The Unraveling Flame Only Knows Her

At Home –

Aren returned home, only to find Lyra sitting alone in the living room. He looked around and immediately asked, "Where's Ealina?"

Lyra replied firmly, "Liora called her for some business matters."

Aren's expression changed instantly. He clenched his fists, panic flaring in his eyes. "You let her go?! After everything we know?!"

Lyra frowned, alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"Today... today is the day his power spirals out of control," Aren said, pacing in frustration. "It happens every fifteen days. I should've remembered!"

Lyra's eyes widened. "I didn't know…"

"We have to get there—now. Before it's too late. Before she gets hurt again."

Without another word, they rushed out the door.

---

At Ryan's House –

Liora had called Ealina, insisting she come to Ryan's home with a stack of urgent documents.

"These files are crucial," Liora had said. "And today's the final deadline."

Trusting her, Ealina had taken the documents from the office and headed straight to Ryan's house.

Unaware of what was waiting inside.

In a dark, secluded room of the house, Ryan had chained himself once again—every link reinforced with magic to suppress the overwhelming surge of his power. His eyes burned crimson, and the air around him crackled with heat and unstable energy.

The power was worse than ever before. It was breaking through.

Ealina arrived, calling out as she stepped inside. "Hello? Ryan? Liora?"

No answer.

Drawn by a strange sensation, she climbed the stairs slowly, her steps echoing in the silent house. Her eyes caught the door at the end of the hallway—the one slightly ajar.

"Liora watched everything from a distance."

As Ealian pushed it open, she froze.

Ryan was inside.

Chained, trembling, his eyes wild and blood-red. Flames flickered across his skin like living entities. He was no longer in control.

A flash of memory hit her—she had seen him like this once before. The moment before she had blacked out.

But this... this was worse.

She took a cautious step forward.

The sound made Ryan jerk. His head whipped toward her, but he didn't see her. His vision was blurred with chaos. To him, she was nothing but a threat.

The chains shattered.

With a roar, Ryan lunged toward her.

Ealina's fear overwhelmed her. She dropped to her knees, covered her ears, shut her eyes, and screamed his name: "RYAN!"

---

Outside –

Aren and Lyra had just reached Ryan's home when a terrifying sound echoed through the walls. They raced up the stairs—only to be stopped midway.

Liora.

With a flick of her hand, she blasted them backwards with a surge of magical force.

"What are you doing?!" Aren shouted, furious. "He's dangerous in that state! You know this!"

Liora trembled, but stood her ground. "I know... but I can't bear to see him suffer every time. You know she's the only one who can calm him. Ealina is his medicine."

"She is not anyone's medicine!" Aren yelled, slamming his power forward. Liora was thrown back, landing hard against the stairs.

Liora snapped back, "What are you doing? Isn't it your duty to protect the Guardian?"

Aren's eyes blazed as he answered, "It is my duty to protect the Guardian. But not at the cost of sacrificing someone else. And Ealina… she will never be that sacrifice."

Lyra jumped in. "We have to get to Ealina!"

"You won't get past me!" Liora shouted, rising again. "It's my duty to protect the Guardian and I won't let you reach her."

"And mine is to protect Ealina," Aren growled. "Even if it's from the Guardian himself."

Lyra hurled a flower pot with air pressure, knocking Liora aside. They ran forward, but in an instant, Liora teleported and blocked them again.

Aren lifted his fingers to snap—to freeze time—but Liora struck first. A wave of force slammed into him, sending him crashing into the wall. Blood spilled from his mouth.

Lyra cried out, rushing to him. "Aren! You're bleeding!"

In rage, she summoned wind with a scream, hurling everything in the room toward Liora. A flying chair nearly hit her—but Jace appeared, grabbing Liora and taking the blow himself.

He hit the floor hard, shielding her.

"What the hell is going on?!" Jace shouted.

Lyra's eyes welled with angry tears. "SHE SENT EALINA INTO THAT ROOM! INTO RYAN'S ROOM! HE'S OUT OF CONTROL!"

Jace's expression changed instantly. He turn and run.

---

In the room –

Something inside Ryan snaps.

A hidden thread pulls taut, freezing him mid-stride. The roaring storm of power around him falters—just for a moment—but not entirely. He still can't control it. It crackles beneath his skin, wild and furious, threatening to consume everything. But now, for the first time, that power turns inward.

It's hurting him.

Because he's resisting it. Because he refuses to let it touch her.

Across the room, Ealina curls into herself on the floor, trembling. But the terrifying noise suddenly quiets. The heat dims. Her breathing slows.

Cautiously, she lifts her head.

There he is—Ryan—on his knees, chains shattered around him. His body trembles, drenched in sweat and pain. His eyes glow a dangerous red, but his expression is twisted in agony. Smoke rises from his skin. The very power he holds is tearing him apart.

And still—he's not moving. He's not attacking.

He's fighting himself… for her.

She rises slowly, heart pounding. He grits his teeth and warns her, voice hoarse and shaking, "Don't. Go back… stay away…"

But she doesn't listen.

Step by step, she walks toward him. She kneels in front of him.

She wraps her arms around him.

The moment her body presses against his, a blinding light pulses through the room. His raging energy, the uncontrollable fire, the wild chaos—it all crashes into her like a tidal wave.

But she absorbs it.

Every violent spark. Every flame. Every trace of dark fury.

And just like that—Ryan's power dies out.

The room goes still.

His breathing steadies, though his eyes remain wide with disbelief. For a second, all is quiet.

Then, without a word, Ealina slumps forward in his arms—unconscious.

Burning scars bloom across her skin, raw and glowing. Her body, though peaceful, bears the cost of what she has done.

Ryan holds her in stunned silence, his heart breaking as he realizes—

She saved him.

Again.

And this time, it nearly destroyed her.

---

They burst into the room—Aren, Lyra, Jace and Liora—and freeze at the sight before them.

Ealina lies unconscious in Ryan's arms, her body draped limply against his chest. Her skin is scorched—glowing red burn scars curling across her arms and neck. It's happening again. Just like before.

Aren's fury ignites.

He storms forward and grabs Ryan by the collar, yanking him up. "I warned you!" he growls, eyes glowing with crimson rage. "I told you to stay away from her!"

His fist curls, trembling, ready to strike. But he stops. Just inches from Ryan's face.

Bound by duty.

By restraint.

Instead, he shoves Ryan back and gently lifts Ealina into his own arms. "I'm taking her home," he says through clenched teeth, turning away.

Ryan doesn't resist—but his gaze follows them, dark with something heavier than guilt.

Jace helps Ryan to his feet. "Sir," he whispers, "why didn't you tell anyone the truth? That you… you didn't want to—"

Ryan cuts him off sharply. "Not now."

He steps out of the room and calls after Aren. "Wait."

Aren stops. Ryan strides forward and, without hesitation, takes Ealina into his arms.

"What are you doing?" Aren demands. "Still want to hurt her again?"

Ryan doesn't flinch. "She's hurt because of me. So let me take care of her."

Aren moves to take her back. "There's no need. We don't need your help."

Ryan didn't listen. "I won't let her suffer because of my curse," he said softly.

Ryan carrying her inside. He lays her down carefully on the bed. "Jace, get the leaves—from the garden."

Jace nods and disappears down the hall.

Moments later, he returns with glowing green leaves, their scent thick with magic. He crushes them into a smooth paste.

Ryan takes the mixture and gently applies it to Ealina's burns. The effect is immediate—her raw, blistered skin begins to heal, color returning, the pain soothed. Within minutes, the scars vanish.

But she doesn't wake up.

"She's still unconscious," Ryan murmurs, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead.

Aren watches him in silence—his rage is slowly replaced by confusion. He glances at the leaves, then back at Ryan.

"That plant…" he says slowly, "It belonged to the old era. It was destroyed when the land was burned. How do you still have it?"

("Ryan has planted a secret garden beneath his home, hidden in the basement—a sanctuary where rare magical and medicinal plants thrive. He created it to protect them from the outside world and the reach of evil forces.")

Ryan doesn't look up. "I saved them. In the heart of my home, I planted a garden—hidden, protected. A fragment of our land."

---

Later—

Aren steps outside, the cool night air brushing against his skin. His mind races—fragments of memories, warnings, and unspoken truths cloud his thoughts.

Behind him, a soft voice breaks the silence.

Liora approaches quietly, her eyes steady. "Who are you… really?" she asks. "You're not just someone who possesses power. You carry something deeper… something hidden."

Aren doesn't turn. His voice is calm but edged with warning. "Who I am is none of your concern. But what you did today—that wasn't right."

Liora stands her ground. "What I did… I did as part of my duty. To protect the Guardian."

He turns to face her, eyes sharp. "Protecting a Guardian doesn't mean sacrificing someone else."

Aren added. " Duty doesn't give you the right to harm others."

Aren adds quietly, his gaze unreadable,

"But I think I'm not the only one with secrets… yours are hidden too, aren't they?"

Liora's eyes widen slightly, caught off guard. The question lingers in the air, making her shift uncomfortably.