Pinkshuchan: LALIHO! Hi everyone! Pinkshuchan here! Last chapter, Akihiko agreed to find the five items within the five continents and return to Damonen to fight Haruhiko. However, a mysterious figure came and told Akihiko that he cannot win unless along the way, he gains alliance from five different people from the five different continents. What is to happen next? Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Tale of the Fire Lion

The golden sun shined on red rock which slowly turned into ruby sand; a sign that shows that it is spring in Feuern. The air was humid; just enough for anything to cook. To a normal person, they would easily collapse, lose consciousness, and die with lack of food and water within five days. However, to those that learned how to live in Feuern, this lifestyle was simple and without consequence.

During spring and summer, when the rock ground turns into soft red sand so soft it slips through your fingers, it is no different to our deserts. But when fall and winter come, the ground is hard and sturdy. The air is colder during that time but still humid.

After all, Feuern is the Fire Continent.

It was the time when the sun was at its highest peak when Akihiko began to get frustrated with where he was going. He had no idea where he had to find a flame that never goes out. His guess was that it was probably hidden somewhere. After all, a flame that never goes out is something that is quite rare. But where? Akihiko had been living in Feuern for six years, and never had he found a place that would seem secretive. Then again, he would've been there already if he had.

Hours passed and Akihiko still couldn't find anything by the time the sun set. Not even when he sent Suzuki to fly up in the skies in case he could see it from a bird's eye view could he find anything. Night was coming, and Akihiko knew that he would have to continue his search tomorrow.

Night fell and now the current search the lonely prince needed to do was a place of shelter where he could rest for the night. The entire day had been scorching hot, but was now chilling to the bone. Feuern's nights were freezing no matter the season as it's during this time the people would light their fires to keep it bright to travel. But Akihiko knew there were no people around; not anymore. He knew what had happened to them and never dared talk about it. The entire thing was just too painful to remember; the very thing that caused him to want to travel alone.

He walked until he caught sight of a tiny light in the distance. The faint glow that came from that light was familiar. A flame? Someone was there. Akihiko hesitated from walking towards that light, thinking it would be a trap or another way for the demons to haunt him. His decision to go over there or leave was decided when he saw how much Suzuki was shivering. There was no way to know when and where they would find another convenient place to rest until morning and it was possible that they wouldn't last the entire night. He had to take this chance.

Cautiously yet surely, Akihiko walked to the fire. Maybe he wouldn't really care all that much on who the owner of the flame was and be able to go through this without guilt. It was possible that it could be someone from Feuern. Or maybe an outsider like himself. Though risky if it was a trap, it was surviving that or surviving the cold.

A man slightly older than him sat near the flame. His clothes were not Feuern style so he was no doubt a foreigner of these lands. His face was blank, staring at the flame as Akihiko came closer. When he noticed the presence of the silver haired man and his little flying bear, he gave a smile that wasn't so sincere. Akihiko began to feel like risking the cold might've been a better idea after all.

"Why hello there," said the stranger, "I didn't think that there was any civilians that still lived here in Feuern. Or are you a traveller exploring this wonderful continent?"

"Neither," replied Akihiko, "I've only lived here for six years. Even so, I'm not a Feuern blood civilian like you may assume."

The stranger chuckled. "I see. So you are an immigrant. Well, at least I got to meet one normal person here in this burning hell hole. Or should I say freezing as it is the night? Please sit down. This fire can burn its warmth for the both of us and your little friend."

Akihiko was still not sure whether to trust this stranger or not. But Suzuki already sat down and tried to warm himself up so the silver haired man had no choice but to sit down with him. He hoped for this entire night to be quiet without any interruptions. But with the stranger there, it was not possible.

The man introduced himself as Shinoda, a travelling merchant from Stahlern who came to Feuern, wondering if the rumours of there being no more people living there anymore. He had been there for three days and had not seen a single person except Akihiko. He even said that there was no one even when he searched one of the villages. Akihiko knew which village he had talked about.

"The village you went to was attacked by demons," the silver haired man explained to the older, "I am not sure what happened to them after the assault, but all I know is that they are all gone."

"That is quite a tragedy," Shinoda exclaimed as he handed Akihiko a drink, "However, although I never found any people there, I did find something very unusual. Having lived here for six years already, you must know about the Fire Lion, right?"

"It's only a myth that the people created to give themselves more confidence," Akihiko replied, "In Feuern mythology, it was a beast that ruled the continent with strength, courage, power, and pride. It controlled fire and used its power to keep warmth to the continent by providing his flames when the flames of the sun disappeared, thus the traditions of lighting flames by the time the sun falls. Because it was believed to be the first ruler of Feuern, it even shares the same name with the continent."

Shinoda nodded. "That is correct. You know your Feuern mythology. However, what if I told you that the Fire Lion really isn't a myth?"

Akihiko stared at the older man in disbelief. "That wouldn't be believable."

But the older man chuckled. "Well believe it my friend. The Fire Lion exists. I even saw him with my own eyes. I do not think it is the original though. I believe that it may be a reincarnation if it is here after having to be alive 100,000 years ago and disappear as flames only to return now.

"It was when I was searching through the abandoned village. It was a night like this one. I searched for any survivors that would still live there. I walked until I heard a roar. I jumped when I heard it, but being the curious traveller that I am I had to go check it out. And that was when I saw him.

"I couldn't take my eyes off his beauty. Such a majestic creature was standing there before me and I couldn't breathe. But the moment he saw me, his anger grew and flew fire at me as a sign that I was not welcome. I knew from that day on that he was the Fire Lion. But there was one thing about him that was different from what I believed the Fire Lion would look like."

"And what would that be?" Akihiko asked, starting to take interest in the conversation. A lion that controlled fire? And at the abandoned village? This brought curiosity onto him.

Shinoda took a deep breath before he continued. "The Fire Lion wasn't really a lion."

Akihiko glared at him, feeling duped. "Thank you very much for nothing," he sarcastically remarked, "All that for a reflection or statue?"

"Calm down my friend!" said the older man, "Let me finish! He was not really a lion. At least not completely. The head was that of a prideful lion; strong face, fiery red eyes, a long cinnamon mane. But the body was that of a beautiful man with pale skin that glowed under the light of the moon and hands that seemed to be both lion and man as although they were hands of a man, he had long sharp black nails that almost resembled lion claws."

Shinoda gave a sigh before continuing; eyes sparkling with every word. "I would desire him very much. But with him as a wild beast, if I were to trap him it would only result in shame and guilt. But he may only be one of a kind. And what would happen if a hunter went to kill him?"

Akihiko remained silent. Something about the 'Fire Lion' Shinoda had seen didn't sound like the Fire Lion in the myths. It was not possible for a myth to be true. But this Fire Lion had something about him. His curiosity was getting the better of him. He needed to see the Fire Lion for himself to figure it all out.

"You said that you saw this Fire Lion at the abandoned village?" he asked.

"Yes," Shinoda replied, "Are you planning to go? Allow me to go with you. I want to see his beauty once more. And besides, there is the possibility of him attacking you."

"If that does happen I will be fine. I have survived many demon attacks. I don't need you to follow me."

"Do you even know where the village is?"

"Of course I do."

Shinoda sighed. "Alright. But if you are going to go see the Fire Lion, you will need to go at night. If you remember the myth, it says that the Fire Lion only comes to people during the night to warm them with his flames."

It was silent the rest of the night. Neither Akihiko nor Shinoda said another word after that. The only sound that could be heard was the gusts of wind blowing the ruby sand or the cackling of the fire keeping them warm.

Eventually morning came, and Akihiko was ready to leave. Remembering his way to the village from here, he knew it would take almost the entire day to get there. By the time he reaches the village, it would be night when the Fire Lion was supposed to appear. With Suzuki following him, they began their way through the red desert to the abandoned village to find the Fire Lion with answers to questions Akihiko was having. And who knows; maybe the Fire Lion may help him find the flame that never goes out.

But would it be Akihiko that needs the Fire Lion's help, or the Fire Lion that needs Akihiko's help?

Pinkshuchan: And that was Chapter 3. The Fire Lion sounds like a magnificent creature, doesn't he? A man with a lion's head? What will Akihiko do once he finds the Fire Lion? Can the Fire Lion help him find the flame that never goes out? Please Read and Review everyone!