Ash and the girl stood there, eyes locked through the half-cracked door—both silent, both still. Her gaze was wide, but not in fear. There was something more there, something unreadable.
Ash shifted his weight, breaking the silence with an uncomfortable cough. "Excuse me… I'm looking—"
Before he could finish, the door slammed shut with a sharp clack.
Ash blinked, stunned. For a second, he stood frozen, staring at the door. 'Huh… what just happened?' he thought, still processing.
Then... voices.
Soft. Muffled. Ash could catch them, though—his senses were honed by his tier 5 Vitalforce, so every sound, no matter how small, cut through the walls with sharp clarity.
A young voice—flustered. "You guys didn't tell me a cute boy was coming!"
Ash blinked. 'Me? Cute? No one's ever called me that before… That title usually goes to Kael. Wait—does she... have a crush on me? This is new.'
Another voice joined in, this one more composed, older. "Don't tell me you slammed the door in his face."
A soft gasp. "Do you think he'll hate me?"
The older voice sighed. "Maybe… but I'll talk to him. Clear things up."
"Thanks. I'll go change real quick!"
A pause. Then the older voice, slightly amused. "Change?"
Before Ash could respond, the door creaked open again.
This time, it wasn't the girl. It was a woman—older, her face lined with the weight of experience, but calm, composed. Her posture was straight, the way she held the door revealing a quiet strength. She met Ash's eyes for a moment before stepping back.
"Sorry about that," she said, her tone sincere. "My daughter wasn't expecting any visitors today."
Ash shrugged, his tone neutral. "Yeah. No problem."
The woman studied him, her gaze lingering just a little longer than necessary. Then her expression shifted—a subtle change, but Ash noticed it. Recognition? Maybe even respect. Or was it something else? "Wait… Who are you?"
"Ash. I'm here to see Guz." Ash's voice was steady.
Her eyes widened, just a fraction—barely enough for Ash to notice. But he did. "Ash Burns? From the Burns family?"
Ash gave a slow nod. "Yeah."
Her entire demeanor shifted in an instant. The casualness melted away, replaced by something more formal, warmer, but with an edge of something… uncertain. "Please, come inside."
Ash stepped over the threshold, his senses still on alert.
The air inside was warm, the faint scent of stew mixing with the musty tang of old wood. The floorboards creaked underfoot, smooth from years of use. The house was small, but it had a lived-in feel. Cozy, not extravagant.
The walls were decorated with faded pictures and handmade drawings, while a single shelf bore a stack of hand-stitched books. A coat rack stood near the door, holding two jackets—one large, one much smaller. A narrow hallway led deeper into the house, disappearing into the shadows.
In the corner of the room, a low, cracked-leather couch sat beside a table, its surface marked with faded cup stains.
As Ash took another step inside, his gaze landed on her.
A girl—probably around thirteen—sat at the edge of a low stool, her eyes locked on Ash with a look of quiet fascination. She didn't blink, her wide eyes following his every movement. Her hair was tied in a messy ponytail, and she clutched a well-worn notebook to her chest like it was something precious.
Ash gave her a small nod as he walked toward the couch, trying to ignore the weight of her gaze.
The older woman spoke again, her voice calm. "I'll go wake Guz. He should be resting upstairs."
She turned her attention to the younger girl, her tone gentle but firm. "You—don't disturb him."
The girl didn't even flinch. She simply stared at the woman, her voice soft but defensive. "I haven't even said anything yet."
The older woman's footsteps echoed softly as she climbed the stairs, the sound fading as she disappeared from view.
For a long moment, the only noise in the room was the hum of the house—old walls shifting with the wind outside, and the occasional creak of the floorboards. Then, without a word, the young girl stood from her stool and moved toward Ash. Her steps were quiet, unsure, like she was testing the ground beneath her feet.
She sat down next to him on the couch, close enough that her presence was undeniable, but not uncomfortable.
Ash stiffened. 'What the hell…?'
The girl didn't seem to notice his unease. Her eyes stayed fixed on him, wide and expectant. "I overheard Mom at the door. You're Ash Burns, right?"
Ash nodded, unsure where this conversation was headed, his body still tense.
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper as if they were sharing a secret. "Like Ash Burns... Son of the legendary Flame?"
Ash blinked, the word "legendary" hanging in the air. He didn't say anything, just nodded again, unsure how to process the weight of what she'd said.
The girl let out a soft giggle, her small hand reaching out to grab his. Her fingers closed around his, warm and firm. Ash froze, caught off guard by the sudden touch. His mind raced, a thousand thoughts colliding at once. 'What the hell is going on here?'
"Don't you talk?" she asked, her voice teasing, like she was enjoying the awkwardness.
Ash stared at her for a moment, still unsure of how to react. "I... I don't know what to say."
Her smile deepened, amusement flickering across her face. But then her expression shifted, her eyes darkening just a shade, like the mood had changed in an instant.
"My father always talks about how great your father is. How he saved his life... and everyone else's. He says there's no way he could ever repay him."
Ash's stomach twisted. 'Where is she going with this?' Something about the conversation felt off.
Her gaze held his, intense and unblinking. Ash shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her stare pressing against him. She leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper.
"I would like to offer myself to you... as payment."
Ash's heart skipped a beat. His mind went blank. 'Huh? What is she saying?'
The air in the room thickened, an uncomfortable tension creeping in, heavy and suffocating.
A loud voice suddenly broke through the silence. "Zoey!"
Zoey's hand jerked away from Ash's, her face brightening as she turned toward the door. "Ugh," she muttered, barely under her breath. "Nina's here."
Ash's heart skipped. The second girl—the one from earlier—stepped into the room. Nina. She was different now, dressed in a flowing outfit that looked out of place here. Soft pastel colors shimmered under the light, a stark contrast to the worn surroundings. The elegance of the clothes seemed almost too perfect for a place like this. She moved with a confident grace, but Ash noticed the slight tension in her every step.
"What are you doing with him?" Nina's voice was sharp, her eyes flashing as she looked from Zoey to Ash. There was a bite to her tone, tinged with something Ash couldn't place. "You know I saw him first. Aren't you a little young for this, Zoey?" Her eyes flicked to Ash for a moment, then quickly moved away, like she was hiding something beneath a veil of sarcasm.
'What a mess,' Ash thought, stuck in the middle of this strange tug-of-war.
Zoey didn't seem bothered at all. She leaned back casually, smirking. "You slammed a door in his face," she pointed out, her voice playful but biting. "You already lost."
Nina froze, her face flushing a deep red. "Don't say that out loud!" she hissed, horrified. "I'm still embarrassed!"
Before anyone could respond, Nina's gaze snapped back to Ash. Her eyes studied him like a predator sizing up its prey. For a brief moment, her stare was cold, distant, before she quickly turned away and sat down on his other side.
Ash blinked, confused. 'Wait, why are you sitting here too?'
Zoey caught his gaze, a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "What's with the change in clothing, Nina?" she teased. "Didn't you just show up looking like a mess after doing chores?"
Nina's expression darkened. Her lips thinned into a line, and she shot Zoey a glare that made Ash wonder if there was more to this rivalry than he realized.
Ash almost smiled at the back-and-forth, but quickly caught himself. 'They remind me of my brothers...' A pang of nostalgia tugged at him before he could stop it. He glanced at Zoey again, his lips twitching into a small smile. 'She kinda reminds me of Evy…'
Nina's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and accusing. "Wait—are you interested in my sister?"
Ash froze, caught completely off guard. 'What? No! Not at all.' His mouth opened, but the words tangled in his mind. "Wait, what? No."
Nina raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk curving her lips. Her eyes narrowed, watching him closely. "Then why did you smile when you looked at her?"
Zoey, oblivious to the rising tension, tilted her head toward Ash. "Wait—he smiled? Looking at me?" She grinned, her voice teasing. Before Ash could react, she was on him again, throwing her arms around him in a sudden, unexpected hug.
Ash tensed, his body rigid with shock. 'What the hell is going on?'
Nina's face twisted in irritation. Her fingers clenched the fabric of her clothes, and she snapped, "Zoey, get off him!"
Ash sat there, caught between the two of them, frozen. The chaos swirled around him—attraction, jealousy, and something deeper, more complicated. It was like a storm he couldn't escape, and he had no idea how to navigate it.
'This is insane. I don't even know what to think right now.' His heart raced, his mind struggling to keep up with the confusion. But the more he tried to make sense of it, the less clear it became.
All he could do was sit there, the uneasy smile he almost wore long gone, his thoughts now focused on one thing. 'C'mon, Guz. Where are you?'
As if on cue,
A voice rose from the stairs, firm but not loud.
"Come on, girls, let go of him. He's a very important guest."
Ash turned. Guz stood halfway down, one hand on the railing. His wife followed behind—tall, quiet, her steps soft but sure. Her face held beauty, but the kind that came after long days and harder nights. Tired eyes, kind eyes.
Zoey didn't move. She stayed wrapped around Ash like she'd finally found something safe.
Guz stopped at the bottom, gaze drifting to Ash. A faint smile touched his face. "I'm glad to see you're okay. Honestly, I didn't think you'd show up."
Ash gave a nod. "I promised you, didn't I?"
The smile faded. Guz's shoulders dropped slightly. "So… how did it go?"
Ash's voice dropped, his eyes cold. "Not so good. A lot of people died."
The word sat in the air, heavy and sharp.
Zoey's hands slipped away like they'd been burned. Her body pulled back, her playful glow gone. She stared at him, quiet now. Something behind her eyes cracked open—worry, maybe fear.
Guz lowered his voice. "I'm sorry to hear that. Your brothers… are they alright?"
Ash's eyes narrowed. "They're doing well. They went to check the infirmary… for the survivors."
Guz tilted his head. "And you didn't go with them?"
Ash said nothing. He looked at the floor, jaw tight.
That silence answered everything.
Guz sighed, longer this time. He turned to the girls, trying to soften the edge of the room.
"Well… hello, troublemakers. Would you like me to introduce you properly now?"
Nina crossed her arms. "I mean… yeah, Dad. A little context would help."
He let out a dry laugh. "You've already met them—my daughters. Zoey, the spirited one… and Nina, the one with too much attitude for her own good."
"Dad…" Nina groaned.
Ash thought, 'No kidding.'
Guz raised a hand toward the woman beside him. "This is my lovely wife, Hannah."
Hannah gave a small nod, hands folded, her eyes calm.
Guz looked at everyone, his voice rising slightly. "And everyone, I'd like you to meet Ash Burns—one of the sons of Flame."
The silence came fast.
Nina stiffened. "Ash…? As in Flame's son, Ash?"
She turned to him, eyes wide, her face pale. "No way…"
Ash thought, 'Your father really did a number on you guys, huh. He turned you all into crazy fans.'
Nina stepped back, arms crossing her chest like she was trying to guard herself. "No wonder you're so quiet… It all makes sense now."
The room felt different now. Everyone looked at him like he was something out of a story. Not a person. Something worn, something touched by war. Something far away.
Ash felt their eyes.
Not the awe. Not the respect.
Something else hid beneath it all. A weight. A pressure.
'i am not my father and i will never be.' That thought sat in his chest like a stone. Heavy. Cold.
And still, they looked at him, hoping the myth was real. Hoping he would live up to a name that wasn't his to carry.