An Inheritance of Fire

Selerim winced as he stepped past the final line of charred forest. There had been dirt and brush before, but now only ash remained. Even the trees were gone, no doubt burned to their roots. It was an odd sight. The firelight had only grown stronger as he followed its flickering web. Its flickering threads warred with the darkness that shrouded Umbra, dying all else a myriad of changing colors. Every shimmering hue was born from their conflict, scattered across the ashen landscape. Without the trees blocking vision, Selerim could see all of the fiery ribbons that flowed from the forest. Each stretched far beyond what the eye could see, drawn towards some common destination. Nighttime gave way to firelight as he followed them further.

When he first spotted the flame in the distance, he thought it residual kindling, just like he’d found in the massive crater, albeit both brighter and stronger. It wasn’t until Nyx landed on Selerim’s shoulder and bit down on his ear– hard– that he realized his mistake. “Ow!” the hunter hissed. For all his training, it took every bit of his willpower to keep from crying out in pain. He whirled around, eyes searching for whatever Nyx had spotted. He failed to find anything. Nyx nipped his ear again. In the exact same spot.

“What is it?” Selerim asked. She ruffled her feathers, but remained quiet. That was enough to give him pause. He scanned the landscape again, searching for whatever had spurred her warning. There was nothing out of place, save for the distant fire. Nyx landed. Normally, she would warn him from the safety of the sky. Landing like this meant something was close. Something that wasn’t yet aware of them.

He tapped the duskwing’s beak to show that he understood. “Stay safe.” His Wyrd bobbed her head up and down before returning to the sky. Selerim would miss having her support, but it was too bright and too open to guarantee her safety. And if she was injured– or worse– he’d never find his way home.

Selerim looked back. The ashen land’s border crept forward with each passing second, reducing everything in its path to dust. He hesitated. Will it keep burning forever? Slow as it was, there was plenty of fuel to sustain its growth. Probably not. The one before had stopped of its own volition. There was no reason to think this one would be any different. He’d just have to warn the others upon returning.

Something brushed against Auvun’s consciousness, rousing the firebird from his fitful sleep and straining his fragile existence even further. He paid it no mind. There was no point. Death’s grasp tightened with each second that passed. Auvun reached out with his will, calling out to fire that surrounded him. It responded to his will readily, but the poison had done its job. Soon enough, those same flames would burn him into nonexistence.

Still, Auvun found no small solace in their presence. He was content to pass in their embrace. Deep down, he’d always known there was no such thing as eternal life. All that was born would one day die. He was no exception. What better way to go than in a bed of fire and flame?

As Selerim stopped within arm’s reach, he realized he’d misjudged the fire in both size and brilliance. As wide as he was tall, its pale light banished the surrounding darkness, nearly blinding the hunter. Sickly green veins lay scattered across its body, undulating and dimming erratically as the blaze grew. The tendrils of fire arced over his head now. Each luminescent river fed into the central fire.

It took him another step closer to realize what he was looking at. Violent heat washed over Selerim as he crouched. There was a rhythm to the way it wavered. It made him uneasy. It was too regular, too rhythmic. He froze mid-step as realization dawned, brought on by Nyx’s warning.

Now that he was looking for it, he could see it. A silhouette nestled within the blinding light, just barely darker than the surrounding flames. He slowly rose, careful not to make a sound as he stepped back. Blind luck alone had kept it from waking. The flame-obscured figure stirred, but no more. Selerim’s thoughts raced. It was injured– of that much, he was certain. The green veins were proof of that.

He took a deep breath as he set his legs, wincing as his weapon’s chain links clinked lightly against one another. Selerim took a deep breath and gripped them with his left hand. Holding the dagger in his right, the hunter clamped down on his nerves, wound his right arm back– and hurled his weapon.

Even in his addled state of mind, Auvun heard the world’s whispered warning. The firebird’s eyes snapped open. He jerked his body to the side, just as something whizzed by his head. The sudden move excited flame and poison alike, and both spilled from him in abundance, hissing as they fell to the earth.

Auvun spread his wings above his head, hissing in anger as he turned to face his attacker. A young boy stood there. The firelight dyed his bone-white and what little showed of his pale skin. He held a chain of some sort in his hands, no doubt attached to whatever weapon he had just thrown.

A whirlwind of questions raced through his mind. Who was he? How did he find the firebird? And, above all, why hadn't Auvun felt his approach? All these questions faded into the background as the boy clasped both hands together and turned his entire body.

The chain in his hands grew taught as it whirled around for another strike. Auvun took a step back but misjudged its range. The weapon– a dagger, he realized– attached to the chain’s end cut across his torso. It was a shallow cut, barely skin deep, but it echoed across his Heart, threatening to server what little remained of his feeble lifeline.

Reeling from the blow, Auvun reached for the surrounding flame. He reveled in its response as it roared to life. And with a single thought, he sent it crashing down towards his attacker.

If he’d stood half a step closer, Selerim would have died. The wave of pale red fire bore down on him. Taking a step back, he pulled on his weapon, careful not to pull too hard and bring the bladed end towards him too quickly. The ends of his hair were singed as the fiery tide barely missed. Heat bathed his body, and Selerim nearly dropped his weapon as the chain burned his hand. He gritted his teeth against the pain and pulled again, relieved to see that the remainder was still intact.

With nothing left of the forest to fuel it, the pillar of flame died within seconds. And for the first time, Selerim caught sight of his mark. More than three meters from head to foot, the same brilliant flames that nearly burned him radiated endlessly from the bird-type Reaver’s wings. No. That wasn’t quite right. They were made of fire.

Its form flickered as it eyed Selerim warily. The same fire that composed its great wings danced over its pale red body. How am I supposed to kill something made of fire? The thought caused him to pause. He was certain he’d felt his weapon catch on something. Was there a physical body somewhere under all those flames?

Selerim sidestepped to avoid another attack, whirling his weapon around for another strike as he did so. Pale red fire billowed from the monster’s chest, and just like before, he felt the dagger hit something solid.

Embers scattered through the air as the Reaver beat its wings once, creating more distance between them. Is it taking damage? Selerim hesitated. Its retreat made him more uncomfortable than anything else he’d seen thus far. Every other monster he’d killed had thrown himself at him until death. Even after being wounded, they often became more aggressive.

The fire was one thing. His assumption had been correct. If the Reaver could create another crater like the one, he’d already be dead. But if it was intelligent, it could just be conserving its strength.

He couldn’t possibly match it in sheer killing power. If Selerim couldn’t trick it, or outspeed it, there was no way to win.

A third pillar of fire roared to life. This time, instead of stepping to the side, Selerim stepped backwards. The vibrant flames followed him one step–and then burned away, leaving nothing behind. It can only reach so far. A fourth pillar sparked into being, but he avoided it easily. Selerim watched as it fizzled against the ashen earth.

I have more reach– barely. Estimating the distance between them, Selerim whipped the chain around in his hands for another strike.

Auvun was growing frustrated. And, more than that, he was growing angry. Burning the boy to ashes was a simple task, but the action would be his last. Using so much power was tantamount to suicide. Not that the current situation was much better. Dagger and chain alike refused to succumb, while even the shallowest of cuts made by the accursed weapon tore through his body and into his Heart. Each came closer to taking his life.

No matter how quickly or viciously Auvun struck, his attacker stayed just out of range. And with every failed attack, he suffered another wound. Each cut allowed the poison to seep deeper into his bones. Fine. Hissing in anger, Auvun concentrated, stoking the fire in his veins with his breath until it roared to life.

Selerim flinched as the Reaver’s flame-clad body flared, nearly blinding him. The pale red seemed to struggle against the sickly green veins before giving way to a single, uniform color– but only momentarily. Within moments, the sickly green pushed back. Both colors vied for supremacy. He stepped back. It’s getting desperate.He took another step back, careful not to let his fear take control. It was nerve-wracking; relying on his estimation of the distance between them, letting each and every strike land within a hair’s breadth in order to land his own. Can I wait it out now?

The delicate dance between hollow and Reaver had been going on for more than half an hour by now. Already, Selerim was drenched in sweat caused by a mixture of heat and exhaustion. But even in the face of his prey’s evident desperation, he couldn’t decide the best course of action. He could feel his attacks land, but each and every one of the felt… off. A brief moment of resistance, and then nothing. As if he was cutting something one layer at a time, instead of flesh. Selerim retrieved his dagger with a flick of the wrist. The leather binding had been burned off, making it difficult to grip. Its bare handle burned Selerim’s fingers as they closed, but he paid it no mind.

The Reaver glowed dimly as it lowered its body closer to the ground. Fire dripped down as it swayed back and forth. Selerim braced his feet as he clutched both ends of his weapon, readying himself for whatever happened next. It didn’t matter. His vision blurred as liquid pain snaked through his veins. It started from his heart, then spread through his entire body. Not now…! Selerim fought against the sensation as the agony forced him to his knees and stole his breath, but it was no use.

The last thing he saw was a torrent of pale red light crashing towards him.