Henko

In The Crystal Highlands of Armaria, the wizards say a cracked crystal still holds the light. Henko, whose ragged jumper and scarred face told a story of fractures, wasn't so sure. The scorching embers that clung to their back felt less like light and more like a curse, a constant whisper of the fate of Hotaru—to be consumed and reborn as mindless fire. They were an outcast among magicians, until they found someone whose own scars mapped a different kind of pain. This person didn't flinch from the heat. Instead, they would trace the edges of Henko's injuries, not to heal, but simply to know. In the quiet moments, sharing meager meals under the magical sunsets, the fear didn't vanish. It just learned to share space with a new warmth, one that didn't threaten to burn.