Shadow stood before Flame, who sat cross-legged on top of the statue, almost like it was his own mini throne. "Cat got your tongue?" Flame asked as Shadow stood there, jaw agape.

-Shadow's POV-

I stood before him. Flame, the supposed sole survivor of the Lanrock Kingdom's downfall. There was something off about him. My instincts were telling me to turn and run, but logic knew better. Running from this guy meant death. I gulped, choosing my words carefully. "I just fell down here; I don't mean any trouble."

Flame grinned at me, his pupils narrowing even further than they already had. "I see," he spoke calmly.

"You seem fun; why don't I tag along with you? Don't worry; I won't hurt you." He jumped off the ruined statue, and now that I saw it, my eyes widened.

This was a Sentinel Shrine! "You... You destroyed a Sentinel Shrine?! That's bad luck and a curse from the gods!"

Flame turned around, looking back at the shrine. "Is that what it is? Whoops." He laughed.

This kid is actually crazy. Just what happened while in his kingdom to promote this kind of behavior? "Okay then... I guess you mean well." I said as I rubbed the back of my head. I then pointed down the way I came. "I fell from over there. There's a cliff at the end of that small trail, so... I'm not sure how we'll get out."

Flame just tilted his head to the side before grinning, facing me. "Just follow me." He said, starting to walk back the way we came. I followed a few meters behind him, not wanting to stick too close.

We eventually reached the Cliffside; its size made me question, even with Nora, how did I survive that fall? The rocks were jagged and looked like a death sentence to even touch. Flame, however, crouched down and placed the back of his hand atop his palm. "Hop on." He said, looking up at me.

"You're..." I laughed a little. "You're going to toss me up there?"

Flame nodded, signaling me to put a foot on his hand. Could he even lift someone like me, a boy who weighs 135 lbs only at 13, and I stand at 5'7"? He looks like he stands at 5'4.

Sighing and bracing for the worse, I stepped on his hand. "Three," he called out, "Two, one!"

I felt my organs being pushed downward at the sheer force that had thrown me well above the cliff. Actually, I could see the whole forest and smoke coming from my village... Multiple trails... of smoke.

"MY VILLAGE!" I yelled as I braced for cover, crashing through multiple branches, as these trees were at least 45 meters high.

I crashed onto the ground, Flame already waiting there for me with his arms crossed.

I stood up. "My village! Let's go!" I said frantically, running in the direction of the village. I could hear Flame running behind me, but he stayed silent, almost as if he were observing my moves.

When we reached, I dropped to my knees. My village, burning right in front of me. Flame... He's Moltsarian... He did this.

I stood up, spinning around on my left foot and throwing a right hook at Flame. Of course, he grabbed it. "Now what was that for?"

Flame asked, his face turning from amusement to confusion. "You... YOU DID THIS! YOU BURNED MY VILLAGE!"

Flame's eyes narrowed. "If you took a look, dumbass, you would see your people currently being slaughtered by men from another kingdom." He said as he kicked my chest, sending me sliding across the ground.

I heaved and clasped the right side of my chest. If he had hit the part where my heart was, it could've ruptured. Thankfully my lungs didn't.

I turned around, my village burning right in front of me. I then saw a little girl, one that resembled me. Alyssa... My sister. "ALYSSA!" I yelled, running toward her. She seemed to have heard me, because she immediately turned in my direction and ran at full speed.

The closer I got to her, the more sadness and relief I could see on her face. She ran right into my open arms, to which I embraced her tightly. "Oh Alyssa..." I felt tears forming in my eyes. "Where are Mom and Dad? Are you hurt?"

She looked up at me, her expression telling me everything I expected but didn't want to believe. I began to sob. My parents were gone now, and all I had left was my little sister. She probably blames herself due to her ability. "Don't worry... Alyssa, it's not your fault." I said between small cries.

I saw a shadow loom over us, and as I looked up, it was a man on a horse. His gaze was cold and indifferent, but holy, he was ugly.

"Where is the boy known as Flame?!" He barked; however, I heard some footsteps behind me.

"I'm right here." Flame spoke, his expression remaining neutral.

"Flame! Under the Boltru Empire's orders for not only treason against your own nation but for the genocide of your own people and family, you are to be arrested and put to death. Or we could just kill you right here." The man spoke with a serious tone.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Flame stood there, the same unsettling grin beginning to form on his face. "My dear accomplice and I will never surrender."

Hold on. Did he just call me his accomplice? HE'S TRYING TO BRING ME DOWN WITH HIM?!

"NONONONOOO!" I stammered quickly, "I don't know him! I just met him!" Before the man could even respond to what I said, Flame had leaped onto his horse and grabbed the man's mouth, instantly setting him ablaze.

I then watched as multiple, flaming jaws began to tear him limb from limb. I shielded my sister from the horrific sight. The man's screams were cut short but alerted the rest of the platoon to his whereabouts.

-Flame's POV-

I couldn't take this little sentimental bullshit this boy had going on. He had potential, and I've taken it upon myself to unlock it for him. Don't be sorry, boy, with the shadow abilities! I will bring you down with me!

"Hey! Stop right there!" A serious voice called out.

"Shit! They got General Ace!"

"Leave no one in the village alive! Capture Flame and bring him back so we can execute him!"

I looked down at Shadow as a grin spread across my face. "Grab your sister and run with me, boy."

"My name is Shadow!" He yelled, picking up his younger sister in his arms. I would then dart the other way, Shadow almost being able to keep up, but I was slightly faster.

We heard the clopping of hooves head toward us. They were getting close. I turned around and stopped dead in my tracks, my smile barely being able to be contained.

I had three kinds of flames. Devouring Flames, Angelic flames, which were the white flames that slammed themselves into my skull, and then invisible flames, which I got from an assassin while sitting on the statue. This was all excluding my Azure flames, which I was naturally born with.

There were 12 men. Should be easy enough. None of them are mages, and they all seem to be well equipped. "I'm on a time crunch here, so get ready!" I dashed forward, leaping onto the closest man and kicking him off his horse.

Immediately, I used Devouring Flames to devour the horse, before extending that warm welcome to the man on the ground.

I turned around, watching as Shadow continued running. "This bastard... He's leaving me!" My right foot ignites in Azure Flames. This move would likely cost the majority of my energy, but I don't have time.

The soldiers were charging toward me, and so I spun around, my foot raised in the air. Good thing I was flexible.

I then slammed it down, causing the ground in front of me to shatter, and a large, 20-meter-tall pillar of Azure flames consumed them all.

I panted, seeing their charred bodies on the ground. "Serves you right." I used some of my Devouring Flames to eat the bodies of the horses and all but a soldier's arm. I grabbed it, taking off the armor piece before running after Shadow.

-Third Person POV-

Shadow had kept running, never looking back. As unhinged as Flame seemed to him, he couldn't help but thank him. He didn't know if he would even be alive if Flame hadn't showed up. Though something gnawed at Shadow. His own weakness. It bothered him.

"Heya, Shadow!" Flame said, running beside him. Sweat dripped down his face as he seemed to be slightly slower now, matching Shadow's speed.

Shadow looked at him while he munched on a severed arm, causing Shadow to nearly gag at the sight.

"Ugh... Did you have to bring that?!" Shadow asked.

"You would leave me behind if I took my time!" Flame protested, pouting slightly.

The two stopped in a dense forest, the same forest where they had met. Resting against the broken shrine, Shadow hugged his sister tightly, who had been sobbing quietly at the loss of her parents.

Flame watched as they had their moment; initially, he wanted to kill Shadow but found potential in him. Not as a friend, but as a rival. He had the potential to be strong, and in Flame's eyes, being strong was all that mattered.

This caused him to show slight disdain toward Alyssa, who had done nothing but cry! Flame was about to conjure up Devouring Flames but thought back to his family, the happy times he once had. Perhaps this terrible feeling he had felt was jealousy.

Flame clenched his fist. However, his anger was soon cut short by a chilling feeling that caused his instincts to scream at him to run.

He turned around; a large, cloaked figure with the upper half of their face concealed stood before them.

Shadow held Alyssa protectively whilst looking at Flame; he immediately sparked his hands with Azure Flames.

"So, Flame. I have a question. Would you rather go to Purgatory, or would you rather go to Hell?" The figure asked, their voice a strange, soothing feeling.

Flame, perceiving that as a threat, lunged at the figure as he threw a punch. The figure easily caught it, not seeming fazed by the burning sensation that could be heard.

"Just answer the question, and I'll leave." The figure said, looking back to the desecrated shrine of the unknown deity.

"Just take this as punishment for destroying that shrine." The figure said as Flame's eyes widened. He was at the mercy of another. It reminded him of how he was at the mercy of his brother, and he wasn't going to take that. He didn't want to.

But he had to. He relented, the blue fire fading away as Flame then answered. "Purgatory."

The moment he said that, a crack in the air formed beneath him and shadow. The strange figure letting go of Flame's fist.

"I swear I'll find you again! Then I'm going to rip you apart and tear your guts from your body! Tell me your name!" Flame yelled as he began to fall through the air.

The man took off the hood, revealing yellow, wild eyes and messy brown hair, as well as a scar on his right cheek. "Goren." The figure said as the rift closed.

Flame looked around, Shadow and Alyssa falling beside him. They were falling through clouds, but once they exited, they were greeted with large rolling hills and a kingdom on top of a sky island, which they were to soon crash into.

Purgatory Zone (Neutral Ring) Earth, year 7384.