Chapter 1: Dawn**
It all began on a sun-drenched afternoon, when a cataclysmic explosion ripped through the outskirts of the kingdom. The blast was deafening — a thunderous roar that shuddered through the earth itself. Mountains quaked, cliffs groaned, valleys echoed with the fury, and even the ancient castle at the heart of the realm trembled as if the gods themselves had struck the ground.
But this was only the prelude to the greater convulsions that would soon grip the land.
"Chase him! Don't let the little bastard escape!"
The kingdom guards bellowed the order, their voices raw with urgency. They wore elegant royal-blue attire, silver armets stretching toward the sky, each topped with a round, furry crest.
"He must not get away!"
Nestled in the eastern quarter of the kingdom stood the ERG — the Eastern Royal Guard — a formidable brick fortress that sprawled across more than a hectare of fortified ground.
"Captain, who is this kid?" one of the guards asked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Why are we so hell-bent on capturing him?"
"I don't know," Captain Rosewalt snarled, eyes narrowing. "I can't fathom what kind of mess that kid could have gotten himself into. All I know is that an order came down from my superiors, and I'll be damned if I fail to deliver. It might just be one misfit we're after."
He clenched his jaw.
"If I have to chase him straight to the pits of hell, trust me — I will."
"But Captain, let's be logical," another guard pressed. "What could the higher-ups possibly want with a brat like him?"
"As I said, I don't care. For all I know, maybe the king wants a new slave — or a playmate. You know I can never fathom what goes on in that sick bastard's head. And from what I've heard, the kid's… special."
A messenger burst in.
"Captain!"
"Tell me you've captured the damn kid," Rosewalt barked, spinning toward him.
"No, sir. I came to report that the boy… he bumped into him."
"Into who? Speak up, lad!"
"The man who breathes fire."
Rosewalt's face drained of colour.
"Don't tell me he ran smack into Sango."
Panic surged through the damp, stale air of the station like wildfire. Guards scrambled, legs tangling in frantic motion. The name alone was enough to ignite terror.
"Of all the times for him to show up — why now?" Rosewalt muttered. "Damn it. Looks like I'll have to haul my ass over there before this spirals out of control."
"Yes, sir."
"Someone hand me my sword — quickly!"
"Captain, we can't find it anywhere," a guard stammered.
"Find it, damn you! I'm done with excuses today. Just find the damn sword!"
A quiet voice muttered under someone's breath, "Maybe if you kept your office organised, it'd be easier."
Rosewalt's head snapped around. His teeth flashed in a predator's grin.
"You said what?"
"Found it, Captain!" another guard called quickly.
Rosewalt took the sword, drew a deep breath of the musty barracks air, and exhaled slowly.
"Time to move out. You three — come with me. And you — arrange my desk before I'm back."
"Yes, sir," they chorused.
As they marched out, Rosewalt called to the messenger. "Hey, you there. Where exactly did the kid bump into Sango?"
"At the town square, sir."
"You've seen the kid, right?"
"Yes."
"Notice anything… special about him?"
The messenger hesitated.
"Yes, sir. That kid doesn't belong here. He belongs in hell."
One of the more zealous guards stepped forward, bloodlust already in his voice.
"Captain, if I were the higher-ups, trust me — that boy wouldn't see another sunrise. I'd end him myself. The world doesn't need his kind of atrocity. Give me the order to execute him on the spot. It'd be my pleasure."
Rosewalt stroked his chin, thoughtful.
"I'll need to see it for myself before issuing any execution orders. And who knows? Maybe Sango's already done us a favour and rid us of him."
They pushed into the crowded streets.
"Run away! It's a monster!" a villager screamed.
"What the hell is the devil doing on land?" another cried.
Rosewalt grumbled as they forced their way through the throng. "I see this place hasn't changed one bit. Always too crowded for my liking. And now this so-called boy's appearance has everyone in a panic." He inhaled the dusty air and exhaled softly. "Can't wait for retirement. I'm starting to think I'm getting too old for this shit."
"Hey, you two — get this place in order. And you — follow me. Let's get to the bottom of this so we can all head home. I'm already bone-tired."
Then, at the edge of his vision, he saw him.
The world's greatest atrocity.
Is that a him… or an it? Rosewalt wondered. His gaze locked for a fleeting moment on the small figure. A crimson cloak billowed in the breeze beside the boy.
Sango was on one knee, speaking to the child the way a father might comfort his son.
Rosewalt's voice dropped to a whisper.
"But why? Why is Sango talking to that brat like that?"
He forced himself forward.
"All I need to do now is get over there, get to the bottom of things, snag the boy, and hand him over to the higher-ups."
The zealous guard pressed again. "Sir, are you going to give me the order to execute him? My blood's racing just looking at him. Please — do me the honour."
"No. Sorry, but I can't do that."
"But Captain, the higher-ups said dead or alive. Killing him is still within our jurisdiction!"
"Shut up. I've heard enough. One more damn word and you'll be the one kissing the devil's ass."
Something still felt off. The guard's hatred was too sharp, too personal.
Then a calm voice cut through the din like a blade — quiet as an early morning sun, yet laced with unspoken menace.
"Hey, you."
Chills raced down Rosewalt's spine. His lieutenant stiffened beside him. Neither man could quite keep his footing steady.
"Yes, sir," Rosewalt answered without hesitation.
Sango never took his eyes off the boy.
"The noise around me is too much. Make it stop. Immediately."
"Yes, sir. We will — quickly."
Rosewalt turned and roared, "Everyone, shut the hell up and clear the town square! Now! These are orders from Sango!"
Villagers scattered.
"Did he say Sango? What would a man like him want here? I don't want to stick around to find out," one muttered, already running.
"Maybe he'll do us a favour — kill that thing and take the square with it," another hissed.
The chaos only grew. Screams mixed with the thunder of footsteps. Bodies collided in a frenzy. The town square itself seemed to shake under the stampede as people fled toward what they believed was safety.