The Crimson Champion

Akai Side Story: A Burning Hatred

(Author's Note: This side story chapter takes place around 9 years before Chapter 1. Brutus is about 13, and this chapter is from Akai's point of view on his sixteenth birthday!)

I wake up and I get dressed in casual clothes before I head down to the main room of my house, where I'm met by my father, the mayor. "Happy birthday, son. Today is the day you will finally know your purpose in life, so I hope you will not let me down. You are Virkom's future!"

I nod and silently leave, then I walk through the streets, looking for a way to kill time until my ceremony. I go to the outskirts and I notice that outsider boy training with a wooden sword. I smirk as I approach him. "Still using that crappy practice sword, Crescent? I thought you'd have moved on to something better by now."

Brutus ignores me and continues his training, so I go up to him and snatch his sword. He glares at me. "Akai, what the hell is wrong with you today?!" I laugh. "If you want it back, try to take it."

Brutus rolls his eyes and he mutters something under his breath as he starts to walk away. "You're just mad Master Yuri thought the outsider had more potential..."

I growl and I roughly grab his shoulder. "What the hell was that?!" Brutus just looks me in the eyes. "You're mad because you know I'd win in a fight."

"Oh, really? Is that a challenge?" Brutus nods determinedly. Refusing to back down, I immediately go over to the building nearby and take two swords from Yuri's weapon racks, then hand one to Brutus.

I back up and point my sword at him. "It's not too late for you to give up, you know!" Brutus just shakes his head, so I yell and charge at him. I swing at his side, but he blocks much faster than I expected him to.

Brutus slashes at my leg and I barely manage to defend against it because I'm not very good with swords. I cannot let the outsider know my weakness!

I do a backflip to get some distance, then I perform a running jump to bring my sword down on him. Brutus manages to defend and he glares at me. "What the hell are you trying to do this for?"

I refuse to answer as I furiously slash at Brutus with a flurry of attacks. I jump backwards, then I sprint at him to try and get a finishing blow, but Brutus quickly swipes at my face. Unable to dodge the slash, I yell out in pain as the attack cuts across my right eye.

I use my free hand to put pressure on my face, but before I can lunge at Brutus, I hear a loud voice. "YOU DAMNED FOOL!" My father storms into the area and first looks at Brutus. "Get the hell out of my sight, outsider." Brutus silently leaves.

I try to open my mouth to say something, but my father immediately turns to face me. "You stupid brat, how could you let your arrogance take control?!"

"Father, I-" He gives me a furious look. "I have grown tired of your stupidity, Akai! I'd been thinking about this before. I wasn't sure then, but this is the last straw. You are banished from Virkom for the rest of your life, for you have disappointed me for the last time."

He leaves and I just stand there, shocked by what has happened. "What am I going to do? This is all my-" I feel an intense, burning hatred as I realize something. "No, it wasn't my fault at all, it was that damned outsider's! Brutus Crescent, I will destroy you for what you've done to me!" I angrily go towards the path away from Virkom, to try and go down the mountains to somewhere new.

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A few years have passed since that day. After I got down the mountain path, I started to travel from place to place. Thanks to Brutus, I've had to steal from people to survive!

I go through the streets of Kantiron, doing my best to stay away from guards as I head for a specific place. I quietly go through the doors of a small, bright orange temple. I go up to the altar and kneel.

"I'm not usually one for praying, but Lady Flamma, I wish for your aid. I need some kind of help if I am to find Brutus Crescent. I ask this of you because I...I feel a connection with you. It's as if I am drawn to your magnificence."

The torches around the room blaze bright, but then they return to normal and I sigh, then I stand up and leave. As I exit, I run into some soldiers that bear the Solaris emblem. One of them gestures at me. "You, there. Get out of the way."

I look at him, confused. "Why?" The soldier glares. "Emperor Yuri has commanded us to tear down this temple." I briefly wonder what he meant by "Emperor" Yuri, but I quickly forget about it.

"No, I don't think so. No one has the right to tear down a temple of a god, not even an emperor." The soldier draws his sword, and the others do the same. "You are unarmed, you fool. You will not leave here alive!"

I angrily charge at the soldier and throw a punch at his sword arm. Unfortunately, I don't do much and he slashes my side. I growl and I try to lunge for his sword, but he starts to stab at me. Before the blade makes impact, I'm blinded by a bright light.

When I regain my sight, I'm in an empty, white void. I look around and wonder where I am. "You are in a space of my creation, Akai." I turn towards the voice and I see a tall woman with tan skin, and bright orange hair that seems to be on fire wearing an orange dress. The second I see her, I know who she is and I immediately kneel.

"Lady Flamma...? Is it actually you...?" Flamma grins. "Yes, it is. I called you here to save you because while your defense of my temple is admirable, it is fatal. And I sense a connection between us as well. So, I have an offer for you."

Flamma extends a hand out to me. "I wish to make you my champion, Akai. I can give you the strength to defend the temple and accomplish your goals if you accept."

I look up and take her hand. "I accept, my lady." Flamma nods and I feel power rush into me. I stand up and I notice I'm wearing armor now, and I also feel a strange weight on my back. I reach around and grab a gigantic orange shuriken. "What is all this?"

"They are gifts. You also now have enhanced abilities along with fire magic and immunity to all fire." I concentrate and the shuriken is set ablaze! "These gifts are wonderful, my lady. Thank you very much." Flamma nods. "Good. Now go, my champion. Defend my temple from the fools who would attempt to tear it down!"

I reappear in the real world, and time is slowed as I see the soldier's blade attempt to stab me. I use my shuriken to easily block and time goes back to normal as the soldier looks extremely confused. "What the hell?!"

I swipe my shuriken in the soldier's direction, and I laugh as fire comes out of it and weaves its way through the group of enemies, scorching their armor. I know that with this power, no one will be able to stand in my way!

The original soldier cowers as he looks at me. "Who in the realms ARE you?" I smirk at him. "I am Akai Flameweaver, and you will be destroyed for daring to tear down my lady's temple!" With a battle cry, I charge into the fight.