The Burning God

Daji, Yin Riga, and Jiang Ziya—the three powerful shamans known as the Trifecta—have just murdered Tseveri—a Ketreyid who gave them information on how to make an anchor bond. An anchor bond fully melds the mind of a shaman with that of another individual to keep them lucid and stable. It also bonds their lives together so that the death of one leads to the death of another. After they become bonded, Daji experiences Jiang’s fear and Riga’s hunger for power.

Rin is on her first solo command mission for the Southern Coalition, to liberate the city of Khudla from Mugen occupation. Rin recently had her right hand amputated. She can use her powers but can’t swordfight.

Rin’s forces begin to attack. She is moved by the Mugenese fighters’ youth but reminds herself to think of them as non-human. Rin contemplates who decides who gets to be human, but banishes these thoughts to kill them. The last Mugenese troops take six hostages into a temple. Officer Shen says they are not “important” hostages, so Rin burns everyone inside the temple.