Amidst the raging flames, between the roaring tongues of fire and the searing crimson glow, a little girl with golden hair—like strands of an ancient, forgotten legend—ran for her life. Her golden eyes, shimmering like polished agate, were wide with terror as the world around her burned.
She gasped for air, her lungs aching, her tiny hands covered in soot as she wiped away furious tears. *"What's happening? Who are these people? Why are they doing this? We didn't do anything wrong!"* Her voice cracked as she whispered a desperate prayer, *"Please, God… protect my family. Don't let us be torn apart…"*
She ran until she reached her home—only to freeze in horror. The house where she had laughed, where her mother had scolded her for sleeping too late, where her father had sipped his coffee while reading the morning paper, where her little brother Kyurin had played with his cat—was now nothing but smoldering wreckage.
*"No… no, no, NO!"*
She dropped to her knees, clawing at the debris, ignoring the burns on her hands. *"Kyurin was here! He was sleeping—he didn't get out!"*
Then she saw him.
His small body, charred beyond recognition, half-buried beneath the ruins.
A scream tore from her throat, raw and broken. *"KYURIN! WAKE UP! PLEASE! I'LL PLAY WITH YOU, I PROMISE—JUST WAKE UP!"* She beat the ground with her fists, crying until her voice gave out, until her body shook with sobs.
*"God, what did we do to deserve this? What did HE do?!"*
Before she could finish, a shadow loomed behind her—a stranger, blade raised.
A volley of golden arrows shot through the air, striking the attacker down.
Her father's voice roared from the chaos, *"FOUTABA! RUN! DON'T LOOK BACK!"*
She turned, trembling, pointing at Kyurin's body. *"Papa… he's—"*
*"GO! NOW!"*
She flinched at his yell, her world shaking as if struck by thunder.
Her father's face softened for just a second. He forced a smile, his voice gentle. *"Foutaba… let's play our game, okay? You hide… and I'll count. Ready?"*
*"But Kyurin—"*
*"GO!"* He gave her a push.
She stumbled into a sprint, wiping her tears—until a deafening crash echoed through the valley. A meteor had struck the mountainside, collapsing part of a nearby cave. Distracted, she tripped, her head slamming against stone as she tumbled into a dark pit.
The last thing she saw was her father's outstretched hand before everything went black.
---
**Ten Years Later**
*"So, that's how my city—the home of the Golden Mages—was destroyed. Oh, where are my manners? I'm Foutaba. The last of my kind. And this… is how I became the most dangerous mage alive."*
Foutaba, now sixteen, smirked as she leaned back against a tree, twirling a lock of her golden hair. The scar on her forehead—a reminder of the day she lost everything—itched faintly.
She had no memory of her past. The blow to her head had stolen it all. But she had survived, rescued by hunters. Eva, the stern but kind leader of the Second Hunter Legion, had taken her in, raised her like a daughter.
*"Foutaba!"* Eva's voice cut through her thoughts as a sharp smack landed on the back of her head.
*"OW! What was that for?!"*
*"How many times have I told you? That cave is forbidden! Even veteran scouts disappear in there!"* Eva crossed her arms, her glare sharp enough to cut steel.
Fotaba rubbed her head, scowling. *"Pfft. Those amateurs? Please. I'm the greatest explorer in the Legion!"*
Eva snorted. *"Your greatest achievement is realizing you have a brain."*
*"HMPH! Just you wait—I'll do something so amazing, you'll choke on your jealousy!"*
*"Oh? You'll actually use your brain for once?"*
Furious, Foutaba stormed off, slamming the door behind her.
*"Stupid Eva! I'll show her…"*
Her muttering was interrupted by hushed voices. Two scouts stood nearby, whispering nervously.
*"Do we really have to go back to that cave?"*
Foutaba's ears perked up. *"Cave?"* She ducked behind a wagon, listening.
*"We have to find the source of that strange magic,"* the first scout insisted.
*"But everyone who goes in vanishes!"* the second whined.
*"Then why'd you join the Legion if you're just gonna cry about it?"*
A wicked grin spread across Foutaba's face. *"This is my chance! If I solve the mystery first, they'll HAVE to recognize me!"*
Without hesitation, she slipped into their supply wagon, hiding under a tarp.
The scouts pressed onward toward the cave, unaware of the stowaway hidden in their wagon. Under the pale glow of the moon and the flickering light of their lanterns, they trudged through the night until the jagged mouth of the cavern loomed before them. They began unloading supplies to set up camp before their expedition, exchanging weary chatter.
**Scout 1:** *"Finally. I'll rest for a bit."*
**Scout 2:** *"Alright, I'll prep the gear—"*
A rustling under the wagon's tarp made him freeze.
**Scout 2:** *"What… is that?"* Slowly, he reached to lift the cover—only to find a raccoon blinking up at him.
*"Pfft—ha! Just a raccoon. What a relief—"*
His laughter died as he turned and locked eyes with **Foutaba**, crouched beside the wagon.
A beat of silence.
Then—
**Scout 2 (shrieking):** *"THIEF! GRAB HER!"*
Foutaba yanked his cloak over his face and bolted.
**Foutaba:** *"Ugh! I could've sneaked in perfectly if not for these idiots!"* She darted between crates as the scouts gave chase. *"Fine! I'll lose them in the cave—"*
Then—**a flashback.**
*Eva's warning echoed: "Even expert scouts vanish in there."*
Foutaba hesitated, glancing back at the shouting men. *"Should I just surrender? …NO! I'd rather disappear in that cave than get caught by these losers!"*
With a defiant grin, she sprinted straight for the cavern's entrance.
**Scout 2 (panicked):** *"STOP! DON'T GO IN!"*
**Fotaba (mocking):** *"Catch me if you caaaan!"*
**Scout 1:** *"The cave's unstable—!"*
She ignored them, leaping over rocks—
**CRACK.**
The ground collapsed beneath her.
—
**Darkness.**
A voice, faint but urgent, called: *"Fotaba… where are you? Answer me!"*
**Foutaba (groggy):** *"Wha…? Who…?"*
She stirred, lifting a hand to her face—**wet with tears.**
*"Huh? Why am I… crying?"* She groaned. *"Did I hit my head *again*?"*
Her eyes adjusted to the gloom. Above her, the hole she'd fallen through was impossibly high.
**Foutaba (deadpan):** *"Oh, *another* pit. Fantastic."* She prodded her limbs. *"No breaks, no blood… just a bruised butt and shoulder. Hah! Death must *really* hate me."*
A sliver of light caught her eye—**moonlight?** *"An exit!"*
She trudged toward it, scanning the cave. It was… ordinary. No magic. No monsters. Just damp rock and disappointment.
**Foutaba (scoffing):** *"So much for 'forbidden.' This is just a *hole*. Eva owes me an apology for those stupid warnings."*
But as she reached the light—
**It wasn't the exit.**
She saw something that makes her eyes wid open.
**Foutaba (breathless):** *"What… is *this*?"*
To be continued..