When I returned to the square, the village noise had settled. It helped calm the storm in my head—at least a little.

Kaelan was leaning against a post, tossing a rock into the air. His grin widened when he saw me.

"You look like you've been wrestling with a ghost," he said, catching the rock and tossing it again.

I started to answer, but before I could, a group of students older kids strolled into view. Jorin, their leader, was already sneering. He was also from the higher part of the kingdom, like Kaelan and often looked down on us, Doro-Ashi.

"Well, well," Jorin said, crossing his arms. "If it isn't the good Boy Scouts."

Kaelan didn't miss a beat. "Looking for someone to embarrass yourself in front of again, Jorin?"

Jorin's grin tightened. "You've got a smart mouth, Kaelan. Too bad you don't have the strength to back it up."

I stepped between them, meeting Jorin's gaze head-on. "What do you want?"

Jorin didn't answer right away. He looked me up and down. "Look at this—Kaelan's got himself a guard dog now. What's the matter? Can't fight your own battles? Do you think I forgot what you did? You still owe me."

Kaelan opened his mouth, no doubt to make things worse, but I shot him a warning look over my shoulder.

Jorin leaned closer, "What about you, huh? Do you think you're tough just because you work in a forge? How about I—"

"Hey, wait." One of his friends grabbed his arm and said, "Isn't that Satoshi's kid?" 

Jorin paused, his expression flickering for just a second. He glanced toward the forge, then back at me. The sneer slipped slightly, replaced by a cautious edge.

"Let's just go," another one muttered, shooting me a wary look.

Jorin's jaw tightened, but he took a small step back. "Fine," he snapped. "This isn't over."

He turned and stalked off, his friends trailing after him. One of them cast a final glance my way, then quickly looked away.

The tension in my chest eased as I turned to Kaelan, still grinning. "You're welcome," I muttered.

But Kaelan couldn't help himself. "That's what I thought. All bark, no bite," he said, his voice echoing with mockery.

Jorin's face darkened.

He lunged, shoving me to the ground. My head hit the dirt, and Kaelan barely had time to react before Jorin grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against a post.

"You little shit, what did you say?!"

"Let him go!" I scrambled to my feet.

Jorin ignored me. He raised a fist.

"I said—let him go!"

The ground trembled. A faint swirl of dust rose around my hands, and my veins pulsed with an eerie blue light.

Jorin hesitated, his fist hanging mid-air. "What the hell…?"

"Put him down," I said, my voice was low, dangerous.

That's when it happened.

The energy surged through me, raw and powerful. My eyes burned, narrowing into slits like a wild animal. I lunged forward and struck.

Jorin flew backwards, slamming into a stack of crates. A shockwave rippled out, splintering the wood and scattering debris.

The other kids froze, their faces pale. Kaelan slid to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.

I stared at my hands, trembling as the faint glow pulsed and faded. In the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a puddle—my face was pale, eyes glowing, veins alive with light.

The world around me fell silent.

Kaelan was still on the ground, his eyes wide as they locked on mine. He didn't say a word—he didn't have to. His face told me everything. It was like he didn't even recognize me.

I lifted my hand toward him, desperate to close the distance, but he flinched violently, scrambling back on his hands and heels. His breathing came in sharp bursts as if I'd just struck him.

My hand dropped limply to my side.

Then I heard it—the murmurs. I looked up.

They were all there. The entire town. Frozen, their faces etched with fear. The blacksmiths stood near the forge, staring at me like I was a stranger. Even the apprentices—Kaito, Rikuto, the ones who'd grown up beside me—stood rooted in place, their tools dangling limply in their hands.

Mothers clutched their children tightly. A chain of unease passed through the crowd, and their whispers grew louder with each breath. 

"What is that?"
"Did you see his hands?"
"His eyes…"
"Stay back!"

My heart thundered as I scanned the faces. They were afraid of me.

I took a step back, panic surging through me. "Wait," I tried to say, my voice trembling. "I—"

"Renjiro!" Satoshi's voice rang out.

I turned toward the sound, but I couldn't face him. Not now. My legs moved before I could think. I ran past the crowd's edge, the forest rising like a shield. Behind me, I heard the startled cries of the villagers, their voices echoing in my ears.

The trees swallowed me whole, but I couldn't stop running.

That's when I saw him.

A man lay slumped near a broken cart, his armour tattered and broken. A faint phoenix crest was etched into his chest plate, though much of it was scratched and weathered. 

Without thinking, I rushed over and dropped to my knees beside him. "Hey," I said, my voice shaking. Are you ok?" I tried to help him sit up, slipping an arm under his shoulders.

His head rag-dolled before he turned to look at me. His eyes… glowed faintly blue, just like mine had, and his pupil slit as they locked onto me.

"I sense Lumina in you...," he rasped.

I froze, staring at him. "What?"

"What's a kid like you doing out here? It's not safe," he said. His gaze darted around the clearing, scanning the shadows. "Why aren't you at Azeron?"

I blinked, confused. "Azeron? What's that?"

The man squinted at me, trying to decide if I was serious. "Where did you come from?"

"In a kingdom," I said hesitantly, motioning vaguely in the direction I'd come from. "Just past the woods."

"A kingdom?" He laughed weakly and winced, clutching his side. "out here…?" His voice trailed off as his face darkened. "Everyone here isn't safe—you have to leave. Now."

"What do you mean we're not safe?" I asked.

But he didn't answer. His head drooped, and his body sagged against me. He was battered, bruised, and barely holding on.

When we reached the square, my heart was pounding harder than when I'd first run into the woods. I adjusted my grip on the man as I stumbled toward my home.

As I shifted him, the phoenix crest on his armour caught the light, its intricate design glinting faintly. 

"That emblem…" I whispered, staring at it. "The phoenix, what is it? Who are you?"

He groaned softly but didn't respond.

"Renjiro!"

I whipped around to see Satoshi striding toward me, his face a mix of anger and relief.

"I've been looking all over for you!" he said, "What happened? You just left! How can you run into the woods on your own like that?"

His eyes landed on the man slumped against me, and he froze.

"What? Who's this?"

I hesitated, glancing at my palm as a faint swirl of blue energy danced around my fingers. The realization hit me hard, and my breath caught. 

"I think…" I said, barely above a whisper, "I think I'm like him."

Satoshi's eyes widened as he stepped closer, his gaze locked on the man's glowing eyes. Then, he whispered, "Luminarian…"