Firebrand

by Prioleau, R. M.

  A pleasant smile slipped over Jarial’s lips as he savored the snack.

  Kaijin glanced up when the man didn’t reply. He repeatedly folded and unclasped his hands. “Master?”

  Jarial poured himself a cup of mead and slowly downed it.

  Kaijin frowned. Is he intentionally ignoring me? Does he even realize how badly I want to try my spell? He stopped his nervous fidgeting by placing both hands flat on the table. “Master, the chores are done. Now can we go and—”

  “Have you gathered the required components?” Jarial eyed him.

  Kaijin blinked in surprise. This is a test, isn’t it? I hate it when he does that. He pondered the question for a moment. “I have phosphorous pieces, if that’s what you mean.”

  Jarial nodded and finished his honeyed bread. “Soon, I’m going to have to figure out how much more I will be able to teach you.”

  Kaijin noted the sly tone in his master’s voice. He leaned forward in his chair, casting the mage a wary look. “What do you mean by that, Master?”

  “I mean what I say.” He refilled his cup. “You’re not the same child I once taught. Your rapid progression in the arcane arts has been something rarely seen. Students like you only come around once every few years—or decades. In a way, you remind me of myself. I think it will soon be time to take you to that next step. A step I cannot teach you alone.”

  Kaijin frowned at Jarial’s words. “What are you saying? Are you going to release me from your tutelage? I want to master the Art. I don’t want to leave until then.”

  “Some things you’ve already learned without my help, Kaijin. All I’ve done was help refine those discoveries by teaching you the basics. You are the one responsible for your own proficiency in the Art, Kaijin. Not me. I’ve always admired your dedication. Going above and beyond my expectations ever since you were a boy. I wish I was able to say the same for your brother, but ... well, he was a lost cause. I hope, despite his lack of discipline, he has done something worthwhile with himself.” He paused to take a long sip. “Kaijin, you’re a man, now, and you’ve gained understanding of the Art. Part of the process of learning your seventh, eighth and ninth-tiered spells is seeking the knowledge yourself. I can offer you advice and guidance, but at this point, you are on your own. Do you understand?”

  Kaijin’s frown deepened to a full scowl. He wasn’t troubled about the fact that he was nearing the end of his training. It was the mention of Rorick. Ever since the day his younger brother left, emptiness had resided in Kaijin’s heart. Not having seen Rorick for ten years, Kaijin couldn’t help worrying about the boy. He knew he had no control over his brother’s choices.

  “Kaijin?” Jarial’s voice hardened.

  “Yes, I understand.”

  Jarial stood up and cleared the table. “Good. Gather your things and let’s test that spell of yours, shall we?” Before walking out of the kitchen, he patted Kaijin on the shoulder.

  Kaijin’s heart lifted at his master’s words.

  * * *

  They outfitted themselves in sturdy traveling clothes and packed lightly for a full day’s worth of training. The morning sun bathed Easthaven in amber radiance as the two of them set out, traversing the busy streets to the western gates.

  Kaijin remained close to his master, his eyes occasionally sweeping over the people they passed. They gave him a series of curious glances. Some of the women gawked at his appearance. Kaijin’s fiery hair and the flamboyant reds and yellows of his long robes were hard to miss, even from a distance. He stood as tall as most men his age, sported a build as lean as a cat’s, and walked with a pretentious gait. His smooth, tanned skin glistened in the morning light, further accenting his handsome features. His arms were adorned with gold bracers with a faint magical aura. Gold rings decorated his third and fourth fingers and his earlobes were adorned with matching rings. Around his neck, he proudly wore Ignis’s symbol. Its smooth gold surface gleamed.

  The western gates opened on the vast countryside of the Easthaven outskirts, outlined with the warm, bright hues of the summer season. The sun shone over the distant rolling hills and the forests beyond. The crisp air carried the scents of the blooming wild irises that blanketed the land in bright violet.

  * * *

  Kaijin absorbed the refreshing sights and sounds of the world during their brisk walk down the well-traveled dirt path. He recalled only a handful of times he had ever left the city. Kaijin felt freedom and took the opportunity to take in all that he could not see from the attic window. This was the first time he had left Miele home alone for an extended period of time.

  “Our familiars will be fine while we’re out training, Kaijin,” Jarial had explained as they were leaving the house. “It’s foolish to have them accompany us, and risk their harm should anything go wrong.”

  Unlike Jarial, Kaijin found it difficult to part from his familiar. Ever since he became accustomed to the bat’s constant presence, Kaijin relayed every thought and emotion through their empathic link. Now that he was away from home, Kaijin hoped to remain focused on the day’s training. Those desires proved wishful thinking, however, when Kaijin began experiencing frequent mental interruptions by his familiar. His mind throbbed with the pangs of distress from the tiny bat. Not even an hour had passed since the two men left, and Miele already missed her master.

  Kaijin, enduring the small pains in his mind, eventually responded to her through their empathic link. Calm yourself, Miele. I’m fine. Be good and keep Sable company. The pain persisted for a few seconds and then subsided. Thank you. I’ll be sure to give you an extra honey stick when I return. Jarial and Kaijin drew further away from Easthaven until the city’s outline was a small image in the distance. The foliage of the countryside through which they traveled was sparser, but still retained its seasonal brilliance.

  Kaijin glanced over his shoulder and furrowed his brow when he realized how far they had traveled. He turned to Jarial. “Master, don’t you think we’re far enough away from Easthaven, now?”

  Jarial smiled. “Yes, but I must ensure our location will protect us from attention from travelers and passersby. You’ll need to have complete concentration in order to control your spell. Any outside distraction might—” The mage halted as he saw a small figure approaching in the distance.

  Kaijin stopped and followed his master’s gaze into the purple iris fields. He saw a small figure of a horse and rider approaching in the distance and heard the muffled sounds of galloping hooves in the soft grass. Clumps of dirt were tossed about in a cloud beneath the piebald horse’s hooves. The cloaked rider hunched over in the saddle, grasping the reins.

  “Out of the way!” The rider had a feminine voice. “I must get help!”

  Jarial hissed and shifted out of the stranger’s way, since she showed no sign of slowing.

  Rather than follow his master, Kaijin watched the dark-haired woman cloaked in green. Time seemed to stand still as Kaijin noted the terrified expression in the young woman’s brown eyes. He winced at a twitching sensation in the back of his mind. Was Miele calling out to him, again?

  “Kaijin!” Jarial barked.

  Kaijin blinked, snapping out of his momentary trance. He glanced at his master, then back to the source of the galloping sounds. He shifted aside just as the horse rushed past.

  After waving off the cloud of dust, Kaijin and Jarial watched the woman steer the horse onto the main road and speed toward Easthaven.

  “What was that about?” Kaijin arched a curious brow at his master.

  Jarial shrugged. “Hells if I know.” He paused and scanned the fields again where several smaller figures moved. He motioned for Kaijin to follow. “Come. Let’s see what’s going on over there.”

  The two men treaded through the flower fields toward the group of dark figures. The sounds of garbled, incoherent speech rippled through the air, further arousing Kaijin’s curiosity.

  He grimaced at the sounds. “What’s that?”

  Jarial squinted. “A group
of men. Perhaps pillaging bandits.” He did not avert his eyes. “I’m unsure. Tread carefully.”

  As they drew closer, Jarial and Kaijin soon saw that the figures were not men, but a cluster of black-winged vultures huddling around a large corpse. Amid the birds’ squawking, the air was pierced by the sounds of flesh ripping.

  “Wait a moment.” Jarial stopped and held his hand out over Kaijin’s chest, barring him from taking another step.

  Kaijin halted at his master’s behest and gazed at the grisly sight.

  The converging vultures scattered at the slightest vibration of the men’s movement. The bony frame revealed in their wake was almost picked clean of its fleshy bits, rendering it almost impossible to determine the manner of corpse it had been.

  Jarial narrowed his eyes at the scene and uttered a soft chant. An invisible sphere of magic surrounded them.

  Kaijin listened to the whispered arcanic words and was able to discern the type of protective spell his master had cast. Shield. He shot a wary glance at Jarial and lowered his voice. “Master, what is—”

  “Shh ...” Jarial took a step forward and craned his head, attempting to get a better glimpse of the corpse. His pursed lips fell into a frown.

  Kaijin peered over his master’s shoulder and spied scraps of cloth hanging from what appeared to be a set of human ribs protruding from the tall grass.

  A steady breeze whisked through the irises, creating a small dust cloud. The shadows lingering in the area coalesced into a black void that covered the bony remnants of the corpse. The blackness rose and formed into a large human-like shape, absorbing what little remained of the corpse.

  The figure towered taller than two men. It was clothed in obsidian spiked plate armor that melded with its rotting, umber flesh. A long, flowing skirt crafted from the shadows created a tattered cloak that concealed the creature’s feet. The creature wore a monstrous, obsidian helmet with two curved horns jutting back from its head and a pointed chin rest. The outline of a skeletal face could be seen in the dim glow from its eyes, which burned endlessly with green magical flames. Its gaze locked on Jarial for a moment and then, from out of the air, an obsidian round shield formed in the creature’s right hand, and a large bastard sword appeared in the left.

  A shiver ran down Kaijin’s spine when he met the monster’s menacing stare. He took several steps backward. “Master, what—what manner of creature is that?!” He halted when he felt the air around him grow suddenly cold. He realized he had stepped outside the range of the protective ward.

  Jarial swore. “Boy, did you learn nothing in the years you spent reading about necromancy?”

  Kaijin thought long and hard. He recalled reading, when he was younger and still learning about the various types of magic, about the darker side of the Art. Illustrations of creatures both awe-inspiring and downright frightening filled the books Kaijin had been required to read. They gave him nightmares for weeks. Jarial, in his usual fashion, had seemed none too sympathetic.

  The more Kaijin stared at the monster before him, the more he felt inclined to turn away. But his body felt frozen, paralyzed by the creature’s frightful gaze.

  He remembered the word. Revenant.

  Jarial glanced over his shoulder at Kaijin, his eyes dazzling a magical prism. “Don’t just stand there, boy! We must retreat! Now!”

  Kaijin thought, for a moment, that he saw Jarial smile after uttering those words. As he turned to leave, he felt another pang in his mind, much stronger than before. Miele seemed ecstatic at the thought of her master returning. Holding his head, Kaijin attempted to concentrate on relaying a calming message to his familiar, but the mental lashes from the link were too extreme. He surrendered to the pain. Miele soon calmed, and the painful sensation ebbed. Kaijin retreated from the creature slowly, not turning his back on it. He looked at Jarial to ensure he was following.

  * * *

  Rather than heeding his own advice, Jarial focused on the revenant. How in the hells did such a powerful warrior, spawned from the plane of shadowy voids, get here? He clenched his fists, concentrated on a spell, and felt a wave of energy surge through him. His mind cleared, and he saw only the towering creature. Jarial’s hands glowed a deep purple as he uttered an incantation. The energy flowed from the tips of his fingers all the way up his arms until it coalesced throughout his entire body. As he extended his hands, the purple energy encompassed him fully. He disappeared.

  * * *

  Kaijin blinked. “Master!” For the moment, he forgot about the creature. He rushed over to where Jarial had stood, and reached out only to touch thin air.

  The revenant’s blazing eyes seemed to narrow at Jarial’s display before focusing on Kaijin, who stood alone and dumbfounded. Dust swirled around the creature’s body as it approached him. The temperature dropped.

  Kaijin locked eyes with the revenant and shivered again. His teeth chattered uncontrollably.

  A slow chuckle rumbled from the revenant as it aimed the tip of its bastard sword at Kaijin. It studied him for a moment, as if attempting to discern his identity. The green magical orbs of its eyes then lowered to Kaijin’s necklace. The revenant lowered its blade and reached for the charm. As its gauntleted hand drew closer, a sheet of ice formed across Kaijin’s chest.

  Kaijin’s legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, clutching the symbol in desperation. His heart pounded as bitter cold burned against his chest. Awash in pain, he blacked out.

  * * *

  Kaijin slowly opened his eyes, unsure of how long he’d been out. He felt a soothing warmth eclipse the pain in his chest. The icy barrier shattered at the heat from the charm which pulsated at the same rate as his racing heart. When the last of the icy sheath melted, Kaijin’s chest was soaked, but healed of the frost burn. Confused, Kaijin stared at the blanket of withered irises around the creature’s feet.

  The revenant seemed to study Kaijin’s reaction. It whirled at the sound of approaching horses.

  Kaijin’s chest rose and fell with unsteady breaths. He craned his head and spied the same woman he’d seen before, leading a group of five armored horsemen bearing Easthaven’s emblem.

  The woman stopped at the edge of the road and pointed at the fields. Her voice carried on the wind as she exclaimed, “It happened over there! Some horrible monster appeared, slew my husband and—”

  A guard in a commander’s uniform comforted her. “All right, m’lady. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Stay here on the main road. If there is any sign of trouble, head back to the city immediately, understood?”

  The woman nodded.

  The guards dismounted and, with weapons drawn, advanced carefully into the fields.

  The revenant seemed to lose interest in Kaijin, who crumpled at its feet, and glided past him to confront the new threat.

  As the monster drew away from Kaijin, the air temperature around him returned to normal, and the pain in his body ceased. Kaijin’s hand clutched the Firelord’s symbol so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He exhaled and uncurled his cramped fingers from around the charm.

  “Master?” Kaijin called. Only the sounds of the passing winds responded. Lifting his head, Kaijin spied the creature.

  The guards stopped in their tracks and raised their weapons at the approaching monster. A mix of terrified voices filled the air.

  Kaijin frowned. Why, Master?! Why did you leave me? He’d never understood Jarial’s peculiar actions in all the years he’d been the man’s student. This was no exception. The mage was truly gone.

  VI

  Kaijin found it harder to stay focused on the danger before him. His eyelids fluttered, and he felt something grip his mind. He heard the sounds of crackling flames.

  “He betrayed you—like your brother.” A n ethereal voice spoke to him.

  Kaijin frowned. “Rorick didn’t betray me.”

  “How naïve you are, Kaijin Sora...” The flames crackled louder. “Rorick despised you out of jealousy. Jarial merely regards you as an expendabl
e test subject.”

  Kaijin swallowed, unable to discern what was true. “Who are you? Why do you say these things?”

  “They hate you, Kaijin Sora. Yet, you trust them with your very life. You will always be just a weak little boy.”

  “I am not a boy!”

  “Your own fears will be your downfall.”

  “I am not afraid!”

  “You are tainted—condemned by the world.”

  “Enough!”

  The riddling words hurt Kaijin’s head. Finally, the crackling ebbed, and Kaijin opened his eyes as though awakening from a long dream. He looked toward the sounds of clashing metal and the screams of men.

  The revenant towered over the five guards. It grabbed one of the men by his helmet and effortlessly lifted him off his feet.

  The man swung his longsword frantically at the monster, but his efforts were rendered futile. His blade passed through the creature’s insubstantial form.

  The abomination tightened its grip. The guard’s fearful eyes filled with tears which froze and pierced his eye sockets. He screamed as saliva poured from his mouth and froze over. The man permanently ceased his struggles. The revenant stared into the man’s punctured eyes and uttered something in a strange language. The man’s corpse glowed with the same green as the revenant’s eyes. The revenant drained him of his life essence—his blood and spirit—until he was an empty, frozen husk. When the creature had its fill of the man’s energy, it tossed the body at the remaining guards.

  The men dodged the corpse of their comrade. In the face of the revenant’s raw power, the group hesitated.

  Kaijin rose to his feet. Now is my chance to try this spell. With staggering steps, he drew closer, fumbling in his spell pouch. His fingers collected small pieces of phosphorous from the leather container.