Rain hammered the city streets, turning neon signs into blurry streaks of light. Kael stood at the edge of the river, his hands brushing the surface as the water swirled obediently around him. Something about tonight made the river feel alive, almost sentient. The current pulsed with energy that resonated inside him. Water had always been his companion, but tonight, it seemed to whisper secrets he had never heard.
A sudden flash of color caught his eye. Across the bridge, a girl with hair like molten fire strode confidently through the rain. Emira. Her presence radiated heat even in the cold drizzle, and Kael felt an unfamiliar pull in his chest. She noticed him immediately, her amber eyes locking onto his, a daring smile playing on her lips. His pulse quickened; he wanted to speak, to move, yet his body froze.
The river reacted to his emotions, rising and twisting as though it shared his desire. But then a strange warmth coursed through his veins—a flicker of heat he didn't understand. Kael stumbled back, confused. Fire? No… it couldn't be. He had always been water, calm and controlled. And yet now, flames seemed to flicker beneath his skin, reflected faintly in the rippling surface of the river.
Emira laughed softly, a sound that cut through the storm like a spark. "Interesting," she said, stepping closer. "You're hiding something, aren't you?" Her voice carried both challenge and curiosity. Kael opened his mouth, but words failed him. How could he explain this strange, fiery pulse inside him that he didn't even understand?
Suddenly, the river surged violently, waves crashing against the edge as if responding to the tension between them. Kael's heart pounded. He raised a hand instinctively, controlling the water as he always had, but the heat beneath his skin fought back, lashing out like tiny sparks. The clash of elements—water and fire—made the air around them electric.
Before Kael could process what was happening, a shadow moved at the far end of the bridge. A figure stood watching, silent and calculating. Kael's attention snapped toward it, but the stranger melted into the rain before he could get a closer look.
Emira's gaze softened for a fraction of a second, and then the fire returned to her eyes. She turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Kael alone with the river, drenched and trembling. His hands glowed faintly with heat, mingling with the water. Something inside him had changed. Something dangerous, thrilling, and uncontrollable.
Kael stared at his reflection, the ripples showing flames dancing alongside the water. And deep in his chest, a voice whispered: "You are more than you think."