The darkness swallowed Shakes, pulling him down into a restless void. Then, faint whispers curled through the blackness—voices of the past, memories clawing at his mind.
A younger Shakes crouched behind shattered rubble, eyes wide with terror. His father's voice, rough but steady, cut through the chaos. Garven Burnedead roared above the din.
"Shakes… listen to me," he commanded, his voice fierce with urgency. His face was streaked with soot and blood, his breaths labored. "You have to run. Run far. Find your flame. Keep it alive—no matter what."
The boy didn't want to leave. Tears burned his eyes.
"Run, son! You're the last hope."
A monstrous shriek tore through the sky, and then the inferno swallowed everything.
Shakes screamed—but no sound escaped his lips.
A blaze surged through his chest, a fiery heartbeat. A spark that would not die.
---
He woke with a violent gasp, sitting bolt upright in bed. Cold sweat drenched his body, the echo of flames still licking at the edges of his vision. He blinked rapidly, trying to anchor himself to the present.
The room was dim, the air cool. The familiar stone walls of Emberwatch Fortress surrounded him. Faint ember light bathed the room in a gentle glow.
Then, the sound of rushing footsteps. The door burst open.
"Shakes! You're awake!"
Lucen was the first to reach him, grinning like a fool. Zera was right behind, her expression a mix of relief and firm concern. Vellion trailed just behind them, eyes wide.
"Well, look who decided to rise from the dead," Lucen chuckled, crossing his arms. "Took you long enough. Thought I was gonna have to start training your replacement."
"We were worried," Zera said, stepping closer. "You were gone for so long... we didn't know if you'd make it."
Vellion still shaken "You really scared us. I... I thought we lost you out there."
Lucen grinned, nudging Vellion. "Hey, don't get all weepy on us now. Burnedead's made of molten steel. Takes more than one stabbing and a rift explosion to snuff him out."
Shakes tried to speak, his voice dry. "How… how did I get here?"
Zera answered gently. "A Den Hunter treated you on the outskirts after the rift collapsed. She has a gift... healing powers unlike anything we've seen. If not for her, you wouldn't be here."
"She practically dragged you out of the ashes," Lucen added. "Pretty impressive, really."
Before more questions could come, the heavy stomp of boots signaled another arrival. Commander Ryzen entered the room, arms folded behind his back.
"Burnedead," he said, his voice gruff. "You're too damn reckless. Charging into the rift alone like a fool..."
Shakes dropped his gaze.
Ryzen stepped closer. "But you held the line. Your bravery gave us time. I won't overlook that. Good work, hunter."
There was an awkward pause, then Ryzen nodded curtly. "Rest up. You'll need your strength."
---
That evening, the mess hall of Emberwatch Fortress was unusually loud. The scent of roasted meats, spiced stew, and fresh bread filled the air. Long tables were filled with Hunters, soldiers, and support staff.
Commander Ryzen had declared a feast.
At the head of the table sat Shakes, still pale but upright. Lucen sat to his right, Zera to his left, and Vellion across from him.
"Five days asleep," Lucen joked, raising a mug. "And you didn't even have the courtesy to dream us up a victory plan."
"He probably dreamed of fire," Zera smirked. "Wouldn't be Burnedead if he didn't."
Vellion laughed nervously. "Did he... smile just now?"
"No way," Lucen gasped. "You saw that too, right? Burnedead just cracked a smile!"
Shakes shook his head slightly, but the faintest curl of his lips remained.
Laughter erupted. Even Ryzen, watching from afar, allowed a rare smirk. "Look at him. He doesn't even know how to smile"
It was a rare moment of peace.
Then, the laughter subsided. Ryzen stood up and cleared his throat. "Before we raise another glass, there is news that must be shared."
The hall quieted.
"Since the last encounter with the hooded figure—the rift master—the Den has not reappeared. No new openings. No surges. For five days, it has been silent."
A murmur spread across the room.
"For now, we believe... the Den is closed."
There were gasps. Then cautious smiles. A few cheers. Relief spread like wildfire.
But Shakes... didn't join them. He stared into his cup, the fire inside him flickering uneasily. That man—the hooded figure—he wasn't the kind to simply vanish. Not after what he said. Not after what he did.
But he said nothing.
Zera raised a glass. "To Shakes. For waking up, and for not dying on us."
They clinked their mugs. Shakes gave a nod of thanks.
Then, Vellion blinked. "Wait, where's Severflame?"
Shakes' heart jumped. "Where is it?"
Lucen grinned. "Relax. It's in your dorm. We cleaned it up. Figured you'd haunt us as a ghost if we lost it."
Zera added, "You and that sword? Like a married couple. Can't stay apart for long."
Shakes exhaled slowly. For the first time since waking, the knot in his chest loosened.
---
Later that night, after the feast had dwindled and the halls quieted, Shakes stood by the entrance gate.
"I'm going for a walk," he told the others.
"We'll come with you," Vellion offered.
Shakes shook his head. "Stay. I'll be back soon. Need to catch some air."
He stepped out into the moonlit streets of Emberwatch City. The city was alive, bathed in golden ember light. Vendors closed their stalls, children played with sticks near fountains, and the scent of roasted nuts filled the air.
As Shakes walked down the cobblestone path, lost in his thoughts, a figure stepped into view. An old man, hunched and cloaked in patchwork robes, leaning on a gnarled staff.
His eyes, clouded yet sharp, fixed on Shakes with uncanny clarity.
"You," the old man said, voice rasping like wind through dry leaves. "I see something in you. Something others don't. A fire that burns brighter than most."
Shakes stopped, tension prickling along his spine.
The old man took a step closer. "Not everyone is ready to see it... but I have. And soon, you'll understand why."
Shakes narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "Someone who remembers. Someone who watches. And someone who knows... your journey isn't over. The Den may be closed, but the real storm is only just beginning."
He pointed down the road, where the shadows stretched long.
"You'll have to leave soon, Burnedead. The world beyond Emberwatch needs your flame."
Shakes looked ahead—to where the road vanished into the horizon.
He didn't know what lay beyond.
But something inside him stirred.
The journey wasn't over.
Not yet.
To be continued...