Kairo sank into the depths of sleep, but his mind did not rest.
He found himself standing on unfamiliar ground.
A massive mountain loomed behind him, jagged and dark, cutting into the sky.
Ahead, a vast lake reflected the moonlight like liquid silver. The earth beneath his feet was cold, yet pulsing with a strange warmth.
And there it was.
The red stone.
It shimmered unnaturally, glowing as if alive.
Kairo's heart thudded in his chest.
Step by step, he moved forward, drawn to its radiance.
Each step felt heavier, charged with something he could not name.
His hand trembled as he reached out.
And then…
The moment he touched the stone, it shattered.
Shards of crimson fire erupted in every direction, but the worst was yet to come.
Two blazing red eyes shot from the fragments, streaking toward him like molten lightning.
They sank into his own eyes with horrifying speed.
Pain exploded in his skull.
He screamed, falling to his knees, clutching his head.
The world blurred. The mountain, the lake, the glowing shards—all twisted into darkness.
And then—
His eyes snapped open.
Cold sweat drenched him.
His chest heaved. He gulped down air, trembling.
What the… hell?
he whispered, his voice hoarse.
What the hell was that?
His hands shook as he splashed cold water from the jug beside his bed onto his face.
The reflection in the mirror made him freeze.
Both his eyes… were red.
Deep crimson, glowing faintly like embers in the dark.
Kairo's jaw tightened. Discipline. Focus. Calm.
He forced himself to steady his breathing.
There was no time to panic.
It was four in the morning—time for his run.
He pulled on his jogging shoes and stepped outside.
The cold air bit at his skin, sharpening his senses.
He ran.
The path twisted through the estate grounds, then led him into the dense jungle beyond.
Every step felt different—his muscles more responsive, his reflexes sharper.
Every sound, every shadow, seemed amplified.
Sofia, his eldest sister, emerged from the estate veranda.
Her gaze landed on him.
For a moment, he thought she might speak, but she only stared, eyes narrowing slightly, and turned away as if disgusted.
Kairo noticed, but did not allow himself distraction.
He focused on the rhythm of his steps, the morning mist curling around his legs, the faint rustle of leaves under his feet.
He entered the jungle fully.
Branches snapped under his hands and feet as he swung from trees, leaped over roots, and darted through the undergrowth.
Small animals scuttled past, and instinctively, he hunted—silent, swift, precise.
His body felt stronger, faster.
His senses sharper than ever before.
It was when he thought the morning would remain his alone that trouble arrived.
Three rough figures emerged from the foliage, their shadows stretching long and menacing in the pale dawn.
Oi! Stop right there! one growled.
Give us whatever you've got, boy, another demanded, stepping closer.
Kairo slowed, feeling the first rush of anticipation stir through his body.
The air around him pulsed faintly, responding to the crimson fire within his eyes.
And for the first time, the morning felt alive with something darker.