Extinguished One, Extinguished...

What was this term that came out of the first beings he met? 

Fath had been thrilled to meet others like him, only to find out that he was different nonetheless...

But they were clearly the same. They came from the same place, they had the same burnt skin, they were robbed of their worldly possessions and they once had the same aspirations as he had now. They were clearly the same as him, were they not?

So how was it that these beings like him had the gall to call him different, to retreat from him with wary gazes, to lift their weapons against him?

How dare they to challenge his ambitions, to question his consciousness, his right to go up against the Tower of Gods?

"Aren't we the same?" Fath asked them while he prepared himself to attack those who opposed him. "Aren't you the ones who are extinguished rather than me? You creatures, who are content with the fact that they will never reach greatness, never go to the place that calls for them?"

The ones in front of him must have felt that conflict was now not to be avoided, for the one they themselves determined as an Extinguished One was steeling himself for battle.

The smaller ones, barely half as big as the others were already running away into the biggest of the buildings in this small village, seeking refuge inside behind the walls. The remaining ones, though, they were standing behind the burly one, forming an impassable line between them and the little ones.

"You can't be the one to break the peace we established!" The burly man roared. "We lost everything already and you won't take us even more than that!"

With a battle cry he dashed towards Fath, his weapon raised high. 

It must be said that overconfidence is the doom of an inexperienced fighter, for Fath felt that the burly man, though menacing in form, knew nothing about combat. His palm was pulsating once again, calling for a meal to fill its insatiable hunger for more.

More of what, though?

What was it that drove him to attack innocent souls, what was it that drove him ever so closer to the tower?

The red circle gave no answer, only a command. He threw the broken blade toward the charging man so that it could distract him, for even the slightest of seconds. 

As he was full of anger, the burly man took no notice of the blade that flew up to him, which let him stagger in a violent manner as the weight of the blade threw him off balance. This was the thing Fath hoped for.

Stolen novel; please report.

His opponent fell against him, face first. What he needed to do was to simply stretch his right palm to the man's face and as with the hollow corpse, the cycle continued. What little life began with entering the realm, the inevitable death comes with being forced to leave it.

The man had no time to contemplate or to react, for all remaining action would be for naught, The burly man returned into the sweet embrace of the ashes, to his last calling of the gods.

The palm sucked whatever was left of him, filling Fath with new vigor. As it was for the first time, he felt how his body underwent changes, his crackling muscles gained flexibility, his charred skin softened and gained a hardly noticeable lighter color. 

Full of horror the villagers watched what was unfolding before their eyes. Their savior and pillar of strength were taken away from them, the only thing defending them from the malice of this realm.

Some let out a weak gasp, and others went to their knees, losing their will to remain in this godforsaken place. Only the woman who had spoken to him was capable of running away. She ran to the building where the little ones were hiding, the illusion of light having long since taken away her ability to make calm decisions.

His palm was still not satisfied, it wanted to continue and it would not rest until its thirst was quenched. One by one he drowned them in the ashes and each time the feeling of vigor would drive him to more. Mindlessly he continued on, searching for the remaining creatures, having long since forgotten where the woman and the little ones were.

He went through the village, not minding that the buildings could harbor other beings inside of them. 

Not until he heard it. The cry of a child.

It came from the biggest one. From the biggest building.

So he went on and opened the door, which creaked with the tiniest bit of movement. He stood under the door frame and looked at them. They were seven. Seven little creatures, not a bit different than children.

And he felt it. Rather his palm did. The energy inside them, the luscious feeling that was going to fill him.

The little ones cried out, the woman stood in front of them. "Take me but not them! They are damaged and not as developed as we are, have mercy on them!"

Fath, though, he did not care. Just like he did with the ones before, he took them and let them connect with the neverending. Not minding their wails, and not minding the woman's attempts to stop him. 

At last, only the both of them stood in front of each other. "What have you done? What have we done to be visited by one such as you?" She asked.

"You are nothing more than mere shells, only awaiting what would come sooner or later. You may call me Extinguished but with how you're behaving this term seems to be fitting you the most." He accused her. "Never mind worms, your existence is far more worthless than that. If not for reaching the top what are you doing here? If not for reaching that which you desire, why would be here to struggle?"

"You mindless beast!" She hissed. "As if taking us our Ember away wasn't good enough, now an Extinguished One is being all righteous."

She went on her knees and clasped her hands. "Oh gods, for how merciful you are, take my Ember and let it fade away in eternity rather than let it be eaten and used to strengthen this beast."

Then, as if somebody was listening to her, the light that shone in here eyes faded away. Her petite body made of charred flesh crumbled and turned into the lifeless ash that filled the Lost Kingdom.

His palm burned, it was unbearable. Fath howled, as the pain seeped through his lifeless bones and he grieved. Grieved for the potential feeling of vigor he lost and for those poor souls that lost the way they were supposed to follow. He felt exhaustion for the first time since entering this realm.

Fath dragged his body outside of the building, took the rusty sword together with the hilt and left the village.

He continued. 

Fath moved on to the unknown that awaited him westwards.