Chapter 1: The Spark of Flame
A deep crimson glow illuminated the night sky as flames danced wildly in the distance. The village of Akatsura, home to skilled Elementalists, lay in ruins, engulfed in smoke and fire. The scent of burning wood mixed with the cries of survivors echoed through the night.
Among the wreckage, a cloaked figure walked solemnly through the debris. Elder Ryuken, a seasoned Fire Elementalist, looked upon the devastation with sorrow. His sharp eyes fell upon a small bundle lying near the remains of a house, a crying infant wrapped in scorched cloth. The child had soft tufts of black hair and striking amber eyes that flickered like embers. Ryuken knew instantly—this was Ryo, the son of the village's fallen hero.
He gently picked up the child, his mind heavy with the past. "You are the last flame of this village," he murmured. "And one day, you will blaze brighter than all."
Years passed, and under Elder Ryuken's care, Ryo grew into a determined young boy. He lived alongside another orphan, Kuroshi, who had been taken in under similar tragic circumstances. Though they were raised as brothers, Kuroshi always carried a quiet resentment, his heart weighed by whispers of the past.
At fourteen, Ryo had already started training as an Elementalist. His ability to control fire was natural yet wild, much like his own spirit. Every morning, he sparred with Kuroshi in the courtyard of Ryuken's home, their flames clashing in bursts of heat and power.
"You rely too much on your instincts," Kuroshi said one day, narrowly dodging Ryo's fiery strike. "Strength alone won't win battles."
"And you think too much," Ryo shot back, smirking. "A fight isn't won by hesitation!"
Their training was intense, but the bond they shared made every battle a lesson rather than a competition. However, beneath Kuroshi's composed exterior, a shadow loomed—doubts, questions, and a growing need for answers about his past.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the mountains, Elder Ryuken gathered both boys. "It's time you learn the truth," he said. "Your families were not lost to war. They were taken by something far more sinister."
Ryo's fists clenched. "What do you mean?"
"A force lurks in the darkness, manipulating the past and the future," Ryuken continued. "The one who caused your parents' deaths is still out there. And soon, you will have to face that darkness."
The fire in Ryo's eyes burned fiercer. This was no longer just training. This was destiny.
As the night wind carried embers into the sky, Ryo felt the spark within him ignite into something greater. This was only the beginning.