Night fell in a crimson haze, painting the ruins in a surreal, almost violent beauty. Liora crouched atop a crumbling wall, her chest heaving, eyes darting across the shadowed streets below. Her curse stirred violently within her veins — white-hot fire that throbbed with every heartbeat. She had never felt so alive… or so terrified.
A distant howl echoed through the city, jagged and bone-deep, vibrating the very stones beneath her feet. Her hands clenched into fists. The Ember pulsed in response, a fire that demanded control she did not yet have.
Kael Thorne appeared beside her silently, as if summoned by instinct. He was calm, his presence an anchor against the chaos that seemed to seep from the very earth. His amber eyes scanned the horizon. "The Rift isn't done with this city," he said, voice low but certain.
Liora's lips parted, words caught in her throat. "I… I don't know if I can control it." Her body trembled, not from the cold, but from the raging fire inside her.
Kael's hand brushed her shoulder — brief, grounding. "Control isn't the point. Survival is. You channel it, or it channels you."
The ground shook beneath them again. Liora's stomach twisted with the premonition of danger. She could feel the Ember responding — flickers of fire crawling up her arms, shadows twisting in reply.
Then it appeared: a shadow beast, massive and jagged, eyes like molten gold, stalking the streets with predatory precision. Its roar split the night. Liora gasped, feeling her heart race — and the Ember roared back, surging through her like a living thing.
"You'll have to fight," Kael said, drawing his sword. The blade shimmered as he moved, catching the dim moonlight. "And I'll guide you. But only you can strike the first blow."
Liora swallowed hard. Fear lanced through her, sharp and bitter, but beneath it, a thrill of exhilaration. Her curse was alive, and for the first time, she felt it answering her — a beast within her that could burn, tear, and consume, yes, but also protect.
The shadow beast lunged. Kael moved first, a streak of darkness and steel, meeting the creature with precise, lethal force. Sparks and fire erupted in the clash. Liora's chest heaved. Her heart hammered as instinct took over.
Flames curled around her fingers. The Ember pulsed, responding to her emotions — fear, anger, and something else she barely understood: determination. She thrust her hands forward, and fire erupted in a scorching arc, striking the beast squarely. It screeched, recoiling, its golden eyes burning with rage.
Kael's gaze met hers. "You're ready," he said, his voice calm but sharp, almost approving.
The shadow beast regained its stance, stronger and faster than before. Liora felt a shiver of dread. Her chest burned, her limbs trembled, but the Ember pulsed stronger, louder — demanding release.
She took a deep breath. The fire surged, wrapping around her like a second skin. Her eyes burned with intensity. This was no longer just survival. She was beginning to fight — truly fight.
Then the beast lunged again, and Liora realized… she wasn't alone in her awakening.