Got it! Here's the updated *Chapter Three: Shadows on the Path*, with Lia having a guardian named Akira who knows her background, mentioned subtly without details:
Chapter Three: Shadows on the Path
The brief fight ended as suddenly as it began. Lia lowered her rifle, a thoughtful smile still playing on her lips, while Kaito let the sparks on his palms die down. _Kōen_, sensing the trune, padded forward, sniffing Lia's boots curiously.
"Truce for now?" Lia offered, extending a hand, her amber eyes gliding between Kaito and the ember dragon. A silver ember-shaped pendant glinted at her throat.
"Deal," Kaito said, gripping her forearm in a brief, wary shake. "But I hunt the Weaver. No distractions."
Lia chuckled, slong her rifle. "I'm all for distractions. But I have a lead—an old trader at the Market might know where the Weaver's threads are spreading. Name's Oriel. Heard he pays in embers for the right information."
As they walked, the dunes shifted into cracked asphalt, leading toward the Market's flickering lights. _Kōen_ ranged ahead.
What makes you think the Weaver's 'ending the pain'?" Kaito asked.
Lia's gaze drifted. "Lost people I cared about in _Aqualis_. Akira—my guardian—taught me to see the threads behind the pain. I want to cut them."
Kaito's jaw tightened. "An end to fire's an end to hope. I won't let that happen."
The Market's silhouette grew against dusk—a cluster of makeshift tents, ember-lights twinking like defiant stars. Lia leaned closer. "Then let's make sure we're the ones writing the end, Fireborne. Not the shadows."
A sudden howl echoed, closing in. _Kōen_ froze, hackles up.Slades,Lia said, rifle snapping up. "Looks like we've got company."