Chapter 2: The Path of the Soul Soldier

The moon was high above the twisted branches of the ancient woodlands. Aran and Renka had been traveling for days, walking through the twilight with no particular destination, only moving forward. The air smelled of damp earth and distant fires, and the eerie stillness that enveloped them only seemed to deepen with every step.

The boy, Aran, had his eyes fixed ahead, his pace steady. His golden flame, usually dormant, pulsed faintly from his chest as though it could feel the night itself—alive and restless.

Renka walked beside him, her expression unreadable. The last few days had been spent in silence, the weight of what had happened still hanging between them like a phantom. Kaizen—her twin brother—was gone, and his soul now lay within Aran’s grasp. The boy had killed him, yes, but the circumstances were more complex than anyone could comprehend.

Aran’s newfound ability to extract souls, to take the essence of a defeated warrior and make them into an obedient soldier, had unnerved her. The power was something neither of them understood, and it terrified her. Yet she could not ignore what had happened—the way his golden soul fire had revived Kaizen. The boy had become something else, something greater than anyone had anticipated.

Aran’s footsteps faltered slightly as his mind wandered back to the fight. His soul soldier, Kaizen, now stood beside them, his empty eyes glowing faintly with the cold fire of the Blue Flame. The warrior who had once fought against him, now his servant.

“Renka,” Aran said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence, “Do you think this is wrong? Taking someone’s soul like that?”

Renka didn’t answer immediately. She wasn’t sure what to say. She had never encountered this kind of power before, and it wasn’t something the Blue Flame Clan ever taught. To take a life was one thing. To take a soul—now that was something darker, something that carried consequences beyond mere death.

“It’s... unnatural,” she finally said, her voice distant. “But the question is—why did you do it?”

Aran frowned, unsure of how to explain it. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened.” He shook his head, frustration evident on his face. “I didn’t know I had this ability. I didn’t even understand what was happening until Kaizen…”

Renka’s eyes softened. She could see the confusion in his gaze—the guilt, the uncertainty. It reminded her of herself when she first became a warrior, when she had to make choices that weighed on her heart.

“Your power is rare, Aran,” she said quietly. “But it’s dangerous. Not just for you—but for everyone.”

Aran glanced at her, his golden eyes flickering with an unreadable intensity. “Then I’ll learn to control it. I’ll make sure it’s not a danger.”

Renka remained silent, the weight of her words settling over them like a storm cloud. Could she trust him? Could anyone? What did it mean to wield such power?

The distant sound of breaking branches interrupted her thoughts. Aran and Renka immediately tensed, their bodies instinctively moving into a defensive stance. Kaizen, now their soul soldier, shifted behind them, his eyes dull but alert.

From the shadows of the trees emerged a lone figure, cloaked in dark garb, with eyes that glowed the deep crimson of the Red Flame.

Another warrior.

Renka’s hand went to the hilt of her blade, her fingers tightening around the handle. The Red Flame Clan’s warriors were known for their brutality, and if this one had found them, it meant trouble.

“Who are you?” Renka demanded, her voice cold.

The figure stepped forward, the soulfire around him crackling with power. His red eyes gleamed, his expression hidden beneath a mask of shadows. He held no weapon, but his very presence radiated menace.

“I am Taizen of the Red Flame Clan,” the figure said, his voice smooth but tinged with an edge of danger. “And I have been sent by the Red King to deal with the Gold Flame boy.”

Aran’s eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of the sword that he had yet to fully master. “I’m not interested in dealing with the Red King. Tell him to stay out of my way.”

Taizen laughed, a low, mocking sound that sent a chill down Aran’s spine. “You misunderstand. You are the one who will have to deal with me. The Red King has made it clear that your existence threatens the balance of the soul clans. You are a threat that must be eliminated.”

Aran’s golden flame flared in response, a violent pulse that ignited the air around him. His power was raw, untamed, but it was strong. His heart beat louder in his chest as the thrill of combat surged within him. He wasn’t going to let anyone control his fate—not now, not ever.

Renka stepped forward, positioning herself between Aran and Taizen. “Leave now, before things get ugly.”

Taizen’s grin widened, showing teeth like sharpened daggers. “I think not. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

Without warning, Taizen lunged, his red soul fire erupting in a wave of intense heat. The air around him shimmered as if the very world was bending to his will. Aran’s instincts kicked in. He didn’t think—he just reacted.

His golden flame surged, a shield of light flashing around him as he met Taizen’s attack with a force that shook the ground beneath them. The two forces collided in an explosion of energy, sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees were torn from their roots, and the ground split open in jagged cracks.

Renka moved swiftly to the side, her blue blades slicing through the air in a blur. She could feel the power of the two flames clashing like titans—gold against red, light against fury. She had to admit, she had never seen Aran’s soul fire in action like this before. It was beautiful—terrifyingly so.

The battle raged on for what felt like hours, but in reality, it was only minutes. Taizen’s strength was overwhelming, but Aran’s raw power seemed to be ever-growing, fueled by his burning determination.

Finally, Aran found an opening. He stepped forward, his golden soul fire exploding from his body in a brilliant flare. The heat was so intense that it scorched the very air between them. With a swift motion, he unleashed a wave of golden flames that enveloped Taizen, searing through his defenses.

Taizen screamed as the flames consumed him, his body writhing in agony. The Red Flame warrior collapsed to the ground, defeated. Aran stood above him, his breathing ragged, his golden flames flickering with triumph.

Renka watched in stunned silence, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen anything like this. Aran had killed a Red Flame warrior in a matter of moments.

“Is he…?” she whispered, unsure whether to be relieved or terrified.

Aran turned to her, his expression hardening. “He’s not dead. But he won’t be a threat anymore.”

As he spoke, Taizen’s body began to glow faintly, his soul being drawn into the boy’s golden fire. A dark shape formed behind Aran, and Kaizen—the soul soldier—stepped forward, his eyes empty but his body moving with purpose.

“This is your first soul soldier,” Renka said softly, her voice filled with awe. “You’re... growing stronger.”

Aran didn’t answer. He was lost in the weight of his own power.

For the first time, he felt the full impact of what he could do. He had just killed a warrior, taken his soul, and created a soldier in his image.

But where would this path lead him?

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