A Promise Unspoken
— Safehouse —
The room was quiet.
Only the faint sound of breathing filled the space.
Blaze sat beside the bed.
Ryze lay there, unmoving, her body wrapped in bandages. Faint traces of past wounds marked her skin — proof of everything she had endured.
Blaze leaned forward slightly.
His eyes traced every injury.
Every scar.
Every mark left behind.
A faint sigh escaped him.
"…Sorry."
His voice was low.
"I couldn't protect you."
Silence answered him.
For a moment…
He just sat there.
Watching.
Thinking.
Then—
Footsteps.
Blaze turned his head.
Volt stood at the doorway, hesitating.
"…Sir Blaze," Volt said quietly.
Blaze didn't respond.
Volt stepped closer.
"You shouldn't blame yourself," he continued. "You've already done more than enough."
He glanced at Ryze.
"Without you… she wouldn't have survived the Void."
Blaze looked away.
"…It's not like that."
There was a pause.
Then Blaze spoke again.
"I heard something."
Volt tensed slightly.
"The Empire wants me," Blaze said calmly.
"…Is that why they did this to her?"
Volt exhaled slowly.
"…Yes."
"They're interested in you."
"Your past… your abilities… your power."
He hesitated for a moment.
"And knowing the Empire…"
"They could have done far worse to Ryze."
Volt didn't say the rest out loud.
But the thought lingered.
If they had pushed further… what would Blaze have done?
Blaze's hand slowly tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"…Volt," he said.
"Yes?"
Blaze's gaze lowered.
"I don't even know who I am."
The words were quiet.
But heavy.
"I don't know where I came from."
"Or why I have this power…"
A pause.
"…But I know how to use it."
Volt stayed silent.
Listening.
Blaze continued.
"Fragments of memories keep appearing."
"Pieces… of something I can't fully remember."
His grip tightened.
"And yet…"
His voice softened slightly.
"When it comes to Ryze…"
"…I feel like I have to protect her."
He frowned.
"I don't know why."
"It's like…"
"…my body moves on its own."
Suddenly—
A surge of energy erupted from him.
A violent aura burst outward.
BOOM
The air shook.
Volt's eyes widened as he instinctively jumped back.
"What the—?!"
"That power…"
The aura flickered around Blaze like unstable flame.
For a moment—
It felt like something else was standing in that room.
Something far more dangerous.
Then—
It vanished.
Silence returned.
Blaze slowly loosened his grip.
"I made a promise," he said.
"To Ryze."
"That I'd get her back to the Resistance."
He stood up.
Then extended his hand toward Volt.
"…So let's work together."
Volt stared at him for a second.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
He stepped forward and shook Blaze's hand.
"Same here."
For the first time—
There was trust.
Blaze glanced back at Ryze.
"…We should move soon."
"We can't stay here much longer."
Volt nodded.
"…Right."
But neither of them noticed—
From the shadows beyond the doorway…
A figure watched them.
Silent.
Unmoving.
Observing everything.