The road back to Ember Hollow wound through the edge of the forest like a narrow brown ribbon.
Kael walked along it slowly, his basket still hanging from his shoulder, though now he kept glancing at his right hand every few seconds.
The glowing symbol on the back of it had faded slightly… but it was still there.
A small leaf shape.
Burning orange.
"Okay," Kael muttered, staring at it again. "Definitely not normal."
He flexed his fingers.
Nothing happened.
Good.
He flexed them again.
Still nothing.
"Maybe it only works when I—"
A tiny spark suddenly jumped from his palm.
Kael yelped and slapped his hand against his pants.
The spark vanished instantly.
"…Alright," he said nervously. "So that's still a problem."
He continued walking, trying very hard not to think about the strange fiery world he had seen earlier.
Or the voice.
The Fire Leaf has chosen its bearer.
Kael shook his head.
"Nope. Not thinking about that."
Ahead, the wooden gate of Ember Hollow came into view.
The village was small but lively. Wooden houses with slanted roofs stood along the dirt roads, smoke rising from chimneys as people prepared dinner. Chickens wandered freely between buildings while children chased each other through the streets.
The smell of grilled meat drifted through the air.
Kael's stomach growled.
"Perfect timing."
As he entered the village, a familiar voice called out.
"Kael!"
He turned to see Mira running toward him.
Mira was about the same age as him, with short dark hair tied in a messy braid and dirt smudged across her cheek. She carried a wooden training sword over her shoulder.
"You disappeared again," she said, slightly annoyed. "Old Bran was looking for you. Said you promised to help fix the fence."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"Ah… right."
Mira crossed her arms.
"You forgot, didn't you?"
"Maybe a little."
She sighed.
"You're hopeless."
Kael grinned.
"But I brought herbs."
He held up the basket proudly.
Mira peeked inside.
"Alright… that's actually useful."
They began walking toward the center of the village.
People waved casually as Kael passed.
He was known around Ember Hollow as the strange boy who spent more time in the forest than in town, but everyone liked him well enough.
An old man sitting outside the tavern called out, "Find anything interesting today, boy?"
Kael froze for a second.
"…Maybe."
Mira gave him a suspicious look.
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing!"
They reached the village square where a large well stood in the center. Several villagers were gathered around small market stalls selling bread, fruit, and tools.
Kael suddenly noticed something.
His hand.
The symbol was glowing brighter.
"Oh no."
Mira blinked.
"What?"
Kael quickly hid his hand behind his back.
"Nothing."
The glowing grew stronger.
Warmth spread through his palm.
"Uh…"
A tiny flame popped into existence above his hand.
Kael panicked.
He slapped his hand against a wooden crate beside him.
The crate instantly caught fire.
"OH—"
The flames spread across the dry wood.
"FIRE!"
The nearby villagers jumped back.
"What happened?!"
"Water! Get water!"
Kael stared at the burning crate in horror.
"I didn't mean to—"
Mira grabbed a bucket from beside the well and dumped water over the flames.
HSSSSS!
Steam burst into the air.
The fire went out.
Everyone looked at Kael.
Silence filled the square.
The old shopkeeper whose crate had just burned stared at him.
"…Did you just set my crate on fire?"
Kael laughed nervously.
"Maybe?"
Mira narrowed her eyes.
"How."
Kael slowly raised his hand.
The glowing leaf symbol was clearly visible now.
Several villagers leaned closer.
"What's that?"
"Is that… magic?"
Before Kael could answer—
The symbol flared brightly.
A burst of fire shot straight into the air.
"AAAAH!"
The sudden blast startled the chickens nearby, sending them flying wildly across the square.
One of the flames landed on a hanging banner above a bakery.
The cloth instantly ignited.
"NOT THE BANNER!" the baker screamed.
People ran in every direction.
Buckets of water flew through the air.
Someone tripped over a chicken.
Mira grabbed Kael by the collar.
"What did you DO?!"
"I touched a leaf!"
"That explains NOTHING!"
Another spark jumped from Kael's hand and ignited a pile of straw.
Mira groaned.
"Stop using it!"
"I'm not trying!"
She dragged him toward the well.
"Put your hand in the water!"
Kael plunged his hand into the bucket.
The glowing symbol dimmed slightly.
The flames around the square slowly died down as villagers poured water everywhere.
Within a few minutes, the chaos settled.
Smoke drifted lazily through the air.
A few villagers stood soaked and irritated.
The baker glared at Kael.
"My banner…"
Kael gave a weak smile.
"…I can help replace it?"
Mira facepalmed.
"You burned half the square."
"It was an accident!"
Old Bran, the village elder, slowly approached them.
He looked at the wet ground.
The burned crate.
The scorched banner.
Then Kael's glowing hand.
His eyebrows rose.
"…Kael."
"Yes?"
"Why are you on fire?"
Kael sighed.
"That's… a long story."
Bran studied the glowing leaf symbol carefully.
His expression slowly changed from confusion…
to concern.
"…Where did you get that mark?"
"The forest."
Bran's face went pale.
"You went deep into the forest again."
Kael nodded.
"And I found a tree."
"What kind of tree?"
"…A very big one."
"And?"
"…It had a burning leaf."
The surrounding villagers exchanged uneasy looks.
Bran whispered quietly,
"A Fire Leaf…"
Mira frowned.
"You've heard of it?"
Bran looked toward the dark forest beyond the village.
"Yes."
His voice had suddenly become serious.
"Long ago, the elders told stories about sacred leaves hidden within ancient trees."
Kael blinked.
"So I didn't imagine it?"
Bran shook his head slowly.
"No."
He looked at Kael's glowing hand again.
"If what you found is truly a Fire Leaf…"
His expression darkened.
"Then our village may soon have bigger problems than a burned banner."
Kael swallowed.
"…What kind of problems?"
Bran didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the distant mountains on the horizon.
"Power like that doesn't awaken quietly."
The wind rustled through the village.
And far away, somewhere beyond the mountains…
Something had already begun moving.
Toward Ember Hollow.