A desolate land stretched beyond the horizon. Sand, snow and dust lift into the air, flowing together with the lonely wind. Beyond the parted clouds, the sky was enveloped with darkness. Two twinkling dots hung above the clouds. A new sight, but not a remarkable one.

“What am I doing?”

I reach out toward the stars, grasping at the enveloping darkness. The distance was too great; too incomprehensibly far to reach with my hand alone.

“Where am I headed?”

I look around the dull monochromic land around me. A blank land extending far beyond my sight. No footsteps nor landmarks were around. Only the whispering wind humming its dreadful song, scraping by my ears as an updraft of snow plumes into the air.

“It’s hazy and dull, this world of mine”

A numbing chill crawls up my fingertips. Ash fell from the clouds as the scent of smoke drifted around me. Harsh winds pass through my hair, powdering it with white dust. It was as if the clouds descended, encasing me from the endless desert. Above this misty haze, the pitch-black sky loomed above me.

Can you not see it? The beautiful flames of Balor?

A voice gently whispers in my ear. Suddenly, a brilliant radiance erupts from the hazy mist. Sulphurous streaks of light stain the small world around me. An eerie warmth envelops me as Isabella’s shrieking laughter pierces my ears.

Join us, disciple of the forgotten. Together we shall cleanse this world away!

The crackling of fire exclaims as wooden beams fall around me.

“No, I have to escape. I have to move forward. I can’t get enveloped by this fire”

But my legs lock in place. My fingers quiver from the numbness of the frigid wind. The cold, dull and hollow world was just beyond this wall of fire.

Why do you want to return there? Lost, empty and cold, that’s all there is.

I look up at the darkness flickering with the raging flame.

“Is this what I want? To not be alone? To embrace the warmth of the flame?”

A strange desire draws my hand forward, until a spark singes my fingertip. An addicting warmth runs through my hand.

I want more. I hate this lonely world.

I stick my hand into the chaotic flames. It softly dances on my hand as the numbness fades away. A euphoric feeling surges through my arm. Why then, is my arm turning to ash? What is that sickly, bitter taste in the back of my throat? Why can’t I stop crying?

“This isn’t it. I can’t accept this. But where do I go? There’s nothing out there but snow, sand and ashes. It’s so warm, and I’m so tired. I want to stay here forever…”

Tears fall down my face as the sky closes in, growing darker and narrower. This sickening fire crackles around me, singing a nonsensical, and chaotic melody.

O’ pitiful one. Do you not see it? Your form is fading away. Mixing and becoming one with this fire. Is this your desire?

An echoing voice hushes away the roaring chaos around me.

“No. No no no. But what can I do? The fire is scary. But the dark, empty land is even scarier.“

ashes flake off as I grasp my charred hand. However, to my surprise, my hand was perfectly fine.

Breathe

The voice calls out as I forcefully inhale the energy around me. A sharp dryness scratches the back of my throat. Heat flows through my veins as a blue flame envelops me.

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Do you not understand yet? This world is cold, empty and hollow. But it is ultimately your world. There’s no need to be afraid of the fire and no need to fall into the sea of desolation. Reach for it, reclaim your control.

I stick my hand into the fire. Endless amounts of nonsense flows around me as the fire swirls into nonsensical text. Grasping in the flames, I pull out a familiar looking cane.

This is… what is this? Why did it choose you?

A distorted, guttural voice cries out from the silhouettes within the maddening flames. I tightly grip the handle with hesitation. The familiar warmth of the fire envelops me as I raise the cane high. Bitterness ached at my heart.

“Begone”

I cry out as I slam the cane into the ground. Blue flames erupt from the ground, devouring this sickening fire around me. The sulfurous flames howls and shrieks nonsensical noises. The two flames overlap each other. Swirling and swirling, until exploding into petals that rain from the sky. I gaze off at the unending land stretching before me as pain teared at my heart.

“Did I do the right thing?”

I ask the petals falling around me as one lands in my palms. A resonation of warmth envelops me as I catch a pleasant, floral scent in the air. Small blue flowers sprout on the snow, swaying with the harrowing wind. It was quiet, yet there was something beautiful to it all. Taking a deep breath, the world starts to flicker as I blink awake.

***

A lone man limped down the faintly illuminated streets. His scruffy face souring from the pelting snow. Tightening his leather satchel, he looks up at the sky.

“It’s snowing again”

Puffing into his palms, Edward rubs his worn out gloves together. It was well into the night, with the stars hidden behind a layer of clouds. Dragging each step along the road, Edward walks through the cracked, and uneven cobblestone at the end of the road. The sounds of the funneling wind whistled through the worn down walls and shattered windows. Silhouettes shifted within these run-down buildings. Hidden behind a crumbled wall, a soft, warm fire repelled the blue-ish darkness.

“Welcome good friend. Please have a seat.”

A tired smile looks up at Edward. He was a balding old man, with a messily trimmed gray beard. Sweeping the dirt, Edward sits down.

“Give me details on the hallucinogenic wine”

A hesitant look fills the old man’s face. Shrugging, he leans back, props himself up with an arm.

“What’s the big deal? It’s been a while and there’s no rush.”

A rather unpleasant cackle forces out as the old man pops off the cork of a beer bottle.

“Please, take one for the road.”

Edward begrudgingly takes the offer and downs half in one go. A dizziness followed by slight nausea loosened Edward’s stiff shoulders as he relaxed his straightened posture. He wipes his lips and Tosses back the beer bottle.

“What is this? It’s rather pleasant for something you would own”

The old man laughs and downs the rest.

“This, my good friend, was smuggled. Torbell’s gotten rather lax recently. A box or two goes missin’ and nobody gets in trouble, ya know.”

“Why is that?”

Edward asks, the light of curiosity glints off his eyes. The old man gives a serious look and waves around a finger.

“It’s because of that goddamn wine. Whatever it is, it’s selling like hot cakes! It’s all over those scummy auction houses. Those nobles can’t seem to get enough of it!”

Edward waves a plume of smoke blowing towards him.

“Let’s get to the point. How can I get one?”

A sly smile fills the old man’s lips as a longing look stares off into the fire.

“There’s a shipment coming in a few days from Torbell’s Winery just outside the city. There’s a lot of us here and if we get a crate or two, we all will be set for life.”

Edward glances at the old man with a hint of doubt and lets out a awkward laugh.

“Ya… How can I help?”

The old man becomes giddy with excitement as he pops open another bottle of beer.

“It will be like the old days! Remember that raid we did on those Arocians back on the battlefield? Quick and easy, not a single scream to hear. We need you, Grand sorcerer of our 5th brigade. Please, you still owe me one.”

An uncomfortable bitterness crawls up Edward’s throat.

“Fine. But, don’t call me that. I’m just Edward now.”

The old man extends a hand

“Then we have a deal?”

Edward shakes his wrinkled, callused hand and nods.

“It’s good that you’re back, temp commander.”

The old man lets out another grotesque cackle and hands him the opened bottle of beer.

“I guess it is.”

Edward swigs down the entire bottle in one go and tosses it to the side.