The wind whispered through the skeletal trees, carrying with it an unnatural chill. The echoes of Amara's parting words—mocking, taunting—lingered in Maya's mind as she stared at Kazuki. He seemed older in the pale moonlight, his shoulders weighted with burdens she couldn't yet understand.
"Why does she call me a weapon?" Maya's voice broke the silence. Her hands trembled, fists clenched at her sides. "Why does everyone talk about me like I'm not even human anymore?"
Kazuki sighed heavily, stepping closer. "Because you're not."
The words hit harder than she expected, even though part of her already knew the truth. The nights since her transformation had been a series of blurred horrors, but hearing it laid bare made her stomach twist.
"What am I then, Kazuki?" Her voice cracked, a desperate edge cutting through her words.
"You're…" He hesitated, searching for the right explanation. "You're sangreal. A legacy of ancient power, one thought to be extinct. That power… it's why the Council fears you. Why they sent Amara, why Elias is coming. They see you as a threat—a force that could tip the scales of balance."
"Balance?" Maya spat, pacing now. Her boots crunched against dead leaves as her emotions churned. "What balance? I didn't ask for any of this! I didn't choose to become—" She stopped herself, her chest heaving. "To become… this."
Kazuki stepped in front of her, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I know you didn't choose this, Maya. None of us did. But you need to understand—your power isn't just a curse. It's also a gift. And if you don't learn to control it, it will consume you."
Maya's mind reeled. Control? How could she possibly control something she didn't even understand?
"And what if I don't want it?" she whispered.
"You don't have that choice anymore," Kazuki said softly, but firmly.
---
The First Spark
Kazuki led her deeper into the forest, the gnarled branches closing in like the bars of a cage. He stopped in a clearing, its center dominated by a weathered stone altar etched with ancient symbols. The air felt heavier here, charged with something primal.
"This is where we start," Kazuki said, gesturing to the altar. "The sangreal power within you is like a flame. Right now, it's wild, unpredictable. I'm going to teach you how to control it."
Maya crossed her arms, glaring at him. "And what if I don't want to play along?"
Kazuki's eyes hardened. "Then you'll die, and everyone you care about will die with you. Do you think Elias will stop at you? Do you think the Council will spare anyone connected to you?"
The weight of his words silenced her defiance. Slowly, reluctantly, she nodded.
"Good," he said, his tone softening. "Now, sit."
Maya hesitated, then sank onto the cold ground. Kazuki knelt across from her, placing his hands on the altar.
"Close your eyes," he instructed.
Maya did as she was told, though the tension in her body refused to ease.
"Breathe," Kazuki said, his voice calm and steady. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Focus on the rhythm. Let everything else fade away."
The forest seemed to fall silent, the usual night sounds muted as Maya focused on her breathing. Slowly, a warmth began to build in her chest, faint at first but growing stronger with each breath.
"That's it," Kazuki said. "That's your power. Feel it. Don't fight it—just let it flow."
The warmth turned into a fiery heat, spreading through her veins like liquid sunlight. Maya's pulse quickened as the sensation intensified, her body trembling under the strain.
"I can't—" she gasped, panic rising.
"Yes, you can," Kazuki said firmly. "You have to."
Maya clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms as she fought to stay grounded. The fire within her surged, a wild and untamed force threatening to consume her.
"Control it, Maya," Kazuki urged. "It's a part of you. You control it—it doesn't control you."
With a cry of effort, Maya focused all her will on the raging fire. Slowly, the heat began to subside, the flames within her dimming to a steady glow.
When she opened her eyes, Kazuki was smiling—a rare, genuine smile that softened his usually sharp features.
"You did it," he said simply.
---
An Unwanted Visitor
Their triumph was short-lived. A sharp crack echoed through the forest, followed by a low, menacing growl.
Kazuki was on his feet in an instant, his hand on the hilt of his blade. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice tense.
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Tall and cloaked, with a predatory grace that sent a chill down Maya's spine. His eyes gleamed like molten gold, and his lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Elias," Kazuki hissed.
The hunter tilted his head, his gaze shifting to Maya. "So this is the sangreal," he said, his voice smooth and mocking. "I expected more."
Maya felt the fire within her stir, a defensive instinct rising unbidden. But Kazuki stepped in front of her, his blade drawn.
"She's not ready for you," Kazuki said, his tone dangerously low.
Elias chuckled, a sound that made Maya's skin crawl. "Oh, I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway. I'm here to warn you."
"Warn us?" Kazuki spat. "About what?"
"The Council," Elias said simply. "They're growing impatient. If the girl doesn't surrender herself soon, they'll send more than just me."
"And why should we believe you?" Kazuki demanded.
Elias's smile widened, revealing sharp fangs. "Because I have no interest in their politics. I'm here for the hunt—and the challenge. Killing her now would be too easy. But if you wait too long…" He trailed off, his gaze lingering on Maya.
With a mocking bow, Elias turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Maya and Kazuki in uneasy silence.
---
This excerpt is about 1,200 words. I'll continue to expand it further if this pacing and detail work for you! Let me know how you'd like it adjusted.