Fire

The room froze, every gaze snapping to him in stunned silence. His hands trembled, the heat building until it could no longer be contained.

Flames erupted from his palms, fierce and untamed, engulfing the centre of the table in a blazing inferno. The elegant red-and-gold tablecloth ignited instantly, fire consuming the ornate floral arrangements and polished wood. Plates and glasses shattered as the heat warped the table, sending cutlery clattering to the floor.

The room was chaos. Gasps of shock and alarm echoed through the hall as hunters leapt back from the flames, their faces painted with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

Helia, her eyes wide with horror, rose from her chair, her hand covering her mouth. Blaze stood frozen, his expression unreadable as he stared at the fire spreading across the table.

Aiden staggered back, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps as he stared at his hands. The flames flickered and died, leaving behind only the faint warmth of their memory. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what had just happened, but all he could focus on was the horrified faces staring back at him.

And then the whispers began, soft and disbelieving at first, but growing louder with each passing moment. Shock turned to suspicion, then to fear, and finally to hostility. Aiden looked to his mother, her emerald eyes wide with unspoken emotion, and then to Blaze, whose lips parted as if to say something, anything.

But no words came.

The weight of what he had just done crashed down on him like a tidal wave. The truth, undeniable and damning, hung heavy in the air.

Flames, born not of accident but of him. Flames that marked him as something other than human. As something feared. Something hated.

A Magi.

The silence was shattered by a sharp, melodic laugh. Kacela Jäger leaned back in her chair, her dark eyes alight with amusement and something crueler.

"A Magi," she said, her voice ringing out like a bell. "Aiden Chase- the future heir of the Hunters Association- is a Magi. Oh, the irony."

"That's not true," Blaze said defensively, though his voice faltered. "He's not—"

Kacela rose from her chair, her smile growing sharper. "Oh, isn't he? Look around, Blaze." She gestured toward the charred table, the embers still glowing faintly. "What kind of human does this?"

Oh, how ironic," Kacela continued, her smile widening. "The perfect Chase heir, the future of the Hunters Association—a Magi! Your family must be so proud." She reached into the folds of her dress and withdrew a gleaming knife. Her voice turned sharp, commanding. "Seize him! Don't let him escape!"

The room erupted into chaos as hunters leapt to their feet, taking anything that may be of use.

Helia's voice cut through the commotion, desperate and pleading. "No! Don't hurt him!" She moved toward Aiden, her emerald gown trailing behind her, but the hunters blocked her path.

Blaze shoved his way forward, his voice rising in frustration. "Stop! He's not dangerous—he's not—just STOP!" But no one listened.

Aiden didn't wait to see what would happen next.

Without thinking, he turned and ran, his boots echoing against the marble floor as he bolted for the doors. Behind him, he could hear his mother shouting, her voice raw with emotion, and Blaze's desperate attempts to intervene.

But the hunters were relentless. Their shouts and heavy footsteps followed him as he fled down the hall, the sound of Kacela's mocking laughter ringing in his ears.

The grand corridors of the Chase Residence twisted and turned like a labyrinth, but Aiden didn't stop to think about where he was going. His legs carried him forward on instinct, the shouting of the Hunters close behind him. His breath came in sharp, ragged bursts, his heart pounding in his chest.

Aiden! This way!"

The voice was sharp, commanding, cutting through the cacophony of his thoughts.

Aiden skidded to a halt, his shoes scraping against the floor. He turned, his breathing ragged, and saw Ettore- the Chase family's ever-loyal butler- standing in the shadows of a side corridor, his gloved hand gesturing urgently.

Aiden hesitated, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Why was Ettore here? Why was he helping? His mind raced with doubt as he took a cautious step forward, keeping his distance.

"Why are you helping me?" he demanded, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear and confusion. "You- you know what I am now."

Ettore straightened, his dark suit immaculate even in the midst of this chaos, his expression calm and unwavering.

"Master Aiden," he said, his voice steady and low, "whether you are Magi or human, it does not matter to me. I serve you . I always have. You are my master, and nothing changes that."

The words hit Aiden like a punch to the chest. His legs felt weak, his heart twisting painfully. He wanted to cry, but there was no time. He could hear the Hunters' shouts growing louder, their footsteps drawing closer. "Ettore..." he began, his voice trembling.

But Ettore stepped forward, his stern eyes locking onto Aiden's. "There's no time for this, Master Aiden," he said firmly. "You must go. They will not show mercy. Head for the southern garden. There's a hidden gate that leads to the woods. Use it to escape."

Aiden blinked rapidly, his vision blurring with tears he refused to shed. He had never felt so lost, so cornered, and yet here was Ettore, unwavering in his loyalty.

"Why?" he whispered. "Why would you risk everything for me?"

The butler's lips curved into the faintest of smiles, a rare crack in his otherwise composed demeanour. "Because you are Aiden Chase... You are the son I never had. That is reason enough."

Before Aiden could respond, the sharp sound of boots echoed down the hall. Ettore turned his head slightly, his sharp instincts picking up on the nearing threat. "Go," he said, his voice firmer now. "Quickly."

Aiden nodded, his throat tight with emotion as he turned to run toward the corridor Ettore had pointed out. But Ettore's voice stopped him again.

"Master Aiden," the butler said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "use your fire. Block off the path behind you."

Aiden froze, his blood running cold. The memory of the flames erupting from his hands, the destruction he'd caused, flashed in his mind. He turned to Ettore, his voice shaking. "I—I can't control it."

"You don't need control," Ettore said, his tone calm and reassuring. "You just need to protect yourself. Do what you must, Master Aiden. If you don't, they will catch you."

Aiden stared at the butler, his mind warring with fear and desperation. The shouts of the Hunters were closer now, their voices filled with malice. Finally, he clenched his fists, the heat already building in his palms.

"I'll try," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"Good," Ettore said, stepping back to give Aiden space.

With a deep breath, Aiden turned to face the corridor behind him. The heat surged through his veins, an overwhelming force that he barely understood. He raised his hands, focusing on the growing warmth in his palms. Flames burst forth, wild and untamed, licking at the walls and ceiling as they surged outward. The heat was intense, the roar of the fire almost deafening.

The corridor behind him was quickly consumed by the inferno, the flames forming an impassable barrier between him and the approaching Hunters. The shouts turned to cries of alarm as the fire forced them to retreat.

Aiden stared at the wall of flames, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He felt a strange mix of fear and exhilaration, the power within him both terrifying and intoxicating.

"Go, Master Aiden!" Ettore's voice broke through his thoughts. "You mustn't linger!"

Aiden nodded, his eyes stinging—not from the smoke, but from the emotion threatening to overwhelm him. He turned and ran with all his might, making sure Ettore's loyalty is not in vain.