It had been three days since Leon touched the fire orb.
He hadn't told anyone—not even Astha—but something was changing inside him.
At night, his hands burned in his sleep. He saw dreams filled with fire, smoke, and screaming voices. During the day, spells felt stronger… but less under his control.
He could hear the flames whispering.
"More…Use more…"
🔥 Training Grounds
Leon stood in the open field where first-year students practiced.
He held out his hand and focused.
A ball of fire formed—clean and bright.
Students around him watched, whispering.
"That's the commoner?""He didn't even have magic a week ago…""He could pass us all."
Leon felt their eyes. But he didn't care.
He threw the flame forward. It hit the target perfectly—too perfectly.
The target exploded. Flames spilled over the stone and caught onto nearby grass.
The fire spread.
Too fast.
Leon stepped back in shock. "I didn't mean—"
Before he could react, Astha appeared beside him. Her palm flashed with white light.
"Aqua Sigil: Rainfall!"
Water poured down from the sky and smothered the fire.
Steam hissed all around them.
The teachers were already walking toward him. Angry. Suspicious.
Astha grabbed Leon's arm. "We need to leave."
🕯 In the Clocktower
Later that night, Leon and Astha met in the old clocktower—one of the few quiet places left in the academy.
Leon sat on the edge of the stone window, staring into the distance.
"I can't control it," he said. "The magic is getting stronger. Wilder."
Astha stood near him, holding her spellbook tightly.
"It's not your fault. You touched something ancient. Something forbidden."
"I don't want to hurt anyone," Leon whispered.
Astha turned to him, her voice soft. "You won't. That's why I'm here."
They sat in silence for a moment.
The moon glowed above them, and wind rushed through the tower.
Astha finally said, "You don't have to do this alone."
Leon looked at her. For the first time, he believed it.
🩸 Elsewhere… a Masked Threat
In the ruins beyond the mountains, a cloaked figure knelt before a throne made of bone.
"My lord," the figure said. "The Flameblood boy has awakened."
A deep voice replied, rough as thunder.
"Then the time has come. Begin the hunt."
The figure rose, revealing glowing red eyes behind a silver mask.
"I will bring you the Flameblood's heart."
🌑 Back at the Academy
Leon slept uneasily. The flame mark on his palm glowed under the moonlight.
In the hallway outside, something moved—a shadow that didn't belong to anything living.
A whisper echoed across the stones:
"Found you…"