In the great kingdom far away from demon land, the people never worry. The sky was always blue, the food always hot, and the streets full of smile. But deep inside the gold palace, one boy was not smiling. He sit alone in a big empty room. His hair long and shining silver, eyes like gold fire. He was strong. Maybe too strong. His name was Reko, and he was Coker's brother.
He never speak of his brother. Not to the king, not to the soldiers, not even to himself. But every time he look in the mirror, he saw his brother's face. And it make his heart feel tight. People call Reko the new hero. The one who will save them. They cheer when he walks, they salute when he fight. But no one know the truth. The one who really carry the pain was not in the palace. It was the one walking in the shadows. The one they all hate. The one they throw out.
Coker.
Reko still remember the day they was tested as kids. Back then Coker was loud and wild, always shouting he was gonna be the strongest. Reko was quiet. Smart. But even then, he know something was strange. Coker's power was locked. His magic don't come out. People laugh at him. Even the teachers say, your brother must have taken all the magic. Reko hate that. He didn't ask for it. But still, they treat him like a prince. And Coker like a mistake.
That night, Reko walk outside the palace. His guard follow but he wave them off. He walk alone to the garden. There was a big fountain there, with a hero statue. The same hero who died saving Coker. The hero everybody love. The hero everybody mourn.
But Reko know something different. He saw the memory. He saw the real truth. The hero didn't try to kill Coker. He save him because Coker's fire was waking up. He stop Coker from burning the whole village. And he paid the price. That's why the people hate Coker. Because they think he caused it. But they don't understand. The curse didn't kill the hero. The curse **was** the hero's choice.
Now that curse was growing. Far away. In a boy with black flame.
Reko look at the sky. His golden eyes shine like sun. "You're out there, Coker. I know you hate me. But I don't hate you. I never did."
He stand up. He walk to the war room. The generals all rise when he enter. The king himself nod. "You ready?" the king ask.
"Yes," Reko say. "But not to protect. To meet my brother."
The room go silent. They didn't expect that. But Reko already made his mind. If the demon king was coming, and if Coker was the vessel, then he needed to find him. Not to fight. But to understand.
Far away, Coker and Lira still walk deep into demon land. The place grow darker. Sky turn black even during day. They pass villages full of ghost. Some scream. Some whisper. Lira stay close. Her hand hold her staff tight.
"Do you feel it?" she ask.
Coker nod. "Yeah. It's like… something waiting."
They reach a wide river. Water black like ink. A bridge half broken. On the other side — a tower. Tall. Old. Covered in bones and flame marks. That was Veilstone. The place of the first king.
Coker stand still. His chest burn. Not just normal burn. Deep burn. Like something trying to come out.
Lira look at him. "You okay?"
"No," he say. "But we have to go."
They cross the bridge slow. It creak under them. Lira almost fall but Coker catch her. His hands feel hot, but she don't pull back.
Inside the tower, it was quiet. Too quiet. No echo. No wind. Just silence. Then the fire start. Not from Coker. From the walls. Red symbols light up. Ancient writing.
Coker read it without knowing how. His mouth move by itself.
"Vessel of flame. Son of ash. Rise and burn. Rise and rule."
Lira step back. "Coker… your eyes…"
They wasn't red anymore. They was black with red inside. Like two fire pits.
Then a voice.
"You came. Finally."
The man in cloak appear again. Same smile. Same shadow.
"Why me?" Coker shout. "Why did you choose me?"
"Because you strong. Because you broken. Because you hate. That's all I needed."
"I'm not gonna become you!"
"But you already are."
He lift his hand. Flame come out. Not red. Not blue. **White**. Pure fire. Strongest kind.
"Touch it," he say.
Coker hesitate. But then he do. He touch the flame.
Pain.
Not pain like cuts. Pain like losing everything. His memories flash. His family. His village. The hero dying. His brother smiling. His anger. His regret. His dreams. His screams.
Then silence.
Coker fall to his knees.
The man in cloak smile. "Now you understand."
Lira run to him. "Coker!"
He look up. His face full of tears. But his voice strong.
"No. I understand something else. I'm not your vessel. I'm your end."
Then he stand up. Fire burst around him. Not just red. Blue and white mix. New color. Flame never seen before.
The man in cloak stop smiling. For the first time, his eyes show fear.
"You… what did you do?"
Coker raise his fist. "I'm not becoming you. I'm becoming **me**."
Then he punch. The tower shake. Light explode.
Outside, in the sky, Reko saw the light. He stop walking.
"That's him," he whisper. "That's my brother."
The fire in the sky burn bright. Like a star.
The world was changing.
And this… was only the beginning.