(第一章:赤月之夜)
The sky over Crescent City glowed with an unnatural shade of crimson. People on the street stopped, tilted their heads, and whispered in fear and wonder. But seventeen-year-old Lian Hart had no time to admire the strange red moon. He was running—running for his life.
His footsteps echoed through the narrow alley as cold rain washed the dirt from his face. Behind him, shadows flickered. The sound of boots closing in grew louder.
"Find the boy! He's the one!" a rough voice shouted.
Lian's heart pounded. Why are they chasing me? What did I do?
He turned the corner and pressed his back against a rusted metal door, trying to catch his breath. His fingers trembled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the object he had found earlier that evening—a small, black stone carved with ancient symbols.
It was warm. Too warm.
Suddenly, the stone pulsed.
A beam of red light shot into his palm, burning yet painless. For a moment, the world fell silent.
Then he heard it―a voice inside his mind.
"Awaken."
Lian gasped. The stone cracked open like a shell, releasing a swirl of ember-like energy that wrapped around his hand. His skin glowed bright red, matching the eerie moon above.
"What… what is happening to me?" he whispered.
Footsteps approached. The men turned the corner, weapons drawn. One of them pointed at Lian as if seeing a monster.
"That's him! The Ember Heir!"
Before Lian could react, a burst of fiery energy exploded from his hand, blasting the attackers backward like rag dolls. He stared at his glowing arm in disbelief.
He had never fought anyone before. Never even won a school race.
But now—
He had just thrown three grown men across the alley without even touching them.
The air vibrated with heat. Somewhere deep inside, something ancient stirred.
The voice returned.
"You were never ordinary, Lian Hart. The night of the Red Moon marks your beginning."
Lian swallowed hard.
He didn't know who he truly was.
He didn't know why people wanted him.
He didn't know what power had awakened inside him.
But as the rain sizzled against the heat radiating from his body, he understood one thing: