The rain fell like shards of glass, breaking against the rooftops of the abandoned houses in the Tetsuo Valley. Dark clouds hung over the horizon, and the barely visible moon cast a pale light on the dusty roads. In that silence, the only sound was the thud of footsteps on the wet ground.

Aiko Tsukino dragged her weary body through the narrow alleyways. Her bare feet were scratched, each step bringing pain. She tightened her grip on the small pendant around her neck, the only memory of the life she once had.

She had been a Flamebearer—once powerful, proud, and invincible. But now… now she was nothing. Her Light, her source of life and strength, had been torn from her six months ago in an attack she could not forget. Her memories were like a broken ribbon, images colliding in her head—flames, screams, and the coldness that followed when she lost everything.

"Just a little more," she murmured to herself, stumbling toward a small inn at the end of the road. The walls were weathered, and the windows covered with thick layers of dirt. The light from inside promised at least a bit of warmth.

The moment she stepped inside, a heavy silence fell over the room. People stared at her, not because she was beautiful or striking, but because of something deeper—something they could not explain. Her gaze was cold, but her eyes shone with a determination that betrayed her former pride.

"Who are you?" asked one of the patrons, an older man with clenched fists on the table.

"A traveler," she replied shortly. "Just looking for shelter."

The man sized her up but didn't respond. Aiko pulled the hood of her cloak lower and sat in a corner, away from the curious eyes. She ordered the cheapest meal on the menu, and while waiting, she listened to the whispers spreading through the inn.

"They say the village west of here was burned to the ground…"

"Yeah, but it wasn't an ordinary fire. It was the flame of a Flamebearer."

"Nonsense! Flamebearers don't exist anymore. Haven't you heard? They were all killed a year ago."

Their voices were quiet, but Aiko heard them clearly. She knew the Flamebearers had been wiped out, but she wasn't the only one. There had to be someone else—someone who knew what happened on that fateful day when she lost her Light.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the village, a young man in a black cloak observed the dense forest. His name was Kuro Yamato, and his task was simple—find and protect Aiko Tsukino.

He was a Keeper of Shadows, a guardian assigned to protect the Flamebearers. But unlike the others, Kuro had a gift—or perhaps a curse. His shadow was alive, and in it lay a power that made him as dangerous as those he protected.

"Still far, Aiko," he muttered to himself as he descended a muddy path.

His goal was to find her before the hunters did, a secret group of mercenaries tasked with eliminating the remaining Flamebearers. Kuro's shadow flickered suddenly, and he stopped.

"Do you have something to show me?" he asked, and the shadow stretched toward a nearby tree. Carved into its bark was a symbol—a circle with intertwining flames and shadows.

Kuro smiled. "I've found you."

Back in the inn, Aiko set the last crumb of bread on her plate. Her energy was running low, but she couldn't afford more food. Still, there was no time for rest—she had to keep moving, to find the answers to the questions that haunted her.

But before she could stand, the door to the inn suddenly swung open. The wind blew inside, extinguishing the candles and raising dust from the floor. Aiko froze when she saw the silhouette of a man in the doorway.

He was tall, with dark hair and intense eyes, wearing a long black cloak that rustled in the wind. He stepped forward with an air of confidence and power, his presence commanding the room.

"Aiko Tsukino," he said, emphasizing each word.

The inn fell silent. Aiko felt her blood rush to her ears. This man knew her name. But how?

"Who are you?" she asked, her hand instinctively reaching for the curved dagger at her side.

"Kuro Yamato," he replied. "Your guardian."

Aiko stiffened. Guardian? That word sounded foreign, almost laughable. No one had been her guardian since she lost her Light.

"I don't need a guardian," she said, her voice cold.

"Not now," he answered, stepping further into the room. His shadow followed him like a wave, stretching over the floor. "But soon, you will."

Aiko felt a shiver run down her spine. This man was no ordinary person. His presence was like a shadow that blocked out the sun—dark, but irresistible.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, standing up.

"To protect you," he said simply. "And to help you reclaim what you've lost."

Those words echoed in her mind. Reclaim what she had lost? Her Light? Her strength? Her heart raced faster, but she couldn't allow herself to be fooled by hope.

"Why should I trust you?" she asked.

Kuro smiled. "Because you and I are connected more than you realize."

Before Aiko could respond, the door to the inn opened once more. This time, three men in black coats stepped inside, their eyes glowing like embers.

"Flamebearer," one of them said. "Surrender, and we might spare your life."

Aiko grabbed her dagger, but Kuro raised his hand to stop her.

"Let me handle this," he said softly.

His shadow began to spread, covering the inn's floor like dark mist. Aiko watched in shock as the shadow moved toward the attackers, engulfing them one by one. Their screams echoed in the room as they were consumed by the darkness.

When everything settled, Kuro turned back to Aiko. His gaze was serious.

"It's time to move," he said. "This is just the beginning."