Chapter 35: The Flame Goes Out

Demon Lord Katariel stands there in the street, daring us to make the first move. I want to draw my sword and attack but I’m frozen in place. The way she looks at me like she doesn't see a person staring back at her. Like I’m an animal, an insect.

She is something beyond my understanding. Her power isn't something I could touch, certainly not without my armor. I feel so vulnerable. To my surprise, Rina is the first to break free. She cries out in rage and levels her staff at the demon.

“Phoenix Flame Inferno!”

A massive swirling pillar of red and blue flame engulfs Katariel, rising high into the sky. The heat instantly melts the stones around us into glass, I throw my hands up to protect myself and my palms are scorched. I’ve never felt anything like it. It’s as if the flames themselves contain Rina’s raw fury. She pours everything into the spell, from the very depths of her soul. She struggles to stay standing as all of the mana in her body is used to fuel the fire making it burn hotter and hotter. Being this close feels like standing near the surface of the sun. Rina finally collapses to her knees, breathless and completely drained. We look up at the swirling chaos, Katariel’s silhouette is just visible inside.

With a single swipe of her hand, the demon lord dispels the inferno, unscathed, and unphased.

“That was a lovely attempt to get me hot but you’re still a bit tepid for my tastes. Your friends on the boat weren't much fun either. They broke easily.” Katariel teases wickedly.

Does she mean Read and the others? What did she do to them?! Without warning, she flicks her wrist, sending a bolt of red lightning into Rina. She screams as the energy rips through her body, ravaging her from the inside.

“Rina!” I scream, reaching for her as she falls unconscious.

Before I can get to her though, I’m thrown backward by a strike from the Demon Lord and sent tumbling down the road. I come to a stop bloodied and broken. The pain is all encompassing, mind numbing. I struggle to sit up only to see Katariel approaching Camilla. The monk surges forward, slipping past the demon’s guard and landing a heavy punch squarely into her face. I don't see how it happens but one second Camilla’s arm is extended and the next, its gone, severed just below the elbow. Katariel holds the detached limb as blood drips down it.

Despite just losing her arm, Camilla doesn't skip a beat, she drops low and launches a kick upward into her opponent's sternum and sends her stumbling backward.

Katariel skids to a stop. She pads the dust off her chest and throws Camilla’s arm to the floor.

“You like to play rough! Just like me!” She cackles.

Just as she takes another step forward, Kizzik steps forward to defend us.

The demon gives them an amused look. “Aren’t you precious? You want to play too?”

Kizzik cries out in fury. It’s the first time I’ve seen them so angry. They're just about to dash forward but suddenly disappear in a puff of dust and debris. I rub my eyes in disbelief. They’re gone! It happens again and Camilla vanishes, the same happens to Rina. Katariel looks confused too. Is she not the one doing this? Then who is?

My stomach lurches as I’m suddenly whisked from where I sit at an incredible velocity. Before I know what's happening, I’m laying on sand staring up at the sky. I look around to see that my allies and I are on the beach now. It's not the one outside Utua though. This is…

Guabancex?! But how did we get back here? I can see the temple in the distance past the trees. Everyone else is just as confused and out of it as I am, bewildered by our new surroundings.

As I search for answers, I notice another figure with us, a strange woman I’ve never seen before. She’s standing proudly looking down at me. Her long jet black hair swirls around a face so beautiful, it’s hard to look directly at her. She has red clay tribal markings all over her ochre skin and covering her eyes, wearing just strips of cloth around her chest and hips. The wind that swirls around us inexplicably centers on her.

She points towards the temple. I follow her finger and that's when I see the black smoke rising into the air. It’s faint but I can also hear screams. They need help! How can this be happening? The island is supposed to be safe from demons! I struggle to stand and notice the woman is gone, leaving behind a powerful gust of wind.

“Who in the hells was that?” Kizzik asks, ripping a scrap of cloth from their cloak.

They move over to where Camilla lays bleeding and begins to dress her wound. She cries out in pain as Kizzik applies pressure. I don't have any answers for them. I dont have any idea whats going on, but the people here are in danger. Guille, Cecilia! Everyone!

“Dont just stand there! Check on Rina!” The Laczerta barks at me, snapping out of my stupor

I crawl over to the elf lying still in the dirt, the pain lancing through my broken body. “Rina! Wake up!” I shake her.

Panic rises in me when her eyes don't open. I lean down, putting my ear to her chest. She has a pulse but it's weak. Her breathing is shallow too and getting more faint by the second. Tears well in my eyes making my vision bleary as I desperately start performing chest compressions. Please god no, this can't be happening! A minute passes and she doesn't stabilize, but I keep going. The overwhelming fear grips my heart tightly. Everything else falls away as I pound on my friend’s chest. I beg silently for a miracle. I can't lose her. I just can’t!

Think! What can I do?! I can’t be useless when it matters!

All I have are mana crystals. Maybe just maybe that could work?

I frantically yank out my last flame crystal, fumbling it.

“DAMMIT!”

I barely have any composure as my hands shake uncontrollably. I’m able to get a firm grasp on the crystal and press it onto her chest, resuming the compressions. Another minute passes, and another.

“Please! Come back to me!” I scream. My hot tears pour down my face, soaking Rina’s cloak.

“You can't be dead! I won't accept it!” As I cry out in pain, something is released from deep within me. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. The strange force feels like it traces straight from my heart and into the crystal. It pulsates, matching the beating of my heart.

In an instant, I feel the crystal start to warm beneath my hands. Its warm orange light emanates from it and begins to seep into Rina. The energy begins to fill her body, warming her skin, bringing color back to her cheeks. I gasp as her heartbeat begins to grow stronger and stronger. Suddenly, her eyes flutter open as she bursts into a rainbow of flames.

I flinch backwards but the fire doesn't hurt me. In fact, I can feel it healing me. The cuts on my skin start to close then vanish altogether, my broken bones knit back together. It's a miracle! The gentle flames extend out from Rina, embracing Kizzik and Camilla as well, washing away their injuries.

Rina slowly stands up. I wipe the tears from my eyes, staring up at her as she glows brightly. The multicolored flames around her begin to solidify into the shape of a beautiful bird. The creature cries out before vanishing back into Rina’s body. We all look at her in awe and relief. She’s back. Rina sniffs at the air and her head snaps in the direction of the temple.

“There’s trouble! I’m going on ahead!” She dashes off before we can respond. Kizzik helps Camilla to her feet.

“How are we back in Guabencex?” They ask.

“No time to think about it. The people are under attack. Camilla, wait here.” I say.

She shakes her head. “I can fight just fine.”

I don't bother arguing with her. The wound has been closed thanks to the burst of healing from Rina but it couldn't bring her arm back unfortunately.

We all rush toward the temple, the screams intensifying as we get closer. As we break through the trees, I see a horrific scene. People running for their lives from green skinned monstrous looking creatures with powerful builds wielding spiked clubs. There’s dozens of them.

“Orcs. Damnit, they aren't demons so they can walk on holy ground. Katariel must’ve sent them!” Camilla spits.

My shoulders sag as I see the bodies scattered about the temple. The long house we spent so long building is burning up in flames. Some of the people are trying to fight back but the monsters are simply too powerful.

The rage shudders through me. These bastards. These horrible irredeemable pieces of trash! All they do is take and destroy. No more!

I don't care if I don't have my suit. I just care about killing these damn orcs! I draw my short sword and rush into the fray. Kizzik and Camilla follow me into battle. My first target is an orc standing over the young boy that wanted to join us. He stands trembling, clenching a small dagger as the monster goes to end his life. I stab my sword through the back of its calf and rip it upward. The creature howls in pain, falling down. I stab it again in the ribs and watch in satisfaction as its greenish blood leaks out. Surveying the battlefield, I see Rina, Guille and Cecilia, ushering people towards the pyramid, protecting the entrance.

“Run for the central temple!” I shout before dashing away to slay another orc.

I’m a flurry of rage running through the battlefield. I barely notice it but something is lightening my steps, speeding up my attacks. It’s the wind. The wind is swirling around me, melding with and bolstering my movements, I see the same wind swirling around Kizzik and Camilla as well as some of the Borikan citizens as they fight. It pushes us forward, fanning the flames within. We begin to move through the Orcs like a cyclone, ripping and tearing at their flesh with our attacks.

With a final push, we defeat the last of them. I stab the remaining orc through the eye, pinning it to the ground. I leave my sword there and fall to the dirt, exhausted. The surviving Borikanos do their best to put out the fires but the storehouse and longhouse are lost. That’s to say nothing of the lives lost. I force myself back onto my feet. I refuse to stand around uselessly when there’s work to be done. With a heavy exhale, I push myself onward and begin to help with the aftermath.