Chapter 2 : Born of fire, bound by light

The training hall stood silent beneath the golden rays of the setting sun, its stone walls echoing only the whispers of wind that slipped through the high arched windows. Dust floated in the shafts of light like gentle sparks, dancing in the still air.

And in the middle of it all… stood Sakura Fujimoto.

She was alone.

Her breathing was steady, her stance practiced. Her small hands were raised, trembling slightly, as she faced the practice dummy made of enchanted wood. Her fingers twitched as she focused her energy.

“Come on… just a little spark this time,” she whispered to herself.

She closed her eyes, gathering her inner energy as she had seen her brother do countless times. Her heart beat in rhythm with her breath.

She thrust her hand forward.

Nothing.

Not even a flicker.

She clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and tried again—murmuring the incantation as clearly as she could. Again. Again. Again.

Still nothing.

The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the floor, and she was still there. Her arms trembled. Her legs ached. Her head was light with exhaustion.

And then—

Thud.

Her knees gave out. Sakura collapsed onto the cold floor, gasping, strands of hair clinging to her damp forehead.

She stared up at the wooden ceiling high above her. It felt endless. Distant. Like every goal she had ever hoped for.

But just as she was about to let herself rest, a faint sound echoed from the corridor outside the hall.

Footsteps.

Sakura's instincts kicked in. Though she lacked magical power, she possessed extraordinary senses and a gift for slipping into the shadows unnoticed. She darted behind a stack of training weapons and crouched silently.

The grand door creaked open.

Two voices entered—one calm and measured, the other stern and cold.

Haruki Fujimoto. Her father.

And beside him, walked her older brother, Shin.

Sakura watched from the shadows, eyes wide but unblinking.

“You must keep your focus,” Haruki said, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber. “You are no longer just a boy of the Fujimoto clan. You are its future.”

Shin didn’t respond, but his silence was more powerful than any words. He nodded once.

“We have built this legacy through sacrifice, power, and fear. You will ascend it. Not just as its heir… but as king of this world.”

King?

Sakura’s eyes widened.

She turned her gaze to her brother. His face was as unreadable as always, but her heart lifted. King…? If it’s my brother… he could really change everything.

A gentle smile bloomed on her lips. Even hidden in the shadows, even breathing quietly so they wouldn’t hear her… that smile appeared. Like it always did.

She waited until they were gone before stepping out from her hiding place.

---

The sun was nearly gone now, barely a red sliver hugging the horizon. The estate roof, a place most avoided, had always been her secret escape. But today, someone was already there.

Shin stood on the edge of the roof, arms crossed, his dark hair stirred slightly by the wind. He looked like a statue carved from shadow and flame.

Sakura tiptoed behind him and—without warning—

“Boo!”

Shin flinched. His head turned, and he blinked down at her.

“You’re… really good at hiding,” he said quietly, a hint of amusement tugging at his lips.

Sakura laughed. “I know.”

He looked at her again, noticing her dirt-streaked face and slightly bruised knees. But before he could ask, she beamed up at him.

“You’re going to be king, right?”

Shin's smile faded. “You heard that?”

Sakura nodded, stepping beside him and leaning against the ledge. “Yeah. I think it’s amazing.”

Shin didn’t respond right away. The silence hung between them like a question neither wanted to ask.

“I think you’ll be a great king,” she said softly. “The best.”

His eyes flicked toward her. “How can you be so sure?”

She shrugged. “Because I know you.”

He looked away, gazing out at the blood-red sky. “Everyone sees me as a weapon. As the next Haruki. As a sword meant to cut down the weak.”

Sakura turned to him. “But I see my brother.”

That stopped him.

“I know you’re kind. I know you don’t like hurting people. I know you care—even if you don’t show it. And I know... you’ll make things better when you get the chance.”

For a moment, Shin didn’t say anything. Then, quietly, he whispered, “Thank you, Sakura.”

She smiled again—this time, soft and sad.

“You don’t need to thank me, brother. I just believe in you.”

For a long moment, Shin said nothing.

Then, something shifted in his expression.

A hint of peace.

“…You’re the only one who says that,” he murmured. “The only one who sees me as more than just a weapon.”

Sakura gave a playful pout. “That’s because the rest of them need glasses.”

Shin chuckled quietly—just once. But to Sakura, it was enough.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

Two siblings.

One with power. One without.

But in that moment, there was no king or failure.

Just a brother and sister—

And a bond stronger than any spell.

No magic

No prophecy.

Just two siblings—one born of fire, one born of light—facing a cruel world together.