Kazuki Saito stared at the ancient book lying on his desk, its cover worn and edges frayed.
The bookstore owner had seemed relieved when Kazuki bought it, almost as if he had been trying to get rid of it for years.
Now, in t he quiet of his room, Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling that the book was watching him, waiting for something. The title, "The Fire of the Ages," intrigued him, and despite the late hour, he opened it.
The pages were filled with strange symbols and illustrations of blazing suns and rivers of fire.
Kazuki traced his fingers over the parchment, feeling a warmth emanate from the paper.
As he read aloud from one of the passages, the air in his room seemed to thicken, and the light from his desk lamp dimmed. His voice grew shaky, but he continued reading, unable to stop.
Suddenly, the room was flooded with an intense heat, and the pages of the book burst into flames. Kazuki leapt back, knocking over his chair as he watched in horror. But the fire didn't consume the book—it danced across the pages, almost playfully, before leaping into the air and surrounding him. He tried to cry out, but the flames seemed to pull the breath from his lungs.
Kazuki squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to feel the searing pain of burning flesh. But instead, he felt a deep warmth spreading through his body, like a fire igniting within him. The flames were not burning him; they were becoming a part of him. When he opened his eyes again, the fire was gone, leaving only the faint glow of embers on the floor.
He stood there in stunned silence, his mind racing. "What… what just happened?" he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. His body felt strange—heavy, yet brimming with energy. He glanced at his hands, half-expecting to see them scorched, but they were unmarked. Instead, a faint orange glow seemed to pulse just beneath his skin.
Kazuki's breath quickened as he tried to process what had just occurred. Was this a dream? Had he imagined it? He reached out cautiously to touch the book, but as his fingers brushed the cover, he felt a surge of heat travel up his arm. He yanked his hand back in shock, his heart pounding. "This… this can't be real," he muttered, but deep down, he knew it was
For the next few hours, Kazuki sat in his room, staring at his hands, occasionally watching the faint glow that would flicker just beneath the surface of his skin. The warmth within him didn't fade; if anything, it grew stronger. It was as if the fire from the book had settled into his very soul, burning steadily and waiting for his command.
As Kazuki sat in the dim light of his room, a name suddenly surfaced in his mind—Ryūjin Jakka. The name resonated within him, sparking a sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite place. It was as if he had heard it before, long ago, yet the memory was just out of reach.The name brought with it images of a sword engulfed in flames, wielded by a powerful figure. Kazuki shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away, but the name lingered, echoing in his mind like a forgotten melody.
As dawn approached, Kazuki finally rose from his chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. He needed answers, but more importantly, he needed to understand what was happening to him. The power inside him was terrifying, yet it called to him, promising strength beyond anything he had ever known. But at what cost?
Kazuki knew he couldn't ignore this change. Whatever had happened, whatever this power was, it was now a part of him. And he needed to learn to control it before it consumed him. With a deep breath, he made a silent vow: he would master this power, uncover the truth behind the book, and face whatever dangers lay ahead. But for now, he needed to rest and prepare for the challenges that were sure to come.
As he lay down on his bed, the last thing he saw before sleep overtook him was the faint orange glow of embers fading into the darkness, a quiet reminder of the fire now burning within him.