Page 40 of Axis of Fire

This time—

he didn’t look indifferent.

He looked... tense.

“According to scholars, every living being has it,” he continued.

“Just in different amounts.”

His fingers tightened slightly.

“When there’s too much of it... and the person can’t control it—”

He stopped.

“They break.”

My stomach tightened.

“And become demons.”

The word hung in the air.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

“No emotions. No doubt. No compassion,” he said quietly.

“Only instinct. Only destruction.”

I swallowed.

“But...” I frowned.

“If everyone has it... how can it be destroyed?”

“Through cleansing.”

The way he said it—

I didn’t like it.

“And what happens afterward?”

He looked away.

Just for a second.

But I saw it.

“No one knows,” he said.

“And that’s the worst part.

Chapter 4

Airis’s explanation left me unsettled.