The fog in Takoba was heavy with smoke. Bitter. Dry. It scratched the throat.
Aaron stepped onto the old streets, the city of his childhood. The memories hit fast. Sleeping under broken balconies. Searching for scraps. Begging.
But now, he was different. Kain walked behind him. A dagger rested under Aaron's coat. The city hadn't changed. Broken lamps still flickered. The drains still smelled like sorrow. And the people still stared at strangers with cold, guarded eyes.
Kain stopped at a ruined fountain.
"This is where the fire happened."
Aaron looked around. Scorch marks covered the stones. A fruit stall lay in ruins. The wall behind it had melted, stone fused into strange shapes.
"This wasn't normal fire," Aaron said.
"Correct," Kain replied. "The scout said it came from a child. Ten years old. Alone."
Aaron's chest tightened. "Like me."
They spent an hour searching. Most people wouldn't talk. Others claimed they saw nothing.
As night fell, Aaron noticed movement near an old inn. A child sat among the ashes, tracing shapes in the dust with a stick.
Aaron approached. Slowly.
The child looked up. Their eyes were sky-colored—but different. Faded. Like clouds on water. A soft glow moved under the skin of their hand.
Aaron crouched. "Hi."
The child stared but didn't speak.
"I won't hurt you," Aaron said. "My name is Aaron. What's yours?"
Still nothing. But the drawing in the ash became clearer. A symbol.
Aaron knew it. The glyph from the chamber.
"You've seen this?" he asked.
The child nodded.
Kain appeared beside him. "We need to go. Someone's watching."
Aaron stood. "Who?"
Kain scanned the rooftops. "Not sure. But we're not alone."
Aaron turned back to the child. "Will you come with us?"
The child hesitated, then took Aaron's hand.
A jolt passed through him. Warm. Bright. Familiar. He almost stumbled but held on.
"We're taking them," he said.
Kain was already moving.
Then came the sound. Metal.
Shadows filled the square. Figures in gray robes moved fast and silent. Each wore a thorned circle.
One of them hissed, "Skyborn confirmed. Recover or eliminate."
Aaron stepped in front of the child. Kain drew his blade.
"We've got company."