Fear and Fire

The encampment was as lively as it was when we left. I stood with Vivian a small distance away from the gate and looked around for any sign of Finley or Matthias. Vivian noticed my anxiety and turned to me.

“If you need, I can send Ursa to look for them. I can enchant her to move and see. I will see through her eyes.”

“No, that’s alright. It will probably be safer if I go, anyway. Do you think you’ll be alright if I leave you? I promise to come back if I don’t find them before sunset.”

“Yes, of course. Your friends are important to you. If it were Master Burkhardt, I would rush out there myself.”

Her demeanor is so different from when we first met. Is this the power of a player character?

I re-entered the forest, taking a quick look back at Vivian before she faded into the distance. The forest was eerily silent. A nearby bush rustled as a rabbit hopped out, and I glared at it. If it were one of those mages, it could very well be that traitor Vivian mentioned.

The rabbit skipped away without glancing in my direction, heading in the opposite direction of the camp. I sped up as I noticed the sky switching from pale blue to pink. A dark cloud rose into the sky— the town was on fire. I heard rushed footsteps approaching and hid above a nearby treetop.

Finley was charging through the woods. I felt a sense of relief as she passed by, followed closely by Matthias. Her hair was ruffled; the right bundle had become untied. Matthias had his hood down, and his hair was matted with sweat. The cloth on his left shoulder was ripped.

I looked toward the town, where bright orange flames had begun rising from. I could make out the distant sounds of crackling wood and clashing metal.

There weren’t any fighters in that town. What’s making that noise?

I resisted the urge to peek inside the town and flew back to the camp. I called out to Finley and Matthias as I passed over them. They glanced at me and continued on.

Vivian was still standing near the camp gate, examining the stuffed bear in her hands. She looked up as I approached. I slowed down and hovered over to her side, waiting patiently for my companions to arrive.

“They are alright? I am glad. I was starting to worry when I saw the dissipating smoke.”

I was starting to worry, too. I’m getting too attached, more than if I were behind a computer screen.

Finley and Matthias shared equally shocked expressions as they came to a halt, staring wide-eyed at the girl before them. Vivian shrank under their gazes and raised a hand to wave before looking away.

I jumped back in surprise. Finley had charged straight at Vivian, grabbing her by the collar. The loose bundle of hair fell apart as she pulled Vivian closer. The girl closed her eyes and turned away, chin tucked into her neck.

“You! You coward, runnin’ when you knew we could’ve helped. If you had just given us what we wanted, maybe, just maybe we could’ve done somethin’. Anythin’…”

Tears began to pool in her eyes as her voice shook. Matthias turned to the forest, where the distant fire was beginning to grow. I reached out a hand toward Finley before quickly pulling it back.

I can’t do anything. Not like this.

“Finley, what happened? Didn’t the mages… escape?”

Finley let go of Vivian. She fell to the ground, lowered her head, and covered her face with her hands. Ursa lay on the ground, coated in dirt. I stared at Finley, waiting for an answer. She kept glaring at the girl cowering on the ground.

“Most of them made it out. A couple of royal guards charged the place with swords and arrows. They would’ve seen us runnin’, so we hid in the bushes. They rounded up a couple of young mages who couldn’t magic themselves away— put them in the center of town.”

Matthias jogged past Finley, touching her shoulder as he passed by. His eyes were tense, and I could see blood seeping from his shoulder. He disappeared into the encampment, followed by the sounds of panicked voices.

“We watched as they killed them one by one. They were shoutin’, askin’ for a location. When there were only three of them left, the tallest one stood up. He screamed and pointed toward the camp. We knew what needed to be done, but we couldn’t move or we’d be shot down.”

Her loose hair and Matthias’s shoulder…

Finley clutched her shoulders and bent forward. Her eyes widened, making a horrified expression with an intensity that I had never seen before. Her voice became softer, almost like she was afraid someone would hear her.

“That’s when he showed up. I’d heard of the Knight before, but I never imagined he’d be so…”

“Finley, you don’t have to—“ She held out a hand for me to stop, doing her best to compose herself.

“He showed up suddenly, grabbed the mage who’d given us away. He forced the mage to change his shape. His screams were so loud…”

Finley sniffed and wiped the sweat coating her forehead. She took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the camp gate.

“The mage became a crow, and the Knight set him off. The army’s probably followin’ him here as we speak… As soon as they got out of sight, we charged for a different path. We got spotted by some archers on the way, but that just means they would’ve slowed down to attack us.”

Finley pulled out the sword on her back, which had a pristine look to it. A semblance of the confident smile she had when I first met her appeared on her face.

I don’t wanna misjudge this game’s realism, but a well-used sword wouldn’t look that way. If I’m right, we need to run. Someone as inexperienced as her might not make it through a fight.

“Don’t worry, the path we took is much shorter than theirs. Only my grandfather knew about it. Main priority is gettin’ the others as far away from here— quick as possible. Anything you two can do would be greatly appreciated.”

She took one harsh look at the girl on the ground before charging into the camp. I could hear shouting and clattering coming from inside, and something quieter coming from the forest.

“Vivian.”

The girl shook and moved to stand, bringing the bear back to her chest. She looked straight at me, but her eyes seemed to be focused on nothing at all.

“I know she scared you. Her home is being threatened, just like yours was. I’m sure… you can understand her emotions.”

Some clarity returned to Vivian’s eyes, and she looked out at the place where the army was arriving from. The sounds of marching feet were growing louder and louder.

“… The Knight… cannot be defeated. There is nothing we can do.”

I clenched my fists. My eyes darted around the forest ahead, as if a solution would magically appear.

If something doesn’t change, the rebellion might not survive. There has to be something I can do.

I looked at the tops of spears approaching in the distance, the girl standing beside me, and then finally at myself. I stared at my colorless hands that glowed with a soft light.

The only things I can touch are NPCs, but I take them over when I do. I can’t hold a weapon or cast a spell, but they can. Since that’s the case…

I closed my eyes and steeled myself. I charged headfirst into the forest ahead, the sound of Vivian calling out my name fading behind me.