We crept forward the final few steps, each of us lowering our bodies completely to the soft earth beneath us. The aroma of burnt wood was deceptively comforting, reminding me of times camping out beneath the stars with friends an untold number of years ago. Pushing the memory aside, we could finally make out what lay beyond, and the devastation was frightening.
The husk of ruined caravans stood waylaid in the middle of the road, looking no more than if an explosion had torn itself free from each. Blackened bodies of both men and horses were scattered haphazardly throughout the ruined area. Nothing stirred, the fires that had destroyed man, beast, and wood alike were nearly spent. Half broken crates, some blackened on one side were strewn around. The glint of metal caught my eye in one such case.
“They were probably merchants by the look of it,” I said just above a whisper. “Whatever did this didn’t even take the time to check what the group was carrying.”
“Sounds like something Duke would do,” Stella was panting heavily, but as it was clear we were alone, her breathing began to slow.
Keeping ourselves in stealth, we carefully crested the hill and descended towards the carnage. My stance, along with Ripley’s, was low. I was prepared to spring at the slightest movement, but none came even when we came to the back of the first wagon. I was gripping my battle axe so tightly that my knuckles shone white. We deliberately explored the carnage, ever ready for an ambush that never came. By our count, there were half a dozen bodies, though the state of the corpses precluded us from identifying anything further moot. Not even the pack animals had been spared, having appeared to be immolated in their harnesses and tackle.
Most curious was when I spied what appeared to be a path leading east that looked as if something, still ablaze, had glided that way. If this battle, if it could be called that, had been Duke, it made no sense. Whatever had caused the burned grass had very much still been on fire. Following the path with my eyes, it soon disappeared behind a distant hill meaning it was unlikely that was someone from the caravan, fleeing while lit up like a torch. No, whatever caused this was not like anything that remained in the slaughter that we found ourselves in the midst of.
Feeling safer than before, but still unwilling to break stealth as of yet, I continued to try to make sense of what happened. With Stella, and no small amount of my tracking skill, it was clear that something afire had wound its way around the stopped wagons. Further, the scorched earth came up to every single body.
“Whatever caused this,” Stella finally uttered in the silence. “Must have been incredibly hot. Everything underfoot has been burnt to a crisp. Also, see here? There’s a larger patch of burned ground as if something on fire stood right there for a longer period of time. The grass dying under the intense heat in an ever-widening circle.”
Worry plain across her face, Stella met my gaze, “I don’t like this.”
“Me neither,” I replied as I placed a hand on Stella’s shoulder. “This isn’t Duke, at least I’m ninety-nine percent sure it isn’t. The question is, do we follow that trail leading east?”
“Whatever caused this, it's strong,” Stella replied hesitantly. “Perhaps too strong for us.”
“Any idea what could have done this?” I said as I gestured to the ruin around us. Most of the humanoid corpses still had blackened weapons sheathed at their sides, only one had the naked blade lying beside him. “Most died before they could even clear their blades. And the one that did, well, it clearly did little to sway what happened here.
Stella’s face lit up with an idea, “Quick. Inspect one of the bodies!”
Seeing her hurried expression, I did as she suggested. Upon reading the System message, my anger only stirred hotter at the implication.
Corpse of Hamid, human guard, level 5. Killed by Lowki, Enigma Fire Imp.
“We know it wasn’t Duke then,” I uttered through clenched teeth. “Though, I don’t think makes it much better.”
“I’m sorry, Xaz,” Stella said as she glided closer to me. “No one deserves to die like this.”
Stella’s empathy helped, of course, but it only helped to quench the fire that had kindled in my chest a small amount. “Just another group of innocent people slaughtered by some passing mob. This could have been my fate. All of this,” I gestured around me. “For the twisted amusement of…” I held back the rest of what I was going to say. The words had been spoken aloud multiple times since all of my memories had been unlocked since I had become a Hunter.
I am going to change all this, I thought to myself, reassuring that I was going to stand against the evils of the world. “We need to find who did this, Stella. I know Duke’s our primary objective, but…” Looking towards the burnt bodies around us, I could feel my emotions welling within my chest. “I can’t stand and let the monster who did this abide even a single more day.”
Stella’s stout face mirrored mine, “Then let’s get it done.”
It was relatively easy to tell which way the fire imp had gone after wreaking such devastation on the merchant caravan. The trail leading east had signs of whatever heat must be given off by the mob in greater abundance. The burnt and singed ground looked… fresher if you could call it that. Here and there, an occasional blade of grass or small tuft of dirt still had bright red embers burning away. We had our trail to follow. Right as I was about to lead us out, Stella made a clicking sound. It reminded me of the click one would use to call a horse back on earth. Turning in her direction, I spied her closely inspecting one of the broken wood crates that had fallen out of the lead wagon. Her eyes looked up to me and she beckoned me over with a wave of a paw.
As I grew closer, I noticed that one of the crates surrounded by charred timbers looked relatively unscathed. That was odd. Walking closer, it was clear that a blaze of extreme heat had flashed among the crates of wares. Stella’s keen gaze had picked out a crate that miraculously survived the flames. Only a single corner was visible, but even as I knelt, it should have been as burnt as the rest of the wreaked goods.
It took little effort to remove the undamaged container, the rest of the smoldering pile crumbling to ash. The crate wasn’t overly heavy, so I pulled it several feet away. After taking a quick glance around our surroundings to ensure we were still alone, my attention returned to the wooden case. The box was as tall and long as the length of my forearm. A gold-colored clasp held the top firmly closed. With no lock visible, I unlatched and swung the lid open.
Pulling out handfuls of straw packaging, underneath we found two small books. Both appeared to be nothing more than a typical-sized leather-bound journal, but the feel of them marked them as being something far more valuable. Picking up the first tome, I admired the high-quality and supple leather. The material was soft to the touch, with an elegant full-grain leather that reminded me of the wrapping of my battle axe. Taking a moment to quickly inspect the two books, I mentally prompted the system to only give me the bare minimum of information. The trail to the imp was clear, but each passing moment took it even further away from our justice.
You have found: Spell Book of Lesser Cure Poison and Disease!
You have found: Spell Book of Lesser Chained Lightning!
“Nice,” I muttered before placing both tomes into my inventory. “Good eye, Stell.” Nodding to her, we turned together and made our way away from the wagons. Thoughts of the two new spells I would be learning tried to creep to the forefront of my thoughts, but I squashed them down. We had more pressing matters at the moment. Together, with Ripley only a step behind, we moved as quickly and quietly as we could towards the soon-to-be regretful fire imp.
The trail left in the wake of the passing imp was chaotic at best, though incredibly easy to follow. It looked as if the beast spun this way and that, never keeping a forward path for more than a few paces. After cresting a hill, a flat grassland as wide as a football came into view. The path taken by the imp was haphazard as if it desired to destroy as much of the field as it could. It looked no better than if someone with a great pen of fire had squiggled this way and that at random. It was a good sign for us, as it took only minutes to cross the field in the direction of our foe, whereas it must have spent an hour as it torched the area.
Several similarly burned fields quickly came and went as our path invariably took us further east. Freshly scorched pastures grew denser giving sign that our prey was near, not to mention the lazy curls of dark smoke wafting from the burnt ground were any sign. We slowed our pace and spotted our foe after cresting a small rise. The red creature looked to be dancing through the air, its comical-sized wings blurring to keep it aloft. This way and that, it twirled as if dancing with an imaginary partner, the earth only a couple of feet underneath blackening and burning below it.
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Still a good bow shot away, the imp moved in seemingly random directions, oblivious to our presence. If it wasn’t so damn clear all the pain and death the beast had caused only a pair of miles back, I would have judged the creature to be nothing enjoying a happy stroll in the countryside. Sure, the oppressive heat given off by the creature’s simple presence was laying waste to anything underneath it, but the imp seemed to be enjoying himself.
“No remorse then,” I said to myself, my words escaping just above a whisper.
Right as I was about to commit to a battle, the words of my most potent spells dancing on my tongue, when the devilish beast turned in our direction. Eyes with bright red irises and black sclera seemed to easily lock on mine, even though my stealth had given me no warning whatsoever that I had been detected. “Damn…” I muttered as I internally chided myself. Had I not spoken, we may have been able to ambush the tiny fiend.
With a jovial attitude, the imp fluttered in a circle, my stealth fully breaking. “Another so soon? How fortunate I am!” The mob was not the high pitch I had been expecting from such a diminutive creature. Instead, the imp’s voice was a rich tenor.
“Ahh, good, good. Glad am I to have found another traveler,” the imp said as he slowly glided close to our position, its tiny wings causing still-burning soot to drift around him as he backtracked over already singed ground.
Beyond his obviously devilish nature, what immediately caught my attention was that it had called me a traveler, not a Hunter. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage, though I couldn’t see how as the mob came within a half dozen paces of us. I had given up any pretense of hiding, so stood as the fiend grew close. Even at this short distance, the heat emanating from the beast was stifling. It was like standing too close to an open furnace. Beads of sweat started forming on my brow.
The imp tilted its head, seeming to notice my discomfort. It closed its fiery eyes for a moment, before opening them a second later. Like a door had been closed on the furnace, the waves of oppressive heat cooled noticeably. Now it felt like we were only standing near a dwindling fireplace. Seeing relief spread across my face, the imp smiled. It wasn’t the smile of a stranger helping another though. The alabaster white, spiked teeth had a mischievous quality to it that I couldn’t place at first. To my eyes, it was as if some evil plan lurked behind his fiendish visage.
“You too must want to test your mental mettle. Yes? Hmm, I do so enjoy finding new ones,” The imp’s carefree demeanor grated on my nerves. It cared little for the anguish and violence still smoldering from the way we had come. A gust of wind carried even more of the creature’s odor our way. Unholy unpleasant, it was as if he spread generous amounts of dung over his body, though the unnaturally smooth and hairless skin covering his body gave no such indication.
My fingers gripped on my weapon’s haft tightly as ferocity stirred in my heart. Thinking better of attacking an unknown enemy, especially one that hadn’t immediately attacked me, I inspected the bulbous creature. My eyes widened at the information provided by the System. My fingers loosened on my weapon.
Lowki, Enigma Fire Imp (Level ???)
As twisted a creature as one can find, this type of fire imp loves to live up to its namesake: an enigma. Intrepid travelers and Hunters alike should be wary of its often-challenging chain of riddles; for should you fail, you’ll find your life quickly spent in a blaze of glory. All the while, the enigma imp will dance around your burning corpse, hoping to find even more witless foes to burn and defile. Though, not yet known what action the fire imp will take should his riddle challenge be successfully met, adventures should nonetheless be very careful when dealing with this flame-laden hellion.
Seeing the mob’s unknown, but obviously high level, my muscles went rigid. I had been moments away from launching an entirely hopeless battle against such a powerful creature. As if the beast could read my mind, its pronounced sharp teeth gleamed ever wider. His large front canines contrasted prominently against his rosy skin.
“Is there any chance we can take him?” My voice was barely perceptible as I spoke to Stella. Knowing the creature would likely be able to hear my words, given it had heard me from so far away before, I still needed the answer to my question. My confidence had dropped like a stone in the deep ocean after seeing how wide a gap was likely between us and this being.
Stella’s answer was a succinct, “Not likely.”
My mind whirled through possibilities. The imp held his lofty position careless of the weapon held limply in my hands. His head was tilted confidently upwards, as if he didn’t have a worry or concern in the world. I was no threat to him. With nothing else presented, I realized he was waiting for an answer to his earlier question. That gave me hope.
If the imp wasn’t going to attack, though it clearly treasured being able to do so if the wreckage in his wake had anything to say about it, it meant I had options. This wasn’t a test of arms, I realized. Seconds passed as my thoughts careened down that path.
The imp’s eyes narrowed dangerously at my continued lack of response, so I spoke before it could take any action. “Perhaps, we could…” I hesitated, unease and fear trying to grip tightly in my chest. “Um, what happens if we choose to simply go about our own way.” If a battle wasn’t on the table, at least right away, perhaps we could walk away. I had no desire to fight the beast now, so perhaps we could simply leave, I pondered internally.
“Refusing to test your mettle is the same as failing it,” The imp said with a laugh, a crazy cackle lingering in the air between us. “I, Lowki the magnificent, challenge you to a game of wits. Yes, yes! Accept… or face the punishment of failure.”
A twinge of heat passed like a wave of force from the mob’s body when he uttered his last word. It brought mental images of becoming a living torch under his malevolent gaze. My thoughts returned to the smoldering wreckage of the merchant’s caravan behind us. We could not fail here. Only a painful and fiery death awaited us if that were to happen. We had little option, but to accept.
Before I responded though, a slight twinkle appeared in the imp’s eyes. It was as if no one would ever be able to meet his challenge. So, I asked a simple question, “Why?” I wanted to understand this devilish creature as much as I could.
“Why?” The imp snorted a derisive laugh. “There is no why? Why is meaningless to those that have power. We do whatever we want to do. Now, do you accept my challenge, I’ll brook no further delay.”
“What will I earn if I win your challenge?”
The imp’s eyes narrowed, as if to determine if he should answer or not. “Never has… Well, should you be able to solve my three riddles, then free you shall be.” The imp brimmed with confidence, so he decided he would sweeten the deal. “Yes, yes, more you would like. I see through you, mortal.”
“So, if you should win, then you will be able to call upon me to do any one thing your frail soul desires. Haha, it ‘twill never happen though. Never before, never before,” the imp said, as if to himself. “So, what is your choice? Or shall I begin?”
Having no other recourse, I looked to Stella before nodding at Lowki. “I accept.” I could only hope that with Stella’s aid, we’d be able to come out alive. Though, I suspected we had a good chance, even considering the menace that radiated from the imp’s small frame. “And if I win, know that I will call upon you to aid me in my quest.”
New Quest – “Imp-possible.”
Lowki, the Enigma Fire Imp, has issued a challenge the likes none have yet been able to meet. You must answer his riddle’s three. If you do so, you will be granted one favor. Though, as countless have done before, should you fail, you will likely find yourself staring down the fire of hell.
Objective One: Successfully answer three of Lowki’s riddles.
Rewards: 3,000 experience points & one favor to be granted by Lowki, the Enigma Fire Imp.
System Notice! This quest has automatically been accepted.
At that, the imp laughed like a madman, brushing aside my words as if they held little consequence. It was the most maniacal laugh I had ever heard. With it came animalistic fear that tried to worm its way into my chest, but I stood resolute, holding my ground firm against its encroachment.
“Fantastic, a wise choice, but futile all the same.” The imp had smugness plastered all over his face. “No one has ever been able to best me in such a test. I look forward to seeing you squirm as my flames curdle your flesh.” Lowki laughed once more and spun a complete circuit in the air, glee and overconfidence radiating outwards in waves.
“Get on with it, Lackey,” my words grabbed his attention, as I had hoped they would. With the quest now firmly in place, I was confident the imp would no longer attack me while it remained. Hoping my little show of disrespect would rattle his nerves was the best I could hope for at the moment.
Lowki stopped instantly, his wings motionless though he remained floating, his thin lips pressed firmly together. “It’s Lowki,” the tiny beast said coolly.
“Of course, of course, my friend,” I said with insincerity. I made it a show of looking over his entire body, “Say, you look a bit redder than before. Are you alright?”
“Youse lucky,” the imp replied, his elegant speaking pattern faltering. My comment was having the desired effect on him. “Without the agreement already in place, you would be nothing unlike a pig roasting on a spit.”
“Yes, of course.” I nodded uncaringly at him. With my eyes and body language giving no outward sign, I mentally typed out a message to Stella. Lowki hadn’t identified me as a Hunter, so I guessed that he didn’t know of the connection I had with my Accelerator.
Xaz: Stell, if we answer his riddles correctly, he can’t squirm or trick his way out of it, right?
While I waited for her to respond, I tilted my head in Lowki’s direction, before motioning for the imp to proceed. Lowki’s gaze tried to bore a hole in me, but my outward demeanor didn’t elicit the response he was hoping for. It was as if he was truly contemplating immolating me at that moment. If that were to happen, I could only hope the System would intervene because I seemed to have little chance against this foe in brute combat.
Stella: Correct. He is honor bound to uphold the terms of the quest, whether he knows it or not.
Stella’s answer gave me a burst of confidence. We had a way to victory, now we only had to grab it.
The air stilled around us as the heat surrounding the mob ratcheted up a notch. Lowki took in a great breath, his chest swelling even as his pink skin grew a darker shade of red. With a devilish grin, his wickedly sharp teeth gleaming in the morning light, Lowki spoke, “Let us begin.”