The forest was dense, the shadows thick enough to swallow any light, but Jade didn't mind. He had grown accustomed to darkness over the years. The scent of wet earth and pine filled his lungs as he moved swiftly through the trees, Rael by his side, cutting through the underbrush with practiced ease. Despite the battle they had just faced, Jade felt a strange calmness settle over him.
He had used the flames before, but never like this. In his previous life, Yūma had wielded fire with ease, a gift he had taken for granted. Now, in this new world, it felt different—more raw, less controlled. But the power was there, simmering beneath his skin, ready to be called upon when needed.
Rael glanced at him, his expression unreadable. Jade couldn't read his thoughts, but he could feel the tension in the air, the silent question hanging between them. Rael had seen Jade use his power, but he hadn't said much about it. Jade wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
They walked in silence for a while, the distant sounds of pursuit growing fainter. Jade had no doubt the soldiers would follow them, but for now, they had bought themselves a few precious hours.
"We need to get you out of here," Rael said, breaking the silence. "The prince won't stop until you're dead. But this power... it could change everything."
Jade nodded but didn't respond. He wasn't sure how to put his feelings into words. The flames had come so naturally, almost as if they were a part of him. But the thought of being hunted for this power? It unsettled him. He wasn't ready to face the consequences of wielding something so dangerous.
Rael seemed to sense his hesitation. He stopped walking and turned to face him. "You don't have to fight this battle alone, Jade. But you need to understand something. The world you're in now is different. It's ruled by power—those who have it, control it. And you..." Rael's gaze softened. "You have something more than just strength. You have potential. If you want to survive, you need to learn how to control it."
Jade felt the weight of Rael's words, but he didn't say anything in response. Instead, he continued walking, his mind racing. What did Rael mean by potential? What kind of power did Jade really have? And more importantly, how could he ever learn to control it?
They walked for hours, stopping only when they reached a small clearing where a modest campfire flickered in the night. Rael set up camp quickly, as if he had done this countless times before. Jade didn't know much about Rael's past, but he could sense the other man's experience. The way Rael moved with purpose, the ease with which he set up camp—it spoke of a life lived in the shadows, always on the run.
Jade sat down near the fire, the warmth of the flames comforting but not enough to ease the knot in his stomach. His thoughts kept circling back to the prince and his men. Even though they had escaped, Jade knew it was only a matter of time before they would be hunted down again. The world was vast, but not vast enough to hide forever.
Rael sat across from him, his eyes never leaving Jade's face. "You'll need training," Rael said after a long pause. "Your power... it's not like anything I've seen. But it's also dangerous. You can't just unleash it without consequences. If you want to survive in this world, you'll have to learn control. And that means training."
Jade finally spoke, his voice low but firm. "Where do we start?"
Rael's eyes gleamed with approval. "Good. First, we'll need to find a place where you can train in peace. But more importantly, we need to find someone who can teach you the true nature of your abilities."
Jade's heart skipped a beat. "A teacher? Who?"
Rael's expression grew serious. "There's an old master I know of. His name is Kuroshi. He's... not someone you want to mess with. But he's the only one who can teach you to master your power."
Jade felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of Kuroshi's name. He didn't know this man, but something about Rael's tone told him that Kuroshi wasn't the type of person to be trifled with. Still, if he wanted to survive, he needed to learn how to control his abilities. And Kuroshi, for all his dangerous reputation, seemed like the only one who could help him.
"We leave in the morning," Rael said, standing up and moving to prepare for the night.
Jade nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was spiraling further into chaos. His old world felt like a distant memory now, a place where he had once been a mere mortal, struggling to find his place. But here, in this new world, things were different. He had power—real power—and with it came the responsibility to learn how to control it.
As the fire crackled and the night deepened, Jade lay down, staring at the stars above. His mind wandered to the prince, to the bounty on his head, and to the shadowy figure of Kuroshi, the master who might hold the key to his survival.
Jade's journey was far from over. In fact, it had only just begun.