Elijah's Birthday: The Mad Fire Awakens

Bang! The door flew open with a crash. There was Elijah, sprawled on the floor in shock. And the man from before, gripping both her hands. My heart pounded like it would burst, my whole body burning hot. My reason had already snapped at the filthy conversation leaking from inside. It wasn't even a conversation—just one-sided coercion. Violence backed by authority. Did Elijah still lack the magic to fight back? There was no time to think. All I could feel was a fresh, bitter realization. The world was brutally harsh to the weak, enough to make you sick.

They turned to look at me. I'd overheard his name. Marquis Sardis. Didn't know who he was. Didn't matter.

"Judas…?"

The moment Elijah spoke, I hurled the lantern hanging by the door at Sardis.

"Ugh!"

Sardis reflexively raised his arm to block it. That gave Elijah the chance to slip free. I didn't stop, grabbing a vial from the nearby desk and flinging it. Liquid splashed across Sardis. No idea what it was. From the looks of things, this was some kind of special lab—beakers, flasks, weird herbs, tiny forges and braziers everywhere. So I could only hope that liquid wasn't plain water.

"What the… Aaaagh—!"

The liquid got in Sardis's eyes. He screamed and staggered back.

"Gaaah—! What is this?! What did you splash on me—!"

Just as I'd hoped—not ordinary water. Ignoring his thrashing, I rushed to Elijah.

"Miss."

"Judas…."

Her body trembled faintly. Tears streamed endlessly from her eyes. And those pupils. The red border of her natural eye color. Inside it, blazing orange. At the center, a golden hue like a proud sun, shining steadily—similar to yellow, yet distinct. The telltale sign when Elijah wielded her fire.

The completed Mad Fire takes on a bright golden hue…. Elijah has awakened….

The scattered puzzle pieces clicked back together. Gears meshed and turned. The childhood accident. Awakening. Her birthday.

"You bastards! Where are you—!"

Sardis's shout snapped me back. "Let's get out of here first."

I grabbed Elijah's hand without thinking and pulled her along. Her small hand was ice-cold, slick with cold sweat. As I headed for the door, a lantern came flying. I scooped Elijah into my arms and fell back. The lantern smashed against the doorway, shattering. The kerosene inside spilled out. Flames erupted unnaturally huge, then exploded.

Elijah and I were unhurt, but the doorway was now blocked.

"There you… are…."

Sardis opened his eyes. Bulging, bloodshot whites—not normal. His gaze wasn't right either; he scanned slowly, erratically, like a snake hunting prey.

Elijah's body shook harder.

"Miss."

I called to her, suppressing my ragged breaths. It was just me. I was the only one who could get her out of here now. I had to stay rational. Calm.

"Miss, look at me."

I cupped her cheeks and fixed her gaze on mine. Her round face filled my vision. Staring straight into her tear-filled eyes, I soothed her like a child.

"We're getting out of here. You understand, right?"

She just stared at me with quivering eyes. Her small lips trembled. I wrapped the red blanket around her neck. My hands shook uncontrollably.

"It's awfully cold today. This'll help."

Words tumbled out senselessly. Without waiting for a reply, I tucked the cat doll from the desk into her arms. I ignored Sardis's raging screams.

"Ever played hide-and-seek?"

"Y-yes…."

"Now I'm gonna find you. So stay hidden here real good."

I hid her under a corner desk. It didn't make sense—hide-and-seek, me seeking, yet I was hiding her myself. Neither of us had the wits to point it out.

"Stay put till I come get you."

Elijah nodded, trembling, instead of answering. Her pupils still bore the mark of awakening. She could probably kill Sardis with that. Though I'd burn too, caught in it. Why hadn't she? Because of me? No need since I intervened? With her personality and power….

What was this Elijah? Was she the one I knew? Did I really know Elijah at all?

No time for that now.

"What the hell are you?!"

Sardis bellowed. I turned; his bloodshot eyes fixed on me. I stared back, snatching a fountain pen from the desk. Sharp, pointed tip.

He sneered. "Gonna kill me with that pathetic thing? With those shaking hands?"

"……."

I dropped my gaze. Hands trembling. Legs wobbling. What came next was obvious. I'd cross the line. It terrified me, felt alien. But no backing down. I forced steady breaths. Pushed out tension, summoned pure rage.

"Too bad. I could've made you one of my favorites."

My teeth ground together. Inhale, exhale. Slow breaths through clenched jaws.

"……."

No reply to his drivel. Emotions raged. Body ready to shatter, explode everywhere.

The shaking stopped. Emotions settled. Only the needed rage remained. I kicked the nearby chair in a surprise attack. Impossible before. But my mana-enhanced body launched it like a cannon.

"Kuh!"

Sardis rolled aside. Books tumbled from the hit shelf, burying him. I vaulted the long desk between us and charged. Fountain pen gripped tight.

Sardis emerged from the pile, reaching for me. Aiming like he was about to fire something.

No way.

Red light gathered in his palm like a lump. The exploded lantern flashed in my mind—not just ignited, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠detonated.

A mage?!

Sardis saw me and grinned viciously. Victory sensed. Whoosh! A dazzling fireball formed. Instinctively, I raised an arm. Knowing it wouldn't block.

Sizzle….

"…?"

It should've hit. But the flame touching my arm vanished into smoke.

"What…!"

Sardis panicked. Me too, but no time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to hesitate. Seize the opening. I leaped from the desk, tackling him. He fired again; it vanished on contact. I bit his flailing arm away, straddled him, grabbed his collar. Fountain pen reversed. Target: side of the neck. Between jaw and collarbone. Carotid.

Before stabbing, activate the trait.

Sardis muttered in horror. "You, of the moon…!"

Stab!

The rest died unspoken.

***

"……."

Huddled under the desk, Elijah trembled silently, stifling sobs. Eyes squeezed shut, lips pressed tight. Blanket pulled to her chin, clutching the cat doll tighter. The masochism she'd ignored bore transparent fruit. Years of endured abuse. Tears fell. The dam cracked.

Chaos outside. Judas fighting Sardis, probably. Each loud crash made her flinch and curl tighter. She wanted to check. Curious despite the unknown outcome. But she held back. Judas said stay put till he returned.

"M-Mommy…."

Unheld emotions condensed into one word, spilling out. Her weak self, unable to kill, invaded reality. Suppressed feelings. Memories. Things ignored to keep going. She missed her mom. Sick of the reality making her wretched. Wanted it all to end. Just everything. Scary. Exhausted.

A memory of being left alone. That day, Mom said stay home quietly. Had somewhere to go briefly. Elijah obeyed. Mom never returned. Not even as a corpse. What if same this time? What if Judas didn't come back? If Sardis did? Because she stayed put. If she'd been with Mom, maybe different. Though hard to control, together she could've saved her. Definitely. It was a fire. Her fire-handling could've helped. So her fault for not being there. All her fault.

Self-loathing surged; fire whispered. Burn them all. Kill them. You deserve it. True. Why punish her when the world wouldn't leave her be? Guilt not solely hers. Weak emotions were luxury. No time to hesitate. Burn the Bebel family. Scatter their ashes on fields, feed the crops to livestock. No weakness. Only once a year. Mom's death anniversary enough….

"Miss."

Judas's voice woke her. The inner fire hushed. A light piercing darkness. But why did it tremble on the verge of collapse?

Elijah whipped her head; Judas stopped her. "Don't look."

She obeyed instantly, like curse-bound.

"I'm… kinda messy right now. Not good for you to see. And this place is filthy."

"O-okay…."

"Stay put a sec."

"D-don't go…!"

Elijah clutched the doll, pleading like a scream. Judas smiled faintly.

"Not going far. Just gotta wipe my hands."

"O-okay…."

Judas stayed close. Cloth rustled nearby as he cleaned.

"Told you, it's dirty around here. I'll guide you—just close your eyes and follow."

"O-okay…."

Elijah shut her eyes. Lids quivered. Something enveloped her hand.

"Hic…!"

"It's me. It's okay."

"O-okay…."

The gentle grip led her. She stood, crawled from under the desk. Pitch black. Terrifying void. Yet she walked. Following the hand. Step, step. Crackling flames. Creaking collapse. Gurgling death rattles. Their footsteps drowned it all. In the unseen dark, only the hand felt like a firefly's glow. Leading to distant, serene paradise, entranced.

Yes, firefly. Long ago, as a little girl. A forest where fireflies partied at night. Green lights dancing in dark, prettier than any art. Far from the main house, hiding from Narcissus, just her and Mom. Days life still held color. Mom took her to special places when possible. Like that firefly forest. Elijah treasured those memories, saving them for special times, lest they fade. In a gray world, only memories held color. Shared with Mom. Now savored alone.

Eyes tight shut, she followed Judas. Stopped when he did to clear something, walked when he did. Heat boiled inside. The fire she'd nearly unleashed when Sardis lunged. The power that hurt Mom as a child, uncontrolled. Cursed her innate talent. After Mom died, doubt sealed it away. Now it strained to erupt. Burn, destroy everything. Just earlier, Sardis, the lab—all. But since Judas took her hand, she held it back. Explosion might catch him. One regret from uncontrolled power enough.

Clinging to the warmth of Judas's hand. More than dependence, maybe. Something flowed from him. Cool comfort soothing her raging heat. The lab wasn't huge, but the path to the door felt endless. Then, air shifted. Cold, fresh wind on skin.

"Judas… can I now?"

"Yes. Open your eyes. But maybe don't look at me…."

"Miss—!"

Desperate call; Elijah opened her eyes. Lia rushed over, pale. Soldiers in armor from the mansion. Butler and maids assisting the party. Even noble guests. All shocked. And her family. Bebel crest-bearers. Odd they could be surprised. But they'd be disappointed soon. They'd want her dead somehow.

"Miss!"

Lia hugged her. "A-anywhere hurt? Uncomfortable…?"

"Yeah… I'm fine…."

Judas stepped back. Only then did Elijah look at him. Blood-soaked face and body. Knowing it wasn't his, her heart still dropped.

"I-I'm sorry. I was late noticing… what happened…? S-sorry…."

Lia muttered insanely, checking Elijah everywhere. Voice unlike her usual stiff tone. But Elijah had no room to notice. Entranced, staring at Judas. Gruesome, blood-drenched, yet smiling at her. Reassuring. Kind smile. She'd seen it before. Her sole ally's stabilizing smile. Making everything feel okay, no matter what….

Then, thunderous roar. "You bastard!"

A knight charged, kicking Judas. Mana-charged kick. Explosion clear in her eyes. Judas tumbled, vomiting blood. Knight raised sword to cleave him.

Everything slowed. Elijah shoved Lia, rushed forward.

"Who sent you?! Daring to touch the miss…!"

The sword fell. Arm with it.

"Don't touch ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him."

Elijah said lowly. She'd placed herself between Judas and the knight. Behind, the magic lab blazed. Her eyes strangely hued. Red, orange, yellow-gold. Flames matching her eyes whipped up around her, slicing the knight's arms.

"All of you, back off."

She hissed coldly. The flickering flames wrapped the armless knight, binding him.

"Unless you want this."

Sinister flames. People retreated, unable to approach. Fallen Judas saw it too.

The Mad Fire… full awakening….

The power he knew from Elijah revealed. Disaster devouring all once triggered. Hot flames followed her emotions. If she willed, everything burned. The golden blaze roared wildly, swelling, spreading threateningly. Screams as people fled. Judas knew how dangerous she was now. Don't get close. Her flames circled her and him like a barrier. Imprisoning. He tried retreating. Kicked gut left him too weak to stand. Crawled back on elbows. A flame tendril shot forward.

"Ugh…!"

Like blocking Sardis's fire, arm up reflexively. But it didn't burn or fade. Just hovered protectively. Judas looked up. Elijah's small back, shielding him.

Elijah had fully awakened the Mad Fire. But not as he knew it.

What the hell….

As he reeled, the bound knight screamed. Bebel sun emblem on his armor blackened like burning paper. Orange edges on the crumbling circle. Like a warped eclipse. Char spread instantly. He crumbled to ash.

From the distant crowd, someone stepped forward. The one who burned the knight Elijah bound. No need to kill him—just warning her of her power. Golden hair, red eyes. Sturdy mid-aged build. Valak di Bebel. Bebel family head, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Black-Crowned Emperor. Bebel Duke. Elijah's father, continent's strongest mage.

"Elijah."

His eyes rippled crimson. Like hers, yet different. No central blazing gold pupil. Elijah glared hostilely. Fire whispered again. Burn them all. Kill. Snake-tongue temptation. But one change—her own. Judas's presence behind crystal clear. Threaten him, enemy—burn regardless who. Even the doting father act before her.

"Can you explain to your father what happened?"

That question. Darkness flooded her mind. Valak demanding explanation. What happened. That earlier incident…. Fire urged fiercer.

"I'll."

Judas staggered in. "I'll explain."

No way he'd let Elijah say it.