The Scarlet Emberlands is a place filled with fire, ash, and endless suffering, where the sky is always red and the ground carries scars of battles and pain. People live in fear, but there was a time when hope still existed, and that hope was Himiko.
"Himiko! Please help us!" A younger Himiko walks through the village, her expression calm and quiet as people surround her, calling her name and begging for help. "My son… he can't breathe!" "My body won't move… please!" She doesn't hesitate, stepping forward and kneeling beside them, placing her hand gently on their wounds. A soft glow appears from her hand, warm and peaceful. The boy suddenly gasps, his chest rising again, and the injured man feels his body return to normal as the pain disappears. "Thank you… thank you so much!" Himiko only nods. "It's nothing."
She stands and continues walking, moving from one person to another. Day after day, she heals everyone warriors, children, elders no matter how serious their injuries are. People begin calling her a miracle, a legendary healer, a blessing. Himiko doesn't react to those words and simply continues helping as if it's normal. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and she never stops, but slowly her body begins to change.
One evening, Himiko sits alone near the edge of the village, the red sky reflecting in her eyes as ash falls quietly around her. Her hands are shaking. "…strange…" she mutters, looking at them in confusion as her breathing feels heavier and her body feels tired. "You shouldn't push yourself like that." A man she once healed stands behind her, now completely fine. "You've already done enough." Himiko looks at him and calmly replies, "People still need help." The man frowns slightly. "You're not a tool." Himiko pauses, then says quietly, "If I can help… then I should." The man says nothing and walks away.
The next day, more people come. "Himiko! Please!" "My daughter won't wake up!" She stands again even though her body feels heavier, walking forward to heal them. The glow from her hands is weaker now, her movements slower, her breathing harder, but she still doesn't stop. Then suddenly, a man collapses in front of her, bleeding heavily. "Himiko… please…" She raises her hand, the glow appears but flickers, her vision blurs, her body loses strength, and she collapses.
"Himiko?!" "She fell!" "Quick, help her!" People rush to her and carry her inside. The healer now needs saving. Days pass as she lies in bed unmoving. Outside, people begin to change. "Where is she?" "She's still resting?" "How long is she going to take?" More days pass. "We can't wait forever…" "People are dying…" "…What's the point if she can't heal us?"
Inside the room, Himiko slowly opens her eyes. Her body feels weak. "…I need to go back…" she says as she forces herself to stand and walks outside. The moment she steps out, people look at her differently no warmth, no gratitude, only expectation. "You're back." A man steps forward holding an injured person. "Good. Heal him." There's no concern, no asking if she's okay, just demand. Himiko stares at him briefly, then raises her hand. The glow returns, faint and unstable, and she heals him. He walks away without saying anything. Another steps forward. "Me next." Then another. "Over here."
The line doesn't stop. Himiko's breathing grows heavier, her hands shake more, her vision blurs again, but no one cares. They only watch her hands. "…Don't stop." She slowly looks up at the crowd staring at her, waiting. Her hand lowers slightly. "…I…" No one responds. Then someone says, "Hurry." Something inside her cracks quietly. She clenches her hand and forces the glow again, continuing because that's all she knows to heal, to give, to exist for others, even as she's breaking and no one cares. The Scarlet Emberlands remains red, and Himiko stands in the middle of it, still saving everyone while no one saves her.