LOCATION: OUTER WRECKS BELOW SOLAGUN – STILL FAR FROM HOME
"Every flame has its dance. But some dance just to kill."
— Old Warrior Chant, Solagun (Fire Dominion)
---
The thing jumped at him.
Damaso closed his eyes. He thought that was it. He thought he was going to die again.
But he didn't.
He opened his eyes and saw the thing stuck in the air. Like it hit something. Like it ran into an invisible wall.
Then he saw her.
Ayanda was just standing there. Floating, really. Her arms crossed. Her face didn't even look scared. She looked bored.
"You didn't dodge," Damaso said.
> "Why would I dodge?" she replied like she was asking if he knew the sky was blue.
The monster growled and tried to move, but something was holding it. Something hot.
Ayanda raised one hand and made a small flame, like, really small. Just a flicker.
Then she flicked it into the monster's chest like it was nothing.
---
The creature started screaming and loud.
Its body caught fire from the inside. Not like someone set it on fire, it was like the fire wanted to be there. Like it was always meant to be.
The thing rolled on the ground, slamming into metal and rocks, trying to shake it off.
Didn't work though. It was burning, and it couldn't stop.
"You could've done that earlier!" Damaso shouted.
> "And miss all the fun?" Ayanda said, floating in a circle around it.
"You were just letting me run for nothing?!"
> "You didn't die, did you?"
"Almost!"
> "Almost isn't dead. You're welcome."
---
The creature screamed one last time and then poof—gone. Nothing left but ash and smoke.
Ayanda floated back down, looking satisfied.
"That's it?" Damaso said, still trying to breathe properly.
> "That's it."
"You roasted it like suya."
(Suya means Roasted Meat)
> "Delicious isn't it."
Damaso just face palmed in frustration.
---
They walked. Well, he walked. She floated like she didn't even need the ground.
His chest was no longer glowing where the Mark was. It didn't hurt now, but it still felt hot. Not bad-hot. Just... like something was there now. Like a small sun was sitting inside him.
"So... what now?" he asked.
> "We go home."
"My home?"
> "Where else? You think I'm staying here?"
"You're seriously coming with me?"
> "I'm part of you now. Remember? You touched my prison. That makes you my little flame."
"Please don't call me that."
> "Little. Flame."
(She was smiling now.)
---
They reached the road near House Ezura.
From far away, Damaso could see the towers again. The smoke trails. The banners.
And the guards. Great. There were two at the outer post. They were already staring.
"They're gonna think I'm crazy," Damaso muttered.
> "You are."
"I'm talking to someone they can't see."
> "Exactly."
"Can they see you if you want?"
> "Yes."
"So show yourself!"
> "No."
"You're enjoying this."
> "A little."
---
One of the guards ran to the gate.
> "It's the third son!" he shouted.
> "He's alive?!"
The gate creaked open. Damaso walked in, torn shirt, bruises everywhere, marked chest and all.
Ayanda?
Gone. Just like that.
Not a trace. But he could still hear her.
> "Smile, Damaso," her voice said softly in his head.
"They need to know something brought you back."