The wind was harsh and sharp.
Instead of feeding the flames,
it extinguished them.
Instead of brushing against the skin,
it cut through it.
In the forest where two figures clashed, the flames had grown taller than a man.
Pillars of fire rising from the ground and fireballs flying toward Elan
had turned the area into a battlefield.
The man ran his hand along his sword, from the hilt to the tip.
Everything his hand touched burst into flames.
Seeing the burning blade, Elan wrapped himself in wind.
His green clothes fluttered while his blue hair danced in the air.
The clash of swords and the shower of sparks
formed a rhythm in the ears.
The scent of the forest burning to ash
made even Karon, who watched from the sidelines, break into a sweat.
Elan raised his right hand and swung it to the side.
Wind bullets shot from the opposite direction and grazed his opponent's legs.
"Cheap tricks."
Elan stared at his enemy without saying a word.
Receiving no response, the man intensified his flames and charged.
Every swing of his sword set another part of the forest ablaze.
Yet Elan continued to evade without taking damage.
The wind armor surrounding him protected him from the heat of the flames,
while his blades left shallow cuts across his opponent's body.
"You won't win with attacks like that."
Elan remained silent.
"You bastard."
The enemy created rings of fire and hurled them toward Elan.
At the same time, he drew his sword and attacked.
Elan answered the rings with crescent-shaped blades of wind while retreating.
His attacks failed to stop them completely.
He was forced to endure several hits.
He had barely escaped the rings when the enemy's sword was already upon him.
With no room left to dodge, he drew his daggers.
His defense was weaker against the flames, and parts of his clothing began to burn.
He unleashed a blast of wind in front of him, sending both figures flying backward.
Just as they were about to land safely, the enemy staggered.
"What's happening?"
He looked down at himself.
Every part of his body he could see was covered in blood.
Blood seeped from countless small wounds, staining him red from head to toe.
"It's over."
The moment he finished speaking, Elan rushed forward and drove one dagger into the man's head and the other into his heart.
The man tried to protect his head, but the strike to his heart stole his final breath.
When Elan pulled the dagger free, a spray of blood splattered across his green clothing.
"We're done here. Time for a bath."
"Did you really have to kill him so brutally?"
"If you know a polite way to kill someone, feel free to tell me."
Without another word, Karon searched the body and began burying it.
"Why didn't you answer him even once?"
"The easiest way to provoke a fire user is to stay silent."
After placing a gravestone and finishing his work, Karon turned back to Elan.
"I found a map. And it's marked."
"Can you read it?"
"No."
"Let me see."
He studied the map for a while.
"I think these markings indicate hideouts. The terrain is perfect for hiding, and this road leads straight to one of them."
"What do we do?"
"The most sensible option is to launch an attack.
But with only two of us, we'll need a solid plan."
"I wish we had someone sneaky as a snake with us."
Elan smacked Karon on the back.
"That was a terrible joke."
"Yeah."
Smiling, the two headed toward the artificial lake.
While bathing, Elan looked uneasy.
Eventually, he gathered his courage and spoke.
"We haven't talked about it since that day.
Aren't you going to tell me what you think?"
"What can I even say?
I can't blame a father for not wanting to leave his daughter without one.
I'm an orphan too. I know how hard it is.
You failed to do what should have been done.
But it wasn't by choice. You were forced into that position.
I don't even know what I would have done if I were in your place.
Do I really have the right to judge you?"
"But while protecting someone close to me, I abandoned another person to die."
"Yes. That's why you have to take responsibility.
You owe that family a father."
"But I can never replace him..."
"That was never the goal.
You're not going to replace him.
You're going to make sure his absence isn't felt."
In a dark and damp place,
the rattling of chains echoed through the air.
"You only understand the value of freedom once it's taken away from you."
"I pity little brats like you, but the only ones to blame are your families."
The reflection he saw in the child's eyes held no emotion at all...