Firebrand

by Prioleau, R. M.

  The undead creatures’ violent thrashing escalated.

  Xavorin scowled at the creatures and pounded back on the invisible wall with his fist in a weak attempt to frighten them away. “Enough!”

  Xavorin’s sharp command startled the monsters, prompting them to withdraw a modest distance from the invisible shield.

  Jarial arched a brow. “They made you? It seems to me that you are in control of them.”

  “Things are not what they seem, Jarial,” Xavorin replied bitterly. “You of all people should know that. They are here because of me. They are always searching for me. I do not tell them to fight and kill. These spirits are persistent—restless. They will stop at nothing to reach their goal. They are attracted to my powers and revere me as some sort of god. My presence summons them from the plane of death and brings them to the land of the living. I do not tell them to come here—all I want is to be left alone. I just ... I want to live and die alone.”

  “I know how the process works. You seem to be clinging to the last bit of your sanity.”

  “I asked you, Jarial. I begged you to help me!”

  Jarial shook his head. “I once considered you a friend, Xavorin, but you’ve changed over the years. I don’t know who you are, anymore. You betrayed me at the Citadel after I helped you realize your own power. You abused that power for your own selfishness. Now you refuse to take responsibility for your actions.”

  “I did not do this!” Xavorin shouted, startling the undead.

  “You knew necromancy was forbidden, yet you continued to sate those curiosities.” Jarial’s gaze lowered solemnly. “Too many people died today. It’s time to end this, Xavorin. It’s time for you to rest.”

  “You don’t believe me.” Xavorin’s voice quivered. “You, Jarial Glace! The only man I’ve ever trusted!”

  “My trust in you was lost the day you decided to become a necromancer.” Jarial paused at the nearby sound of screaming. He immediately recognized the deep despair in the familiar voice.

  The commotion startled Xavorin and the undead. In unison, their eyes searched for the source of the sound.

  * * *

  Kaijin’s search seemed endless. He was unable to shed another tear. All around him were the smoldering remains of the life that had once flourished in the grand city. He kept his eyes focused ahead, not yet giving up hope that his master was not among the slain. After leaving the marketplace district, Kaijin neared the plaza and soon found a dead end.

  Amid the rubble obstructing the street, Kaijin discovered a young man fighting off the shambling, reanimated corpse of a guard. The young man’s chainmail and tabard in the colors of the city guard were heavily stained with blood. He fought relentlessly against the monster.

  A survivor! Kaijin rushed to the scene. He balled his fists, readying a spell to dispatch the creature.

  With two hands, the man swung his broadsword over his head just as the creature thrust with its halberd.

  “Watch out!” Kaijin shouted to the stranger, his hands igniting. He ran faster.

  The young man focused on the creature again. He gasped as something skewered his chest. Eyes widening, he slouched. The dead weight of his arms sent his broadsword downward across the back of the creature’s head, slicing it off. The creature’s body collapsed in a sea of blackened, curdling blood.

  Kaijin extinguished the fire in his hands and rushed to the young man’s side. “By the gods! Hold on, sir! I’ll get you to—!” He blinked, recognizing the young man. His voice weakened. “Rorick!” Kaijin’s voice seemed only audible to his own ears. Not having seen his brother for so long, Kaijin noted just how much the boy had grown into a strong, handsome young man of seventeen.

  Rorick’s glazed eyes met Kaijin’s in recognition. Blood poured from his mouth as he tried to speak. “W ... Why ... did you ... come ... back?”

  Kaijin felt a lump in his throat. He tried his hardest to hold back tears, but it was proving more difficult the longer he took in his brother. “I came to see you, Rorick. I came to see our parents. I wanted to make sure you were safe. Come on. I’m going to get you to a healer.” He tried to pick Rorick up in his arms.

  Rorick’s body barely budged. He maintained a death grip on his sword. “At least ... I was able to keep Viridis safe....” Rorick’s eyes fluttered.

  Kaijin blinked. “Viridis?”

  Something small rustled from beneath the bloody tabard. Kaijin lifted the cloth, and a lizard poked its head out. Blood stained its green scales, but it seemed otherwise unharmed.

  Kaijin gasped. “This lizard is yours?”

  Rorick opened his mouth to reply. He died with his eyes open. Bloody tears ran down the sides of his sallow face.

  “Rorick!” Kaijin ran his trembling hand over his brother’s still boyish face. Some of the blood and dirt caked on Rorick’s face smeared Kaijin’s hand. “Damn it all! Why?” Kaijin gritted his teeth and hissed. The anger in his voice rose. “You should never have left! I told you not to go!”

  The lizard crawled up Kaijin’s arm, settled on his shoulder, and bobbed its tiny head up and down.

  Frowning, Kaijin plucked the creature off his shoulder and nestled it safely in his haversack. “Stay in there.”

  The lizard didn’t resist Kaijin’s handling and remained snugged in the container’s dark confines.

  Another shiver ran down Kaijin’s back as he stared helplessly at the terrifying sight. He felt vomit rise at the sight and smell of the lingering death. His mind was jumbled, unable to concentrate.

  “Do you see what your hesitation has cost you?” The fiery crackle of the unknown voice jeered at Kaijin.

  Kaijin’s eyes grew heavy. His body was touched with dizziness. A fever came over him, and soared at an alarming rate.

  “Look at you, Kaijin Sora.” the unseen voice continued. “Pathetic. Weak.”

  Kaijin was unable to erase the disturbing images of his family from his mind. His body jerked, and he cupped his hand over his mouth. He could feel the contents of his unsettled stomach rising.

  “You are responsible for this destruction. You, who cannot even control his own power. You are a failure.”

  Kaijin snapped. The bile that stung his throat subsided, and sickness was replaced with rage. The fever remained, however, and only contributed to Kaijin’s blinding fury.

  “Get out of my head!” Kaijin screamed wildly at the nothingness around him. “Leave me alone!”

  “They are all dead because of you. You have nothing left to fight for.”

  “I said, ‘leave me alone!’” Kaijin’s screams permeated the streets and the entire plaza. A faint, fiery glow suddenly emanated from him. He saw an image of the world burning in a red inferno. The holy symbol around his neck pulsated, unified with his throbbing heartbeat. The heat from the charm intensified and sizzled against his chest.

  Kaijin left his brother’s corpse and staggered in the general direction of the central plaza, calling out to his master. His troubled voice carried throughout the area, drawing the attention of the undead surrounding Xavorin’s invisible shield.

  Kaijin narrowed his fiery eyes in acknowledgement of the creatures before turning to Xavorin. Having not seen the sickly man in ten years, Kaijin took a moment to study him from afar. With Jarial nowhere to be seen, Kaijin proceeded to confront the necromancer.

  Kaijin drew near the mass of undead as if unaware of their presence. He did not acknowledge them as a threat.

  An armored thrall emerged from the group and advanced on Kaijin. It blocked him from proceeding and aimed a longsword at his chest.

  Kaijin stopped as he felt the stinging prod of the steel blade at his chest. He glared at the creature. The blaze surrounding him intensified, echoing his rage. The flames engulfed not only the thrall, but the other nearby undead. At that moment, Kaijin no longer felt in control of his own body. He extended his hands toward the monsters and mumbled in a low, almost guttural tone which no longer sounded like his voice. A small ball of fire app
eared between his palms and grew rapidly in size. Kaijin hurled the magical fireball at the undead and incinerated them to dust. As quickly as the unknown presence had possessed his mind, it released its hold, leaving Kaijin bewildered.

  He recalled uttering the words to invoke the fireball in his hands. He still felt the heat in his palms from where it coalesced. But he did not feel as though he had full control of his mind. Something was inside him—something powerful. He was lost, succumbing helplessly to the unseen presence that briefly inhabited his body to wreak havoc on the world. Perhaps the most bizarre phenomenon, Kaijin realized, was that he had not used his components through the entire ordeal. Moreover, he noticed the spell, which seemed more powerful than usual, felt different. He was certain the change was not arcanic.

  Kaijin stared down at his hands. “How did I—” His words were cut short when he spied the shadows around him merging into a larger being. The creature towered over Kaijin, staring intently. Its massive frame blocked the path between Kaijin and Xavorin.

  * * *

  At the height of the commotion, Jarial dismissed his spell, and he drifted out of his ethereal state and solidified. He stood before the transparent shield enclosing Xavorin, ignoring the threat of the shadedrifter’s presence. Jarial’s hardened stare pierced through what little was left of Xavorin’s ailing soul.

  “Release this damned shield, Xavorin!” Jarial pounded his fist on the invisible wall.

  Jarial’s presence startled the necromancer who peered at his old friend with fear-filled eyes.

  “Now!” Jarial’s voice snapped.

  After momentary hesitation, Xavorin complied, uttering a phrase that caused the barrier to dissipate.

  Jarial grabbed Xavorin by the collar of his dirty, tattered robes. “Send that shadedrifter back to its realm.” He violently shook the feeble man. “Do not allow it to harm my student.”

  As Xavorin trembled, a small, glass charm hanging around his neck slipped free from his robes. The charm swirled with dark magic as though it encased a living thing.

  Jarial eyed the piece of jewelry. “A phylactery?” He hissed and glowered back at Xavorin. “Xavorin, you haven’t done what I think you have ... have you?”

  Xavorin averted his gaze and stayed silent.

  Jarial gave Xavorin another shake, startling him. “Send that monster back now!”

  Xavorin winced. “If I could, I would, and none of this would be happening in the first place. The shadedrifter is merely acting in the same manner as the other undead creatures your boy destroyed. It thinks my life is in danger. The undead are trying to protect me, as any follower would protect his master.”

  Jarial scowled. “You are a fool, Xavorin—a naïve fool! These creatures only seek your power.”

  “They consider me one of their own. They would not harm me.”

  Jarial studied the phylactery once more before gazing into the lifeless hazel eyes of his old friend. Jarial leaned in and lowered his voice. “This will end now, Xavorin.”

  Xavorin grunted and attempted to pull away from Jarial. Placing his hand over Jarial’s, Xavorin mumbled an arcanic phrase and conjured small sparks of lightning which sent jolts through Jarial and forced him to release Xavorin. Jarial staggered backward. His body twitched as he fought to regain his composure.

  “You won’t have me, Jarial.” Xavorin growled, shaking his head. He backed away. “I warned you of the consequences of refusing to help me. I don’t deserve to die. This is not my fault.”

  With anger choking him, Jarial advanced, crushing small stones beneath his feet. “My arrogance has nothing to do with your foolish choices. The blood of hundreds of men, women, and children stains your hands. It’s time to end this.” With a series of phrases and a small gesture, Jarial’s body divided into multiple, transparent figures. They surrounded Xavorin, preventing any escape.

  “Jarial Glace!” Xavorin screamed at the identical illusions surrounding him. “You cannot do this!”

  Jarial ignored Xavorin’s pleas. Masked by the eight duplicates, Jarial reached out and snatched the phylactery from Xavorin’s frail neck. “You will no longer need this, either.” He snapped the glass charm from its hemp cord and held it aloft in one hand.

  Xavorin gasped in horror. “No! That’s mine! Give it back! Please! I beg you!” He lunged at the piece of jewelry which Jarial held out of his reach. The eight other images disappeared.

  Jarial summoned an array of prismatic light that surrounded his other hand. The illumination traced an image of a silver dagger in the air. He gripped the weapon’s hilt, and it became solid. “No.” Jarial hissed, prodding the point of the dagger against the other man’s chest. “I know what this thing is and what it means to a necromancer like you.”

  Xavorin’s eyes were full of insanity and distress as he stared at Jarial. The mixed sensations seem to call out to the shadedrifter.

  The monster lost interest in Kaijin and turned to Xavorin.

  With his fists burning brightly, Kaijin prepared to unleash another fireball at the creature when he noticed its focus was elsewhere. Curious, Kaijin peered beyond the shadedrifter and spotted Jarial with Xavorin at his mercy.

  The monster lunged at Jarial and Xavorin, its eyes locked on Jarial. Extending a hand, the shadedrifter reached out to the shadows dotting the ground, pulling them closer with an unseen magical force until they merged into a black cloud that engulfed Jarial.

  * * *

  “Master!” Kaijin yelled. With his eyes flaring up in a blinding brightness, Kaijin approached the creature. He sensed his mind drifting as he lost control of himself again. He concentrated on the monster and moved his shaky hands as though attempting to manipulate the air. He was possessed by something beyond his comprehension, which orchestrated his every movement and conjured an incendiary fog of destruction around the creature. The burning embers of the magical haze penetrated the shadedrifter’s body repeatedly, causing the creature to howl.

  * * *

  Jarial noticed Kaijin’s distraction. He watched the creature falter as its spell was interrupted. Jarial was relieved that Kaijin managed to save him from the attack, but he was disturbed by the unknown presence—which he presumed was divine in nature—inhabiting his student.

  Xavorin grabbed Jarial’s hand, moved the magical dagger away from his chest, and attempted to reverse the blade. Jarial’s attention returned to Xavorin, and he struggled to regain control of the weapon. The two men tumbled to the ground in a violent tussle. The glass phylactery dropped out of Jarial’s hand, skittered across the cobblestone, and hit Kaijin’s boot.

  Jarial and Xavorin briefly ceased their scuffling at the small, panging sound of the charm.

  Kaijin glanced down at his feet. He ignored the object, seemingly uninterested in it, and centered his efforts on the creature before him.

  Jarial huffed, out of breath. He noticed the evidence in Kaijin’s pupilless eyes that something possessed him. “Kaijin, get a hold of yourself, and listen to my words! Pick up the phylactery!”

  “Give it to me, boy!” Xavorin yelled. His grip slipped from around Jarial’s hands, and he lost control of the dagger. Xavorin used the remainder of his strength to deliver a desperate blow to Jarial’s temple with his bony elbow.

  Jarial’s eyes rolled back, and his eyelids fluttered closed. His body went limp.

  * * *

  The fog dissipated, leaving the shadedrifter with scalding wounds on its onyx flesh. Its eyes watched the confrontation between Jarial and Xavorin. When Jarial was knocked unconscious, the creature acknowledged Xavorin.

  The feeble mage scowled and pointed at Kaijin. “That boy took my precious artifact. Get it back for me, now.”

  The shadedrifter complied without hesitation and faced Kaijin. In a swift motion, the monster lurched at him, its clawed, shadowy fists poised to crush him.

  Ignoring the creature, Kaijin knelt down and awkwardly picked up the charm. The invisible presence that maintained control of Kaijin’s mind guide
d his movements.

  “He mocks us,” the fiery voice said.

  What little remained of Kaijin was caged in the voids of his own soul. It pleaded in a small voice to the entity dominating his body. “Whoever—Whatever you are, I beg you to please ... please spare my master’s life. I’ve already lost everything—everyone I’ve loved. Please don’t take him away from me, too. I will remain forever indebted to you in exchange for his life.”

  The sounds of the crackling flames intensified as the entity chuckled darkly and said, “You belong to me, now, Kaijin Sora.”

  Kaijin’s soul was silenced. A soft hiss escaped his lips. He stood up, waited until the shadedrifter was only footsteps away, and called forth a ring of white fire around himself. The force of the spell extended around Kaijin, engulfing the monster in a violent conflagration, but left him unharmed.

  The white fire’s heat intensified, and the creature’s skin began dissolving into nothingness. The monster wailed and scrambled to break free of the fiery hold. An endless inferno marred Kaijin’s vision. His hand gripped the glass charm with unnatural force.

  Xavorin advanced toward the fray. He was hit by heat so intense that parts of his skin peeled and dissolved. He shuffled backward, holding his wounds.

  The shadedrifter clawed at Kaijin as the hungry flames consumed it, reducing the creature to ash. The surging inferno grew exponentially in response to Kaijin’s rage, spreading across the plaza, and devouring everything in its path. Kaijin’s grip eventually crushed and shattered the glass phylactery to pieces. The dark magic released from the broken charm was consumed upon encountering the hellfire surrounding Kaijin. When the phylactery was destroyed, Kaijin heard Xavorin’s screams, which were promptly muffled when the inferno engulfed him. The greater entity released its hold of Kaijin, leaving him euphoric. The entity became a swirling storm of roaring flames which soon blanketed Easthaven, transforming the city into a blazing hell and silencing the rising screams of death.