###'s POV:
Pain was the first thing that greeted me when I broke through the wall, a deep burning sensation flooding my body as I said goodbye to the cruel world that had been sheltering me.
- In the end, I couldn't do anything.
When I opened my eyes, a bright light filled my vision as I felt the burning sensation slowly fade.
- So it's true that there is a light that takes you to heaven...
Dramatically, I reach out with my hand as I try to reach that light. I reach for it with all my might, resigned to reaching it, when something suddenly blocks the light.
- ...Huh? Ifrit?
A crimson sphere interposed itself between me and the light. The shock allowed my eyes to adjust to my surroundings. I sat perplexed, only to see the empty meadow in front of me. When I looked up again, a bright sun rose above my head as my entire face slowly turned as red as a tomato.
- .... Swallow me, earth. I squat down, frantically looking around in case anyone saw my embarrassing performance. I sigh heavily as a sense of relief floods my body. A sudden pain assails my right side. When I look back, my side is stained with dirt.
- So that's why it hurt...
A new wave of shame hits me as I try to hide my face with my hands. The shame hits me so hard that I want to dig a hole in the ground and stay there, but before I can seriously consider the idea, a floating sphere enters my field of vision.
- Ifrit?
An erratic movement as if aiming for my arm catches my attention. With some curiosity, I look at my arm only to find something resembling a red aura surrounding my body.
- Waaaa!
An involuntary scream leaves my mouth as I try to shake that strange aura off my arm, only to discover it wasn't just covering my arm.
- And this is it?
Looking at my body closely, the crimson aura had a nostalgic hue, one I never thought I'd see again.
- Vulk?
A sudden wave of emotions, both sad and grateful, filled my chest as I gazed fondly at the aura surrounding me.
- Looks like you did protect me after all.
As I looked fondly at my arm, an erratic movement of the sphere caught my attention from the corner of my eye. Curious, I turned to look at the direction the sphere was frantically pointing at. There were two men in leather armor walking toward us. Frightened, I tried to re-enter the ring of fire, but a stone in the path made me lose my balance, and I fell to the ground.
- Ow!
- Hey, what was that?
The men in leather armor heard me and rushed in my direction. Although I tried to run toward the ring of fire, I was soon grabbed by the collar of the dress I was wearing.
- And this brat, what's she doing here?
- I don't know, but... the brat is really wrecked, isn't she?
The one grabbing my neck turns me slightly and looks at my injured right side.
- Puff, hahahahhaah
A loud laugh is heard. The man grabbing me laughs so hard he spits up in a disgusting way while laughing. His companion gives me a desperate look as he looks at me with some pity.
- And to think the fire hero would be a fetish partner!
- ...what?
Both his companion and I say in unison in astonishment.
- Look at her, she's damaged enough that no one would want her again, and at the same time, it's not life-threatening. This is clearly a twisted desire to monopolize her!
His companion just sighs while I look at the man holding me in disgust.
- ...and now what?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, what are we going to do with her?
A crooked smile forms on the face of the man holding me as he looks down at me.
- Why don't we torture the hero with her?
- Torture him?
A chill runs down my spine as I feel the man's gaze glued to my right side.
- The hero of fire put a ring of fire in the middle of this clearing, didn't he? Which means this brat is that "something" he was trying to protect.
A crooked smile spread across his face as he continued.
- We just have to show her to the hero. I bet he won't be too pleased that we have his toy in our hands. We might even be able to kill the hero ourselves using this brat, don't you think?
- ...That's not a bad idea.
- Right?
The two men look at me as if they had a gold mine in their hands. I want to run, but fear keeps me immobile. I slowly raise my hand toward the man.
- I-I don't want to!
I push at him with all my might, hoping to free myself from his grasp, but something totally unexpected happens instead.
- GYAAAHAHHHHH
A shriek echoes through the clearing as I suddenly fall to the ground. To my surprise, the man holding me is writhing on the ground, slowly being consumed by the flames. His companion stares at me in disbelief as he grabs the sword at his waist.
- WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!
With a swift step, he lunges at me, sword in hand, trying to cut me. I try to put my arms in front of me to prevent him from getting closer.
- WAAAAHHHHHHH
Before I realize it, that man is also on fire. Despite his attempts to put out the fire, the fire remains impassive as it slowly consumes them. The screams and sobs slowly fade away as I cover my nose with a piece of my dress to avoid the nauseating smell of burning skin.
- Did I do that?
I stare at my hand in amazement as I think about what could have happened. All I'd done was extend my arm, thinking I wanted him away from me. I focused and replicated the hand motion. To my surprise, a small fireball formed from it and shot out at breakneck speed.
- ….
I stared dumbfounded at my hand and the path of the fireball as a crimson sphere moved frantically once again to point me toward the forest. Despite everything that had happened, I knew exactly what I had to do with this blessing from Vulk.
..........
Erick's POV:
Despite the explosion that had sounded a few moments ago, I didn't feel any pain in my body. The voices moved in complete disarray while a peculiar burning smell filled the air.
- What the...?
Before me, there was now a sea of flames spreading through the bushes that had once served as a hiding place for the Lightning Gang. But that wasn't the most surprising thing. In front of me, a small, familiar figure was running toward me. My eyes couldn't believe what I was seeing.
- Erick! Are you okay?
The little girl's worried face dealt me a psychological blow as she tried to lift me up.
- Quick, we have to run away quickly; that won't distract them for long.
- …..
Unable to fully believe what was happening, I got up with some difficulty from my spot and began to walk clumsily behind the little girl toward the clearing. Her hand tried to gently pull me along as she looked around.
- ####... How did you-?
Before I could complete my sentence, a flash of lightning from the undergrowth pierced ###'s chest. She simply fell to the ground, still holding my hand, seemingly unconscious.
- …..huh?
A stupid voice escapes my throat as a group of giggles echoes from the foliage.
- Did you really think you could leave the party so quickly, Mr. Unsung Hero?
Watching the little girl collapse to the ground, a heavy feeling of guilt hits my chest like a hammer. The laughter and derogatory comments heard around me don't even reach my ears. I just bend down to the ground to take the little girl in my trembling arms. A grimace of pain is the last thing on the little girl's face.
At that moment, something broke inside me.