Nero:

It was a pyre, unlike any other. Sea of Flames masked the countless corpses burning away in the color of crimson. The clouds beyond the mountain peaks seemed to turn gray as the smoke rose to the skies. Jack’s eyes hardened as he realized that most of the corpses were of Vedan soldiers. Darren and Em were stunned and shocked and horrified; they’d never seen or dreamt of such horror. Colt, on the other hand, was silent, so calm that it was almost terrifying.

“Colt,” Jack called. He could instinctively tell that something was wrong. The fire hadn’t been burning for long, and he could still differentiate the burning corpses. They were burnt and broken and sunken into the ground but he could still them apart.

Those eyes were frozen in fear or struck with disbelief as they stared back at him through the curtain of flames. He stopped the scream of horror which rose in his heart and flowed through his veins as acid churned his marrows.

But, the raging arcane in the air worried him. The crackling fire agitated it further with every passing second, and Jack’s instincts screamed of danger. There was something in the air, around him and beyond those flames which tried to warn him.

Colt studied the flames and the mountain pass with unnatural composure. His eyes were almost translucent, all his emotions trapped and bottled in his heart. They were his alone and at that moment he didn't indulge them.

The cave was a natural tunnel through the mountain, about thirty meters high and twenty meters wide. The fire lit the dark cave but the roof was still in a shade of darkness. As Colt raised his head, a pair of red eyes stared back at him and a murderous intent swept them all as a killing intent flickered to life in those crimson depths. Em, Jack and Darren froze in their tracks and the horses retreated to the other end of the cave unable to stand against their instincts of survival.

The owner of those cardinal eyes smiled. Hanging from the roof on four limbs, he was like a lizard, and more like a hunter, waiting for the right time. But, he no longer tried to hide his presence. Licking his lips, he chuckled like a demon who met his prey.

Colt alone stood in silence, Nelly grunted and groaned and tried but ultimately followed the other horses. The five men were now alone in the tunnel like the shadows of the fiery souls burning in the flames beyond them. Their souls resonated with those of dead and the fear in their hearts with their worst nightmares.

“Interesting,” the man commented. His Mogul accent and foreign features announced his identity.

Colt had his attention. Unlike others, he couldn't sense any fear in his eyes. A spark lit in his heart as he narrowed his eyes, releasing his hold on the rock wall, he landed heavily a little distance away from Colt. The ground shook, and the mountain walls groaned at his weight.

At the height of seven feet and a body which looked like it had been carved out of stone, his calm smile made him look all the more frightening. There was something about him, the way he walked, the way he moved, and the way he conducted himself; it was as if he was in control of everything.

Darren staggered back; he tried to control himself but the pressure extruded by the man was beyond his level, it was almost godly, or like that of a demon. Killing intent and the evil aura which swirled around him was like a spear pointed at his heart and weakened his soul, in spirit and more.

The man scratched his rough beard and laughed lightly. Jack tightened his grip on his spear, his eyes narrowing in suspicion and anticipation while Em nervously stood behind him. They’d never met an adversary of his station except for Vivaldi.

“I guess you aren’t here for introductions, Pyro Master,” Colt asked, his voice cold and emotionless. Pyro Masters were arcane users who commanded an arcane of fire. From the arcane swirling around him, it was evident he was the one behind the massacre.

The man looked genuinely surprised, his stifled laugh failing to mask his surprise. However, those red eyes of his didn’t try to hide his killing intent. He cracked his neck as he answered casually, “I guess, I’m not.”

There was no sign of movement, and there were no signs of an attack, the man moved and with him moved the arcane. Em and Darren were too slow to follow him, and Jack was too slow to react. The man was like an eternal wind which vanished before their eyes.

A flame rose in his hands, similar to the one which burned a thousand lives and the man’s aura exploded with power. It was an attack, one which aimed to kill, and one which showed no mercy. He never once thought of mercy and sure enough the moment his body moved, he attacked with every bit of his power.

But, he wasn’t the only one who moved at that moment. Colt hand reached for his sword as the man disappeared. Like the monstrous forces of nature, their arcane’s clashed mid-air. A blast of wind struck the walls and the ground smeared in broad black patches of ash.

The walls trembled, and the ground cracked. The wind became a blade and attacked it's counterpart while the killing intent in the air drowned the cave in a world of its own. A world of fire, a world of sin and a world of blood and suffering.

The Pyro master’s eyes didn’t miss the killing intent hiding deep inside Colt’s eyes, nor did he miss to notice speed with which Colt reached for his sword. They were equally matched in speed, but were they?

His body involuntarily came to a stop just a step away from the reach of the latter’s sword. A split second of silence and two pairs of eyes met each other and war of authority and dominance was waged in a flash. The man finally understood the reason for his uncertainty.

Strong, that was the only word resonating in his mind. He didn’t want to admit it, but he now no longer had the confidence to come out unscathed if he ended up facing Colt.

“You’re not a soldier?” He asked. “And, I presume you’re not an enemy either,” he thought aloud. There was no reason to fight and if he decides to fight unprepared; he might end up giving up an arm or a leg or more. The man studied Colt for a minute and announced himself, “Milad Weiss.”

Milad could obviously see that Darren was an Imperial Knight, so he wasn’t yet convinced that Colt didn’t work for the Vedan empire. But, on the other hand, Darren alone was dressed like a soldier.

Both men relaxed their guards, but they didn't drop them. Their eyes were still sharp and they'd only taken a step back. The tension in the air spoke a thousand words. Attack me and I'll kill you. No hesitation and fear could be sensed from either of them. They were like tigers born and raised to be fearless.

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A kid with a small fire, a voice commented in disdain and continued, and he doesn’t even command an eternal flame. Colt knitted his eyebrows; he looked troubled as the voice continued. Should I remind you who you're, boy? It asked. No need, Colt replied coldly. His answer more of an order than before.

Haha! Did my words hurt you? That mask you’re wearing doesn’t suit you Colt. Kind, sweet and a trustworthy commander- what a joke! A flicker of killing intent seeped out of Colt's body as he heard those words, and an aura much more sinister touched his heart. Those sealed emotions attempted to break free as the voice warned, I shall remind you again boy, I didn’t raise a coward.

There was a moment of silence. The howling wind, the crackling fire and the hollow sound of the cave resonated deeply in Colt’s mind. The words of Black resonated with the spirit of his soul sealed within. I know, Black, Colt answered in a small voice, his voice not concealing his anger.

As he opened his eyes, it was all gone. All his anger, all his rage burning deep in his heart replaced with tranquility. Milad was patiently waiting for Colt’s answer, but it never came. A rough, raw sound of an unsheathed sword greeted him instead, and a pale, frigid aura dilated his pupils.

It was still a dull gray with a few chipped ends but to Milad, it looked like a blade straight out of fiery hell. He could sense the fluctuations of arcane around the edges, and the ever growing killing intent seeping out of its length. His body retreated involuntarily like a bullet and a flame tens of meters in diameter surrounded him blocking anything and everything.

“Don't you fucking dare....,” he roared. Milad himself didn’t know the reason for his fear, but he could just feel it. There was something about Colt and the sword that weakened his resolve and threw his mind into chaos. He couldn’t pinpoint it nor could he guess it but he just knew he’d to get away as soon as possible.

“You should,” a silent voice whispered in Milad’s ears. Those two words were like steel which cut through his heart. His eyes caught Colt right beside him, the flames failing to stop the man. "Die.....,” Milad screamed at the top of his lungs as he used every bit of his power to block Colt. He’d never felt experienced such fear all his life.

Kicking the ground, he threw himself backward, but he could still see the image of Colt following him closely like a shadow, like a ghost. The flames couldn’t stop him nor could any physical attacks. Milad’s eyes were bloodshot; his body drenched in sweat as he landed on the ground once again. Breathing heavily he gathered all his power in his fist; fire raged in his heart, and a brilliant flame lit his fist but then again a sheering pain rived through his body as a sword slowly pierced his heart.

The world, the wind and the cave changed before Milad’s eyes. The shadow of Colt disappeared, and the destruction left by his attacks were his only clue to know that he was not dreaming. Although he knew who it was, he turned around and saw him. Colt was standing exactly on the same spot. His feet didn’t move an inch.

“So that’s how it was. This is your arcane,” Milad said coughing up blood. “An arcane which shows me a reality other than my own. I fought you, but I didn’t. It wasn’t a dream; I did use my powers. I saw things, visions you wanted me to see. Different from an arcane which traps others in an illusory world, I can move, but I’m still nothing but a puppet in your hands.”

Colt stared at Milad coldly. Em, Jack and Darren were too shocked to react. They'd just watched Milad move as if he was fighting Colt while the latter was beside them all along. In the end, Milad delivered himself to Colt. It was a terrifying experience which made them question their eyes.

Colt slowly pulled 'Black' out and studied Milad. His eyes were emotionless and unreadable as he replied, “You’re right about everything except one little detail.” Milad glanced at Colt through hazy eyes, the loss of blood was already making him dizzy. Colt sheathed his sword and continued, “It's not an arcane I rule over, it is a power I’m entitled to.”

Doubts, questions, regret, and guilt. Emotions and more stormed Milad’s eyes as he breathed his last. He’d died wondering what Colt meant, and he’d died wondering why his arcane resembled Prince Calvert’s so much. An uncanny resemblance of powers with contrasting names. Black and White, they were called. But why?

******

AN: Nero means Black. Why the chapter is titled Nero instead of Black will be revealed later.

I’m sure you’re all wondering what is the difference between Reagan White and Colt’s arcane. Well, I assure you, there is a difference. I explained it here. If you read between the lines, you can find the whole meaning, or you’ve got to wait.

And, these words “It's not an arcane I rule over, it is a power I’m entitled to.” They hold a greater meaning.

Chapter 10 - A Promise of two decades

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Look forward to more.

Kanna.