Flames were everywhere. The once serene forest had turned into an inferno, with trees—no, the entire forest—burning in a hellish blaze. I leaped back, trying to get a clear view of the chaos that had erupted around me. The screams of my guards filled the air, their cries of agony cutting through the crackling of the flames. One of them was on the ground, his skin bubbling and melting away, while another was frozen in place, his eyes wide with terror as the flames devoured him. The rest? They weren’t moving at all.

“They used an oil barrel?” I muttered, the realization hitting me hard. This was bad—really bad. The flames would consume the entire forest soon, leaving nothing but ash. My eyes darted around, finally spotting a couple of bandits perched high up on a cliff.

'So that’s where they threw it from.'

But as I watched them, I couldn’t help but think, 'Are they insane? With that much fire, they won’t survive either. This is suicide. Why would they do something so reckless?'

The bandits, I noticed, were just as confused and terrified as I was. It was like they hadn’t planned for this much destruction either. Panic was written all over their faces.

There wasn’t time to think. I needed to act. I jumped up the cliff, my sword ready, and took down the first bandit in one swift motion. The second bandit’s eyes widened in terror as he tried to say something—probably some desperate plea or explanation—but I wasn’t in the mood to listen. My blade flashed, cutting his throat before he could get the words out.

And then I heard it—a laugh. It started as a low chuckle, but it quickly grew louder, more deranged. I spun around, just in time to see a man leap out of the flames below, landing on the cliff with me.

'Flames don’t affect this guy?' I thought, staring in disbelief.

The man was unlike anyone I’d ever seen. His upper face and left side were covered in burn scars, and strange, primordial tattoos snaked across his skin. He wore ancient-looking clothes that seemed out of place even in this medieval world.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

'What is this guy? I’ve never seen anything like this before.'

His eyes gleamed with madness as he began to speak, his voice filled with an unsettling fervor.

((Ō hālige flāmbærendes gæstas ūppan, ēow forsyngan me mægen.))

'What?'

Suddenly, the man’s hands burst into flames, the fire licking up his arms.

'He’s a Novice too?' Panic gripped me as I realized what I was facing.

I grabbed my sword, ready to defend myself, but before I could react, the flames on his left hand disappeared—only to reappear right next to me. I barely dodged in time, feeling the intense heat sear the air where I had just been.

The man laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine, and then he raised his burning right arm. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of fire roaring toward me.

'No time to think!' I bolted, sprinting as fast as I could toward a large rock, diving behind it just as the fire crashed into the spot where I’d been standing. The ground sizzled and cracked, turning to ash beneath the man’s fiery assault.

'No Novice should be able to do this,' I thought, terror clawing at my chest.

The fight quickly devolved into a desperate game of cat and mouse. I could hear the man’s footsteps, heavy and deliberate, as he stalked me through the burning forest. The flames didn’t seem to bother him at all—if anything, they seemed to empower him.

I kept low, moving from cover to cover, my heart pounding in my chest. Every time I peeked out from behind a rock or tree, I could see him scanning the area, looking for any sign of movement. His hands were still ablaze, the fire casting eerie shadows on his scarred face.

'Keep moving, Nate. Don’t let him corner you.'

I darted from my hiding spot, making a run for the next patch of cover, but he spotted me. A burst of flame shot out, just missing me as I dove behind another rock. The heat was unbearable, even from this distance. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes, but I didn’t dare wipe it away.

The man’s laughter echoed through the forest, growing louder as he closed in. “((Hu dest þū þone slēan? Dēað, ic þe swerian.))”

'What the hell is he saying?' I thought, my mind racing. 'Is he taunting me?'

I tried to control my breathing, staying as quiet as possible. But the man was relentless, his footsteps getting closer and closer. I knew I couldn’t keep running forever. Sooner or later, I’d make a mistake, and that would be the end.

'Think, Nate. You’ve got to find a way to turn this around.'

I reached down, gripping the hilt of my sword, the cool metal a small comfort in the midst of the chaos. I couldn’t beat him in a straight fight—not with those flames. But maybe, just maybe, I could outsmart him.

I peeked out from my hiding spot, spotting a cluster of trees that hadn’t caught fire yet. If I could lure him over there, I might be able to use the terrain to my advantage. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was better than nothing.

Taking a deep breath, I bolted from my cover, making a beeline for the trees. The man roared in fury, flames erupting from his hands as he gave chase. I could feel the heat on my back, getting closer with every step, but I didn’t stop. Not until I was in the middle of the trees, surrounded by thick trunks that would hopefully slow him down.

I skidded to a halt, turning to face him, my sword at the ready. The man’s eyes blazed with madness as he closed in, flames licking at the trees around us.

'This is it, Nate. Now or never.'