[1 week ago]
Robin woke before dawn, the sky still a deep shade of black and blue. Behind them, a messy pile of backpacks, scattered clothes, and sleeping crew sprawled in tangled heaps. At least five, resting fitfully after the intense night before.
Naked, Robin stepped out onto the balcony. The cool morning air brushed over their skin, but inside, something buzzed... a strange, burning feeling of being alive.
They were having the absolute time of their life. Months of traveling with friends, a whirlwind of new faces, shared laughter, and bodies entwined. Robin was buzzing with an almost unbearable euphoria. Every nerve ending tingled with a boundless, joyful energy that resonated deep within their pyromantic core.
Fire wasn't just fueled by anger or hate, like it was for most pyromancers. For Robin, it was passion. Connection. The raw, beautiful surge of desire and love.
And that was the problem.
Robin gazed out at the edge of town, rooftops painted in soft pinks and grays, and breathed in the fresh air. A quiet smile spread across their face as the sun peeked over the horizon. They felt like the sun itself. Warm, radiant, full of promise.
Then, without warning, that glow turned wild. Fierce. Uncontrollable.
Then it happened.
No one really knew what went down next. Some said it was like the sky ripped open. Others swore they saw a fireball tearing through the early morning haze. Rumors swirled. Was it a freak storm? An explosion? Or something else entirely? Witnesses spoke in hushed tones, afraid, awestruck, or both.
But the news was clear: a second sun had burst into existence over the outskirts of Barcelona. Bright, searing, and impossible to ignore.
***
After the incident that raised alarms and sparked countless rumors, the crew didn't linger. They packed up their gear, voices low, and scattered in all directions. The once haphazardly formed group dissolved into the continent. The chaos of their trip continued, only now tinged with a darker edge.
Days later, in a narrow alley, a friend from the crew waited for Robin. Eyes wide, hands trembling. She pulled Robin aside, voice barely more than a whisper.
"They're coming for us," she said, voice cracking. "The agents, government types, are arresting people. Some of the crew... they got caught."
Robin's heart sank. The warning felt heavier than any curse or spell.
"They want you, Robin," the friend added, shaking. "They're after you. They know what happened. The explosion. That second sun! It's not just curiosity anymore. It's a hunt."
The weight of the words pressed down. The world suddenly felt smaller, darker.
Robin leaned against the damp wall, the city noise distant, lights flickering at the alley's mouth. The reckless freedom they'd chased was slipping away, replaced by a shadow that threatened to swallow everything.