The Everburn Mage

15. Duel at Dark

The mage refused to stop in order to rest or replenish his supply of depleting essence. He couldn't care less about his well-being. Cloaked in wild, untamed electricity, Daze hopped from rooftop to rooftop alongside his glittering tome shooting through the air a short distance from his rear.

He was a lightning bolt. A blur of brilliant, sizzling white energy that teleported from one position to the next in a matter of seconds. In the back of his mind, he acknowledged that he was acting completely unprofessional. 

This wasn't part of the mission nor had he received any specific orders for him to begin his pursuit in the first place. Nevertheless, the moment his team was updated on what happened regarding his so-called 'Master', he knew then and there his presence was required elsewhere. He could just barely identify the astonished expressions of his teammates as he zipped away without bothering to explain himself.

None of this was making sense to him. Sure, Rune had a streak of being reckless, it was the major reason most despised him back at their own branch. To jeopardize the mission, attack his fellow teammate, and disappear into the night with one of the alleged terrorists, why, Daze could only guess as to what must have been going through Rune's head in order to make such a bold decision. 

He wasn't an idiot in any regard. In fact, despite what others might say of him, Daze recognized his superior to possess a tactical mind when such dire or risky situations arose. He'd never do something if it meant it would result in a mission's failure. Unless of course, it related to the individual he was so adamant about capturing.

Daze stopped at the edge of a pointed roof, its surface made slippery and unstable from the hollering volleys of precipitation. A sharpened gaze of revelation peered forward into the town of Star Bell as everything was beginning to make sense. 

Rune never spoke about it often, well, not with him specifically, yet, he'd made it exceedingly clear that he only became a combat mage in order to track down someone responsible for killing his family.

Are these terrorists somehow related to the Ransford Cremation? His mind filled with questions as he brushed damp strands of hair out of his eyes. Now that I think about it, I never actually asked why he sought to help Major Griffin in the first place. Could it be these terrorists had a hand to play in his family's deaths? Daze pulled out the vibrating radio on his waist and held it to his ear. "Brigadier General Leones, sir. I think I..."

"Have you lost your mind, Private Springs?!" his booming voice roared out the speakers. "Just what were you thinking abandoning your post like this?! You are to report back to our position at once!"

"I apologize, sir, but I'm going to have to refuse your order."

"This might be an unofficial mission, son, though it would seem along with losing your mind you've also forgotten your rank! As Brigadier General, I am ordering you to..."

"I think Sergeant Ransford is in danger, sir!"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Ransford, he...he's going after his family's murderer! That's what I think anyway!"

"His family's murderer?"

"Yes! And if I'm right, he'll need all the help he can get. There's no telling how strong a criminal like that could be! Fire mages aren't known for being weak!"

"And do you honestly believe you'll fare any better?"

"No, I do not! But what's important is providing him with assistance before he gets himself killed!" Daze corrected. "Forgive my arrogance, sir. Please, feel free to punish me later if you must. But right now, I need you to report this to Major Griffin's group at once. Also, tell First Lieutenant Leland to lock onto my essence signature! You can use it to keep track of my location. In the meantime, I'll catch up with Mas...Ransford and lend him a hand."