Kael was supposed to die that day
He knew it.
Everyone else did too
The train was late. The platform was crowded People were tired, quiet, and staring at their phones. Kael stood near the edge, hands in his pockets, thinking about nothing and everything at the same time.
I should've said something to him That though kept repeating in his head. He didn't even remember who "him" was anymore
Then it happened
A loud Crack. Metal screamed. The train jumped the tracks.
People yelled. Someone pushed Kael. He felt his foot slip
For a second, he saw the tracks below him. Sparks. Fire. Steel.
So, this is it
He closed his eyes.
He didn't die
Instead, the world stopped
Everything around him turned gray, like ash floating in the air. People were frozen in place. The fire wasn't moving. The screams were silent.
Then he heard a voice
"Regret detected"
He opened his eyes
Ash was rising from his chest. White, black, and red dust swirled around him like smoke.
Kael tried to scream, but no sound came out.
Then memories hit him.
I remember ignoring my mom when she wanted to talk, I remember lying to my best friend I remember wishing someone would disappear
Each memory burned
"I don't want this," I whispered
The ash listened.
it moved. It shaped itself into a blade in my hand
The train froze mid-air, then slowly fell back into place like nothing happened. Time started again.
People thought it was a miracle. No one noticed the ash
But Kael did.
He stood there, shaking
What am I?
A figured watched. He wore a long black coat a thin crimson line ran across his collar, glowing faintly. A broken circle was stitched on his sleeve-the symbol of NULL
"Reactor-class Ash user" the man said quietly, speaking into a small device on his wrist
Kael felt cold
That night, Kael couldn't sleep.
Ash floated above his bed like snow that never melted. when he touched it, he felt every mistake he ever made. Every lie. Every selfish thought.
If this is power... I don't want it
But somewhere deep inside, a darker thought formed
If regret gives power... how strong could I become?
Outside his window, the man in the black coat stood on the rooftop the moons shine reflected below him
Null Division Rank - Executor
"Null command, this is Executer crimson-3. Target acquired. Reactor-class Ash user confirmed Requesting orders from the Ash Judges."
He paused, staring at my window
"The last Reactor appeared over eight thousand years ago," he said "This one is unnatural"
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Everything is about to change."
Then he disappeared into the shadows.