher.”

Acki, still chuckling, held his hands up in mock surrender. “Yes, ma’am.”

Ian narrowed her eyes, her face still serious. “DON’T call me that, brat.”

The room grew quieter as Ian prepared for bed, the tension of the evening easing with each passing moment. Acki, already half asleep, barely noticed when Ian stood from her bed and moved to the desk. She pulled out a piece of paper and began to write.

Hey, kiddo,

I know you’re probably confused right now, especially with the hangover you’ll probably have in the morning. But listen, our time together has come to an end. You’re finally old enough to take care of yourself and venture out on your own. I know you’ll feel lonely without me, but you’ll get over it. I’ve left you something to remember me by.

Go to the Adventurer’s Guild as soon as you can. Don’t let my leaving stop you from chasing your dreams. Make a name for yourself, Acki. You have the potential to become great, and I know you’ll make me proud. Find a party and build your future. But remember, always stay true to yourself, and don’t lose sight of who you are. I’m proud of you, kiddo.

Love, Teach

She folded the letter carefully and placed it beside Acki’s bed, along with a small, green bracelet. It was the only thing she could leave behind, a small token for him to carry on his journey.

Quietly, Ian left the room, her footsteps fading into the night

The Scene Changes

The morning came, and Acki slowly woke up, already sensing something was off. The familiar scent of breakfast wasn’t there.

Acki’s thoughts: Well, that’s a little weird. I don’t smell anything. Maybe Ian was too drunk to get up early?

He groaned, stretching as he sat up.

Acki: “Boy, that was a fun night, huh, Teach?”

Silence.

Turning toward Ian’s bed, Acki frowned.

Acki: “Teach…?”

He froze, his mind racing. Where could she have gone?

Acki’s thoughts: Alright, stay calm. I’ve never woken up without Ian by my side, but maybe it’s just the alcohol. She’ll be back in time for breakfast. At least…I hope. Guess I’ll check around the hotel to see if she’s here. If not, I’ll go look for her.

With a tired grin, still groggy and hungover, Acki forced himself out of bed.

Acki: “Man, I’m tired. How could she wander off without leaving food—or at least a note about where she went? Stupid old hag.”

He checked the corners of the hotel room, calling out, “Yo!” into every empty space, hoping she was hiding or playing a joke on him.

Finally, he stopped, realizing the truth.

Acki: “Guess she really did leave…”

He sighed, exhaustion weighing on him.

Acki: “And today was supposed to be my day. I signed up to be an adventurer.”

His voice carried disappointment as he muttered, “Oh well, back to sleep, I guess.”

As he trudged toward the bed, something caught his eye—a piece of paper on the desk, accompanied by a bracelet and a pen.

Acki: “At least the hag had the decency to leave a note.”

Ignoring the bracelet, he grabbed the letter, still oblivious to what had really happened. As he read, his face fell. By the middle, his fists were trembling, his grip crushing the paper. When he finished, his black flames erupted, burning the letter to ash as his eyes filled with tears.

He didn’t know what to feel: betrayal, disbelief, grief, anger, despair—even self-doubt. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he just wasn’t worth staying with.

Acki: “You old hag… You can’t leave me like this!”

The tears he’d been holding back spilled over as he gritted his teeth.

Acki: “I promise, Teach, I’ll be the strongest. I’ll make my name known across Earth, Hell, and the Heavens. I’ll prove myself and make you proud.”

The black flames still burned in his hands as he stood by the desk, overwhelmed by the mixed emotions inside him.