The cold wind wrapped around Kael like a curse as he stepped beyond the edge of the ruins the child clung to his hand like a dying ember trembling but burning for survival his name was Needle and he had not spoken since they left the corpse pile
The road ahead was dirt cracked like sun-split lips and littered with broken bones some white some fresh the sky above them was iron and hollow birds circled like executioners
Kael's eyes scanned every tree every shadow every movement was a calculation not of survival but of how long until death found them and whether he would greet it or defy it
Needle stumbled again the hunger was a demon clawing at both of them Kael lifted him onto his back without a word
There was a forest beyond the valley and in that forest they found a circle of trees where no sound touched it was not safety but silence and that was a dangerous comfort
In that silence Kael remembered the day his mother screamed as fire devoured her
He remembered her voice calling his name and the way it echoed even after she was ash
Needle's stomach growled louder than the wind and Kael pulled out the last piece of hardened bread from his coat pocket a single bite he broke it in half and gave the larger piece to the boy
Needle blinked as if it were a trick his hands moved slow trembling and he ate like a ghost fearing it would disappear
They slept under that silence but Kael did not dream he stared at the branches waiting for something to move
It did
A figure stepped through the trees bones wrapped in black flesh a beast not born of nature but of curse its eyes were voids leaking red light
Kael stood slowly placing Needle behind him
The creature growled not with hunger but with recognition
And it spoke
Kael fireborne child of sorrow you are watched
Kael did not flinch he stepped forward and his voice was stone
Who are you
I am a messenger from the Pactfather
And what does he want
The creature's jaws split wide with something that might have been a smile
He wants to give you a weapon and watch what you burn
Kael's heart pounded but his voice did not shake
And what do I give in return
Your humanity
Kael looked at Needle then back at the beast
Take it
The trees shook
The sky wept a sliver of blood
The beast stepped closer and bit down into Kael's wrist but there was no pain only fire
The mark etched itself in Kael's flesh an ancient symbol pulsing like a heartbeat it was not magic it was hunger given form
Kael fell to one knee
The creature vanished without word or wind
Needle crawled to him wide eyed
Are you dying
Kael shook his head
I'm just starting to live
---
Mini Side Story – The Pactfather's Whisper
In a throne of bone beyond mortal sight the Pactfather opened his eyes for the first time in centuries
He spoke to the void
Another one takes the brand this one is different
His voice shattered dying stars
The other demons listened and waited
The game had begun again
And Kael was their new fire