Fractures Beneath The Flame

Ariel’s brows furrowed.

“Why would I be separated from my sister? You said it yourself—the great clans would do anything to get me. So… why wouldn’t they just take Ilya too?”

Arenya’s eyes dimmed.

“I told you, Ariel. If you join the great clans, war is inevitable. And in war, no one has time to protect anyone else’s family—no matter how ‘valuable’ you are. Resources will be pulled to the frontlines, and Ilya… she’ll be left behind. Vulnerable.”

She paused. “And if I’m being honest, there will be assassination attempts—on you and her. Before you even get a chance to grow strong.”

Ariel looked down, the weight settling.

“Then what am I supposed to do? It doesn’t feel like I have a choice.”

Walter interjected gently.

“Don’t forget the government’s offer. They can at least guarantee her safety—and even get her out of this hellhole.”

“But doctor,” Ariel said, voice cracking, “I’m all Ilya has left. If I leave—even just for a few months—I don’t know what’ll happen. She’s only six. She’s already lost everything. And I might not even survive out there.”

Walter looked away for a moment, guilt swimming in his eyes.

“We don’t have many options. And it hurts me, truly, to see someone as young as you bearing all this. Eleven years old… and forced to make choices most men would crumble under.”

Arenya blinked. “Wait—eleven?”

Walter glanced at her, surprised. “Oh. Right. That might’ve slipped your radar. Ariel’s actually eleven. He just looks like a grown man due to a rare condition. Accelerated physical growth, but his age… it’s real.”

Arenya stared at Ariel in shock.

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“You’re telling me this… this guy who killed a Phase Four Forsaken is eleven?”

“Yeah,” Ariel shrugged. “Weird, right?”

The silence hung for a beat, then Walter coughed.

“Anyway. Back to the important stuff. If you accept the government’s offer, I’ll make sure you’re placed under Marik’s squad. You’ll be protected. And Ilya? She’ll come with me. I’m heading out with the refugees soon. I have a daughter back home. I think the two of them would get along well. She’ll be safe, Ariel. I give you my word.”

“Thank you, Sir Walter,” Ariel said, finally, softly.

Walter shook his head. “Don’t thank me. I feel guilty enough already. I wish I could do more. But what I can do is teach you how to survive.”

Arenya stood and brushed off her uniform.

“Well, my job’s done. It was nice meeting you, Sir Walter. And you too, little brother,” she added, smirking at Ariel.

Ariel rolled his eyes, but smirked internally. Little brother? What am I now, an honorary heir of the Golden Vow?

Walter called after her, “Hey, Arenya—you’re staying until the retreat, right?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Think you could help him out a bit after I leave? I only have two days left.”

“I’d like to,” she sighed, “but you know how my schedule looks. I’m running on borrowed hours already. Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for,” Walter smiled. “You’ve already helped more than most.”

“Goodbye, Sir Walter. And goodbye, little brother,” she winked, and disappeared behind the closing door.

Silence settled like ash.

“Alright then,” Walter said, his voice more serious now. “Let’s begin.”

Ariel nodded. “Still hard to let go of the worry. But knowing Ilya’s in your care… it helps.”

“You and your over-affection,” Walter chuckled. “Alright. We were on ranks. Let me break it down again.

“Monsters and humans both start at Rank 0: Dormant, and both end at Rank 7: Origin. But while humans ascend, monsters corrupt. Some people chase corruption too, and those people become monsters themselves.”

“And the Corruption Index?” Ariel asked.

“Exactly. The CI is a measurement—tech developed to quantify just how deep the corruption runs. We use it to predict danger levels. The higher the CI, the more unstable—and the more dangerous—a creature becomes.”

“And the ‘phases’?”

“Phases are shorthand, easy categories for CI:

Phase 1: CI 0.1 to 0.3

Phase 2: 0.31 to 0.6

Phase 3: 0.61 to 0.9

Phase 4: 0.91 to 1.0

“Phase Fours are terrifying. On the brink of evolving—changing into something far worse.”

Ariel shivered. “And how do we ascend? How do we grow?”

Walter’s eyes gleamed with something like reverence.

“Through Origin Seeds. They’re like… living gates. Unlike standard ones, these seeds are personalized. Inside, you’ll face trials—not always monsters, but fears. Despair. Loss. Yourself. And if you conquer them, the seed blooms, and you awaken.”

“Sounds horrifying.”

“It is. That’s why most never survive.”

Ariel looked down at his hands.

“Then I’ll have to be one of the few who do.”