BLAZE OF COURAGE

The Darwin estate shook as a loud explosion broke the night. The blast bang chandeliers and cracked old stone walls. Dust fell from the ceiling, and the sharp smell of smoke filled the halls. Servants tripped over each other, their scared shouts lost in the noise of guards running toward the prisoner cells. Lord Velrik Darvin, tall and strong, caught his sword belt calmly. His grey eyes scanned the chaos with a leader's focus. He knew the explosion was no accident—it was planned.

In the great hall, his oldest son, Steven, eager to fight, grabbed his father's arm. "Father, let me fight! I'm ready! My sword skills are good, and my fire spells could burn those prisoners to dust!" His green eyes glowed with bold courage, his fists clenched like he already held a sword.

Velrik knelt, his rough hand on Steven's shoulder. "Not tonight, son. Your heart is brave, but your job is here." His voice was firm, full of authority, though his eyes softened for a moment. "Protect your mother, your sisters, and Kelvin. That's a warrior's task—your task."

Steven's jaw tightened, frustration burning inside. He wanted to argue, to prove himself in battle, but Velrik's word was final. Defying him would only bring trouble. He nodded stiffly and stepped back as Velrik stood.

Selena, Velrik's wife, hurried into the hall, her red-brown hair messy, but her face calm. She took his hand, her voice steady. "Please be safe, dear." Her eyes showed a hint of fear, but she held it back, strong as ever. Behind her, their daughters, Miya and Selfi, stood close. Eleven-year-old Miya held her sister's arm, trembling with worry, while Selfi stood tall, her chin up despite her unease.

"Stay safe, Father," Miya whispered, her voice soft.

Selfi puffed out her chest. "You'll crush them, Father! Show those prisoners who's boss!"

Velrik gave a rare, quick smile before walking toward the chaos, his cloak flapping behind him.

Upstairs, in a locked room for his safety, nine-year-old Kelvin Darvin was wide awake. The explosion didn't scare him—it excited him. His mind raced with questions: What made the blast? Was it magic? A bomb? Who attacked the Darwins? His small body buzzed with curiosity, his hazel eyes bright with a need to know. But the locked door and two guards outside, muttering about "breached cells" and "escaped prisoners", kept him trapped.

The door creaked open, and Selena entered with Miya and Selfi. She knelt by Kelvin's bed, her face softening despite her worry. "My sweet boy, are you okay? Did the noise wake you?"

Kelvin sat up, his voice full of excitement. "Mother, what was that? Was it a spell? A bomb? Are we under attack?"

Selfi grinned, flexing her arms. "Don't worry, Kelvin! If anyone comes near you, I'll punch them into next week!"

Miya nodded, her voice quiet but serious. "I'll help too. We'll keep you safe."

Selena gave a tight smile. "You two will be great protectors someday. For now, let's keep Kelvin calm." She brushed his dark hair back, her touch gentle but firm. "Try to rest, my love." She led the girls out, glancing back with worry before closing the door.

Rest? Kelvin nearly laughed. As soon as the room was quiet, he jumped out of bed, his bare feet cold on the floor. He'd been secretly studying magic for months, reading old books in the library when no one watched. He'd learned to use mana, to shape it. Now was his chance to try it.

At the window, he focused, feeling mana warm in his chest. He pictured a cushion of wind under his feet, pushed the window open, and jumped. The night air rushed past, but his wind magic held, landing him softly on the wet grass. Heart racing with thrill, Kelvin ran toward the prisoner cells, following the glow of flames.

The scene was a mess. Broken stone covered the ground where the cellblock walls had been blown apart. Guards fought escaped prisoners, their swords flashing in the firelight. Velrik stood in the center, his blade moving fast as he shouted orders: "Secure the perimeter! No one gets past!" The air was heavy with smoke, screams, and the smell of blood.

Kelvin's eyes widened, taking in the chaos. He should've been scared, but he felt a wild, electric thrill. Then he saw a prisoner—tall, thin, with eyes like a hungry wolf. The man's torn cloak waved as he broke free from the fight, his gaze locking onto Kelvin. A cruel smile spread across his face as he saw the boy's fine clothes, a clear sign of a Darwin.

System: Notice—danger, intense bloodlust.

"Well, well," the prisoner rasped, his voice rough. "A little lord, all alone." He pulled a dagger, its blade shining in the firelight, as he threw it with deadly aim.

System: Notice—a dagger is flying toward you fast.

Kelvin's instincts took over. He didn't think; he acted. He called up his mana, forming a shimmering wall of water. The dagger hit it, slowing as the water dragged it down. Now! Kelvin thought, using his wind magic. A gust pushed him sideways, and the dagger flew past, sticking into the stone wall with a loud thunk.

The prisoner's smile faded, turning into a scowl. "Clever trick, kid," he growled, stepping closer. "But magic won't save you. After I kill you, I'll cut up the rest of your family."

Addicted to the rush of murder, the prisoner's eyes glinted with a manic edge, and his breath rasped in the dark, foul-smelling cell. His hand blinked towards the dagger set into the crumbling stone wall, its blade glinting in the dim light of the torch. His fingers closed on empty air.

"What? Where is the weapon?" he muttered, voice rough with confusion, his gaze darting across the shadows. A wet, sickening thud broke the silence. Searing pain erupted in his gut, a white-hot blaze that stole his breath. He staggered, clutching his stomach, where warmth oozed between his fingers.

"Why... why is my stomach in pain?" He gasped, voice trembling as he fought to stay upright. Slowly, he bent his head, his vision swimming. There, in the flickering gloom, stood a small boy, no older than ten, his delicate fingers wrapped around the hilt of the missing dagger.

The blade shines with new blood, now buried deep in the prisoner's abdomen. Streams of crimson water gathered on the dirty floor. As he looked into the boy's unwavering eyes, the prisoner's own blood smeared his face, dripping from his forehead and stinging his eyes.

"How…?" the prisoner gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "A child…?"

Kelvin's voice was steady, his hazel eyes hard as steel. "You thought I was just a kid. Big mistake."

The air was heavy with tension, a faint hum of danger lingering like smoke. He leaned forward, his eyes burning with defiance, and his voice was as steady as steel. "Hey, I'm not afraid of death because I've stared it down before and it blinked. If you want to face it head-on, take the initiative. Be my guest.

Over the lifeless inmate, Kelvin stood with blood-soaked hands and a scarred face from wiping his forehead. Sharp shadows were cast on the stone walls by the flickering light in the cell. Blood slowly dripping onto the floor was the only sound. His heartbeat was steady and his breathing even, as if he had just finished a basic task. Don't be afraid. Not depressed. All he could feel was the familiar, heaviness of violence, like an old friend.