A/N: This chapter was not included in the original story, but I do remember having a huge folder with all sorts of .txt files. Sadly, my computer died together of those chapters I wrote. No matter, there are some copies and a few scrapped ideas that I may write about in the future. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for staying in this long road, my friend. Please comment and let me know if you have any thoughts about my writing, and have a nice day! Janet out.

Japan - Burning Bridges

April 15th, 1775

...

I really don't want to be here.

Nobody in my place would want to.

Half flesh, half fire...

There's a moment between me and the flames. It is as if they're about to consume me. The glass and its tiny shards cut my skin. A single moment where I feel my heart jump higher than I did to reach in here. It's raining outside, like it always is. Don't ask me why, it's been happening ever since before I was born. Some might say it's magic; whether a blessing or a curse, it's for you to decide. Burmecia is a nice place to live, plenty of good people and lands that never run dry. Though, there are some places rain can't reach, and flames that can't be controlled by good men. My job is to take control of the situation, without anyone getting harmed. I do not care if I had to break that window to get in here, put it on my account.

I can afford any loss, except life.

Sure, take the residents out, and I'm done. Well, it ain't that easy as it may sound. Portraits, flowers, gifts... small objects, with so much life. They do not cry, yell in agony, but I see them burning in silence. No, no time for thinking. I can barely hear my thoughts with that kid upstairs. It ain't the flames that bothers me, but it's size, the air... Like a living being, fire breathes. He's the ultimate egoist, taking all the air to himself, and nobody else.

I'm suffocating. No, there's someone in this house other than me. Buried below the fallen debris, or perhaps... hidden under the bed. Why does she fear me? Is it because of the helmet I wear? I could put out the fire between me and the kid, talk like a human being to make me appear less than a monster. Instead, I raise an arm to reach the girl. Why is she so afraid, if borrowing the same claws as I? As soon as I realize the ceiling is about to fall down, I go inside the bed as well. My body can take the damage, I do not care. I try not to breathe, not open an eye. It might be dark, but I don't want to be dark forever. Imagine going blind right now. Well, I'd rather lose my vision than lose whoever this girl I'm holding with arms is.

I don't even know her, and she doesn't look like me either. None of them do, except when it comes to their frightened looks. Anyone who lost something that mattered has this look. I try not to move, but I need to in order to get out of here. If Burmecia had a sun to shed light, I would know the path out of the darkness. Out of the cold. Cold... how ironic. The girl said it's cold. Must be the coat of arms in my chest. Still cold, even in this heat. I hear coughs, then nothing. Nothing!?... Just a faint. The entire second floor fell upon me. I can't move a leg, I'm afraid of moving. If I do, maybe I'll fall to the first floor. Maybe... maybe. Just a guess. I have no need of guesses at the moment.

JUST DO SOMETHING, NOW!...

Last time YOU stood quiet, watching it all happen...

This ain't a matter of millions. Millions be damned. If you could go back in time, and just save a life...

One life, other than yours!..

hhhhkkkkk... hhhhkkkk...

...No. Not yet. Burmecia still hasn't lost its champion.

— ...Cough! – kid's safe. She doesn't look like a troublemaker. So pure, so innocent, all covered in dirt – Cough! A Dragoon... am I dreaming?

— You aren't – I pretend to ignore her coughs and the smell of blood – are those your parents?

— Yes. I... I was alone – the girl's face was covered in guilt – uh, it was me. I... I found a box. A box of matches. Please don't tell momma.

I won't... I will tell your parents.

Bad girl... It was not your fault.

I... I don't know what to say. I'm not here to judge anyone. I'm here so I can accomplish my duty. That's the sole reason. Sometimes, you don't need a reason to help. Sometimes, you don't need a reason to slap. Any kind of slap is done without reason. For a moment, my fist clenched... Did I really want to slap this little mouse? What would that teach her? I... I'm exhausted, that's all I know. Her parents come in and say nothing. They are not even shocked their home got eaten by the flames as they were out. All it matters is the young miss who's being hugged tight by both. They hug each other in such a way one can't let go of another. Like when dad used to leave home.

And here I am, where my dad... Did he have to deal with this kind of madness all day long? That must be why he didn't want me to become a Dragoon, yet, he always told me to study to become someone in life, to fight for what I believed. He also told me to not fight, I'm so confused. All these years, and I don't know why I'm here. I'll sleep tonight without feeling any weight, that's why I'm here. I feel a lot better knowing someone is safe and sound because of my doing.

I leave without them noticing, except for the girl with a joyful smile and gentle wave of hand. I don't even know her name, but she's so cute, like my little Jack. I wonder how he's doing, we haven't been close to each other since I breastfeeded.

Now, what would I say to them? I need a catchphrase, for I am Lenneth Crescent of... the Crescent lineage? No, that's redundant. Old-fashioned, but utterly redundant. Well, what about... I know! ''I am the eternal flame, lightning those young hearts'', or something like that? Better not say it. Or anything. It ain't the right moment. So many flames, so many objects, but the people are fine. Yes, they are, except for the people inside those portraits I've left behind.

If I could save every life, even those inside portraits... I swear, I wish I could.