Devon was dragging his feet as he and Lavernias made their way to the city of Tamél, the capitol of Freyondel. They had been walking for almost four days, only stopping at night, with few brief respites during the day. It was beginning to take its toll on him as the hot sun beat down.

"How..." Devon paused, wiping the sweat from his brow. "How much longer?"

Lavernias stopped and turned around to look at Devon.

"Oh alright." He said. "We can take a short break. But really, this is standard traveling conditions."

Devon dropped to his knees, tilting his head back and squeezing his eyes shut, wincing at the bright sun.

"Yeah, not on my world." Devon panted a bit. "We have machines that carry you places. We... we don't really have to walk over long distances." Devon continued to pant through every other word.

"Machines that move for you? That is most fascinating. I suppose the lack of magic led to the necessity of inventions." Lavernias paused in thought, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

"Yes, your world is quite fascinating. Why, I could sit and ponder at the implications this would have on a society for days."

"Cool, man." Devon said. He was now laying on the ground, splayed out on his back.

"I'm sure scientists from my world would say the same thing about magic."

"What is... a scientist." Lavernias asked, pronouncing the last word slowly, as it was new to him.

"Oh yeah..." Devon replied, still panting. "Scientists are what we call people who spend their lives studying things. Specifically things about how the world works. We call that science. Don't ask me to go into anymore detail, 'cause I nearly flunked chemistry in highschool. And then I DID flunk biology in college. But that was just 'cause it was so boring."

Lavernias had stopped listening to Devon after the first bit about the scientists. He was now deep in thought, as he seemed to be most of the time.

Lavernias stood up.

"Well now is not the time for study. Up now master Devon. We still have about a day or so before we reach the city. Best keep our pace."

Devon stood, but not before letting out a long groan.

"You never realize how out of shape you are until you're forced to walk for four days straight." He said quietly to himself.

Devon never considered himself to be a complainer. But he acknowledged that he was discovering many new things about himself since coming to this world. He wasn't yet sure if that was a good thing or not. But deep down he knew that complaining wouldn't help anyone. So he tried to keep it to a minimum from then on.

The day grew long as Devon and Lavernias traveled through valleys and around forests. For some reason Lavernias always kept them from traversing into any densely wooded areas. After a few days Devon decided to ask him about it. But Lavernias just said, "No need to get tangled up in that mess my boy." And then they moved on. Devon thought that this was a little weird. But then again, he didn't know anything about long distance travel. So he decided just to trust the old wizard. After all, forests may be home to any number of terrifying beasts. Devon had read his fair share of fantasy novels and seen plenty of movies to know that anything could be lurking in those woods. So he was content to follow Lavernias' lead.

Soon it was nearing nightfall on their fifth day of traveling. Lavernias' pace quickened as the shadows of dusk grew longer. Soon he was almost running towards a small cliff face up ahead.

"Hey, Lavernias." Devon said as he too began to jog to keep up. "What's going on man? Why are we running?"

"Oh nothing you need to concern yourself with my boy." Lavernias said casually.

"We just need to make it to that cave over there."

Devon squinted his eyes to look in the near distance. He could just barely make out a black circle in the cliff face. How did Lavernias even notice that? Devon thought. His eyes should be all old and stuff.

"Ok but why are we running?" Devon asked. They were now full on running towards the cave.

"Because, master Devon, someone has been following us for two days now."

"WHAT?!" Devon shouted. "Someone's been stalking us for two days and you never thought to say anything?!"

"They seemed to be observing only." Lavernias was beginning to pant now. "So I thought it best not to alarm you. However, they seem to have quicked their pace as we neared the city, so I thought it best to do so as well."

"WHY ARE YOU SO CALM?! We're being followed, and watched, and that's really damn creepy!"

Devon could hear a strange sound far behind him. He turned, still running, and saw a dark shadow quickly gaining on them. Then three shadows, then five!

"Lavernias?" Devon said, more casually now as they ran.

"Yes my boy, what is it?" Lavernias replied.

"THERE'S FUCKING FIVE OF THEM!"

Devon went into an all out sprint, catching up to Lavernias and quickly passing him. Devon sprinted for the cave. It was still a ways off, but he could see it getting... wait. It WASN'T getting closer. Devon looked down, and saw that, while his feet were moving, the ground beneath him was not.

"Ah fuck." He said. He stopped moving his legs, and turned to see Lavernias facing off with five shadows as the sun finally set.

This can't be good, Devon thought. He watched as the shadows slowly began to form a semicircle around them. Lavernias didn't move, seeming to be studying them. Even in a fight, Lavernias found an excuse to study, typical. Devon could feel himself begin to panic. This wasn't good. He knew these figures weren't simply here to give them candy. More likely they each had a delicious knife to feed them.

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"Lavernias." Devon whispered. "What do we do?"

"One of them is a mage." Lavernias whispered back. Shit. That was really not good. Devon remembered him running yet not moving. That must've been the magic that alerted Lavernias to one of them being a mage.

"You can beat them right?" Devon asked.

"Doubtful." Lavernias said back. "I'm not exactly a combat specialist."

"But I'm sure you know some spells that could help us escape." Devon said.

"Perhaps. But I'll need to-" Lavernias cut off as two of the shadows lunged for him. A split second later a staff appeared in his hands just in time for him to block the daggers that now glistened in the moonlight.

Two more of the cloaked figures stood ready, watching Lavernias struggle with the first two. The last one, however, ran for Devon.

"Shit!" He shouted as the shadow lunged for him. Devon put up his hands just in time for the shadow's dagger to skewer one of them right through the palm. Devon yelled in pain. But he didn't waver. Immediately he punched the figure right in the dark hole he assumed was it's face. He felt his fist land against something solid, then the figure went flying back ten feet at least. Devon took a step back, not even realizing what had just happened. He began to bare his teeth, now even unaware of the dagger still lodged in his left hand. He didn't even notice his right arm and fist were smoking.

The shadow quickly got up, but now seemed hesitant. It looked over to it's companions, seemingly asking for help. But the second it's head turned, Devon's fist collided with it's head once again. And once again, the figure was sent flying backwards. It made a trail in the dirt as it landed, and this time it did not rise right away.

Without looking, Devon now pulled the dagger from his hand and threw it to the ground. He still seemed oblivious to his surroundings, only focusing on the shadow that had attacked him. His arms now resembled embers in a smoldering fire. Both arms began to light up. The shadow slowly picked itself up off the ground, and when it looked up at Devon, Devon's arms burst into flames as he yelled furiously. The shadow quickly dashed for it's comrades, who only just now took notice of Devon. This allowed Lavernias to jump back, now noticing Devon himself.

Again, as soon as the shadow reached it's companions, a fiery fist blasted him away. Devon had closed the distance between them in an instant. His feet were now flames as well, and had blasted him towards his target with lightning speed. Again Devon burst towards his victim, before it was able to stand again. Devon began to wail on the shadow, striking it over and over again, pounding it into the ground. It's black cloak quickly caught on fire and began to burn up, revealing a man underneath. Devon didn't let up. He was a blazing beast, set on destroying his would-be attacker. It was an insult to him. This puny thing dared think it might triumph against him? Blasphemy!

Devon's thoughts ran wild as he pounded relentlessly. His fire grew taller and hotter with watch strike. And those who looked on all were astonished. The shadows clearly had no idea of Devon's power. And Lavernias hadn't seen Devon successfully use his power yet. The mage used this opportunity to cast a large spell. He needed time to do this, and thanks to Devon he now had it. Lighting surged around the four other shadows, pinning them into a confined area. They realized their mistake too late. Bolts of lightning began to strike them from every angle. They tried to jump away, but they were trapped. More and more bolts shot out around them, until finally they were all unconscious.

Lavernias stabbed the tip of his staff into the ground, with a bolt of lighting going from it to the lightning cage, seeming to tether it there. Then he looked to Devon, who was still pounding at the ground. Lavernias didn't know the extent of Devon's power, but he knew what what the result of it was this day. He rushed over to Devon, trying to calm him down.

"Devon my boy! You've done it, we've won. It's over!"

Devon continued to smash the ground beneath him. His arms and both legs were now fully engulfed in flames, and his chest was smoking now as well. Lavernias knew he didn't have much time.

Ignoring the possible ramifications, he quickly cast a frost spell on Devon. Cold air formed all around him, but Devon's flames did not waver. Lavernias wasn't sure if this would even work, but he didn't know what else to do. He put all of his power into this spell, strengthening it. His hands began to ice over, and then his wrists. Devon's flames still burned strong. Devon was now punching faster, growing more and more ferocious. He was growling loudly with each punch, and his chest had a thick, steady stream of smoke now. Lavernias knew his chance to help Devon was almost gone.

Now with arms encased in ice, Lavernias cast a second spell at the same time. One lightning bolt shot from his staff, striking Devon in the head. Devon screamed and grabbed his head, ceasing his violent barrage. Lavernias used this opening to close the frost around Devon. And Devon, finally freed from his rampage, began to lose power. His flames grew smaller, and is skin grew colder. Finally, his flames burnt out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Lavernias fell down, gasping in the cold. His lungs burned and his shoulders were now iced over completely. He couldn't feel his arms, let alone move them at all. His staff was frozen to his hands, but he was unable to use it. So he began to chant a heat spell. His staff was not needed to cast spells, it was merely used to strengthen and focus his magic. Soon the ice around himself began to melt, but this didn't heal the damage it had done to him. He would need some time before he could reliably move his arms again. Lavernias looked over at Devon, unconscious on the ground. And next to the boy was a small, blackened crater, with nothing but ashes inside.