Page 83 of Axis of Fire

And without breaking eye contact, he began speaking.

“The orphanage I was taken to... was run by fanatics from Butuarus. Obsessed with their air religion.”

The vortex trembled—

just for a split second.

“They forced their beliefs onto children who had no one to defend them.”

Another flicker.

His body was tense now.

Anger.

Controlled—but there.

“One day, during lunch, they were forcing food down my throat—ignoring the fact that I kept throwing it up.”

The vortex stabilized.

“And that’s when it happened.”

He paused.

“I pulled all the air out of the room.”

I froze.

“Everyone started suffocating.”

My throat tightened.

What kind of power does it take—

to strip the air from a room?

At thirteen?

I swallowed.

And how strong is he now?

After all these years?

The vortex dissolved.

Airis slipped his hands into his pockets, tilting his head slightly as he looked at me.

“What about your aim? You said you learned to shoot...”

“I’ve never shot fire,” I cut in, unease rising inside me.

“Then you’ll learn, Fireling.”

He stepped closer.

“In team training, everyone gets assigned a role.”