Firebrand

by Prioleau, R. M.

  The dark haze coalesced. Debris and body parts littered the ground. The blackness split itself multiple times. Each portion took the ghastly form of a fleshy warrior with death gleaming in its hollow eye sockets. The creatures encircled the group.

  The aura around Kaijin’s shaky fist brightened and burned hotter, mirroring his nervousness. He studied the undead.

  At the commander’s signal, the battle commenced. The guards clashed violently with the dark creatures. The few blades that still retained their unknown enchantments tore through the monsters’ flesh like paper, shredding them until their remains were unrecognizable.

  Kaijin extended his flaring hands at two creatures advancing toward him. The blinding brightness of the spell stunned the creatures. While they stood helpless, Kaijin retrieved a piece of flint from his pouch and uttered another spell. The blaze in his hand coalesced into a single, growing ball of fire which he hurled at the bewildered creatures. They howled as the magical flames penetrated and seared their forms. The monsters attempted to flee, but their efforts were short-lived when the commander struck through both of their backs with his enchanted sword.

  As he watched the monsters fall, Kaijin was grabbed from behind. Panicking, he attempted a spell, but the constant tugging at his robes broke his concentration. He glanced over his shoulder at the horrifying creature latched onto him, breathing foul, cold breath on his neck. His body shook, and he collapsed to his knees.

  The creature pinned him down, rolled him over, and took a swipe at his face.

  Kaijin stared helplessly at the incoming clawed hand. Then he remembered.

  The dagger!

  With his fingers, Kaijin felt for the hilt of the dagger and unsheathed it. Kaijin managed to thrust the blade into the creature’s gut just as its claws grazed his cheek. Kaijin closed his eyes, held his breath, and attempted to drive the blade deeper.

  The creature reared, screaming in pain. It scrambled off Kaijin, holding the wound.

  Feeling the weight of the heavy beast leave his body, Kaijin opened his eyes and watched the creature stagger about. Its wound flamed, and the fire spread rapidly throughout its body. Kaijin’s brow furrowed at the strange phenomenon. How could this be? How could I have injured it? How could such a creature feel pain? He studied the dagger and noticed the silver blade was burning with intense flames. Kaijin stared deep into the flames, sensing a greater power. “I didn’t do this,” he muttered. “What is going on?” He carefully ran his hand over the blade. The heat was soothing as the flames licked over his fingers. His hand remained uninjured.

  He knew this feeling. He heard the flames crackle in his mind. He felt blazing energy rise.

  “Death to all,” the flames spoke.

  Kaijin broke from his trance as the last of the abominations was slain by the guards and a handful of brave citizens. The dark haze dissipated, revealing the horrid scene.

  The commander scanned the area briefly before wiping his blade and sheathing it. Silence prevailed, which fed the fear and paranoia in the troubled group.

  Kaijin looked around, confused. He tasted his own blood oozing from a small cut on his face. His mind tried to make sense of it all. Did I almost die?

  “Are you all right?” the commander asked.

  Kaijin nodded slowly.

  The commander sighed. “That was a close one. And you say you know a ‘little’ magic?”

  A small, sheepish smile licked Kaijin’s lips. “Yes, sir, that is correct.” He examined the dagger. The flames had extinguished on their own. He ran his hand over the blade, feeling the coldness of the silver, and then returned the weapon to its sheath.

  The commander rolled his eyes. “Right, well, keep it up. We need to assist the others at the northern gates.” He pointed at a large group of men fighting in the distance.

  Kaijin followed the man’s direction and spied glistening armor surrounded by dazzling magic. Kaijin followed the group of guards to join in the grim battle. A group of guards, mages, clerics, and able-bodied commoners banded together to support the front line. While the guards provided brute force, the mages hurled spells of all types at the mass of undead attempting to breach the gates, and the clerics tended to the wounded. As a wave of monsters fell, another took its place, stronger than the last.

  One of the older mages in the rear of the group spotted Kaijin and barked, “You there, boy! Either fight or get out of the way!”

  Kaijin acknowledged the man and then rushed over to him. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s just—”

  “—too overwhelming?” the man finished. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re not used to battle. Well, it’s time you got used to it. This is a fight for our lives. Now, help us keep these vile creatures at bay!”

  Kaijin blinked. “How can I assist, sir?”

  The man mumbled an arcanic phrase and concentrated on the gates again. His hands began glowing in a purple light. “Call me Khorvis, young man. I presume you are an arcanist, too. I can sense that certain aura surrounding you. Whether you provide defense to the front line or direct offense to the creatures themselves is up to you. Every act contributed brings us one step closer to victory.”

  Kaijin complied without protest and fished into his pouch. The way his powers had been fluctuating, Kaijin decided on Khorvis’s second option. He pulled out two smooth pebbles and clenched them in his fist while he uttered an arcanic phrase. The pebbles, which glowed bright purple, surged with energy. The two pebbles multiplied to six, forming into small spheres of intensified energy in his hand. He flung them at the fray, hitting a cluster of undead near the gates. The balls of magic exploded on impact, and the creatures howled in pain. Blinding sparks showered the monstrosities. Guards moved in and slaughtered them with enchanted blades.

  Khorvis grinned. “An evoker, are you? Not bad, boy, but be careful not to exhaust yourself too soon. This is going to be a long battle.”

  Kaijin already felt the initial effects of exhaustion. The day’s battles had left little opportunity for him to stop and rest. Realizing he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the veteran mages, Kaijin backtracked to a safe spot where he could get a better view of the battle.

  Kaijin heard a boom and looked toward the gates. Something huge emerged from a black haze that enveloped the army of undead. The creature towered as high as the city walls. Its blackened skin rippled with the shadows that were its substance. Its eyes gave off a haunting glow. Its gaze pierced the crowd.

  A shiver of fear rippled up Kaijin’s spine as he studied the creature. A deafening roar rose from the group of men who bore the brunt of the monster’s stare.

  Khorvis shielded his face with his hand, snaked through the throngs of stunned guards, and rushed over to Kaijin. “Do not lock eyes with that shadedrifter.”

  Kaijin frowned, recalling reading about the shadowy creatures. “I vaguely remember seeing something. Something huge.” He thought long and hard. “Revenant. Yes, that’s what Master Jarial said it was.”

  Khorvis blinked. “You fought a revenant?”

  “I don’t remember....”

  “If it is true, then the gods themselves must have been with you.”

  Kaijin regarded him thoughtfully and wondered if he really was in the Firelord’s favor.

  Khorvis cast a protective ward around the two of them. “Let us hope the gods are with us all this day, boy.”

  Shielded by Khorvis’s spell, Kaijin’s mind felt clearer. The mental exhaustion and jumbled mess of thoughts ceased. He blinked at the old man. “What was that?”

  “Something that will keep your mind centered on the task at hand,” Khorvis replied. “Now, come. We must keep that monster out of the city!”

  The shadedrifter bellowed, its rasping, malicious tone calling out to the lingering shadows and summoning a band of deadly minions. The thralls converged on the stunned men like rabid wolves, tearing through armor like paper with their sharp, beastly fangs. A horrific sound of bones breaking and tendons popping lingered as bodies were
ripped in two, and the creatures tore off flesh and consumed it. The few men undamaged by the creature’s initial attack advanced to protect their comrades. Their efforts proved futile when the large creature spewed a frigid cloud at the group, encasing each one in ice.

  Khorvis threw a sphere of energy and struck the shadedrifter in the torso. The monster reared as the magical sphere exploded as if blinded by the brightness. It shook its head and refocused on Khovis.

  Khorvis hustled away from Kaijin. “Attack while I have it distracted!”

  The beast barreled through the gates after Khorvis, trampling the ice statues and even its own thralls in the process. Soon, the area was littered with tiny shards of glass amid shadowy pools of blood appearing like gaping black holes in the ground.

  Kaijin held his hand out at the creature and concentrated on the phrases he uttered. He sensed the force of the spell pushing the monster backward. He moved his hand across his face a slow, steady motion. The creature howled in protest at the invisible force. Small droplets of sweat rolled down the sides of Kaijin’s face as he concentrated.

  The monster focused on Kaijin. It hissed, extending both of its blackened, clawed hands at the two mages, attempting to crush them. Shadows blanketed everything in the creature’s vicinity, including Kaijin and Khorvis.

  When the shroud dissipated, Kaijin’s head throbbed. He felt as though he had been struck by a boulder. Exhaustion set in, and his mind was jumbled. His body swayed weakly from the aftereffects of the spell, which faltered and ceased.

  The creature, free from its binding, barreled at Kaijin. Its hand drew back ready to smash him.

  “Run, boy!” Khorvis barked.

  It took a few moments for Kaijin’s clouded mind to register the old man’s frantic words. He panicked and broke into a sprint. He ran past Khorvis, but stopped when he noticed the mage. Kaijin glanced over his shoulder, staring at the back of Khorvis who was now facing off with the monster.

  The old man balled his fists, summoning a colorful glowing aura. When the creature was close enough, Khorvis unleashed the orbs of light at it.

  The monster, however, shifted out of Khorvis’s line of fire and closed its eyes, as if anticipating another blinding aftereffect.

  The move seemed to surprise even Khorvis who stood watching the failed results of his assault.

  The creature reached out, snatched up the old man, and held him aloft.

  With his arms bound by the monster’s firm grasp, Khorvis was at the creature’s mercy. The shadedrifter scanned him with eyes full of hatred.

  Kaijin watched helplessly as the old man’s body crumbled in the creature’s clutches. He noticed the monster didn’t harm Khorvis right away. It appeared to be trying to identify him.

  Khorvis stared back blankly into the creature’s eyes. A grim voice, tinged with disappointment, spoke. “No, you are not him.”

  The creature ran its clawed finger down the old man’s face leaving a trail of blackness on the pale, wrinkled skin. Moments later, Khorvis heaved a long, heavy sigh, and his body went limp.

  Kaijin’s mouth fell open. No ... Khorvis. He took slow, heavy steps, backing away from the monster.

  After tossing Khorvis’s body into the heap of other corpses by the gates, the shadedrifter approached Kaijin.

  Noticing the creature’s advance, Kaijin sprinted through the streets and down a narrow, dark alley.

  The shadedrifter started to pursue, but diverted its course toward the central plaza. As if it had forgotten about Kaijin, the creature detoured east, bounding through the streets as though drawn to something. It barreled past the endless destruction and debris in its path.

  Kaijin ran, twisting and turning down the winding dark paths, unsure of where he would end up. The alleys were filthy and cluttered, but provided enough cover for him to escape. The panicked tears that burned his eyes eventually ebbed when Kaijin realized the threat was gone. He slowed and caught his breath, but didn’t stop moving. After what seemed like endless hours of trudging through the grim alleys, but was probably only a matter of minutes, Kaijin spotted flickering firelight at the end of an alley. He rushed toward the light with relief. His steps faltered, and he nearly stumbled to the ground when he tripped over something large. Bracing himself against a wall, Kaijin looked frantically around. The shadows of the alley coupled with the blackness of the night sky above fully concealed the object on the ground.

  The mixed smell of blood and rotting corpses rose from the area, turning Kaijin’s stomach. The scent of something familiar beneath the unpleasant stench also hit his nose. Sweat, textiles, baked bread—elements that sparked Kaijin’s memories of home. Kaijin held his hand out in front of him, slightly cupped, and conjured a small flame in his palm. The firelight cast a fair amount of illumination. Enough for him to notice what lay at his feet.

  It was a body—a man’s corpse that had been cut in half. The man sprawled face-down, arms curled around him as though he had been protecting something underneath.

  Kaijin cupped his hand over his nose and mouth in a weak attempt to suppress the rancid odor. Though the sight disturbed him, he needed to know what was beneath the body. Carefully, Kaijin rolled the corpse over with his boot. Holding his flaming hand close, Kaijin inspected the grisly scene.

  His eyes widened in horror.

  “P ... Papa?”

  The lower half of Ramon’s body appeared as if something had been eating it. His deathly-white skin was devoid of any blood. A curdling green liquid pooling on the ground around the corpse seemed to be the source of the eye-watering stink.

  Kaijin reached out to touch his father’s pockmarked face and inadvertently smeared dirt from his fingers on the man’s cheek. Beneath Ramon’s body was another. She wore what appeared to have once been a white dress, now reduced to tatters of bloody, dirty fabric. She lay on her belly, locks of her auburn hair draping across her face.

  Kaijin extended his trembling hand to gently brush away stray strands of silken hair from her face. He gazed upon the wreck of what had been his beautiful mother.

  “Even in death, he protected her.” Kaijin gnawed at his bottom lip, attempting to hold back the tears in his burning eyes.

  Elianee’s face was untouched, but the rest of her body was mutilated beyond recognition. There was a gaping hole in her chest where her blood had been drained and innards ripped out. The same, foul-smelling green substance pooled around her corpse.

  Kaijin sank to his knees, feeling the strength in his body recede. His vision wavered to grey and crimson. This isn’t happening ... This can’t be happening! He felt the first tear roll down his cheek and drop into his lap. He extinguished the flame in his hand, leaving him in total darkness once more. He was getting light-headed. The firelight at the end of the alley seemed to call out to him. In desperation, Kaijin crawled away from his parents’ carcasses, trying not to look back.

  He emerged from the alley and realized he was in the marketplace district—or what was left of it. The heart of the once-flourishing district was devoid of life and reduced to smoldering rubble. The bodies of victims were gathered into heaps. Kaijin flinched at the sounds of battle in the distance. After staggering back to his feet, He maneuvered through the bloody streets and followed the noise. Some of the ruined buildings were still ablaze.

  Why? Why? Kaijin couldn’t stop shivering. The holy symbol around his neck burned his chest in response to his mental pain. He gasped, grabbed the charm, and he let his mind drift. He heard an unknown, but familiar voice.

  “You knew this would happen, eventually.”

  “No. Not now.” Kaijin seethed, holding his head. “Leave me alone!” He severed the brief trance by drawing his eyes away from the flames. Once he felt in control of his body again, Kaijin continued his slow trek through the streets.

  The flames crackled in his mind. “Their deaths are your fault, Kaijin Sora. You will be a wanted man, hunted down and killed like an animal.”

  “No! Stop it! It is not my fault! I
am not responsible for these foul acts!”

  “Then prove it.”

  Kaijin’s heart raced, and his breathing staggered. He clutched the holy symbol, tempted to rip it from around his neck, but something prevented him. Heat emanated from the charm and seared his hand the more he fought against the unseen force. The phenomenon startled him. He knew that he had acquired an immunity to fire after enduring years of self-inflicted burns as a child. “Who are you?” Kaijin demanded, staring up at the sky. “What are you?”

  The continuous berating sound of crackling flames was the only response. Frustrated, Kaijin hastened his staggered gait in search of the only person he knew could help him.

  VIII

  With his body concealed under an ethereal shroud, Jarial searched the city. Arriving at the central plaza, which appeared to be the heart of the chaos, he discovered a cluster of undead. The creatures pounded relentlessly at an invisible wall that protected Xavorin. Sitting hunched over with his knees drawn to his chest, Xavorin gazed helplessly at the commotion.

  Jarial entered the area unseen by the surrounding mass of creatures. He approached Xavorin and closely examined him.

  The ailing man appeared to have lost all connection with his own soul. His eyes were dull as if he were a mindless corpse.

  Jarial scowled. Why, Xavorin? Why did you do this to yourself? He lowered his head and concentrated, attempting to project a silent message in the diseased mage’s mind.

  Xavorin jumped as if awakening from a horrible dream. His eyes darted around the area nervously. His frantic actions drew suspicion from the undead. They clawed and battered the invisible shield. Xavorin bit his lower lip when he saw no one.

  “You realize I cannot allow you to live,” Jarial spoke telepathically. He stared at his old friend through saddened eyes. “You have already destroyed yourself by treading this dark path. You have destroyed this city and claimed many lives.”

  Xavorin held his head and groaned. It appeared Jarial’s mental intrusion was working as intended. Xavorin stared ahead of him, unable to locate Jarial. “No. I didn’t want to come back. They made me. You can’t do this to me, Jarial!”