The torches were closing in.
From her window, April saw dark shapes moving through the forest — fast, coordinated, their light flickering off polished armor. Not villagers. Not traders.
Hunters.
Eldric's warning rang in her mind: You're different, April. Don't give them more reasons to fear you.
Too late for that now.
The Mirror still pulsed in her hand, every beat like a drum under her skin. The heat wasn't painful… yet. It felt alive, like it was trying to speak.
The pounding of hooves grew louder. Branches snapped. A low, guttural horn echoed through the Outlands.
April shoved the Mirror into her cloak pocket and grabbed her boots. She had just pulled one on when the front door exploded inward.
"April!" Eldric's voice boomed. He was already inside, staff in hand, sweat on his brow. "They've found us."
Her heart dropped. "Who—?"
"No time." He tossed her a small leather satchel. "Run. Follow the river path. Don't stop. Don't look back."
"I can fight—"
"You can't fight them!" His voice cracked with a force she'd never heard before. "Not yet."
Outside, the horn blew again — closer this time. April could see shadows moving between the huts. The villagers didn't scream. They didn't run. They just… hid. As if they'd been expecting this.
Eldric grabbed her shoulders. "Whatever happens, do not lose that Mirror."
Her lips parted. "You know about it—?"
The doorframe burst with splinters.
Two figures stepped through — tall, armored, faces hidden by masks of black iron. Strange glowing runes crawled along their gauntlets.
The taller one spoke, voice muffled but cold. "Hand over the girl."
April's blood went cold. "Who are you?"
"The ones sent to correct a mistake."
Eldric moved in front of her, staff raised. "You'll have to kill me first."
"That can be arranged."
The shorter hunter moved faster than April could follow. Their gauntlet swung toward Eldric's chest—
April didn't think. She just moved.
Her hand shot out to block the blow.
The moment her palm met the hunter's armor, the air exploded.
A ring of fire erupted from her body, blasting the intruders backward into the dirt. The windows shattered outward. The thatched roof caught flame.
April stumbled back, staring at her own hands — now wreathed in golden-orange fire that didn't burn her.
The hunters got up slowly, their armor smoking. The taller one's mask tilted. "So… the flame is real."
Eldric's voice was tight. "April. Run."
For a split second, she hesitated — and in that heartbeat, the taller hunter raised their hand. The runes on their gauntlet glowed a violent purple.
The ground cracked beneath April's feet—
And the world went white.
🔥 Quote Teaser
"If you want to survive, little flame… learn to burn everything in your way."