A young Rael, maybe no older than 6, stands in the center of a training yard behind his home. His palms tremble as he tries to conjure fire around his body. Sparks flicker weakly, then fizzle into nothing. His mother, standing above him, her arms crossed and face hard with disappointment, watches silently.
"You're a disgrace to the Blaz name," she hisses. Her fiery red hair and intense golden eyes resemble molten lava ready to burst. "Every one of us—every single one—was chosen by Ignara. We are her mortal family. You, Rael, were born with the greatest potential of us all. And yet you can't even use your flame properly. So much for a 'talent.'"
Rael's voice shakes. "I-I'll try harder, I swear, I—"
"Get out. I don't want to see your face. Train until you earn the name you carry."
He lowers his head, lips pressed tightly together, and walks away from the home that never felt like one and into the grassy fields just beyond the village.
He screams, launching bolts of fire into the open air. The sky above glows with flickers of orange and red as his frustration burns unchecked.
Soon, a few kids from the village—sons of minor warriors and clanfolk—approach him. "Rael, down for a match," one smirks.
Rael mutters Something under his breathe, and within moments, he defeats each of them in turn. His flames scorch the ground as he blasts them back.
"Disgraces," he mutters, panting. "You're all a joke."
Back in the present, Rael, Sela, and Nadia stand together, facing the monstrous beast towering before them—the Alpha of the Chazelle packs,
Sela throws molten lava at it, but the Alpha is too quick. The streams hiss into the dirt, missing by inches. Nadia slams into the beast with strikes enhanced by flame, but her efforts barely register.
Rael, positioned behind them, is targeting the smaller chazelles to avoid being swarmed. He shoots out wave after wave of fire, lighting the field with orange bursts as creatures yelp and fall.
Suddenly, the Alpha lunges at Nadia.
"Watch out!" Sela yells.
Nadia uses the recoil from a fire-blast to push herself off the ground just in time. The Alpha's claws rip through where she stood.
Sela tries again, sending a molten spike at the Alpha's side—but it simply dodges again. Then it turns.
Straight toward her.
"Crap!" she cries, scrambling to the side. It misses her by a breath. She launches fire into its side, but again, the flames seem to just slide off its fur.
"We're not even scratching it," Rael mutters. He blasts a leaping chazelle out of the sky, but then—
The Alpha stares rael down
It lunges at him full speed, eyes wild.
"Rael!" Nadia shouts.
But it's too late. The Alpha slashes his chest open with one fluid swipe. He crashes to the ground, blood spraying across the field. He grits his teeth, trying to push himself up, but his limbs fail.
Nadia throws herself in front of him. "Stay down!" she yells, sending out a torrent of flame so massive it turns the air white with heat.
But the Alpha walks through it. Slow. Unbothered.
Sela tries to help, but a swarm of chazelles pounce at her from all angles. She's forced back into defense, flames dancing around her as she fends them off.
Rael's vision blurs. He tastes iron. His ears ring.
Rael, after defeating the other kids, stands smugly. But then a boy steps forward. Brown hair messy , green eyes curious and calm. Lif.
"Can I fight too?" Lif asks.
Rael scoffs. "I'm not wasting time on a hollowborn. Go away."
Lif tilts his head. "Big words for a coward. A Blaz afraid to fight a hollowborn? That's just sad."
Rael's eyes spark with fury. He hurls a fireball. Lif sidesteps it easily.
"You want a fight? You'll get one!" Rael roars. He unleashes a wild storm of fire—no control, no grace, just rage.
But Lif... dodges everything. Effortlessly. Calm, precise, untouchable.
Suddenly, Lif disappears. Reappears behind Rael with a stick, but Rael spins, palm raised.
"I'll burn your face off!" he growls.
Just before the fire forms, Lif slaps his hand away and sweeps him to the ground. Rael crashes into the dirt.
Laughter erupts from the other kids.
Rael blinks, stunned. "How... how did I—"
Lif stands over him. "You're dumb. You throw fire because you're stronger. But there's no precision, no technique. You just try to overpower your enemy because that's what you're used to."
Rael clenches his teeth. "My mom... she was right. I really am a disgrace."
Lif raises an eyebrow. "No. You're a Blaz. Your flame burns bright, but you let it flicker. You think you can't do certain things. That doubt weakens you."
Rael stares at him..
Nadia stands her ground. Her arms shake. The fire from her hands grows more intense. The veins in her arms glow faintly.
Rael watches from the ground, groaning. Then he slowly rises, clutching his chest. Blood seeps through his shirt, but his eyes blaze.
He walks up beside her.
"That kid… he's too wise for his age," he mutters, raising his hand next to hers.
Their fires merge. And suddenly, something changes.
The flame erupts with a heat that pushes even the Alpha back.
Rael's flame.
It shines so brilliantly.
The Alpha howls in pain for the first time.
It tries to push forward, but the merged fire is too much. It crashes to its knees.
With a final scream, it collapses
Rael drops to one knee, then the other. He falls, laughing softly despite the blood covering his chest.
"Told you I wasn't a disgrace," he chuckles.
Nadia lowers her hands, shaking. She kneels next to him. "W-who are you talking to."
Rael smirks. "My mom."
She doesn't respond. Just presses a hand to his wound to stop the bleeding