Tears Before the Storm

Smoke was rising from rooftops. A scream. Blood on stone. A flash of ruby eyes—lifeless.

Amara awoke later than usual, her small body curled tightly under the blanket, her cheeks damp with tears she hadn't realized she'd shed. The visions had been worse than usual this time—more chaotic, more fragmented. And far more terrifying.

She sprang from bed with a pounding heart and searched the house. No footsteps. No lingering warmth in the chairs. No familiar voices humming through the stillness. Her chest tightened.

"Mom? Dad?"

The words vanished into the stillness. Panic overtook her.

She bolted from the house, feet slamming against the dirt, until she reached Tashi's door. Her fists pounded against it with the desperation of a child who had seen too much, too fast.

He opened it, groggy. "Amara? What's wrong?"

"Have you seen my parents?! Please, Tashi—where are they?!"

His expression shifted from confusion to concern. "No… I haven't seen them. Is something—"

She didn't wait for the rest. She was already running again.

Her lungs burned. Her legs ached. But she kept running.

How many times had she woken to an empty home? She had stopped counting. It was becoming normal. But today—today felt different. The dream still clung to her skin like cold sweat.

Eventually, she found him.

Daichi was seated by the riverbank, a weathered book resting in his hands. The sunlight caught his features—calm, quiet, unaware.

"Dad!!"

He looked up, startled.

"Sweetheart? What's wrong?"

"I've looked all over the village for you and Mom…" Her voice cracked. "Something terrible is going to happen!"

His eyes softened with concern, but his voice remained steady. "Is it the dreams again? Look—I came here to study in peace. This book talks about rare powers in this world. I was hoping to find something that could help us understand yours."

"Forget the book, Dad! The dream—it showed me so many futures. I don't remember most… but one of them…"

She swallowed hard.

"You die. Today."

Daichi froze.

The book fell from his trembling hands. Sweat formed at his brow.

"I die… today?"

She nodded, tears threatening to return.

Daichi staggered back, as if the words themselves had struck him. "How could this be? What danger could exist in this peaceful place…?"

Amara hesitated, guilt flickering in her chest before she finally spoke.

"I… They were after me. Three warriors came to attack the village. They were looking for me."

Daichi's face went pale.

"I don't know how they found out about me, but it doesn't matter now, Dad—we don't have time!"

Daichi fell silent. Sweat beaded and dripped down his temples, his body seized by an anxious tremble.

It can't be... People know about my daughter? No—what have I done...

***

"Hey, Daichi! You up for hunting some wild boars?"

Dan.

A childhood friend.

The kind of friend who didn't knock before entering your home.

Like Daichi, Dan was one of the village's few warriors—not particularly skilled, but capable enough for hunting and basic defense.

However, unlike Daichi, Dan was still single. He claimed he didn't have time for romance—said he had more important things to worry about. But deep down, he always seemed a little lonely.

"Yeah," Daichi muttered automatically, "sure, Dan."

The forest was quiet.

They hadn't caught a single boar.

"Our village has been struggling lately," Dan said. "I'm starting to worry… about all of us."

Daichi remained silent.

"With a family now… I guess we're not your priority anymore, huh?"

The words struck like a blade.

Daichi's voice rose, sharp and immediate. "That's not fair, Dan. I'd never abandon the village. Yes, I have a family, but this place still matters to me."

Dan looked away. "It's easy to say that now. But what happens when it's your family—or us?"

Daichi slowed, uncertainty clawing at him. Dan was his friend, he couldn't turn his back on him, right?

"Dan… there's something you should know."

The two stopped. Face to face.

"It's about my daughter…"

***

Kaida walked through the bustling streets of Crimson Peak.

She'd begun visiting the village more often. Knowledge was power—and in villages like this, knowledge flowed like rivers. The book Daichi had been reading was likely one she'd brought back herself.

"Welcome to Crimson Peak!"

The bartender grinned as she entered.

"Kaida! Want something to drink?"

She shook her head. "No, thank you."

"Still refusing drinks, huh? You looking for Blaze again?"

"I am."

"He's hard to pin down. Always busy. Best bet's to find one of the Nullborn. Rey, Tafari, Viper… one of them might know."

Tch

Kaida made a displeased face.

"You don't like them huh?"

"They're a pain. Rey's always disappearing, Tafari won't stop dragging me into training, and Viper…"She shivered slightly. "I always feel like he's watching me."

The bartender gave her a look before he answered.

"Can't really blame him. He's the type of person who's deeply loyal to the village, having grown up here and spent most of his life in these surroundings. He can be pretty tough on strangers."

"Tell me about it. I know someone exactly like him."

Then came a voice from behind her.

"Kaida."

She turned.

"Blaze."

The bartender smiled quietly. "Lost and found," he muttered.

Kaida stepped forward. "I'm glad you're here. I've been looking for you."

"Changed your mind about joining Nullborn?"

"You know my answer."

He sighed and sat down.

"What do you need?"

"I want to train. The books you gave me helped, but Eldrida's land lacks natural magic. I thought… maybe I could use your training room."

Blaze met her gaze, long and hard.

"No exceptions. That space is for Nullborn only. Not outsiders."

She frowned.

"I figured."

"But if you did join us…"

"I'm not leaving my village."

Blaze's voice dipped lower. "You speak of protecting it, yet it's not even your birthplace. That much devotion… impressive."

Kaida's tone turned cold.

"I have a family. If that's not reason enough to fight for something, I don't know what is."

She turned and left.

Blaze watched her go, eyes clouded in thought.

***

It's my fault. 

Kaida was right—she always was. 

How could I have been so blind? 

"Father.. !"

We grew up together. 

Why would he do this to me? 

To my daughter? 

She'll never be safe now... 

"Dad!!" 

Daichi blinked—reality snapping into place.

"Dad are you listening to me? We have to run!'' Her voice cracked again. Desperate. Barely holding back tears.

He looked down at her—small, brave, afraid.

"Amara… your visions—how many did you see?"

She blinked. "Hundreds. The village was destroyed in most. Many people died. I… I didn't see myself hurt. But you… you died. In one of them."

Daichi drew in a sharp breath.

"One."

"Doesn't that matter?!"

"It does," he said gently. "But I won't run. I can't. I won't leave Eldrida behind."

"Why?!"

"Because I have to protect it. I'll warn the others. We'll prepare. I promise I'll survive. But you—"

He knelt and pressed a worn, folded map into her trembling hands.

"Your mother is here. Find her. Tell her everything."

That's right. It was my fault. I caused this. It's my job to fix it.

I'll survive this attack. I'll protect my village.

Then I'll confront Dan. I'll apologize to Kaida and Amara.

I'll give my family a better life. A safer one.

I promise.

She tried to argue, but the look in his eyes silenced her. He had already made peace with his decision.

Daichi turned and ran toward Eldrida.

Amara stood frozen for a moment—torn between the fear in her heart and the clarity that had risen within her.

Among the fractured futures she'd glimpsed, one glowed—a faint but steady flame.

The one where her mother returned.

The one where no blood was shed.

The one where peace was won.

That was the path she would chase.

And so, she ran.

Straight into the storm—carrying the spark of a future she would fight to write.