Fire.
It was her first memory. Not the warmth of a campfire or the gentle light of a candle. Rather, the fire that devoured, that took, that turned laughter into screams and a home into ash. A fire that revealed the true face of the world: cruel, indifferent, and allowing the strong to prey on the weak.
Then, came the darkness.
A darkness colder than death itself. A darkness where wicked laughter echoed, where every shred of dignity was torn away, and where justice died in an unheard scream. In that darkness, an oath was born from the remnants of a shattered soul. A promise forged in pain and betrayal. A promise to become the fire itself. A fire of annihilation that would burn this rotten world until there was nothing left to rot.
And now, she was summoned.
In a turbulent dimensional rift, where reality was torn like old cloth, a blood-red gate opened. From within, she stepped out. Ignis.
She stood before her Master, Alaric, the shadowy figure who sat upon a throne of obsidian. Alaric was the architect of her suffering and also the only figure of authority left in her rage-filled existence.
A hologram of Alaric's pale-faced aide knelt before him.
"My Lord, as you predicted, the Crimson Hunt unit in Stellara has failed completely. They were unable to capture the Resonator or retrieve 'Lyra' and 'Chroma'."
The figure on the throne did not move. "Humans are indeed fragile tools," Alaric's voice finally sounded, deep and full of disappointment. "They are useful for crude work, but to face other Soul Echoes, we need fire to fight fire."
He turned his head towards Ignis. "Did you hear that, Ignis? My weak soldiers have failed. They even allowed two of your 'sisters' to be tamed by a human child, treated like pets."
A bitter, scornful smirk formed on Ignis's lips. "I'm not surprised. Humans only know how to fail." She laughed, her laughter sounding like crackling embers. "They put you in a gilded cage and call it 'protection', until they no longer have a use for you."
"Precisely," Alaric nodded, seemingly pleased with her response. "That boy, a Resonator, has made them forget their true nature. He gave them false warmth and called it 'family'."
The word "family" made the fire in Ignis's eyes burn brighter. It was a word that had turned to ash in her mouth long ago.
"Go to Stellara," Alaric commanded. "Burn their lies. Shatter that gilded cage. Show them that the only truth for Soul Echoes like us is power, and the only peace is in total destruction. Show that boy what happens when he tries to play with fire."
Ignis did not answer. She simply turned around, her hands clenched tightly. On the back of her hand, a greatsword, "Laevateinn", appeared in a flash of fire. Its dark obsidian blade seemed to absorb all light, leaving only red runes that glowed with hatred.
"I don't need your orders to punish traitors," she hissed. She stepped back into the fiery gate, her furious figure swallowed by the blood-red flames.
The gate closed.
Alaric remained on his throne, gazing at the spot where Ignis had stood. He smiled in the shadows.
"Burn it all, Ignis," he whispered to the darkness. "Burn them until only the truth remains. And from the ashes, I will take what is mine."
In Stellara, under the calm night sky, no one knew that a meteor of fury was hurtling towards their fragile peace. A fire that had long waited to burn the world.