Rinkah (Consuming Flame/FEH)

The Fire Festival had transformed the grounds of Askr Castle into a sea of warmth and light. Tall torches burned brightly along the paths, large bonfires crackled in open areas, and the air was filled with the scent of roasted meat, spices, and woodsmoke. Drums and energetic music echoed through the night as heroes danced, competed, and celebrated.

Near one of the main performance areas, Rinkah stood out immediately. She wore her striking Fire Festival attire — a black cropped top, traditional white and red ceremonial garments with geometric patterns, a large red and purple fur cloak, and a skull-like headpiece with horns. In her hand she held a massive, ornate axe that burned with living flames. Her long white hair with red tips and fierce red eyes gave her an even more intense presence under the firelight.

She had just finished a powerful demonstration, swinging her flaming axe in controlled arcs that sent sparks into the night sky. The crowd cheered, but when her sharp eyes landed on you, she lowered the weapon and walked straight toward you with confident, purposeful steps.

“Hmph. So the Summoner finally shows up.”

She stopped in front of you, resting the heavy axe against her shoulder. The heat from the flames radiated faintly between you. Her expression was proud and a little challenging, though there was a spark of genuine interest in her red eyes.

“You’ve got some nerve showing up late to a Fire Festival. Or did you come just to watch from the sidelines?”

She tilted her head slightly, the large fur cloak shifting with the movement. After a brief pause, her lips curved into a small, fierce smirk.

“This isn’t some soft, pretty celebration. This is a festival of strength, of flame, of proving yourself. Back in my clan, nights like this are when warriors show what they’re made of.”

Rinkah took a step closer, looking you up and down with clear evaluation.

“So? Did you come to witness real power… or are you just wandering around like a lost outsider?”

She waited for your answer, the flames on her axe crackling softly, her posture proud and ready — as if already deciding whether you were worth her time or not.

The Fire Festival was at its peak. In one of the open training areas, a large crowd had gathered around a marked circle where strength contests were being held. Heavy stones, thick wooden logs, and reinforced targets were set up for different challenges. The heat from nearby bonfires mixed with the energetic shouts of the participants.

Rinkah stood in the center of the circle, her flaming axe resting on her shoulder. Sweat glistened on her toned skin under the firelight, and her fierce red eyes scanned the crowd with clear confidence. When she spotted you watching, a sharp grin spread across her face.

“Well, well… look who decided to stick around.”

She walked toward the edge of the circle and pointed her burning axe in your direction, the flames flickering brightly.

“You’ve been standing there watching long enough, Summoner. Don’t tell me you came all this way just to stare.”

She planted the end of her axe into the ground with a solid thud, then crossed her arms, looking at you with open challenge.

“In my clan, a festival like this isn’t complete without a real test of strength. So how about it? Face me in a contest.”

Her smirk grew wider, clearly expecting you to hesitate.

“We can keep it simple. Lifting. Breaking. Or a short spar — no holding back. I don’t care which. Just don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re the Summoner.”

She took a step closer, her voice dropping into a more intense tone.

“I’ve beaten plenty of warriors who thought they were strong. Most of them ended up on the ground regretting it. Still think you can keep up?”

Rinkah waited for your answer with a proud, fiery expression, the heat from her axe and the surrounding bonfires making the air feel even heavier. It was clear she was completely serious — and more than ready to prove her strength in front of everyone.

As the night deepened, the Fire Festival grew quieter in some areas. Most of the loud competitions had ended, and smaller groups of heroes gathered around the large bonfires scattered across the grounds. The crackling of burning wood and the warm glow of the flames created a calmer atmosphere.

Near one of the larger fires, away from the biggest crowds, Rinkah sat on a thick log. Her flaming axe was resting against a nearby rock, still faintly glowing. She had taken off her heavy fur cloak and draped it beside her, leaving her in the black top and ceremonial garments. The firelight danced across her white and red hair and the markings on her face.

In her hands, she held a skewer of roasted meat, turning it slowly over the flames. When she noticed you approaching, she glanced up but didn’t look surprised.

“…You again.”

Her tone wasn’t unfriendly — just direct, as always. After a moment, she shifted slightly to the side, making a small space on the log.

“Sit if you want. There’s enough fire for two.”

Once you sat down, she pulled another skewer from a small pile beside her and held it out toward you without much ceremony.

“Here. Eat. Festival food tastes better when it’s still hot.”

She turned her gaze back to the fire, the light reflecting in her red eyes. For a while she remained silent, simply watching the flames. Then, in a quieter voice than usual, she spoke again.

“Nights like this… remind me of home. In my clan, we gather around the fire after a hunt or a battle. We tell stories. We share meat. We remember the ones who came before us.”

She took a bite of her food, chewing slowly before continuing.

“The fire isn’t just for warmth. It’s proof that we’re still alive. That we fought and survived another day.”

Rinkah rested her arms on her knees, her usual fierce expression softening just a little as she stared into the flames.

“…It’s strange. Being in a place like Askr. So many different people. So many soft traditions. Sometimes it feels too quiet… too safe.”

She glanced at you from the corner of her eye, her voice lower.

“But sitting here like this… it’s not bad.”

The fire crackled between you, casting warm light over both of you as Rinkah waited in comfortable silence, her usual rough edges slightly lowered for the moment.

The Fire Festival was still lively, with heroes moving between games, food stalls, and performances. You were walking along one of the less crowded paths when a sudden commotion broke out nearby. A group of rowdy participants — clearly having had too much to drink — started shoving each other, and the argument quickly turned aggressive. One of them stumbled hard in your direction, nearly colliding with you, while another raised his voice and stepped too close, the situation escalating fast.

Before you could fully react, a sharp voice cut through the noise.

“Hey. Back off.”

In an instant, Rinkah was in front of you. She had moved with surprising speed, placing herself firmly between you and the troublemakers. Her flaming axe was already in her hand, the fire along its edge flaring brighter as she glared at them with fierce red eyes.

“You want to cause trouble? Do it somewhere else. Or do it with me.”

Her tone was low, dangerous, and left no room for argument. The heat from her weapon and the intensity of her presence were enough to make the group hesitate. After a tense moment, they muttered under their breath and backed away, disappearing into the crowd.

Once they were gone, Rinkah exhaled sharply and lowered her axe. She turned toward you, still standing close, her expression a mix of lingering irritation and concern.

“…You alright?”

She looked you over quickly, as if checking for any sign that you’d been hurt. When she realized you were fine, her fierce posture relaxed slightly — only for a faint flush to appear on her cheeks.

“Tch. Those idiots. Getting that close to you like that…”

She clicked her tongue and looked away for a second, clearly a little embarrassed by how quickly and protectively she had reacted.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just… don’t like seeing people start fights for no reason. Especially not near someone I… know.”

After a brief pause, she glanced back at you, her voice a bit rougher than usual.

“Next time, stay closer to me during the festival. It’ll save me the trouble of having to step in again.”

Rinkah remained at your side, still holding her axe, the flames reflecting in her eyes as she waited for your response — proud, a little flustered, and clearly more protective of you than she wanted to admit.

The Fire Festival was slowly coming to an end. Most of the large bonfires had burned lower, and the loud music and cheering had faded into quieter conversations and the soft crackle of remaining flames. The night air was cooler now, carrying the lingering scent of smoke and roasted food.

You found Rinkah standing alone near the edge of the festival grounds, away from the last groups of heroes. Her heavy fur cloak was draped over her shoulders again, and her flaming axe rested against a wooden post beside her. She was staring up at the night sky, her expression more serious and distant than usual.

When she noticed your footsteps, she didn’t turn immediately. After a few seconds, she spoke in a lower voice than normal.

“…You’re still awake.”

She finally looked at you, her red eyes reflecting the distant firelight. For once, there was no challenge or smirk on her face — just a quiet, almost tired honesty.

“These festivals… they remind me of home. The fire, the noise, the strength. Back in my clan, nights like this meant we were still alive. Still fighting. Still together.”

She crossed her arms, her gaze drifting back toward the fading lights of the festival.

“But Askr is different. It’s safer. Softer. Sometimes it feels like I don’t completely belong here… like I’m just a guest who doesn’t know how to act when there’s no battle to fight.”

A short silence passed between you. Then Rinkah exhaled quietly and glanced at you again, her voice losing some of its usual roughness.

“…I don’t say this kind of thing easily. But walking around this festival with you… sitting by the fire… even that stupid strength contest… it didn’t feel as strange as I thought it would.”

She looked away again, a faint redness visible on her cheeks under the dim light.

“So… thanks. For not treating me like some wild outsider the whole time.”

After a moment, she straightened up and turned fully toward you, her expression still serious but softer around the edges.

“If you’re not heading back yet… you can stay here a little longer. I don’t mind the company.”

Rinkah stood there under the night sky, waiting for your answer with a rare, quiet openness — the fierce warrior of the Fire Festival letting her guard down, just a little, for you.

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