Dawn sliced through the village ruins with blades of golden light, glinting off the cracked crystals of towering trees. Suspended houses, now charred wreckage, swayed on broken vines, their creaking ropes blending with the slow drip of glowing sap, falling like tears from the branches. The acrid stench of smoke clung to the throat, and embers crackled under the cold breeze, making Rian shiver as he dug with a rusted shovel. Kneeling in the ashes, he buried symbolic remnants of the village—slivers of carved wood, a braided necklace from some neighbor—the damp earth swallowing memories. Last night's fire had reignited the trauma of five years ago, when flames stole his family, his parents' voices echoing in his mind. Tears betrayed his attempt at stoicism.
"You can't break now, boy," a deep voice growled in his head, ancient as the forest's core. "The Gray Divinity has sensed your Creation. Hide the gift, or you'll be hunted."
Rian drove the shovel into the dirt, metal scraping. —Who are you? —he muttered, voice hoarse. —Hunted? By who? And what even is this power?
—I am Craevon, divinity of creation, older than these trees, —the voice replied, low and resonant, as if rising from the heart of the forest. —The gift of Creation is yours, but it's a flame that draws predators. The Gray Divinity already tracks your scent. Train and grow, or it will be your ruin.
—Divinity? —Rian shot back, standing, sweat dripping down his face. —You invade my head, give me a flaming sword, and expect me to just accept it? What kind of divinity lets a village burn?
—I'm not here to save villages, —Craevon said, tone cold. —I'm here to guide you. Creation is rare, forbidden to mortals. Wield it carefully, or the Gray Divinity will find you.
Rian clenched his fists, anger over the fire drowning out his confusion. Lina, perched on a nearby rock, covered in ash, twirled an improvised knife. Her brown eyes flickered, trying for lightness. —You're digging like you want to bury the whole world, Rian, —she said, forcing a smile. —And that sword last night… what was that? You turn Chosen and forget to tell me? Some friend, huh?
Rian gripped his left hand tightly, the purple "C" pulsing beneath his glove. —I'm not Chosen, Lina. You saw the test two years ago. That… just happened. And I told you: don't tell anyone. Nobody.
—Relax, I can keep a secret! —Lina teased, pointing the knife playfully but backing off when she saw his look. —But seriously, a flaming sword? That's not something a stubborn Reject like you just pulls off.
—Normal or not, I'm using it to find who burned the village, —Rian said, pointing to wide footprints in the ash. A faint shimmer flickered in them, fading like smoke in the wind. —See that? Whoever did this uses divine weapons. And I'm going after them.
—Are you insane? —Lina blurted, jumping off the rock. —My mom… she was taken in the fire five years ago. Like yours. I'm not letting you go alone, you idiot.
Rian paused, the weight of her confession hitting hard. —You lost your mom that day? —he asked, voice softer. —Why didn't you ever say anything?
—Because talking doesn't change a thing, —Lina replied, eyes glistening. —But if you're hunting whoever did this, I want answers too. Stop digging and let me help.
Rian looked at her, a faint relief warming him. —Fine. But no counting vines while we're walking.
Lina gave a weak laugh. —Hey, counting vines kept me alive!
A low hum shattered the silence. A living vine, smaller but with hissing, colorful thorns, burst from the earth. Rian shoved Lina back. —Create! —he shouted, and blue-orange flames roared, forming the Fire Sword. The heat seared his palm.
[Fire Sword created!]
Energy: 10/15. +10 points.
40/50 to Level 2.
Glowing runes floated before him, pulsing like living crystals.
Attributes:
Strength: 10,
Speed: 12,
Energy: 15.
—Rian, left! —Lina yelled, grabbing a handful of glowing sap from the nearest tree. With a quick flick, she smeared the sticky sap on the ground, creating a slick trail. The vine lunged, but its thorns slipped, throwing it off balance. —Now! —she shouted.
Rian moved with Speed: 12, slashing the vine with a Heavy Strike, ashes exploding.
Energy: 8/15.
Heavy Strike: 2/3 uses.
Cost: 1 point per normal strike,
2 per Heavy Strike.
Recovery: 1 point per hour.
A thorn grazed his arm, sharp pain flaring. —Damn it!
—I'll distract! —Lina called, grabbing a dry branch and dipping it in the glowing sap. She tossed the sticky branch at the vine's thorns, tangling them for a moment. The creature hissed, torn. Rian seized the chance, decapitating it with a flaming arc.
+5 points. 45/50 to Level 2.
Exhaustion weighed him down, his Energy drained.
—You okay? —Lina asked, panting, wiping her knife.
—Where'd you learn to do that with the sap? —Rian asked, impressed.
Lina grinned. —Improvising, my friend. The world's my toolbox.
Rian dispelled the sword, eyeing the shimmering footprints, their glow nearly gone. —These tracks… whoever made them isn't ordinary. And I heard footsteps. Chosen are coming back to the village.
Lina's eyes widened. —Chosen? If they see you with that sword, they'll drag you in for questioning!
—That's why we're leaving now, —Rian said, pointing to the forest. —Before they get here.
—You're a trouble magnet, —Lina grumbled, but followed, knife ready. —If we die, I'm blaming you.
—Hide the mark, —Craevon warned, voice deep.
Rian and Lina plunged into the forest, crystals glowing with cold light. The shimmering tracks faded among the trees, the arsonist's trail leading them into the unknown. —You trust that sword? —Lina asked, dodging a branch, voice low.
—Don't know, —Rian admitted, hand on his glove. —But it's my best shot. I'll use it to make whoever burned the village pay.
—Then we do this together, —Lina said, tone firm. —But, Rian, if you turn into some arrogant Chosen, I'll kill you myself.
Rian laughed, the sound cutting through the tension. —Deal.
In the distance, Aric watched, hooded, a flaming sword pulsing in his hand. —He's weak and curious, —he murmured, a cold smile forming. —Won't last long. But the Gray Divinity wants to watch him… for now.
Rian felt a chill but didn't stop. With Lina by his side, the promise of vengeance burned brighter than any flame, while Craevon's power pulsed—a secret that could save him or destroy him.