LET THE CHAIN RUN Kal — Pre–Black Tide Theme [Intro — soft guitar / faint ember crackle] Down where the city glows Under stone and ember light, I learned the streets of Emberhollow By running through them every night. Warm windows in the alleyways, Smoke curling overhead. Never needed some grand story. I had a home instead. [Verse 1] Mama taught me fire Doesn't always have to burn. Sometimes it's the little flame That guides somebody's return. Dad taught me every weapon Carries more than sharpened steel. If you're strong enough to swing it— Be strong enough to know when to yield. But I was young. And curious. And maybe just a little dumb. Because when I found those two strange blades... Yeah. I brought 'em home. [Instrumental kick] [Pre-Chorus] Hide 'em underneath the floor! Don't make a sound! Don't let Dad— "Kal." ... Damn. [Chorus] LET THE CHAIN RUN! (LET IT RUN!) Feel the fire coming alive! Two blades in my hands, Foxfire burning through the night! Hold tight when it matters! LET GO WHEN IT'S TIME! You don't have to cage the fire Just to know that it is mine! I know where I came from! I know what I've become! When the foxfire starts dancing— LET THE CHAIN RUN! [Verse 2 — faster] First lesson— Hold it right. Second lesson— Watch your side. Third lesson— "Kal, if you cross your arms like that, you're gonna stab your—" I KNOW! ...I didn't know. Every bruise became a lesson. Every fall became a joke. Sera laughing from the doorway. Renn pretending that he wasn't. Again. Again. Again. Until the blades stopped feeling Like something foreign in my hands. Then one night the fire answered. And nobody had planned that. [Weapon Awakening — rhythm changes] Blue-orange fire. One heartbeat. Something pulling at my wrists. Steel separates— Chains ignite— WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! One blade flies! Chain goes tight! Everybody— MOVE! I pull left! It goes right! Okay— We've got some things to prove. [Instrumental acceleration] Pull! Release! Pivot! Turn! Let it circle! Feel it burn! Catch the rhythm! Change the line! STOP FIGHTING THE MOMENTUM— MAKE THE MOMENTUM MINE! [Chorus — heavier] LET THE CHAIN RUN! (LET IT RUN!) Feel the foxfire come alive! Let it tear across the darkness! Let it paint across the night! Hold tight when it matters! LET GO WHEN IT'S TIME! You don't have to cage the fire Just to know that it is mine! I know where I came from! I know what I've become! When the foxfire starts dancing— LET THE CHAIN RUN! [Bridge — music becomes warm and quiet] Funny... I used to think being strong Was learning how to fight. Then I watched my mother use her fire To keep somebody alive. And Dad never cared How fast I learned to swing a blade. He cared whether I'd understand The choices that I made. So if these hands become dangerous... If this fire answers me... I'll remember who was standing there Before anyone knew what I'd be. Not legends. Not warriors. Not destiny. Just... family. [Build — foxfire begins returning] So give me both blades. Give me the chain. Give me every scar That came from learning their names. Let the foxfire rise. Let the whole thing spin. Because I finally understand— The chain isn't holding me in. [Final Chorus — full force] LET THE CHAIN RUN! (LET IT RUN!) LET THE FOXFIRE LIGHT THE NIGHT! I'll move faster than the shadows! I'll be gone before they bite! I'll hold tight when it matters! LET GO WHEN IT'S TIME! This fire doesn't own me— BUT YOU BET YOUR ASS IT'S MINE! I know where I came from! EMBERHOLLOW MADE ME ONE! Renn taught me when to hold it! Sera taught me why it's done! So if something threatens home— They'll find out what I've become. Two blades. One fire. LET THE CHAIN— RUN! [Outro — instruments gradually disappear] Emberhollow keeps glowing. Same streets. Same smoke. Same doors. Mom's light in the window. Dad still checking Whether I put the blades away. ... I didn't. [quiet laugh] Tomorrow I'll probably hear about that. [brief foxfire flicker] But tonight... Something feels different. Deep beneath the streets. Like the whole city Just pulled against a chain. [silence] And somewhere in the dark... Something pulled back. [single metallic chain rattle — cut]
