Haruto didn't mention the fourth shadow.
Not because he forgot.
Because saying it out loud felt like choosing an answer too early.
The fire continued burning.
Small.
Steady.
Ordinary.
Belial remained across from him.
Looking at the flame.
Not nervous.
Not relaxed.
Just watching.
Haruto looked at the shadows again.
Three.
Only three.
Normal.
He looked away.
"…you've never made one?"
Belial glanced at him.
"…made what?"
Haruto pointed.
"The fire."
Belial looked back at it.
A pause.
"…no."
Haruto blinked.
"…seriously?"
Belial lowered its head slightly.
"…there wasn't usually a reason."
Haruto looked at the flame.
That answer bothered him more than expected.
"…you just found warm places?"
Belial nodded.
"…mostly."
Haruto stared at the fire.
Then quietly—
"…that sounds exhausting."
Belial looked over.
Haruto shrugged.
"…waiting for warmth instead of making it."
Belial didn't answer.
The fire crackled softly.
Haruto watched the sparks rise.
Most disappeared quickly.
One drifted farther.
Stayed visible longer than expected.
Then vanished.
He stared for a second.
Then looked away.
His shoulders loosened slightly.
The heat felt… normal.
Not emotional.
Not magical.
Just warmth.
His.
Made.
Not borrowed.
He stretched.
Then paused.
Belial noticed.
"…what?"
Haruto frowned.
"…nothing."
He looked around.
Then looked at the fire again.
Something felt strange.
Not wrong.
Different.
He reached toward the ground beside him.
Warm.
Expected.
He reached farther.
Still warm.
His eyes narrowed.
He stood.
Belial looked up.
"…what?"
Haruto stepped away from the fire.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Then stopped.
The heat remained.
Not strong.
But there.
He looked back.
The fire looked normal.
Small.
Too far.
Haruto stared.
Then took more steps.
Still warm.
He stopped.
Turned.
Walked farther.
The warmth faded.
But slower than it should.
Haruto stood quietly.
Belial walked over.
"…what?"
Haruto looked around.
"…heat stays."
Belial tilted its head.
Haruto pointed.
"…the fire's too far."
Belial looked.
Thought.
Then quietly—
"…oh."
Haruto looked at it.
"…that's not normal."
Belial looked back at the fire.
"…no."
Haruto stared.
The silence stretched.
Then he slowly walked back.
The warmth increased naturally.
No problem.
No reaction.
He sat again.
Looked at the fire.
Nothing strange.
Then quietly—
"…what happens if I leave it?"
Belial looked at him.
"…what?"
Haruto shrugged.
"…does it stay?"
Belial stared.
Then looked at the flame.
Long enough.
Then quietly—
"…I don't know."
Haruto looked at it.
Belial looked away.
"…I've never seen someone make one."
That sentence sat strangely.
Haruto looked at the fire.
Then picked up a small stick.
Pushed the burning wood slightly.
The flame changed shape.
Moved.
Ordinary.
He watched it.
Then stood.
Belial immediately looked up.
Haruto took a few steps away.
Stopped.
Turned.
The fire remained.
He waited.
Nothing.
Another step.
Nothing.
Another.
Then—
the flame leaned.
Not with the wind.
Toward him.
Haruto stopped.
The fire returned upright.
Silence.
Belial stared.
Haruto looked at it.
Belial immediately looked away.
Too late.
Haruto saw.
Belial saw it too.
Neither spoke.
Haruto walked back.
Sat.
The flame became normal again.
He stared.
Then quietly asked—
"…warm places."
Belial glanced over.
Haruto looked at the fire.
"…were they made?"
Belial stayed silent.
Too long.
Then—
"…I don't know."
Haruto looked at it.
Belial continued quietly—
"…I never asked."
The fire cracked softly.
A spark drifted upward.
Haruto watched it.
Then looked around.
Dark desert.
Empty.
Wide.
Cold.
Except—
around the fire—
the darkness felt… slower.
Not pushed away.
Just less interested.
He looked at his hand.
Held it over the heat.
Then lowered it.
A thought appeared.
Small.
Uncomfortable.
He looked at Belial.
"…if warmth stays…"
Belial looked back.
Haruto looked at the flame.
"…what else does?"
Belial didn't answer.
The fire burned quietly.
And for the first time—
Haruto wondered if making something in this world
meant leaving behind more than he intended.
The flame moved softly.
For a moment—
it leaned again.
Not toward him.
Past him.
Like something behind him
felt colder.