The Ember Seeker

A bounty hunter, haunted by a past shrouded in fire and loss, accepts a seemingly routine case aboard the enigmatic Profaned Airship. But as illusions unravel and secrets ignite, he'll discover the terrifying truth of his own identity, a truth forged in the very flames he sought to escape. Will he embrace the cinders of truth or be consumed by the lies?

The lingering scent of scorched earth and distant screams still clung to my memories, even now. I remember the exhaustion, the clang of steel on steel, the thrum of arcane energy tearing through the air. Today, however, promised a brief respite. I pictured my village, the familiar paths leading to the cool pond, a quiet bath to wash away the grime of dagger sparring and archery practice.

But the world had other plans. The familiar peace was shattered. Where serene birdsong once echoed, now only the roar of flames and the clash of unknown factions filled the air. My village, once a haven, had become a battlefield, littered with the dead and dying. The air, thick with magic, choked me, demanding I finally confront the supernatural realities I'd always denied. Hell had descended.

A faint voice, barely a whisper, called my name. I searched, desperate, my eyes sweeping over burning gates, collapsing walls, distant fields consumed by inferno. The voice grew louder, more insistent, yet its source remained elusive. It was then, amidst the smoke and ash, that a chilling realization dawned: This was a dream.