IGNITE | Sukuna

Chapter 1: Taste of Freedom

"A sorcerer, is it?" She had asked, her gaze fixed on the man standing before her. His face was an unsettling canvas of black tattoos, cursed markings.

"A disgrace," he had responded, his tone devoid of emotion. This was her first encounter with the man who would eventually become a dire threat to their world, a monstrous figure that would evoke terror across lands, known in the future as the King of Curses.

At that moment, she couldn't fathom the full implications of his words. The term "disgrace" seemed like an enigmatic shadow, its true depth eluding her understanding. Now, she only hoped that the reality of being a disgrace was one they never came to fully comprehend.

Life, for her, has always been confined within the boundaries of four walls, like a bird trapped in a cage. There is no freedom, no sense of self, just an existence within the confines of her own prison. She yearns for something more, something beyond the constraints of her reality.

Every night, she is plagued by the same recurring dream-a forest consumed by flames, the laughter of a sinister figure echoing in the inferno. She feels the heat searing her skin, the flames licking at her heels as she struggles to escape, only to be engulfed by the fiery embrace of her nightmares. The man with the blood-red eyes haunts her dreams.

As she awakens in the dim light of dawn, she feels the weight of her own body pressing down on her, as if she is bound by invisible chains. It is a familiar sensation, one she has grown accustomed to over the years. The aftermath of the ritual, performed under the light of the full moon, leaves her drained and powerless, a vessel overflowing with cursed energy beyond her control. Yet, she didn't know her own technique. A cruel joke.

From birth, she has been burdened with a potent gift-or curse-of sorcery. Yet, her gender denies her the recognition and respect. In a society where women are deemed unfit for the practice of sorcery, she is forced to conceal her abilities, to hide her true nature behind a facade of being a noble lady.

Her brother, the heir to their clan's legacy, basks in the glory of her creations, taking credit for her talents while she remains hidden in the shadows. Yet, despite the betrayal and the lies, she cannot bring herself to resent him. He is family, after all, and family is sacred to her.

She opens her eyes properly, the faint light filtering through the cracks in the stone walls of the ritual pit. The air is heavy with the remnants of cursed energy. She stretches and forces herself to sit up.

As she emerges into the pale light of dawn, she is greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of the morning-the soft murmur of prayers echoing through the halls, the faint scent of cooking lingering in the air. As she walks, lost in thought, she is suddenly jolted from her reverie by the sound of a familiar voice at her side.

"Good morning, my Lady," he greets her with a playful smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief. But she is in no mood for pleasantries, her annoyance evident in the sharpness of her tone.

"What are you doing here so early, Kenjaku?" she demands, her voice laced with irritation as she quickens her pace. But Kenjaku is undeterred, his one-legged gait keeping pace with her own as they move through the garden.

"Don't sound so disappointed, Subuhi," he teases, his grin widening at her scowl. "I know you secretly enjoy my company."

Subuhi rolls her eyes, unable to suppress a small smile. Kenjaku has always had a way of getting under her skin, of breaking through the walls she has built around her.

"Why are you still following me?" she asks, her voice softening as she comes to a stop in a secluded corner of the garden, away from prying eyes and judgmental gazes. "What do you want?"