Chapter 6: The Last Flame
Despite all this, I felt... empty. Drakel was gone and the whole of Othania is in chaos. We needed to travel back to Othania lest we lose everything.
“Tarquin, Hanako, follow me. We need to get back to Othania. The world needs us, and we can’t waste time.” I said as I called over Nora who was still waiting.
“Come on Nora, let’s go, we have work to do.” I said as I pat Nora on the side. She quickly ran towards Othania. The wind started to get stronger and after a while, it started to rain. I could hear thunder in the distance.
As we got closer to Othania, I noticed that the trees were broken down and there was fire. Lots of fire. The scent of smoke and ash got stronger the further we went, and the nearby forest was filled with flames.
The further we went, the more obstacles we faced. I could feel the wind rush through my hair as Nora jumped, turned, and dodged past the many broken down logs and burning flames.
After a few minutes of running, Nora stopped. We had arrived. Othania was... much, much, worse than I had imagined. The sky was painted with color and the flames covered Othania. The heat was unbearable, and the smoke had slightly bitter smell.
“W-what happened? We were only gone a few days. H-how could this have happened!?” Hanako got off of Nora’s back as she gazed upon the remnants of Othania. “Come on! People may still be alive!” I said as I ran in.
“Kazz, wait, it’s too dangerous!” Hanako said to me as I ran towards Othania.
I quickly rushed behind one of the broken pillars. I could hear people yelling as they ran for their lives. That was when I saw something. Something bad.
There was a rift in the center of Othania and hundreds of those creatures ran out. “The fuck is that!?” I said aloud. I quickly left cover and pushed one of the people out of the way, right before one of those creatures attacked him.
“Run!” I told the person to which they gladly agreed.
In the distance, I could see the Koldryth Beast coming towards us. This was bad. If the Koldryth Beast were to attack us now, we might not be able to make it. “Everyone, evacuate! That creature is back, and it’s larger than ever before!” I yelled out as a heavily armored man ran towards me.
“Hey, get out of here! It’s far too dangerous!” He said to me as he drew his sword. “Hey wait a minute! I am here to protect you along with the other civilians! Me and my friends back there, are here to save Othania! Not to mention, we are the only ones who know anything about that thing!” I said, pointing to the Koldryth Beast.
“Well then, you could start by killing these things! By the way, the name is Varen Han, older brother of Drakel Han and head knight of Othania.”
“He had a brother?” I said as I stabbed my sword into the head of one of the creatures. Tarquin and Hanako then ran towards me. “These creatures, they are an advanced type of Koldryth Spawn called the Kell. I found out something while we were fighting them. They are sensitive to heat!” Tarquin said as he lit a match and threw it on the Kell.
The creature screeched in pain and then tried to attack Tarquin however fell to the ground, dead. “Damn! I wish I knew that sooner. It would’ve made my job a hell of a lot easier!” Varen said looking down at the corpse.
“Well Varen, you might want to see something!” I said as I pulled out the Forerunner’s Staff. “Woah! The hell is that?” He asked me.
“This is the Forerunner’s staff. It’s the only thing that can save us from that beast.” I told Varen as I held it in the air. “I see. Well then, let’s show these Koldryth Spawn what were made of!” He said as he looked at the rift.
“Behind you!” Hanako yelled out as she stabbed one of the creatures. Another one attacked me, but I grabbed my blade and cut off its hand. The creature then tried to jab its other claw into my chest. Luckily, I was able to block it and off went its other hand. I then stabbed my sword into the creature’s head.
The creatures then fell to the ground right before two others ambushed me. “Need some help!” Varen said as he battled off the Kell with me. “Thanks Varen!” I said as we killed one of them. The other tried to attack me but I stabbed it in the head, killing it.
“Hey, you two! Can I get some help?” Tarquin yelled out as one of the creatures pinned him down. Me and Varen ran over to him and helped get the Kell off of him. Varen finished them off with a few cuts and stabs.
There were still so many of the creatures killing people and wreaking havoc. There was one thing. One thing that my grandfather told me. Though I can’t quite remember what it was. Maybe one day it will come back to me. As for now, I need to get rid of these monsters.
As I continued fighting off these creatures, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. Something important. This feeling has plagued me for many years but out of all these years, only now has it bothered me the most. What is it that I am missing!?
The more we fought these things, the more I wondered... What was it!?
That was when I remembered. I had remembered what he said. Many years ago, my grandfather told me something. Something that at the time, I didn’t understand.
15 years ago. That was the last time I saw my grandfather.
“Kazzura, it’s time you know should know something.” My grandfather said to me with his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t have much time left; this is one of many reasons I am telling you this. You are special, you have things that make you stronger than others.”
“What do you mean Grandpa?” I asked him out of curiosity.
“You are what is known as a Flameborn, this means you were blessed with the power of the Phoenix.”
“The... Phoenix?”
“Yes, my dear.” He said to me right before looking out the window. “Kazzura, I have to go! I promise I will be back! Just, stay here!” He told me as he left the house. I didn’t understand what was happening at the time but now... Now I know.
The Phoenix is a powerful creature born from the flames. They have an insane amount of Arcana however went extinct many years ago. Many believed that Flameborn were a myth as they were last seen 300 years ago. People with intense magical power. I never knew or remembered that I had magical abilities until now.
That must mean... I am the last Flameborn in all of Othania.