---
Fire.
It surged from within him, raw and untamed. Haru didn't understand it, didn't know how to control it, but in that moment, it didn't matter.
The moment the boar lunged, flames erupted from his hands. A wild burst, more instinct than intention.
The beast let out a panicked squeal as the fire lashed against its thick hide. It reeled back, shaking its head violently before bolting into the forest, disappearing into the underbrush.
Then—
The fire vanished.
The heat that had filled his body dissipated, leaving behind an unbearable emptiness. The sudden loss of energy hit him like a collapsing mountain. His knees buckled, and he crashed onto the ground, barely able to keep his eyes open.
His breathing was ragged, his vision swimming. The world tilted as he tried to focus.
The Bloodflame…
What was it?
His father's words echoed in his head. "Power without discipline is like fire in dry grass—it will consume everything, including you."
Had he nearly burned himself out? Had he lost control?
No. He didn't even know what control felt like yet.
His hands trembled as he clenched them into fists.
He was weak.
If he had more strength, more control, he wouldn't have collapsed like this.
If he had more power, his mother wouldn't have—
A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed it down. This wasn't the time.
He needed to move.
His limbs screamed in protest as he pushed himself up. Every muscle ached, every breath felt like dragging a blade across his ribs, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
Survival came first.
He forced himself to drink more from the river, splashing some water onto his face. The cold helped clear his mind, but his exhaustion remained.
He needed food. Shelter. Rest.
But more than anything—
He needed answers.
The man in red robes…
He was the only lead Haru had.
And he would find him.
Even if it killed him.
---
The sun climbed higher, its golden light filtering through the trees as Haru staggered forward.
Each step was a battle.
His stomach twisted with hunger. His legs threatened to give out beneath him. But he forced himself to keep moving.
One step at a time.
The man in red robes… He had left Haru behind, but that didn't mean he had disappeared.
There had to be a trail.
A footprint. A broken branch. Something.
Haru scanned the ground, searching for signs of passage.
Then—
A disturbance in the dirt. A faint indentation.
Footsteps.
His heart pounded.
He was close.
Ignoring the pain, he pressed on.
---
Haru followed the trail for what felt like hours. The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows through the trees. His body screamed for rest, but he pushed forward.
Then—
A flicker of movement.
Haru froze.
A figure stood just ahead, half-shrouded in the golden light of the setting sun.
The man in red.
The wide-brimmed hat cast a shadow over his face, obscuring his features. He stood with an air of quiet authority, as if the world itself bent around him.
Haru's breath caught in his throat.
He had found him.
Or rather—
The man had let him find him.
"Not bad," the man murmured. His voice was deep, steady. "Most people wouldn't have made it this far."
Haru's hands clenched into fists. "You knew I was following you?"
The man tilted his head slightly. "Of course."
Haru's chest tightened. He had been struggling, barely holding himself together—yet this man had known and done nothing?
Anger flared inside him. "Then why didn't you help me?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied Haru, eyes unreadable beneath the brim of his hat.
Then, finally—
"If you needed help, you wouldn't have survived."
The words struck like a blade to the gut.
Haru opened his mouth to argue—but stopped.
Because deep down… he knew the man was right.
He had been pushed to his limit. He had been forced to fight, to struggle, to endure.
And he had survived.
Barely.
The man turned slightly. "You have something dangerous inside you, kid."
The Bloodflame.
Haru took a shaky breath. "Then teach me how to control it."
The man was silent for a long moment. Then—
He exhaled, shaking his head. "You don't even know what you're asking."
Haru's hands trembled at his sides. "I don't care."
He stepped forward, his voice unwavering.
"Teach me."
A breeze passed between them. The world seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
The man smirked.
"Fine."
Haru's chest tightened. Relief, determination, and exhaustion swirled inside him all at once.
"But," the man continued, "if you want to learn, we can't stay here."
Haru stiffened. "Why?"
The smirk faded. The man's expression darkened.
"Because they're already hunting you."
The words sent ice through Haru's veins.
His mind flashed back to the night of the attack. The flames. The screams. The masked figures who had torn his world apart.
His enemies.
They were still out there.
And they weren't finished with him.
---
They didn't stay long.
The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, they moved.
The man—who still hadn't given his name—led the way, his movements effortless and precise. Haru struggled to keep up, but he refused to fall behind.
The forest stretched endlessly before them, a sea of shadows and moonlight.
Hours passed.
Finally, as the night deepened, the man spoke.
"There's a village a few days from here."
Haru forced himself to keep walking. "And?"
"We'll stay there for a while."
A pause.
"We have to convince the villagers—we're father and son."
Haru's steps faltered. His heart lurched in his chest.
The man kept walking.
Haru swallowed hard.
For the first time in what felt like forever—
He wasn't alone.
---
The night deepened as Haru trailed behind the man in red robes. His body screamed in exhaustion, but he pushed forward, his mind swirling with questions.
Who was this man?
Why had he chosen to help him?
And what did he mean by "they're hunting you"?
The forest stretched endlessly ahead, cloaked in silver moonlight. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. Crickets hummed a steady rhythm, filling the silence between them.
Haru's legs trembled. His steps grew sluggish.
The man suddenly halted.
"We rest here," he said, dropping his bag to the ground.
Haru nearly collapsed in relief. He sank onto a fallen log, clutching his knees to keep himself steady. His fingers still ached from the fire he had unleashed earlier.
He stared at his hands.
The Bloodflame…
It had come alive without warning, raw and untamed. If he hadn't stopped himself, if the fire had consumed him completely—
He clenched his fists.
He needed to control it.
The man watched him in silence. Then, without a word, he reached into his bag and tossed Haru a small cloth bundle.
"Eat."
Haru caught it clumsily, his fingers barely working. He unwrapped it to find dried meat and a handful of nuts. His stomach clenched with hunger.
He hesitated for only a second before tearing into the food.
The man sat across from him, stirring the embers of a small fire. His face remained shadowed beneath the wide brim of his hat.
After a while, Haru finally spoke.
"You still haven't told me your name."
The man didn't look up. "Names have power."
Haru frowned. "So what? You don't trust me?"
A smirk tugged at the man's lips. "Trust isn't given freely, kid."
Haru scowled but didn't press further.
Silence stretched between them. The fire crackled softly.
Then—
"You said they're hunting me," Haru murmured. "Who?"
The man's expression darkened. His fingers tensed slightly against his knee.
"People who want the Bloodflame for themselves," he said at last.
Haru's breath caught.
"The night my village was attacked… was it because of me?"
The man met his gaze. For the first time, Haru saw something in his eyes—something heavy.
Pity.
Regret.
And something else.
"You already know the answer."
Haru's chest tightened. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching against his knees.
He had known. Deep down, he had felt it.
The attack hadn't been random.
It had been for him.
His mother…
His friends…
His entire home had burned because of him.
His stomach twisted. The dried meat suddenly felt like ash in his mouth.
The man didn't offer comfort. He simply watched, waiting.
Haru swallowed the lump in his throat. He took a shaky breath.
"…Then I have to get stronger."
The man's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Good answer."
Haru met his gaze, his hands steady now. His heart still ached, but beneath the sorrow, something else flickered to life.
Determination.
He wouldn't run anymore.
He wouldn't be weak anymore.
He would master the Bloodflame.
No matter what it took.
---
The fire burned low, casting long shadows through the trees. The man finally leaned back against a rock, tipping his hat over his eyes.
"Get some sleep," he said. "We leave at dawn."
Haru hesitated.
Then—
"…What should I call you?"
The man was silent for a long moment.
Then, just as Haru thought he wouldn't answer—
"…Ren."
Haru nodded.
"Ren."
The name settled in his chest.
It wasn't much.
But it was a start.
As he lay back against the ground, staring up at the sky, Haru made a silent promise.
He would master his power.
He would find the ones responsible.
And when he did—
He would not hesitate.