Reborn in Flames

The world was silent.

Then, a breath—ragged, heavy, alive.

Luca collapsed to his knees, smoke curling from his skin. The fire had vanished, leaving only embers that flickered around him like dying stars. The weight in his chest was different now—lighter, yet stronger.

He blinked, his vision blurred. A pair of hands grasped his shoulders, steadying him.

"Luca?" Evelyn's voice was hoarse, uncertain.

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. The golden hue in his eyes burned brighter than before, but the wild chaos that had once been there was controlled.

"I'm here," he murmured.

Julian and Rayna stood a few steps away, their weapons still drawn, as if unsure whether the battle was truly over. The fiery being that had once stood before them was gone. In its place, only Luca remained.

The old man exhaled deeply. "You chose," he said, his voice laced with something that almost sounded like awe. "And yet, you are still yourself."

Luca clenched his fist, feeling the warmth beneath his skin. The power hadn't disappeared—it had become a part of him. Not a curse. Not a force waiting to consume him.

A gift.

But what did that mean?

"What happens now?" Rayna asked warily.

Luca pushed himself to his feet, his limbs still aching. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I'm not the same as before."

He turned his hand over, watching as faint embers flickered along his fingertips. They responded to his thoughts, bending to his will without resistance. It wasn't wild fire—it was his fire.

Evelyn stepped closer, searching his face. "Are you okay?"

He met her gaze, his lips twitching into a small smile. "I think… for the first time in a long time, I am."

But deep in his gut, he knew—this was only the beginning.

Something had changed.

And the world would feel it soon enough.

—

Next Chapter: The Dawn of Something New

What will Luca do with his newfound power? And what dangers lie ahead?