Flame Burden

The smell of singed rock and charred soil hung in the air. Smoke rose from the academy's destroyed entrance, bits of pavement glowing with heat in the cracks. The battle may have ended, but the weight of what had just happened lay on Ren's chest like a vice.

The Hellfire Cult was here for him.

And they knew.

Ren gripped his hands into fists, aware of the dull numbness in his arm where the blue flames had sapped him of strength. That Cultist—who was he? And why had he talked like he knew this power better than Ren knew it himself?

Sera leaned next to him, so tightly gripped was her hand about her sword, it turned white. She had not spoken since the Cultists had (or rather, hadn't) left. Her eyes were fixed on the smoldering earth where their foe had vanished, her face inscrutable.

Eventually, she spoke up. "You're reckless."

Ren let out a sharp breath and ran a hand through his hair. "You're welcome."

Sera's eyes shot to him, serrated. "You don't get it, do you? If they came for you once they'll come for you again. And next time, we may not be able to stop them."

Ren matched her glare, his heart still racing. "So what do you expect me to do? Hide? Run? Pretend that this isn't happening?"

Sera did not immediately respond. Because she knew he was right.

Ren sighed, his fingers brushing his torn and burned uniform sleeve from the battle. The last few minutes played in his mind like a broken record.

That Cultist… he had used the Blue Flame.

"Am I really the only one? Or have there been others?"

Sera's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "We need to leave. Now."

Ren frowned. "Why?"

Sera look over at the main building. The teachers will be coming soon. And if they learn about you —"

She didn't have to complete the sentence.

Ren already knew.

"The Blue Flame Gifts you come Bearing are not a gift — they are a curse.

"The wielder is hunted."

If the Academy one day found out the truth, he would no longer be a student — he would become a target.

Ren inhaled slowly and nodded. "Alright. Let's go."

With nothing else to say, they made their way through the smoke-shrouded courtyard, toward the academy's eastern side—where far fewer acolytes lingered.

But as they walked, Ren couldn't shake the unease crawling up his spine.

Because though the Cultists were gone… their eyes were still watching him.

Sera took him through a side gate, past the academy's main courtyard and into the training hall, now abandoned—a building that had been kept off-limits for years. The air inside was suffocating with dust, and the wooden floors under their feet creaked.

Only when she was certain they were alone, did Sera finally turn toward him.

"Talk."

Ren arched a brow. "Excuse me?"

Sera folded her arms. "The Hellfire Cult raided the academy in search of someone who bore the Blue Flame. And then you—who have never awakened any semblance of fire—just happen to survive a battle with them?"

Ren tensed. "Are you accusing me of something?

Sera's bright blue eyes met his. "I'm telling you need to stop lying to me, Kaizen.

He opened his mouth — and no excuse came to him.

Because the truth was, he didn't have any answers.

Ever since he had signed that damn contract, everything had changed. His body, his strength, and — his fire.

"What am I supposed to say? That I don't know why I'm endowed with this power?"

A silence stretched between them.

Sera examined his face closely, then sighed. "Fine. Let's start with the basics."

She stepped into the middle of the room, doffed her coat, threw it aside and held her hand up.

Blue lightning crackled between her fingers.

Ren's eyes widened slightly.

"Wind magic."

Sera nodded. "You know Red and White Flames already. But elemental magic — Wind, Ice, Thunder — can be practiced by people not favored by gods or devils. It's not about faith. It's about control."

Ren frowned. "And that's related to me how?"

Sera's face darkened. "Because the Blue Flame is special."

Ren's chest tightened. He knew that already.

Sera said, her voice calm. "It doesn't act like regular fire; it doesn't burn. It consumes. It erases." She took a slow breath. "And from what I saw back there, you don't know how to control it yet."

Ren let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "No, I don't."

"Then learn."

He blinked. "What?"

Sera moved closer, his eyes right on top of his. "I'll show you how to handle it."

Ren narrowed his gaze. "Why?"

Sera paused for a second but eventually responded. "Because I don't want to see you die."

Her words stung more than they needed to.

Ren looked away, his thoughts churning. The Hellfire Cult wouldn't give up until they got what they wanted — and the next time they came, they might not be so restrained.'

If he didn't grow different, if he didn't learn what this power really was —

He wouldn't survive.

At last, Ren exhaled slowly and looked at Sera. "Fine. Let's do it."

Sera smirked slightly. "Good choice."

But before they could say anything more —

The door slammed open.

Ren and Sera both jerked around to see Dante Raines in the door frame, his red scarf flapping out behind him.

His expression?

Completely unreadable.

"So. There is something you are hiding after all."

Ren's pulse spiked.

Dante knew.

And if he knew…

Then that secret was about to become a whole lot harder to keep.