《Ashes of Divinity》


 Into the Ashes

    The ship drifted through the endless black sea, its hull creaking against the whispering waves. The water below was so dark it seemed to devour what little light the stars offered. This black sea was known for its closeness to the Gaulf made it infamous, a place swarming with monsters, Yet here they were, the Starborn, drawn into this madness by a single passenger. The captain stood at the helm, his knuckles tight on the wheel, stealing glances toward the shadowed figure curled up near the mast¡ªa man who had somehow convinced them to risk their lives for a large sum of gold.


    "This is madness," hissed a sailor near the bow, his voice hushed as to not let the captain hear him, as he leaned into a cluster of his crewmates. "You all know where we are. We''re too close to the Gaulf. No ship comes back from that hell hole."


    "Then what the fuck are we doing this for, eh?" another grumbled, his hand trembling as he adjusted the rigging. "I¡¯ll tell you why¡ªbecause the captain¡¯s pocket got heavier."


    "Not just the captain," muttered the first. "We all took our share. And for what? To follow some drunk fool into the abyss?"


    The third sailor, older and grizzled, gave a dry chuckle. "Drunk fool, eh? Thought he was supposed to be some kind of hero, Some adventurer or something, what was his name again?"


    "Hero?" the second sailor spat, his voice thick with annoyance. "Look at him. Does he look like a hero to you? Curled up like a child and clutchin¡¯ that wooden jug of his? I Swear I saw him sip from it when we hit that swell earlier. Bet it¡¯s not water in there."


    The group fell silent for a moment, their gazes drifting to the man asleep against the mast, his body wrapped in his cloak, curled like he hadn¡¯t a care in the world.


    "God this is shit!" One of them said annoyed, "What the he''ll are you doing? Do you want to be cursed by any god who hears you?" Another said reprimanding the other.


    "Oh c''mon, the gods stopped giving a rats ass about us mortals a long time ago." Another sailor said, taking a large swig out of a grimy glass bottle, "they are probably laughing at us."


    "Well I still believe they are watching, they just testing us mortals." The sailor replied, causing the other sailors to roll their eyes and groan, but as they continued to argue suddenly they hear a loud sound, like thunder.


    "What the?" One of the sailors said looking upward, there wasn''t a dark cloud in the sky at all, but still the sound continued to boom in their mind.


    At the same time the ship begins to shake violently, the crew members looked pale as they looks out over the ocean to see that the sea had become pitch black, even darker than before, but the terrifying part was that the darkness was moving.


    The inky waves churned and twisted like living shadows, shifting with an unnatural rhythm. It wasn¡¯t water anymore. It was something else. Something alive. Something watching.


    The crew, frozen in fear and confusion, suddenly heard a low, guttural growl¡ªreminiscent of a tiger. The sound echoed in their minds, reverberating with an intensity that threatened to drive them mad.


    The ship shuddered violently, groaning as though it might splinter apart. Massive tentacles burst from the dark waters, coiling around the enormous vessel with crushing force. Crew members screamed as they were nearly thrown overboard, clinging desperately to ropes, railings, or anything that might save them.


    "Kraken! That''s a kraken!" one crew member shouted as he looked over the railings, narrowly dodging a tentacle that slammed down onto the deck with a deafening crash.


    Amidst the chaos, the captain remained eerily calm. Letting out a weary sigh, he released the wheel and sank to the floor, reaching for his cigarette case. With an almost bored expression, he struck a match, shielding it from the wind.


    "He¡¯s always pulling this kind of stunt, isn¡¯t he?" the captain muttered to no one in particular, shaking his head as he lit his cigarette.


    As the tentacles threatened to drag the ship down into the depths. The crew was in utter chaos, scrambling to secure ropes and avoid being swept into the dark sea, P


    Panic-stricken cries filled the air.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the captain?!¡± one crew member shouted, his voice cutting through the din. Though fear gripped him, he forced himself to remain calm, his years of training to be calm in ant situation kicking in.


    Moving with a careful balance of calm and urgency, he maneuvered through the chaos, dodging overturned barrels and grasping hands. As he approached the wheel, a sudden flash of lightning lit up the deck, illuminating the mayhem in stark clarity.


    The sight froze him for a moment¡ªshadows of writhing tentacles stretched across the deck like monstrous specters, and the pale faces of his crewmates gleamed with desperation. But then he spotted the captain, sitting casually on the floor near the wheel, a faint trail of smoke curling from his cigarette.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± the crewman bellowed as he stumbled closer, disbelief etched across his face. The captain didn¡¯t even flinch, casually striking another match to reignite his cigarette as if they were on a leisurely voyage.


    ¡°Relax,¡± the captain said, exhaling a slow puff of smoke. ¡°He¡¯ll take care of it. Always does.¡± His tone was so nonchalant it almost made the crew member go mad.


    The crewman¡¯s eyes darted to the edge of the ship, where the so-called "hero" had been sitting moments before. The captain leaned back against the wheel, shaking his head with an exasperated chuckle.


    ¡°Why is he always so extra?,¡± the captain muttered, watching the sea churn.


    The crew member, dumbfounded, suddenly realized that the violent shaking had ceased. Though the tentacles still coiled around the ship, their crushing grip had eased. A faint, uneasy calm settled over the deck, broken only by the distant roar of the waves.


    Another flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating a shadow above him. He instinctively looked up, and his breath caught in his throat. Someone was standing atop the ship¡¯s tallest mast, silhouetted against the stormy sky.


    The figure stood motionless, peering down into the churning black waters as if daring the beast below to strike again. There was something unnervingly confident in their stance as though they regarded the monstrous creature as nothing more than a nuisance, in their hand, there was a large rock like object which he couldn''t quite make out, but he could make out it''s bright red and blue colour''s.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Suddenly, the figure spoke.


    "Kraken!" the voice called, almost amused. "It seems I¡¯ve already gotten your attention!" The words boomed across the deck, yet strangely, it felt as though the voice had bypassed the storm altogether, speaking directly into their ears.


    The figure¡¯s tone was brazen, filled with an unsettling confidence that silenced the chaotic whispers of the crew. For a moment, the storm itself seemed to hold its breath. Then, another voice rumbled through the air¡ªdeep, monstrous, and nightmarish. It wasn¡¯t just a sound; it was a presence that crawled into their bones and made their knees weak. Even the captain gripped the railing to steady himself.


    "Who dares¡­ call out to me?" the voice growled, every syllable echoing with malice.


    "My apologies," the figure responded with a mocking grin, "but I urgently require your audience."


    "Who are you...?" The creature¡¯s voice returned, laced with rage.


    "Who I am matters little. What matters is what you can do for me," the hero said, tossing the rock-like object into the air before catching it effortlessly.


    "Who is¡ª" a crew member began, but the captain cut him off.


    "That, my boy, is a legend in the flesh. The immortal hero, Ban," the captain said, exhaling a plume of smoke as he took another puff of his cigarette.


    "Who?" the crew member asked, his confusion evident.


    The captain smirked. "Hmmm. If you don''t know him by that name, you might know the other one." He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air before exhaling another stream of smoke.


    "The Immortal Flame."


    The crew member¡¯s eyes went wide as the name sank in. He turned his gaze back to the figure atop the mast, his mind reeling.


    The Immortal Flame? he thought in shock. This was an immortal man, a man whose legendary adventures had spanned the continent. To see such a figure in person felt almost unreal, like a myth stepping out of the pages of a story book.


    But something nagged at him even more¡ªthe captain had called him Ban. Did the captain actually know him? Before he could dwell further, his thoughts were interrupted by the booming voice of the creature below, reverberating through their minds like an earthquake.


    "YOU DARE TO HAGGLE WITH ME?!" the monstrous voice roared, shaking the very air around them. The crew winced, clutching their heads in pain, but Ban remained unfazed.


    "Haggle?" Ban said with a smirk, his tone dripping with mockery. "Such lofty words for a creature of the deep. But perhaps you don¡¯t understand the situation you¡¯re in. Can¡¯t you see what I hold in my hand?"


    He raised the object high, its jagged edges catching the faint light.


    "The heart of a hydra," Ban declared, his voice echoing across the deck.


    The ship shuddered violently again, but this time it wasn¡¯t from an attack. The tentacles gripping the ship recoiled slightly, as though the creature in the depths had shuddered¡ªif such a thing as fear was even possible for it.


    A hydra was a creature that was a natural predator to kraken''s or any deep sea creature, even children Hydra were capable of heavily damaging adult kraken''s, but even though this kraken is extremely old, it should still have a tough fight. Ban thought as he raised the heart in the air.


    "So, are you willing to lower your tone and listen?" Ban said. The creature fell silent, and Ban took the quiet as a sign to continue.


    "Good. Now, a thousand paces from here lies the city of Atlantis, sunken to the ocean floor. Correct?" Ban asked, his tone sharp and cold.


    "Yes. If you desire to go to the city of the g¡ª" the creature began, its voice laced with irritation.


    "Shut up," Ban interrupted coldly.


    A pang of emotion rippled through the minds of everyone present as the Kraken''s psychic connection flared. The beast''s telepathic bond allowed it to convey thoughts and words directly into the crew''s heads, which was the only reason they could understand it at all.


    "I have no intention of venturing into the city," Ban said, brushing aside the creature''s irritation. "I¡¯m only interested in its current state. Tell me¡ªor better yet, show me. I want to see what you saw."


    He gazed down into the water, his voice calm. The creature paused for a while. The crew held their breath, their anxious anticipation palpable. Some whispered in disbelief, struggling to grasp the idea that the underwater city of Atlantis was more than just a legend.


    Ban opened his mouth to press further, but before he could speak, images flooded their minds.


    Suddenly, they were underwater, racing through the depths at an unimaginable speed. The ocean was alive with an ethereal glow, illuminated by countless bioluminescent stones scattered across the seafloor. It was as if they were seeing the world through the creature¡¯s eyes, experiencing its memories through the telepathic link.


    As the creature swam past a large cluster of glowing blue stones, it paused and turned back, latching onto them.


    Slowly, it began to consume the light¡ªor, more precisely, the energy within the light, it seemed it did this for some sort of sustenance.


    Satisfied, the kraken halted momentarily before surging forward at high speed, its destination unclear. Eventually, it reached what appeared to be its den: the hollowed-out head of a massive statue, resting on the ocean floor. The statue''s sheer size dwarfed even the immense kraken, its features eroded by time.


    As the kraken crawled over the head it gazed at a city, or the ruins of one atleast.


    The structures were ancient and crumbling, their once-grand designs barely recognizable beneath layers of coral and sediment. Towers that had once reached for the ocean¡¯s surface now lay broken on the seabed. Stone pathways, cracked and overgrown with marine vegetation, moved between the ruins, hinting at what must have once been a thriving civilization.


    In an instant, Ban found himself back on the mast of the ship, looking down at the kraken below.


    The other crew members stumbled, some collapsing to their knees, overwhelmed by the whiplash of receiving memories from a creature whose mind operated in ways incomprehensible to their own.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ban yelled, his voice echoing across the deck. Whatever he had seen had enraged him, but he quickly regained his composure, exhaling deeply before speaking again.


    ¡°That was unexpected... but I thank you. I¡¯d been wondering what happened to the city,¡± he said, turning away from the kraken.


    ¡°Are you a follower of the God of the Sea?¡± the kraken asked, its voice dripping with suspicion.


    ¡°Never. I could never serve such pieces of trash,¡± Ban replied coldly, glaring back at the creature. Lightning flashed in the sky, briefly illuminating his expression.


    The crew members exchanged nervous glances, unsure if this marked the end of the encounter. Then, with another crack of lightning, a massive tentacle erupted from the ocean, moving at blinding speed toward the back of Ban''s head.


    But before it could reach him, the tentacle was instantly encased in ice. Ban turned to face it, a grin creeping across his face.


    ¡°I was really hoping you¡¯d just let us leave,¡± he said, his tone casual but laced with danger. ¡°But I guess that was a bit naive of me.¡±


    With a single, powerful kick, Ban shattered the frozen tentacle into shards that scattered into the ocean below. He leaped from the mast just as another tentacle smashed into it, splintering the wood.


    For a moment, Ban seemed to hover in midair¡ªnot falling, but suspended as though the very air itself was holding him aloft.


    ¡°Well, I guess this was bound to happen eventually,¡± he muttered to himself.


    He ignited the Hydra heart in his hand, flames roaring to life around it. The fire burned orange at first but quickly shifted through shades of blue and purple, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Without hesitation, Ban launched the flaming heart into the ocean at blinding speed, the light disappearing into the depths as the kraken braced for what was to come.


    In the water, the heart continued to burn, the flames undeterred by the surrounding ocean. A vortex began to form around it, bubbling and churning with unnatural force. Within the swirling chaos, four glowing eyes appeared, piercing through the depths.


    Sensing the impending danger, the kraken released the ship, thrashing wildly as it tried to flee. Ban smirked, raising a hand to conjure a towering wall of ice, cutting off the creature''s escape.


    "I just remembered," Ban said, his voice dripping with mockery, "I was hired to take care of a creature fitting your description. Funny how that slipped my mind." His grin stretched wide, brimming with a mix of confidence and mischief.


    From the vortex, massive tendrils of water emerged, resembling tentacles of their own. They surged toward the kraken, slashing and dragging at its massive form with merciless precision. The ocean itself seemed to rise in fury, battering the creature from every angle.


    Ban landed gracefully back on the ship, the deck slick beneath his feet. The hydra¡¯s emerging form caused the waters to shake violently, its immense power propelling the ship farther and farther from the escalating battle

 Flickering Flames

    I watched as the bodies of both the Hydra and the kraken grew smaller and smaller in the distance, their battle still raging on. Even from here, I could tell it wasn¡¯t going well for the kraken.


    ¡°Well¡­ that was useless,¡± I muttered, pushing myself off the railing. I turned and walked back toward the front of the ship, my steps heavy with frustration.


    I had hoped that if anything could give me a clue about my mission, it would be Atlantis. But all my hopes were shattered at the sight of that ruined kingdom. I sighed, struggling to keep my anger in check, resisting the urge to scream in frustration or break something to vent.


    Yet, I couldn¡¯t help myself. My fist slammed into the wooden wall beside me with a dull thud.


    ¡°Ban, what the heck are you doing?¡± a voice called from the steering wheel.


    I turned in the direction of the voice to see the captain glaring at me. Running a hand through my  locks, I leaped up and landed in front of him.


    ¡°What?!¡± I snapped, smirking as I straightened up.


    ¡°Where do you get off damaging my ship?¡± the captain growled, blowing a cloud of smoke into my face.


    ¡°¡­ Has anyone ever told you how short you are?¡± I replied with a grin.


    ¡°The hell you say!?¡± the captain barked, his face twisting into an exaggerated scowl. I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle¡ªsomething about his expressions always got to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m kidding, Alexander. Calm down,¡± I said, still laughing.


    ¡°Calm down? Look at my baby!¡± Alexander shot back, gesturing dramatically.


    It took me a second to realize what he meant by ¡°baby,¡± but I quickly pieced it together¡ªhe was talking about the ship. Glancing around, I saw that while it hadn¡¯t sustained much damage, it was just enough that the ocean¡¯s waves were now the only thing keeping us moving.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± I said scratching the back of my neck, I hadn¡¯t realized my short battle with the kraken did this much damage.


    ¡°Yeah now were stuck out here.¡± Alexander said.


    ¡°Calm down my friend, you forget¡± I said before I raised my hand to the sky, I concentrated as a dim glow emerged from the center of my palm, rippling outward like water disturbed by a stone. The faint light twisted and coalesced into intricate geometric patterns


    ¡°I am a mage.¡± I said as I could feel a smirk forming on my face, the magic circle within my palm began to spin with immense speed, as the wind began to pick up around the ship.


    ¡°That¡¯s nice Ban, but the sails are destro-¡° Alexander was almost immediately silenced as the wind flowed around the ship, and moved us forward, his sudden silence made me chuckle.


    ¡°Well that doesn¡¯t fix the damages.¡± Alexander said, pointing to the wall I had punched in earlier.


    I rolled my eyes. Is this ship your wife or something? I thought as I snapped my fingers, adding a few new runes to the floating magic circle. Green energy flowed out from it and onto the ship, and the wooden frame began to repair itself, including the wall I¡¯d smashed a few minutes ago.


    I glanced around and noticed the crew members staring at me in awe, their eyes wide as if they¡¯d never seen magic so vivid and direct before.


    ¡°What are y¡¯all gawking at? Get back to your posts!¡± Alexander barked, his gruff voice snapping the crew out of their daze as they scattered to their stations.


    ¡°You really know how to ruin the fun, huh, Alexander?¡± I said with a smirk.


    ¡°Ugh, follow me to my quarters,¡± Alexander muttered, taking another puff of smoke.


    ¡°Whoa, Alexander, I didn¡¯t know you felt that way about me,¡± I quipped, my smirk widening.


    Alexander nearly choked on his cigarette. ¡°Shut the hell up, Ban!¡± he snapped, but I could see the faintest hint of red creeping up his neck as I laughed my way after him.


    As I walked, I noticed a younger crew member who had been standing next to Alexander before I arrived. He was still staring up at the spinning magic circle, his eyes filled with what I could only describe as wonder.


    I followed Alexander to the lower deck of the ship. Not far from the stairs was a door that led to the crew¡¯s sleeping quarters. Without even opening it, the rank stench wafting from inside hit me. You¡¯d think being surrounded by water would inspire them to clean themselves, I thought, frowning in distaste.


    Further down the hallway, we approached another door, this one with a small window in its center. I could only assume it was Alexander¡¯s room. As he opened the door, a wave of warmth radiated outward, filling the narrow corridor.


    Closing the door behind me, I leaned back against it, taking a quick look around the room. It was simple enough¡ªjust a big wooden table covered with candles and a couple of books, a decently sized bed in the corner, and two bookshelves packed with volumes I¡¯d bet Alexander had never touched.


    He dropped Into the chair behind the table, rummaging through a drawer before pulling out a bottle of wine and a couple of small cups.


    ¡°You¡¯ve really messed things up this time,¡± he said, pouring some wine into a cup and sliding it across the table toward me.


    I took a sip of the wine before speaking. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I said, smirking.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke,¡± Alexander said sharply, taking a sip from his own cup. ¡°A hydra? You just unleashed a hydra into the seas of this continent! And that¡¯s not even mentioning how you provoked a kraken in its own territory. If my men knew what you¡¯d just done, they wouldn¡¯t be so¡ª¡±


    ¡°Relax, will you?¡± I interrupted, leaning back in my chair. ¡°Have a little faith in me. The hydra was premature. I only let it loose to keep the kraken in check. Honestly, the kraken should worry you more; it¡¯ll kill that hydra¡ªand it¡¯ll definitely want revenge.¡± I sipped from my cup before continuing. ¡°But don¡¯t worry; it¡¯ll be too mortally wounded to do anything about it.¡±


    I reached across the table and grabbed the bottle, pouring myself another glass.


    ¡°And even if I am wrong, I¡¯ll just handle whichever walks out alive.¡± I said as I twirl the cup in my hand, the wine twirling in the glass aswell.


    Alexander sighed shaking his head while exhaling smoke, ¡°You haven¡¯t changed a bit have you?¡± Alexander said as he chuckled, as we hit our glasses together.


    ¡°You know, I was a bit surprised when you suddenly showed up in my office asking for a favor¡ªespecially when you explained what we were going to be doing,¡± Alexander said, pausing to cough up smoke before downing some wine to ease the pain.


    It was pretty funny to see his lack of awareness of his own habits.


    ¡°You really should stop smoking, you know,¡± I said, taking a sip from my glass before setting it aside.


    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking. You should be used to the smell of smoke by now,¡± Alexander shot back, completely missing the point of my remark.


    ¡°You know what? Forget it,¡± I said with a wave of my hand. ¡°So¡­ how are the others?¡± I asked, but as soon as I did, I noticed Alexander¡¯s face darken¡ªa reaction that made my chest tighten with unease.


    ¡°To be honest¡­ I don¡¯t really know,¡± he replied, his tone heavy. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to get in contact with three of us so far, including you. As for the rest of the Bedlam¡­ I¡¯ve heard whispers, bits and pieces here and there, but nothing solid.¡± He scowled as he spoke.


    I exhaled in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. For a moment, I thought my bad luck had managed to drag all of them down too.¡±


    ¡°You know that nothing that happened to us was your fault. We willingly chose to follow you,¡± Alexander said firmly, trying to reassure me.


    It didn¡¯t work. But I smiled anyway.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I heard one of us ended up joining those stuck-up assholes in the Sorcerer Dynasty of Stellaria,¡± I said, draining the last of my wine and setting the cup back on the table with a dull clink.


    That¡¯s when I heard it.


    A faint sound¡ªlike an itch at the back of my mind. Close, yet impossibly far away. Its peculiarity was maddening, but what grated more was the sound itself: buzzing, like flies. Thousands of them, swarming around my ears all at once.


    I sighed, already used to this kind of intrusion.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Alexander asked, his voice pulling me back.


    ¡°Nothing. Just a headache,¡± I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.


    Here we go again.


    And then it happened.


    The room froze¡ªeverything stopped. Alexander¡¯s mouth hung open mid-sentence, his expression locked in place. The warmth in the air vanished entirely. No, that wasn¡¯t right. The air itself went still, stripped bare. Even the flames on the candles hung suspended, their flickering light snuffed into unnatural stillness.


    The buzzing swelled louder and louder, drilling into my skull, until finally, I spoke up.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Enough with the theatrics¡­ Hermes,¡± I said, my voice cold.


    As I said this Alexander¡¯s mouth began to move, along with the rest of his body, as he let out a long sigh


    ¡°You are never any fun anymore.¡± Alexander said, but I knew it wasn¡¯t Alexander speaking.


    ¡°What do you want Hermes?¡± I said as I clenched my fist in anger.


    Alexander¡¯s eyes rolled back into his head, leaving his eyes as white as snow, I twitched a little at the sight but I didn¡¯t let it show, and this was when Hermes spoke up.


    ¡°Do I need to have a reason to visit my favorite mortal?¡± He said as a large inhuman smile appeared on Alexander¡¯s face.


    I didn¡¯t answer I just glared at him, trying to not let my anger slip out, ¡°whatever, you really are no fun anymore.¡± He said before taking a long swig from the wine bottle.


    ¡°Which is weird, since you seemed to be having a lot of fun earlier.¡± He said as I glared at him, which made him smile wider.¡± Threatening a Kraken with a new born Hydra? Now that just¡­ mischievous.¡± He said before he chuckled.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be too shocked.¡± He said ¡°You didn¡¯t think that stupid spell of yours could actually block us gods view of you? How¡­ pathetic.¡± He said before laughing again.


    ¡°You know how it goes¡ªso long as that curse of yours stays stuck on you, we¡¯ve got a bird¡¯s-eye view of everything you do. There¡¯s a reason you mortals call us omnipresent,¡± Hermes said, still drinking from the wine and chuckling to himself like he¡¯d just won something.


    ¡°Get to the point,¡± I said, already sick of his rambling.


    Before I knew it, Alexander¡¯s face was right in mine. ¡°It¡¯s rude to interrupt your elders,¡± Hermes said, his expression blank. ¡°But as someone as old as yourself, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re used to saying that to others.¡± He shot back to his seat with that creepy, godlike smoothness.


    ¡°So,¡± he continued, settling in like this was some kind of casual chat, ¡°you¡¯ve unleashed a calamity like a hydra into the world. What did you gain from it? Because from what I¡¯ve seen, Atlantis didn¡¯t have what you were looking for, did it?¡±


    I grinned, leaning back just a little. ¡°No, it didn¡¯t. But it did remind me of the beauty in my work. What¡¯s the problem? Poseidon worried I¡¯ll wreck the ¡®great city of Atlantis¡¯ again?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, no,¡± Hermes said, swirling the wine in his hand like he had all the time in the world. ¡°As I¡¯ve told you over these past hundred years, us gods don¡¯t care about the mortal realm anymore, so he just didn¡¯t bother.¡± He paused to snuff out a cigarette still burning between Alexander¡¯s fingers, his movements deliberate.


    ¡°You mortals aren¡¯t that important¡ªnot even you, Ban.¡± Hermes said, his tone dripping with disdain. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, the only reason you haven¡¯t been put back in your place is because we¡¯re amused by you. Don¡¯t mistake that for us being unable to act.¡±


    I glared at him, my anger was boiling within me, so much to the point it was as of I could feel it in the bottom of my stomach.


    ¡°Just remember why you belong to us. Don¡¯t forget, Ban,¡± he said mockingly.


    As those words lingered in the air, the world around me shifted back to normal. The flames on the candles flickered once more as if nothing had happened, and Alexander blinked, snapping out of whatever trance Hermes had placed him in.


    He looked at me, his expression slightly confused, like he couldn¡¯t quite remember what he¡¯d been saying.


    ¡°Uh¡­ what were we talking about?¡± Alexander asked.


    I stood up, brushing off the moment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Hey, I think I¡¯ll go rest my head for a bit, alright?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ okay,¡± he said, standing up. ¡°There¡¯s another room up on the deck of the ship. You can use that. I wouldn¡¯t want you rubbing elbows¡ªor worse, skin¡ªwith my boys.¡±


    I chuckled softly, masking the anger simmering beneath the surface. ¡°Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks,¡± I said as I headed for the door.


    Closing it behind me, I made my way to the top deck of the ship, keeping my composure so Alexander wouldn¡¯t suspect a thing. By the time I reached the deck, I spotted the room he mentioned.


    But before I entered, the weight of my frustration got the better of me. I slammed my hand into the door, splintering the wood with a loud crack.


    The magic circle hovering above the ship spun faintly, reacting instantly. Green light flowed down and repaired the damage in seconds.


    The room was small, just enough space to breathe without feeling boxed in. A bed sat against the wall¡ªlooked stiff, but it¡¯d do. A few candles dotted the place, and the two little windows let in just enough light to remind me I wasn¡¯t buried alive.


    I snapped my fingers, and the candles lit up instantly, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Tossing my blade onto the bed, I slid down to the floor, leaning into the corner. A small flame sparked to life in my hand. I watched it twist and flicker, the way it moved always had this¡­ pull. It was wild and restless¡ªkind of like me.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± I muttered, still staring at the flame.


    Silence.


    ¡°You. Behind the door,¡± I said, my voice flat but sharp.


    A pause, then a knock.


    ¡°Come in,¡± I said, finally tearing my eyes from the fire.


    The door creaked open, and I glanced up. It was the same kid from earlier, the one who¡¯d been standing next to Alexander. He looked like he¡¯d been starstruck by the magic circle I¡¯d set up above the ship¡ªmakes sense. Most humans don¡¯t get to see actual magic, let alone something like that.


    But now he was standing in my doorway, staring at me like he had something to say but no idea how to say it. To be honest, I wasn¡¯t in the mood to deal with¡­ whatever this was supposed to be.


    ¡°What?¡± I said, my voice cold enough to make him flinch.


    ¡°I¡ªI, uh¡­¡± he stammered, looking like a nervous little girl.


    I raised an eyebrow and fixed him with a look that made it clear I wasn¡¯t impressed. ¡°Can¡¯t you speak?¡±


    That seemed to make him freeze for a second before he finally managed to blurt something out.


    ¡°My name is N-Neil,¡± he said, stumbling over his words like he was scared I might set him on fire.


    I sighed, already regretting this. ¡°Hello, Neil. What do you want?¡± I asked, turning my attention back to the flame dancing in my hand.


    ¡°I saw you talking with my father¡­ are you two friends?¡± he asked, still sounding nervous.


    Father? Who the hell is he talking about? I didn¡¯t talk to any¡ª


    It hit me. He meant Alexander.


    I snuffed out the flame and looked at the kid properly. ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re Alexander¡¯s kid?!¡± I asked, genuinely shocked. The idea of Alexander having a kid felt as unlikely as him getting down and dirty with anyone at all.


    ¡°I am his adopted son, yes,¡± Neil said, sounding a little more confident now.


    ¡°Oh,¡± I muttered. That made a bit more sense. Still weird, though. The Alexander I knew didn¡¯t seem like the ¡°adopting kids¡± type, but then again, it had been years since we last saw each other. People change, I guess.


    ¡°Well, okay. Uh¡­ yeah, me and your dad are good friends,¡± I said, though I was still wrapping my head around it.


    ¡°Are you really the Immortal Flame?¡± he asked, avoiding eye contact but clearly curious.


    Immortal Flame? Is that what they¡¯re calling me now? I thought, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.


    ¡°Yeah, I am,¡± I said casually, though his face lit up like I¡¯d just confirmed that he could fly, That reaction made me feel¡­ awkward, to say the least.


    ¡°Has your father told you about me?¡± I asked, trying to steer the conversation.


    ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Neil said, suddenly animated. ¡°When I was younger, he¡¯d tell me stories about your adventures¡ªlike they were tales out of a book!¡±


    ¡°Did he now?¡± I said, scratching the back of my neck, not sure how to respond.


    ¡°Yes! Honestly, I never believed he actually knew you, let alone that you were friends,¡± Neil said, looking at me like I¡¯d just stepped out of a legend.


    Yeah¡­ I wouldn¡¯t believe Alexander either.


    ¡°So¡­ is that all you wanted to ask me?¡± I said, trying to shift the awkward vibe out of the room.


    ¡°Oh, uh¡­ yes. I mean, no!¡± Neil said, clasping his hands together nervously. ¡°I actually wanted to ask you for a favor.¡±


    ¡°A favor, huh?¡± I said, leaning forward a bit. ¡°Alright. What is it?¡±


    ¡°How did you do that?¡± Neil asked, pointing at something behind me. I couldn¡¯t see it from where I was sitting, but I already had a good idea of what he meant.


    ¡°The magic circle?¡± I asked, arching an eyebrow.


    ¡°Is that what it¡¯s called?¡± he said, his eyes wide with curiosity.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the name. I absorb energy from the air, then guide it through¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a process,¡± I said, waving my hand dismissively. No point in overcomplicating things for him¡ªhe¡¯d be lost after the first word.


    ...


    ¡°So, let me guess¡ªyou¡¯re here to learn magic, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked, leaning back against the wall. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out.


    ¡°Yes! If it¡¯s not too much trouble¡­ just one spell, please?¡± he said, practically bouncing on his toes.


    I thought about it for a second, and I didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it.


    ¡°Sure, why not.¡± I said, as I gestured for him to sit on the bed in the room.


    ¡°hmmm what could I teach you, I¡¯ll definitely start with elemental magic, how about a basic water spell.¡± I said as I thought about what I could teach him, I decided on water since it is easiest elemental magic to learn.


    ¡°Well, before I can teach you that, you need to know the basics,¡± I said, conjuring a small flame in my palm.


    Neil¡¯s eyes lit up as he stared at the flickering fire, completely mesmerized.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve heard of Arc, right?¡± I asked, casually tossing the flame between my hands.


    ¡°Like from an Arc-stone? Yeah, I think I even have so¡ª¡± he started, but I cut him off before he could go on some tangent.


    ¡°No, not Arc-stone. I¡¯m talking about Arc. It¡¯s the lifeblood of magic¡ªwithout it, you can¡¯t do anything worthwhile,¡± I explained, making sure to keep it simple.


    ¡°Uh¡­ is it like a gem or something?¡± Neil asked, which made sense, considering his life as part of a crew obsessed with rare treasures.


    ¡°Not even close,¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°Think of Arc as¡­ energy. The kind you pull from your surroundings. More specifically, from light.¡±


    ¡°Light?¡± Neil tilted his head, his confusion written all over his face.


    ¡°Yeah, light,¡± I said, snapping my fingers to brighten the flame. ¡°Everything that gives off light has energy in it. Even the leftover glow floating around in the air can hold power. That¡¯s what we mages tap into¡ªit¡¯s what fuels our spells.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you¡­ absorb the energy?¡± Neil asked. To be honest, I was a little impressed he followed along¡ªor maybe he didn¡¯t, but I wasn¡¯t about to ask.


    ¡°Well, different mages have different ways of doing it, but since you¡¯re a beginner, we¡¯ll stick with my way.¡± I stretched out my hand, the small flame dancing in my palm.


    ¡°Now, stretch your hand toward it,¡± I instructed. Neil did as he was told, his hand hovering near the flame.


    ¡°You feel the heat? Focus on that. That heat is energy. Your job is to pull¡­ no drag it towards yourself,¡± I said.


    ¡°¡­ How do I do that?¡± Neil asked, looking more confused.


    Oh, right.


    I smirked a little. ¡°As a living being, you have already achieved the first step, that heat your feeling is just the result of your body absorbing the heat, but here¡¯s how you do it on purpose.¡±


    I held the flame steady and leaned forward slightly. ¡°Close your eyes. Picture the flame in your mind, and imagine a thread connecting it to your palm. That thread is how you¡¯ll draw the energy in. Don¡¯t force it; Just will the energy to come to you¡ªlike it¡¯s already yours.¡±


    The flame flickered slightly, and I could see Neil¡¯s hand twitch a little as if he felt something.


    ¡°Good,¡± I said with a faint smirk. ¡°That¡¯s how it starts. Keep practicing until it feels natural. Then we¡¯ll move on.¡±


    As I said that though the flame in my hand suddenly went out.


    I looked confused at first, as I was very sure I had put the flame in a closed system so it wouldn¡¯t be extinguished, I looked up at Neil thinking he would be thrown off but I noticed that he was clenching his fist.


    My eyes went wide.


    Well he is a fast learner, I thought to myself.


    ¡°Like this?¡± Neil asked me as I was still a bit surprised.


    ¡°Uh yeah, so how does it feel.?¡± I asked as I grabbed a small cup from my bag hanging from my waist, and using magic I condensed the water vapor in the air making a mass of water and pouring it in the cup.


    ¡°I-it feels strange, like a pulsating warmness.¡± Neil said.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, just try holding on to that feeling.¡± I said


    ¡°It feels like I¡¯m going to lose my grip on it.¡± Neil said in a panic.


    ¡°Calm down, try concentrating that energy in the center of your palm.¡± I instructed him, he quickly clenched his fist and I could see the energy that flowed all throughout his palm and fingers concentrate in his palm.


    Ok, good, he learns fast. I thought


    ¡°You see? Its like flexing a muscle, you just have to train the muscle.¡± I said.


    I pick up the cup and place it in front of him.


    ¡°Ok now let¡¯s take of the training wheels.¡±


    ¡°Try pushing out the energy, into this.¡± I said as I placed the cup in front of him.


    ¡°What!?¡± He asked confused, ¡°I know, you can barely keep the energy within yourself, but you have to treat your ability to absorb Arc as a muscle or extra limb.¡±


    I said grabbing his wrist.


    ¡°When I say release the energy, I mean extend it like it¡¯s part of you. The water holds its own energy¡ªyou just need to seize it and bend it to your will.¡±


    ¡°B-but how do I-¡° he said but I cut him off.


    ¡°Just relax you have been doing so well so far, so just do it.¡± I said, which now that I think about it, it wasn¡¯t very helpful.


    But even at that his hand hovered over the cup, he slowly dropped a finger into the water, his face scrunched up, all his concentration was on keeping the energy in.


    He took a deep breath, before slowly releasing it, at the same time I could feel the cup begin to warm up.


    ¡°I- I.¡± He was about to say something but I stopped him.


    ¡°Just focus.¡± I said sharply, after a brief moment of silence I could see the water beginning to bubble and rise.


    I grinned slightly, he was getting the hang of moving the energy.


    As I said this, he retracted his finger opening his palm wide above the glass, as he did this all the water in the cup began to float upwards towards his palm.