The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the forest.

  “Come on, Arn! Are you really going to let her beat you again?!” someone screamed from the sidelines as a group of twenty Sunkissed Humans stood around in a circle.

  Arn laughed as a kick struck his chest and sent him flying back into some of the bystanders.“Come on, brother. Do you really think I’m not trying?”

  The young, tall man stood up and slowly made his way back, holding his chest as he felt the heat dissipate from its center. As he moved back into the middle of the ring, a short woman with braided hair stood waiting for him. She wore almost nothing but the necessary amount of armor to cover her private parts, and tattoos, some form of flowing language, ran across her entire body.

  She smiled.“Oh, come on, Arn. Stop being such a downer. You know you’ve got more than this. What would that be, 20–0 now? You keep coming back. at this point, I’d think you get enjoyment out of getting your ass kicked by me.”

  She leapt into the sky with a single jump and came crashing back down.

  “MAI, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” Arn yelled, realizing what she was about to do. He looked around and waved his arm.“EVERYONE, GET BACK!”

  He crossed his arms as his body solidified, turning into what seemed like hardened magma.

  She’s fucking crazy, he thought to himself. How the fuck did I manage to fall in love with a psychopath?

  He planted his feet and opened his stance to withstand Mai’s attack. Laughing, he spread his arms wide and screamed at her,“Or maybe I just love you, idiot, and this is the only way I can ever get your attention!”

  Mai looked down as her body began to emit steam, heating up as vapor escaped her skin.“I can’t hear you!” she shouted as she plummeted downward.

  “Fuck,” Arn muttered.

  Her body collided with his in an explosion he was all too used to by now. The ground shook violently as dust burst into the air around them.

  “I said I love you, idiot!”

  Suddenly, Mai released the rest of her energy, and a massive cloud of vapor enveloped them both. Her face turned red as all signs of aggression vanished.

  “Let go of me!!” she shouted.

  “Ugh,” Arn groaned as he dropped her from his arm.“Whatever.”

  He walked past her.“I guess that makes it 21–0…”

  His body remained in what his tribe called an ignus state.

  “You know, you could be Queen if you wanted to. Why do you keep denying his advances?” someone asked.

  A hand reached out toward Mai, and she took it.“Because he’s too good.”

  She looked up to see her brother rolling his eyes at her.“Mai, you are quite literally the strongest warrior in our tribe. Stop being so stupid and go for your man, before someone else takes him.”

  As Arn walked away, he saw a familiar face approach him.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “What do you want, Rin? I’m not in a good mood.”

  Arn’s brother smiled as he approached, tapping Arn on the back and looking at him.“Come on, stop being so down. You know she’ll come around. Just keep your head up. Come on, let’s go get some grub.”

  He wrapped his arm around Arn’s neck and laughed as they slowly moved away from the scene of the battle. Arn looked back once more as Mai stood up, staring at him, before continuing on.

  Arn and Rin arrived at the only tavern and inn in the village, the only place to ever get anything from the outside. Rin smacked the table as he sat down.

  “Hey, Jun! Arn got his ass kicked again. Got anything new that could help a broken heart, and an almost broken neck?”

  A tall, muscular human with a long mustache and beard that curled at the ends, adorned with several wooden circlets, turned around.“I have nothing for the neck. However, I can definitely help you with the heart.”

  He pulled a blue drink from beneath one of the cabinets.“Don’t have a name for it yet, but I just made this. It’s a combination of flying berries with a bit of snake venom. Tried it myself yesterday, went to sleep like a baby.”

  Arn gulped.“Venom from what snake exactly?”

  Jun wagged his finger in disapproval.“You trying to put me out of business? Won’t kill you, trust me. If Mai didn’t kill you with those explosions of hers, you’ll be fine.”

  Rin grabbed the bottle and poured it straight into Arn’s mouth.“Come on! We don’t ever do anything together lately. Let’s at least enjoy a drink before we leave.”

  Arn clutched his throat, sputtering as he caught his breath.“Ugh. that tastes horrible.”

  He grabbed the bottle from Rin’s hand and poured them both a shot into two wooden cups.

  “I’m glad you decided to come with us. I was worried you’d take Father’s words to heart.”

  Arn drank his shot, poured himself another, and downed it immediately.“Well, I did… but I also wanted to see how you and Mai are on the journey. It’s bound to be more fun than sitting around training.”

  Rin laughed as he sipped his drink before gulping it down.“Don’t dismiss your training. You’re next in line if something happens to me.”

  Arn looked at Rin.“Brother, the only person who could ever do something to you is Mai.”

  Arn took another sip as Rin replied,“There’s always someone bigger. I mean… I’m sure you could see who defeats me in the future, no?”

  He stood up, swirling his cup.“That’s not how it works.”

  Rin smirked.“My visions show possibilities, not truths. And I don’t control what I see, they just come.”

  Arn took another sip.“So what has it shown you?”

  Rin looked at him, then stood.“Come.”

  He gestured toward the door.“Thank you, Jun.”

  The two of them left, the door slamming behind them.“Let’s go to the forest. Let’s visit the elder’s grave.”

  Arn followed behind, confused, and struggling to concentrate thanks to Jun’s concoction.“Okay,” Arn said.

  The walk was peaceful. The forest soothed them, the sounds of countless animals serenading the night, fireflies gathering to light the path for the two brothers.

  “Come, sit, brother,” Rin said as he lay near a tree.

  “You know what they call this type of tree?” Arn asked, pointing.“The Firefly Tree.”

  Arn sat down.“It glows brighter than the moon. It lights the path for spirits bound to return to the Mother Flame.”

  Arn put his arm around Rin again.“Well, at least you still remember the stories Grandpa told us.”

  Rin looked around as the fireflies slowly began to dim.“It seems the fireflies are dying quicker than before.”

  “Yeah,” Arn said quietly. “It’s been getting worse lately.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “Honestly? It all started when the Empire attacked the southern tribes. Could be related.”

  “Do you think we’ll be okay?”

  “Of course,” Arn said with a smile. “As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure we all are.”

  “So… what happened?” Arn asked, tossing a rock into the nearby lake. “Did you want to tell me something?”

  “No. I’m sorry,” Rin said. “I just wanted to spend some time together. I know things are going to change after this journey, so I wanted that, before it.”

  Arn yawned.“Nothing will change, little brother. I’ll always be here to protect you.”

  Rin turned to look at Arn just as his head tilted forward, gently coming to rest against Rin’s shoulder as he fell asleep.

  “I’m afraid,” Rin whispered, his quiet sobs drowned out by the nearby river.