His eyes still closed, slowly coming out of his deep sleep, Will turned to his side. His hand brushed lightly on the soft grass as he decided if he should wake up or grab a few more hours. The sun was out as he could see the red tint through his eyelids, but he could also see the shadows of the branches swaying above him, offering him a nice shade. He didn't feel anxious at all to wake in such nice weather.

 Grass? Will thought as his mind slowly registered the abnormality softly brushing his hand. He finally opened his eyes which went wide with shock as he noticed where he was. Somehow everything around him shifted from a desolated wasteland to a paradise.

 Looking around, the only thing he saw was lush green grass and twenty foot trees as far as he could see. He still had his sleeping mat setup, but everything else was nowhere in sight though his black bag was sealed leaning against the tree next to where he was sleeping. Will swore he could hear running water in the distance as well; suddenly, his attitude changed from hopeless acceptance to praying to whatever brought him there.

 Taking in the change of scenery, Will questioned if that never ending desert was just a dream, the mountainside was always looming at a distance. But as he got up, stretching his sore muscles, he realized everything truly did happen. He was still sore from all the walking as well as the working out he did. If that wasn't a dream, how did I get here? Will thought to himself. Maybe he had gotten to the mountain after all and just didn't remember? Any explanation he thought up just didn't fit.

 Packing up his sleeping mat and his extra canteen, Will could have sworn he heard running water. With all of the grime he had from the desert, he was eager to follow the sound and hope for the best. He had to fill up his supply of water as well; having four canteens empty didn't seem like too big of a deal, but he didn't know when he would find the next water source. Will didn't feel the need to push his luck.

 Following the sound of water, Will walked for around five minutes before a lake appeared. Not even worried about his clothes, Will threw himself into the lake with a howl of pleasure. He now understood the excitement anyone would have finding an oasis in a desert. Floating on his back, he looked through the trees to the sun, silently thanking whatever helped him out of that place.

 When Will was finally satisfied with his washing, he took out the canteens and went to the other side of the lake. He knew he would have to boil the water to purify it later. Even if he got less than half the water he had, it wouldn't make any difference. It was still more water than he had the day prior.

 As Will filled up the canteens, he thought he heard someone talking. His head shot up instantly, it sounded like a female’s voice and it sounded distressed. Putting his canteens away, Will raced to the sound he had heard.

 Running for just moments, Will came to a clearing in the trees that looked like a small path, just big enough for three people to travel side by side. Being just a few trees away from the clearing, Will concealed himself behind one as he looked toward the sounds of conversation. With his time in the silent desert, Will's hearing had improved drastically. Even with the distance between them, he was still able to pick up words.

 Will strained his eyes to make out a small woman, around the same age as him if he had to guess. She carried with her a pack almost the same size as herself, clearly packed with vegetation as he saw the greens coming out from the top. She wore simple traveling clothes. A tan pair of worn out trousers and the same color blouse. Her hair was black and had a slight tan. If Will had to guess, she seemed around his age. Her eyes are dark in color, widened in what seemed to be fear.

 The source of that fear was quite obvious as there were two men in some sort of leather armor. One was holding a sword as the other stood to her side at a distance as if expecting resistance. His hand was resting on his own weapon waiting for even a hint of his partner having any trouble.

 “Please, I'm not ready yet,” she pleaded with her would-be assailant. “It isn't even harvest time yet, how am I even supposed to eat?” Her eyes were never leaving the sword drawn just a foot away from her. The woman tried to back away, only to run into the other swordsman. “Just let me have another month and it will be ready, I promise!” She screamed at the man in front of her.

 The man with the sword didn't seem to care; looking the woman up and down, the man turned to his partner. The sword stayed ready as a playful smile never left his face. “What do you think, boss?” He asked with a playful tone. “Should we give her another month?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

 The “boss” to her right took on his own smile. “We could do that, but it will cost her,” he said while looking her up and down. “Tell you what, miss, we can take you back to your place and work out a deal, I promise it's a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said with what looked like a lustful gleam in his eye.

 The girl looked from one guard to the other, anxiety building the more they talked. It started to seem like a battle she wouldn't be able to win, submission and resignation ever growing in her features. How could she get out of the situation without getting hurt? Even more so if she won the fight, how long before another team showed up looking for their missing men? Slowly, she nodded her head as she accepted her fate. Anything to be able to eat another day.

 Having seen enough of the conflict in front of him, Will's demeanor took a dark change. How those two could supposedly upheld the law by thinking of such horrible things? His anger was building with each passing moment. If they were really thinking of the harvest, they would take something else as collateral.

 Having resigned to her fate, the girl stared at nothing. She had only the pack on her back and a hollowed expression on her face. “Could I at least keep the food that I have now? This is all I'll have for the next week,” she asked with a glint of hope in her eyes.

 The guard looked at his boss. “I don't think that would be possible, our provisions are low, and we need dinner with our new entertainment!” He laughed while putting his sword away. “But I'll tell you what, why don't you come back with us to the capital? We'll make sure you are good and fed for the rest of your life,” he said with a wink. The girl winced in fear as one of the men came up behind her.

 The guard walked forward and took the already frightened woman's arm and began to drag her the opposite way of where she was going. “I thought we were going back to my home? Where are you taking me?” she asked with a small fearful sob escaping her throat.

 The boss looked back at her, his eyes slowly undressing her in his mind. “Change of plans, we're just going to take you with us for the cost of your crops,” he said with a menacing laugh. The girl could do nothing, so she went completely still, allowing the guard to drag her by her waist.

 At his last string of tolerance, Will jumped out of the trees onto the path and ran toward the guard as fast as he could. Before they could react, he swiftly grabbed the girl out of the unsuspecting guard’s grasp. Not expecting any resistance, it was easy for Will to take her. The surprised guards turned to see an oddly dressed man holding their new toy.

 The guard’s boss was looking incredulously at the young man, and he drew his sword. “You dare attack the Crimson King's representatives?” Rage replaced his shocked expression as he charged the strangely dressed man.

 As if in a trance fueled by his rage, Will felt the comforting warm aura that helped him in the desert change. Instead of the comforting campfire-like presence, his rage had fueled it into what was more like a forest fire begging to be released. His insides thirsted for the blood of the men who dare attack and take advantage of an innocent woman. There was a pull from deep inside him as if a door within was begging to be opened. Deep within the trance, Will opened the door within his mind.

 A pressure was released from Will as red flames spiraled upward, his bloodlust only served to fuel the fire. The guard stopped his charge, his face paled. Looking into the spiraling ruby red inferno, he saw a set of dark eyes void of mercy. His gaze shifted between the two who had seemed to have just wet themselves.

 “Why is a Royal Flame attacking the Crimson Knights?” The guard asked when stopping his advance.

 Within the storm of rage, Will raised his hand out to the subordinate guard. The flame in a thin stream flew past his head. The prior assailant looked past at a tree in which the flame hit, a flaming hole set in the center. Within moments, the tree caught flame, burning to a crisp in a matter of seconds.

 “Leave.” The only word that escaped the inferno. His hatred for the men consuming any other part of him. His rage begged him to kill, to allow none to survive. It was a struggle just to contain such thoughts.

 The guards picked up their wits and fled the way they were previously dragging the girl as fast as their legs would allow. Will watched them disappear down the path, if they looked back, they would see a pillar of ruby red flame parting the clouds.

 Will tried as hard as he could to cut off the power, but he still knew nothing about it. All he wanted to do is chase those men down and sear the flesh from their bones. His rage had taken over completely; he felt his legs start moving toward the men ever so slowly. He felt like he should give them at least a head start.

 “Please, stop!” A voice cried out from beyond the inferno. Will didn't know the voice nor did he care. All that mattered was the guards who were about to die. “You've done enough, please, just stop!” She cried out again, hoping to wake Will from his trance. “I can't thank you enough for saving me, but if you could just calm down a little, you can allow your flames to dissipate,” she said calmly into the fire.

 Will calmed down enough to see through the flames, to the woman who had been in trouble before. Seeing that she was safe, he was able to allow his flames to go out completely.

 Having calmed slightly, Will felt intense fatigue setting in. His face paled as his legs fell from under him. It felt as though every ounce of strength was taken in order to fuel the fire. As he lay on the ground facing the sky, he smiled. I'm glad I was able to help, he thought as the darkness started to sink in. The woman raced to his side with a concerned expression which was the last thing he saw before the world went black.