A weak ivory-skinned young man with hair as dark as obsidian sits idly in a Backstreet alley he is holding an old Victorian-style Lighter in his Hand cradling it so tightly that his palms had started to ache and bleed — this was no ordinary syntho manufactured lighter this was the real deal an actual Authentic item. Usually, something of this much value would only be obtainable to higher-class citizens, This particular lighter had been gifted to him out of pity. As the last bits of sunlight started to fade, the young man Kalida wanted to savor the last bits of light he had left.
"At this rate, I really won't be able to survive nightfall! If only I hadn't been Born into such an unfair world none of this would've happened!"
He says with an angry tone.
The young man hurdled up into a corner attempting to keep himself warm — in a swift motion he struck the lighter to lift the mood a bit as it was starting to get chilly.
"little resources or not I'm living like a king for the remaining of my days even if their not many!"
As Kali sat with nothing left, a group of teenagers passed by him talking about the latest accident.
"I always hear about ember disasters being commonplace in the backstreets yet in the 16 years I've been here not once have I seen the center of one."
The first teen said calmly
"Honestly I'm starting to believe this "disease" is just a bunch of propaganda do you honestly think people can awaken powers from this so-called flame?."
The boy's friend said exaggeratedly.
"Did you not see the recent ember tests on the telecommunicatior?"
The teen said confused
"They even had MasterFlame Kaiser on the show didn't they?"
"Ah so you did watch it, then you should know the wonders of the Embers right? And how when an infected person successfully bonds with the ailment they either die and become ravenous beats of desire known as Remnants or control the flame and manifest their desire as an ember."
Kali listened in and thoughtÂ
"Honestly for my sake, I hope this application of the flame only leads to being awakened, as if I do fail to assimilate I'm afraid even my Remnant would be weak"
Sometime later Getting up from his cozy alleyway the frail young man starts to walk sickly toward a building on the opposite side of the city — he found himself amid a crowded street clumsily walking in between a group of people, all of them looking Disheveled and dirty.
"I must admit I never expected to live a nice life but to think it's coming to an end so soon, I would've liked to live at least gotten a girlfriend or even reach 18, but this damned disease of flames is already burning through my blood, my journey will be over soon."
As Kali continued his walk he felt a sharp burning sensation start to arise in his lower abdomen — this sense was so strong every time he took a step his eyesight flickered.
"Tsk. At this rate, I won't even make it to see her."
He said with a tinge of pain in his voice.
"I'm about 200 Meters From the nearest railway station It'll be fine to give up here right? I hope Serene can forgive me for being so weak ..."
Kalida suddenly felt what could only be described as an insurmountable weight hit his entire body, as his consciousness slipped he could only think one thing....
"Blood... I can feel my blood boiling over.'
Kali felt a warmth filling his entire body as he was – thrusted awake his very blood cells ached at the thought of moving his sluggish being once again.
"Where am I?!Â
He said in a confused tone as if the empty expanse before him would answer his request— and yet it did.
"[Hello Human of the Flame, welcome to the domain of the Remnants.]"
Kali sat up confused questioning his sanity, as he fully regained consciousness his eyes saw what could only be described as an endless expanse of void surrounding him. As he finishes this realization — an equal-toned voice said
"[Congratulations Remnant Kalida you have successfully synthesized with the flame]"
Kali took a step back and thought for a moment.
"Is this all just one big fever dream before I die?Â
and with that final thought, Kali loses consciousness once more.
As Kali was sound asleep a soft feminine voice woke him softly.
"you are in the GFPO emergency room — you're one lucky guy you know, if we hadn't found you outside that station you would've started a Remnant, and God knows how many people would've died trying to stop that."
Kali answered in a pained voice
"I was trying to go see my sister before I-"
The Nicely dressed Doctor answered as if in queue
"you know the protocol is to immediately report any symptoms of a Remnant to the local station right?"
Kali said quietly
"I had no other option but to walk there all of my possessions were stolen days before any symptoms even appeared — on top of that I only started feeling ill this morning.
The doctor stared at him in disbelief saying
"You only showed symptoms today?"
Kali Responded
"Yes, as far as I can remember today was the only day I could feel the Ember eating away at me."
The Ember singe is a disease unique to humans, this deadly culmination of viral-like symptoms begins with a slight warm sensation in one's lower abdomen but slowly spreads across the entire body until one feels entirely warm, after that theirs stage 2 which makes the blood in your body almost start boiling over slowly killing you and then there's stage 3 the ignition stage this is where most people diverge, there are two routes this can take either your blood successfully burns over and unleashes a beast created from this absurd fantasy like a flame, or you manifest a Ember.
The well-dressed doctor addressed Kali directly
"Hey kid remember when I said you were lucky? I meant that somehow we managed to stabilize your remnant."
Kali answered Excitedly
"WAIT really? does that mean I have a chance to manifest an ember?"
The Doctor answered
"Not quite. You seem to be in a special case your flame is still burning you up inside which means you are a wielder. So in the current moment as your Ember stabilizes we will have to put you through the Specialization test to either Reignite your flame or manifest your ember.
Kali thought for a moment before speaking again
"So what you're saying is I'm essentially a deadman walking huh?"
The Doctor nodded saying
"At this current time, we have no idea which one will happen so it's 50/50, the best I can do for you right now is to tell you not to let go of hope quite yet."
The doctor slowly walked out of Kali's room before he could say a wordÂ
"Of course, this would happen to me after all I've never really been loved by fate since the beginning. But now I have a chance even if it's slight I might be able to turn my awful life around!"
As Kali Finished this thought he feels as though his consciousness fades as he slips into a deep sleep.
In the morning the tan-skinned young man wakes up still strapped to his bed with a deep yawn he opens his eyes.
"Good Morning awful world".
He says with a tinge of hatred in his voice.
"Today is the day I either burn up or Set myself ablaze!"
As he finished this thought the beautiful doctor from yesterday walks in.
She says in an equal toneÂ
"Good morning Mr. Kali nice to see you already awake so early."
Kali Responds in an uneasy tone
"I only woke up this early due to the feeling of the burning coming back and singing my insides. Also Ms Doctor I never asked your name."
She respondsÂ
"Ali. My name is Ali Winchester — as u know today you must go to the testing cham-
Kali cuts her off before she can even finish the sentence
"yeah yeah I know, I'm ready so if you would kindly lead the way.
Ms. Ali Gracefully goes to unstrap the young man from his bindings and they both head towards the door of the room.
Kali asked curiouslyÂ
"So Ms. Ali how much of a chance do you think I got?"
Ali said in a joking tone
"Do you want a professional answer or my honest opinion?
Kali pondered on this for a moment and said
"Give it to me straight doc."
She responded
"If a Remnant really does Begin almost 0%."