The sky was on fire
Not orange.
Not red.
It was the color of something screaming.
Rain crouched beneath the remains of a shattered wall as the world collapsed around him. The wood cracked and roofs caved in. Fire devoured everything it touched. Heat pressed against his skin until breathing felt like a swallowing knife.
His arms were wrapped around a cracked bronze bell, fingers burned raw, skin split, blood slick against the metal.
He didn't let go of the bell. it was the only thing he has left.
"Hey! Kid!". The voice tore through the roar of flames.
Rain lifted his head slowly. Ash stung his eyes. Everything blurred, and he blinked hard, forcing the world back into focus.
A man walked through the fire. Tall, broad shouldered, a long coat singed at the edges but never burning. In his hand, a sword glowed with silver white, and wherever its light reached, the flames bent away, like they were afraid of him.
"Can you stand?" the man asked. His voice was firm. controlled. Like the fire was never there.
Rain tried to move, but his legs failed instantly. The pain shot through his body and he collapsed back onto the rubble, and started gasping.
"M-my mom..." His throat scraped raw. ".. she's.."
The man's jaw tightened.
"I hear you kid , but not right now," he said. "Right now, you take my hand and get up."
Rain looked down at the bell, the crack across its surface, the scratches, the chipped handle.
"..It's all i have left."
"Then bring it with you," he said. " But you have to stand. Now."
A shriek cut through the air.
Not a human, but something dragged itself out of the flames. Tall, twisted, ash black with skin split open with glowing veins. Horns curled from its skull, one broken at the tips. Its claws scraped slowly against stone.
Its eyes locked onto Rain.
Rain was terrified from its glare. His body froze. Then silver filled his vision.
The world exploded into motion. Silver steel clashed against black claws in a burst of sparks. The impact shot the ground, throwing rain backward. Heat and force slammed into his body.
The man stepped forward, and with one precise twist of his wrist, the demon's arm hit the ground as its scream cut off. black blood sprayed, hissing where it touched the fire.
"You got a name?" the man asked calmly, while shifting his stance.
"..Rain." His voice barely came out. "Rain ardent"
"Rain ardent?". As his sword blurred a clean slash carved across the demon's jaw.
" I'm Captain Theron." He said as the blade drove straight through the creature's chest. Silver light burst outward from inside its body. The demon convulsed once, then crumbled into drifting ash, like it had never existed.
Rain saw more. Multiple shadows moving through the fire .
"There's more!"
" Don't worry, I see them." As Theron stepped in front of him. "Just stand behind me."
Three demons circled him slowly.
Theron's voice lowered, but steady and cold. " Listen here kid. They will never stop. They don't talk, and they don't forget your faces." He shifted his stance slightly, grip tightening. "So you have to stand, or you will burn. Got it?"
Rain tried to answer, but no sound came out. Theron surged forward.
First demon: One thrust. Dead before it could even react.
Second Demon: Horn severed, then head gone in the same motion.
The third lunged-. "Behind you!" as Rain was screaming in terror- but it was too late.
Steel flashed. Theron stepped inside the demon's leap, his blade driving cleanly through its chest. Ash drifted in the silence.
Theron looked back at Rain. " Good," he said quietly . " You can see their movement. Remember that."
Rain's hands tightened around the bell. It pulsed, not ringing, not sounding, just a faint vibration, like something deep inside had stirred.
Theron grabbed Rain's wrist and pulled him upright. The pain flared, but this time his legs held.
They moved into the street.
"you did a good job back there," Theron said quietly.
Rain glanced up at him without an answer.
" You are not much of a talker huh." as he looked at him. "You saw their movement and you warned me. A lot of people don't see those, but it matters a lot."
Rain didn't know what to say, but something in his chest loosened anyway.
A few steps later he noticed the wagon waiting ahead, crammed with survivors. People sobbing, children clinging to each other with empty faces.
Another demon leapt from the fire and behind it, more shapes shifted in the smoke. Theron's blade flashed once. The demon split cleanly in two midair and dissolved before touching the ground.
"Go.. get in the wagon. "Theron screamed.
Rain barely had time to react before hands reached out, pulling him up into the wagon. Theron followed immediately, turning just long enough to strike down another shape lunging too close.
'Go," Theron said sharply.
The horses screamed and the wagon lurched forward as claws scraped against stone behind them.