The square bore new scars every day. Charred grooves etched into the earth, steam rising from patches where water and fire had clashed. It was no longer a village center but a battlefield repainted each sunrise.
Survivors gathered along the edges, silent as shadows. Their whispers rose and fell like wind, cautious, reverent, fearful. Children clutched their mothers, old men leaned on sticks, but no one left. To witness the boy of fire was both terror and hope.
Andy stood in the center again, sweat already soaking through his shirt though the morning air was cool. His blades hung heavy at his sides. The ember inside him was louder today, restless, demanding. Every heartbeat was fire pressing against his ribs, whispering: Release me. Burn them all.
Nia stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly, her silver hair tied back, eyes sharp despite the fatigue lining them. She hadn't rested much—none of them had—but she carried herself with the same calm that steadied him yesterday.
"Ready?" she asked.
Andy forced a smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "No. But we don't have time to wait for ready."
The system chimed cold and clear in his head:
[Quest Progress: Duel of Fangs]
[Training Phase: 3]
Objective: Withstand Ember Resonance overload for 60 seconds.
Penalty: Aura Instability may cause uncontrolled detonation.
Survivors stirred uneasily at the shift in air. Some clutched charms, others held their breath.
Andy inhaled sharply and drew Ember-Edge and Tide-Singer.
The world ignited.
Flames roared across his arms, water surged to counter, scales shimmered along his skin. The air warped from the heat. Stone cracked beneath his feet. His vision sharpened until every color screamed too bright, every sound too sharp.
The system pulsed:
[Aura Instability: 71%]
[Warning: Rising Rapidly]
Andy clenched his jaw, forcing the flames into his blades. Ember-Edge hissed, glowing crimson, while Tide-Singer shimmered blue. He swung both in a cross, trying to shape the release. Fire and water collided midair, creating a blast of steam that rolled across the square.
The survivors gasped, stumbling back. Children screamed, clutching their mothers.
Andy's arms shook violently. The ember bucked harder.
[Aura Instability: 71% → 82%]
[Critical Threshold Approaching]
His teeth ground together. "It's fighting me—!"
Nia's voice rang sharp: "Then don't fight back! Guide it—anchor it!"
Andy tried to breathe, tried to fix his eyes on her silver gaze. For a moment, the ember slowed, curling tighter, shaping into streams instead of wild bursts.
But the restraint snapped like brittle glass.
The ember surged violently. Fire exploded around him in wild tongues, licking outward. Survivors screamed. The air stank of burning wood and scorched stone.
[Aura Instability: 82% → 91%]
[Critical Overload Imminent]
Andy's vision blurred crimson. His heart hammered too fast, the ember's voice drowning out his own. Burn. Consume. Release me.
He staggered. For an instant, he almost gave in—almost let the ember burst free, consequences be damned.
Then Nia's voice cut through the inferno, sharp and desperate. "Andy! Look at me!"
Through the blaze, through the haze of red, he saw her. Staff blazing, hair lifted by light that wasn't wind, sweat streaking her pale face—but eyes unyielding, silver like calm water. His breath caught.
He clung to her image. To her voice.
Nia slammed her staff against the earth. Light erupted, latching onto him in threads that wrapped around his aura like chains of silver.
[Shared Anchor Engaged]
[Nia Mana Consumption: 28% → 56%]
[Aura Instability: 91% → 68%]
The flames shrank, restrained. Andy gasped, half-collapsing to his knees.
But the ember roared in defiance.
[Aura Instability Spike: 68% → 87%]
[Warning: Overdrive Required]
Nia's eyes widened. She pushed more of her mana into the anchor, her body trembling. Blood trickled from her nose, her lips pale. "Stay with me!" she cried, her voice cracking.
[Shared Anchor Overdrive Activated]
[Nia Mana Consumption: 56% → 92%]
[Aura Instability: 87% → 49%]
[Critical State Stabilized]
The flames dimmed, curling inward. Andy's vision cleared enough to see her—face strained, sweat and blood streaking, but still standing. Still steady.
His throat tightened. She's holding me together. She's burning herself for me.
Andy forced his hands to steady, forced the ember to beat in rhythm with her pulse instead of its rage. He raised Ember-Edge, slashed downward. The fire followed the arc, smooth, controlled, blazing without spilling. Tide-Singer followed, water sealing the line in a hiss of steam.
The square glowed with the clash of elements, beautiful and terrifying.
The survivors, wide-eyed, whispered in awe.
"He's shaping it…"
"It listens when she's with him…"
"He's not cursed. He's chosen."
The system chimed, triumphant:
[Training Phase: 3 Complete]
[Skill Unlocked: Ember Resonance Control (Lv. 1)]
Effect: User can stabilize overload state for up to 30 seconds.
[Skill Advancement: Ember Discipline (Lv. 2 → Lv. 3)]
Effect: Instability reduced by 35% when synchronized with Nia.
[Bond Progress: +7%]
[Current Bond: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 52%]
Andy collapsed forward, catching himself on his blades. Nia dropped beside him, barely upright, her staff clattering to the ground. Her hand pressed against his chest, still glowing faintly.
"You almost—" Andy rasped.
"I told you…" Nia whispered, her forehead pressing to his, her breath shaking, "…I'll steady you. Even if it breaks me."
Andy's chest burned, but not from the ember. His eyes closed as he leaned into her, sweat and tears indistinguishable on his face.
The survivors, silent, bowed their heads. None spoke of curses anymore. To them, the boy of fire and the lady of silver light were not just wielders of power—they were two souls keeping each other alive.
And the ember, for the first time, bowed its head.
---