The air was filled with the scent of charred remains as Adrian released his spell, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into his bones. Burnt husks of the cloaked figures lay sprawled all around him, twisted and blackened. The blue flames had seared them through, leaving little more than brittle remnants.
It was the first time Adrian had taken not just one, but several lives since his reincarnation. It feels… surreal, to just see so many people dead at my hands.
Despite this, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath before exhaling. No, now they can't hurt anyone else ever again. Adrian thought, suppressing the faint shiver that crawled down his spine. The raw energy still buzzed in his fingertips, but the thrill was quickly swallowed by concern.
When he looked at his own body, Adrian saw that the chains that had bound him had been completely liquefied, searing the dirt around him. But where are…
His gaze darted around, and a chill tightened his chest as he realized Sister Selena and Seven were nowhere to be seen. The remaining red-hooded figures, including the ones who had held them captive, had vanished.
He bit his lip until he tasted blood, the copper tang mingling with the acrid smoke in the air. Alright, time to calm down. Seven and Sister Selena's bodies are nowhere to be seen, which can only mean that they were taken away by those bastards.
Adrian coughed, throat raw from the smoke that lingered in the air. He brushed a bit of soot from his face, thoughts swirling as he tried to make sense of it all. How could they have escaped that quickly? Who are these people?
But the boy shook his head. There wasn’t time for this. He clenched his fists again, ignoring the sting in his palm where his nails bit into his skin. I just hope they’re still alive… please let them be alive.
Adrian’s gaze shifted to the overturned carriage nearby, now splintered and smoldering. Steeling himself, he approached the wreck, the heat of the dying embers prickling against his skin. Smoke curled up from the charred wood, stinging his eyes and throat as he tried to peer inside.
The carriage door hung loosely on its hinges, warped by the flames. With a grunt, Adrian pulled it open, only for a puff of ash to scatter into the air. Inside, the remains of singed cloth, broken crates, and twisted metal greeted him. He spotted a half-burned sack near the far corner and reached for it, only to recoil as the still-hot surface scorched his fingertips.
Damn it, it seems like there's nothing left I can use from the carriage. He thought bitterly, shaking his hand to dispel the sting. Picking up a loose plank, he prodded at the sack until it slid closer, revealing its ruined contents. Blackened lumps of what might have once been bread crumbled at his touch, leaving a sooty residue on his palm. No food, no water, and no clue where I am exactly. Perfect.
He abandoned the carriage and looked over the horizon, where a dirt trail stretched on seemingly endlessly. Seems like we still had a long way to go, it might take days or weeks to get to the nearest village, especially on foot.
But despite walking and searching for several minutes, Adrian couldn't find even the slightest trace of a path towards civilization. Okay, calm down, things are bad. But if I panic it'll only get worse.
Yet, a growl from Adrian's stomach pulled the boy back to his immediate needs. He blinked, startled by the noise, as if it were someone else entirely. The incongruity was almost absurd. He sighed, running a hand over his face, smearing more soot across his cheek. Wonderful. I’ve just escaped a kidnapping, and now I’m starving.
Forcing himself to stand, he tried to set aside the roiling storm within him, one agonizing step at a time. I’ll find food first, then answers. Somehow, I’ll make this right.
Determined, he set off toward the nearby woods. He wandered for a long time, scanning the ground for anything edible or useful, but the forest remained barren of anything promising. You've got to be kidding me, surely there has to be something edible around here.
Then, out of nowhere, his foot collided with something hard and unyielding, sending a sharp pain radiating through his toes. He cursed inwardly, clutching his foot as he winced. Damn it.
Looking down, he spotted the source of his pain: a small, intricately carved statue of a fox. Its features were delicate and remarkably lifelike.
But then, a sudden breeze whispered through the trees, ruffling Adrian’s hair. His fingers twitched. Don’t get distracted. Seven and Sister Selena come first. Adrian forced his gaze away from the statue, committing its location to memory. I'll just remember where the statue is and come back to this spot later if I get lost.
He trudged deeper into the forest, weaving through twisted roots and pushing aside low-hanging branches. Yet, the more he wandered, the more disoriented he felt. Every direction looked the same. Am I even going the right way? Feels like everything looks the damn same.
Adrian’s stomach growled again, louder this time, an insistent reminder of his dwindling energy. He gritted his teeth, pressing forward. Calm down. Focus.
He shook his head, trying to banish the unease creeping into his thoughts. But no matter how far he walked, the terrain didn’t seem to change. Eventually, he stopped, planting his hands on his hips and glaring at the ground. This is ridiculous, I'm not going anywhere.
Frustration boiled over, and he kicked at a loose rock, sending it skittering into the underbrush. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Enough of this, I'm wasting time. Might as well go back to the statue and start over before I get even more lost.
He retraced his steps, or at least he hoped he did, letting instinct guide him. It took a few hours, but just when he began to doubt himself, the fox statue came into view, standing as pristine and unyielding as before.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Adrian sank to the ground beside it, his legs folding beneath him. He leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment and letting the cool stone at his side ground him. His stomach twisted again, but he ignored it, focusing instead on the strange object before him. Despite the chaos of the forest surrounding it, the stone was untouched by moss or dirt. This isn’t just some forgotten relic, that's for certain.
He raised a hand, summoning a small blue flame at his fingertip to illuminate the details of the stone. Time to get a better look.
But before the glow could reveal much, the statue reacted. A greenish light erupted from within, pulsing outwards like ripples in water. Adrian froze, his breath hitching. Wait… is it absorbing my flames?
His gaze sharpened, curiosity tightening his chest. He conjured a larger flame, holding it just above the surface of the statue. The green glow intensified, spreading faster now, as though it were feeding on the magic itself. The hungry energy it emitted made the hair on the back of his neck rise, but he couldn’t stop. What will happen if I give it more?
Driven by curiosity, Adrian extended his palm fully, releasing a stronger surge of blue fire. The moment the flames bloomed, they were devoured by the statue’s voracious light. The green glow flared brighter, wrapping around the stone like a living aura. Adrian was transfixed, as the statue’s surface shimmered.
Adrian drew back slightly as the stone soon melted away to reveal a fox made entirely of green flames. The small creature blinked at him with eyes that gleamed like emeralds. It bounded forward as it nuzzled against his hand with surprising tenderness.
Adrian’s instincts urged him to pull back, but he quickly realized there was no heat, no pain. Instead, the creature’s flames felt comforting, like a soft summer warmth. Tentatively, he let his fingers rest on its fiery head.
A smile crept onto his face as he stroked the little fox, its green flames rippling in delight. Well, this is… unexpected, but not unwelcome.
Adrian chuckled softly, looking down at the little green-flame fox curling around his feet. He reached out, patting the fox gently on the head. “Good boy."
In response, the fox nipped at his finger. He yelped, pulling his hand back. “Ouch! Okay, okay. Are you… a girl, then?”
The fox looked up at him with an almost indignant tilt to her head and nodded. Adrian blinked in surprise, his mind stumbling over the question of how one would even tell the difference with a creature made entirely of green fire. But he shrugged, conceding to her apparent preference. “Fair enough. I'm sorry.”
In response, the fox’s tail flicked happily, her flames rippling in a soft, approving glow. She then turned, head pointing toward a deeper part of the woods, glancing back at him as if urging him to follow.
“You want me to go with you?” Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow.
The fox responded with another gentle trill, head dipping in what unmistakably felt like a nod. Despite this, Adrian hesitated. She could lead me to somewhere worse… or she could actually know where I need to go. But why would this fox care about helping me?
His fingers grazed the fabric of his tunic, and he exhaled sharply. “Look, I’d love to trust you, but I need shelter first. Somewhere safe.”
The fox tilted her head again, her fiery tail curling like a question mark. Then, with a soft sound that was neither bark nor hum, she gave another nod.
Adrian blinked, watching as the fox moved ahead. "Wait, do you know somewhere safe?"
The fox's ears perked up as it let out a small trill. It bobbed its head up and down, as if nodding vigorously. Guess that answers that.
Still skeptical, he took a cautious step forward. The fox paused briefly, glancing back to meet his gaze.
He frowned, forcing himself to shake off the creeping unease. “Okay, I’ll trust you. For now.”
They walked through the thickening forest until evening started to draw closer. Adrian’s mind drifted as they walked, and he glanced down at his companion. “You know, you ought to have a name if we’re going to keep this up. How about… Blaze?”
The fox flattened her ears, her flames flickering as she gave him a withering look. Noted, she didn't like that one.
“Uh, what about Sparky?"
She growled, a low, almost offended rumble, and he quickly held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! No to Sparky too. How about… Mimi?”
The fox’s flames pulsed brighter, and she looked up at him with eyes that glimmered approvingly. She wagged her tail, the fiery tip flicking back and forth in visible excitement.
“Alright, Mimi it is,” Adrian said with a grin. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction at finally earning the little creature’s approval. Still, I wonder what Mimi actually is. She's probably some kind of magical beast, but they don't often end up randomly as statues.
After a while, Mimi stopped in front of a cave entrance partially obscured by thick vines and ivy. The gaping darkness of the cave looked foreboding, but Mimi seemed completely unfazed. She glanced back at Adrian, urging him forward.
He hesitated, peering into the shadowed entrance. “Are you sure it’s safe in there?”
Mimi let out a soft, reassuring trill as she padded confidently into the cave. She didn’t so much as pause. Adrian stood at the entrance, feeling a cool draft whisper against his face. He took a deep, steadying breath, allowing the crisp air to settle his nerves before he followed her.
Inside, the air grew cooler, carrying a dampness that clung to his skin. Every small noise felt louder here, and he felt the subtle pull of the cave’s quiet, ancient presence. Why does it feel like something is waiting here?
Mimi trotted ahead, her glowing form creating a path of light that revealed twisting passages and narrow bends. Adrian moved carefully and looked to Mimi’s steady form as she wound her way through the narrow corridors. Finally, she led him to an imposing stone wall that blocked any further passage.
Adrian frowned, scanning the blank wall. "Mimi, where exactly are we going?”
In response, Mimi chirped and trotted forward, heading directly for the wall. Adrian watched in stunned silence as her small, fiery body passed through the solid stone as if it were nothing but mist. An illusion?
Curious, Adrian hovered a hand before the stone wall for a brief moment, then pressed forward. His fingers slipped through, meeting no resistance, and he let out a soft gasp as his hand vanished into the illusion. Here goes nothing.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the cool air, and stepped forward, letting himself pass through the illusion. As he emerged on the other side, he exhaled sharply due to what he saw.
A vast chamber opened up, with walls built from immense stone bricks that glowed faintly under the light from Mimi’s flames. The ceiling arched high above, disappearing into darkness.
His eyes moved to the platforms arranged in a half-circle around the room, each one carved with intricate patterns of foxes leaping through spirals of flame. Every fox was etched with exquisite detail. In the center of each platform stood a tall, unlit metal brazier. What in the world is this place?
Yet, at the far end of the chamber stood a statue unlike anything Adrian had ever seen. The statue depicted a woman whose face was half-hidden behind a beautifully carved fox mask. She wore robes that cascaded down her form, flowing like water frozen in motion. Two fox ears emerged from her head while a long tail curled around her feet, the stone masterfully shaped to look as though it were made of woven flames. This statue is… incredibly lifelike, eerily so. Who is this woman?