Relics: The Ashes of a Lost World

The cold air stung Nur's skin as he trudged through the snow, his breath forming faint clouds in the freezing atmosphere. He wasn't surprised anymore by the occasional Mercha appearing from nowhere, but each encounter left his muscles tense and his flames flickering just below the surface.

The distant sound of a struggle caught his attention—sharp, deliberate movements and heavy impacts. He adjusted the goggles over his eyes, narrowing his gaze as the fight came into focus. A figure—a young man—darted around a hulking Mercha, his movements frantic and unrefined.

Nur paused, assessing the situation. The guy was clearly outmatched, wielding nothing more than a broken rod. He noted the Mercha's movements, how it swiped and lunged, each attack leaving deep gouges in the snow.

"Amateur," Nur muttered under his breath, fire flickering faintly at his fingertips.

The Mercha reared back for a final strike, its claws raised high. Nur's instincts kicked in, and he released a burst of flames.

BOOM!

The fire hit the Mercha squarely, forcing it back and leaving scorch marks on its metallic frame. It screeched in protest, the sound grating against Nur's ears.

"Get up," Nur called sharply to the stranger, keeping his flames ready as he moved closer.

The young man groaned and stood, his movements sluggish but determined. Nur hurled another fireball, this time targeting the Mercha's joint. Sparks flew as the machine faltered, giving him enough time to close the distance.

"Guess I got here just in time," Nur said, throwing another burst of flame to ensure the Mercha stayed down. Smoke rose from the wreckage as the machine finally collapsed into a heap.

The stranger brushed snow off his clothes, his expression defensive. "I didn't ask for your help."

Nur smirked faintly, letting the flames die down. "You didn't have to. Looked like you were about to get flattened."

The stranger stepped closer to the wreckage, his attention drawn to the faint hum still emanating from the Mercha's remains. "They're called Mercha. Leftovers from before the Great Collapse. No one knows how they're made, but they're dangerous… unpredictable."

"Yeah, I know that much," Nur replied, crouching beside the remains. He ran a hand over the intricate engravings, feeling the faint vibrations beneath his fingertips. "But this one's different."

The stranger's curiosity seemed to sharpen. "Appears so. Maybe it's been modified… upgraded. Is that even possible?"

"I'm Ade," the stranger concluded, introducing himself.

Nur glanced at him, standing as the hum began to fade. "Nur," he said, his tone cautious but measured.

"How'd you get here?" Ade asked, his curiosity evident.

"One minute I was home, next thing I knew, I woke up here," Nur said curtly. He didn't feel like elaborating—his encounters still fresh in his mind. "You?"

"Same," Ade replied, shifting slightly. "Except I was walking. Then… nothing. Woke up in a cave."

Nur tilted his head, noticing Ade's hesitation. "And your relic?"

Ade stiffened slightly. "I was trying to summon it."

Nur raised an eyebrow, his tone flat. "Doesn't look like it worked."

He could see the comment hit a nerve, but Ade didn't respond. Nur didn't press further, instead motioning toward the horizon where a faint glow illuminated the snow-covered landscape.

"There's something glowing over there," Nur said. "Looks like ruins. We should check it out."

Ade's expression shifted to skepticism. "We?"

Nur smirked, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Unless you want to fight these things alone."

Ade hesitated before nodding, his gaze lingering on the distant glow. "Fine. But don't think I need saving."

"Right," Nur said, already walking ahead.

As he moved, he couldn't help but glance back at Ade. The guy had potential—raw and untamed, but potential nonetheless. Still, Nur wasn't about to lay everything on the table. Not here. Not now.

The ruins loomed in the distance, their strange glow pulsing faintly. Nur felt the weight of the island pressing down on him again, the hum of its energy reverberating in his chest.

...

Nur moved silently, his boots crunching against the snow. The ruins ahead pulsed faintly, the hum growing louder with each step. Ade walked a few paces behind, his unease tangible.

"You think we're the only ones here?" Ade asked.

Nur didn't look back. "On this island? No chance."

He kept his voice steady, his focus sharp. He wasn't about to reveal what he already knew—Aisha, Elias, and Savannah's existence. It wasn't distrust, exactly, but he didn't feel the need to tell Ade everything.

Ade frowned. "What makes you so sure?"

"Common sense," Nur replied, shrugging. "Something brought us here. You, me… probably others." He gestured toward the distant horizon. "It wouldn't stop with just two people"

That much he could admit. Tracks and signs of others wandering the island had been obvious, even without his encounters. But mentioning the specifics didn't feel right. Not yet.

Ade hesitated. "How many, then? A dozen? Hundreds?"

Nur shook his head. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that we're not alone. I've seen signs—tracks, broken paths. Someone else is out there, whether they're like us or worse."

He deliberately kept his tone vague. Ade didn't need to know how close those encounters had been or how they'd shaken his trust.

Ade's voice softened. "And what if they're not friendly?"

Nur smirked faintly, letting a flicker of fire spark at his fingertips. "Then they'll get a warm welcome."

He didn't miss the way Ade stiffened slightly. Good. Better to leave him guessing than to reveal too much. Trust wasn't something Nur was ready to give... easily, atleast.

Ade exhaled. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Nur glanced at him, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "You're awfully optimistic for someone who almost got flattened by a Mercha."

He kept his tone teasing, masking the wariness in his chest. Ade might be useful in the coming fights, hopefully none, but Nur couldn't afford to let his guard down.

As they approached the ruins, Ade muttered, "The cold's not bothering me anymore."

Nur kept walking. "That's because of me."

Ade blinked. "What?"

Nur adjusted his goggles. "I set up a heat dome after I found you. My relic lets me control the flames enough to stop the cold from getting through. I figured freezing to death wasn't part of your plan."

He wasn't about to explain how much effort it took or how he'd perfected the technique after days of trial and error. Let Ade think it was easy.

Ade looked impressed. "You could've said something."

Nur smirked faintly. "And ruin the mystery?"

The ruins loomed above them, their markings glowing faintly. Ade reached out to touch one of the symbols.

"Don't touch anything," Nur warned, his instincts flaring. "I don't trust it."

CRACK! The ground shook as the hum intensified.

Nur cursed. "What did you do?"

Before Ade could respond, red lights emerged from the darkness. A massive Mercha stepped forward, its limbs moving with deliberate precision—A medium-tier Mercha, demon-like.

Nur's flames erupted instinctively. "Move!" he barked, hurling fire at the machine. His mind raced as he dodged the Mercha's swipes, his body tense but responsive.

"About time!" he called, watching as Ade summoned Opa and struck with growing confidence. Nur hurled another blast of fire, keeping the Mercha distracted.

When the machine finally collapsed, Nur leaned against the wall, extinguishing his flames. "Please tell me we're done."

Ade's gaze shifted deeper into the ruins. "I don't think so."

CLANK… CLANK… The sound of grinding metal echoed again.

Nur groaned, his exhaustion catching up with him. "Oh, come on."

A hooded figure emerged from the shadows. "Run," they said, their voice steady.

Nur tensed, flames sparking faintly in his hands. He exchanged a look with Ade, who hesitated but nodded.

"Let's go," Ade said.

Nur followed reluctantly, the hum of the ruins growing deafening behind them. He stayed silent, his thoughts swirling. Whoever this stranger was, they were either going to be trouble or just another piece of this island's puzzle—and at this point Nur was getting tired of the puzzles.