Key to the World

Kindling Flames

When I reach the town outskirts, I see another scene of hysteria. Civilians scrambling out of the city gates, pushing past the officers trying to maintain order (or what little of it that's left anyway). I see families huddled together, crying in each other's arms. I was frozen in fear, this feeling is all too familiar.

A memory of yet another fire flashes through my mind. Children crying for help, a chapel burning in flames, rubble mercilessly killing any unfortunate souls. My eyes tear up and my throat tightens. I clench my teeth and ball my fists up in an attempt to calm my nerves.

Suddenly, I'm shoved by one of the fleeing victims and I'm snapped out of my fear-induced stupor. I draw in a breath so sharply that it hurt my chest. 'Did I not breathe that entire time?' I thought to myself. "Snap out of it Jamie, remember why you returned here in the first place." A voice rings in my head. "Right, thanks Argon."

With Argon's reassurance, I look around and spot a large husky surrounded by panicked people. "Please, find my son!" "Have you found out who did this?" "How are we going to live now?" They barraged him with questions and requests, he's backed up into a light post, hands up and ears pinned to the back of his head in desperation, his eye twitches in annoyance. He tries his best to answer everyone's questions. "We've already sent out to search for missing people Ma'am. Not yet sir, our main focus is to put out the fires and save the people. I cannot answer that last question-" Seems like his fuse is starting to run short. Again.

"Hugo!" I call out, running to his side. "Where's Dana?" He drew a sharp breath before disengaging from the crowd around him and stomping his way over to me. "As much as you're a pain in my ass, Gearhead, you saved me from that just now." His voice seething with disdain for me, he breathes deeply as he calms himself. "To answer your question, she's in there. In charge of finding survivors. But- OOF!"

I didn't stay to finish listening to what he had to say, shoulder bumping into his hip as I ran into the flames with reckless abandon. I've heard all I needed. Dana's in there and I need to help her. "GEARHEAD STAY BEHIND AND LET THE PROFESSIONALS HANDLE THIS!" Were the last words I heard from the short-fused canine before all I could hear was the roaring of flames.

Shit... I ran in here in a rush to help, but I have no idea where she may even be or how I'm going to navigate this maze of heat. It hurts so much, the raw heat surrounding me from every angle, the light hitting my eyes supremely distorted and wavy from the rising temperatures. But I force myself to go on.

As I crawl along, my shirt drenched in sweat pulled up to cover my muzzle to slow the breathing in of smoke and fumes. It doesn't help too much though as any moisture my shirt held was being evaporated in moments. Over time, the heat becomes more bearable. Maybe even feeling cool.

"Can't tell if I'm just getting used to it or if my nerve endings are getting fried and dying." I think out loud as I search streets and buildings for Dana. "You would have me to thank for that, you're welcome." Argon speaks into my mind, his voice ringing clearly in my mind through the sound of crackling fire. "You can do that?" I ask. "As I awaken, more of my power is returning to me, especially in an environment that helps me cultivate it."

'Like in being stuck in a scorching inferno?' I think sarcastically. "Exactly that actually. I was created in the heart of a volcano after all." The lock in my pocket replies matter-of-factly "I would like to ask about that, but I'll leave that for when we're safe." I forgot that he can read my thoughts.

Coming into the central market of the colony, I see the muscular puma I was searching for standing in firm opposition of a hooded figure with red lining his cloak. Behind her is a group of survivors huddled up in a deployable shield. "Back off! What do you want with our town?" She asks, gripping a long halberd tightly. He makes no movements, just standing there with his arms on his sides.

"... Not here." The mysterious person abruptly says, before sharply turning to me who hasn't even made his presence known. "You..." He points a sleeved arm at me.

"Jamie!? What are you doing here?" Dana shouts at me, she grits her teeth, eyes darting between the civilians and the man approaching me. Uncertain which is of higher priority. "I'll take care of this creep, get those people out of here!" I reply, slowly pulling out the magical lock in my pocket. Dana growls before disengaging the shield and ushering the people along. "YOU BETTER NOT DIE HERE JAMIE!"

"Looking for this aren't you?" I ask, showing the crimson red padlock. My ears pinned back to my head and my tail hanging low with the end ticked up. "You know not the power you hold in your hand boy." He says. "Maybe you're right, I don't know the significance of this lock, but I know for damn sure that you are the last person that should get their hands on this." I scowl. "Argon, lend me your power, please."

"Hmph, I thought you'd never ask." Argon said after a brief chuckle. "Hold me up high, Lockbearer and call for my power." I follow his instruction. Reaching my arm as high as they can go as words of an unknown phrase flow through my mouth like I've known them my whole life. "Argon, Aspect of Searing Flames! Heed my call! Give me strength to protect those who cannot themselves."

When I said that, a vortex suddenly spirals above me, sucking up the fires all around us, converging scattered heat all around into a dense orb. Not dissimilar to a miniature sun. The mysterious man glides back in surprise. It languidly falls into the keyhole of the locket before a sudden surge of energy flows through my body.

"Argh! What's going on!?" I exclaim, hunching over in surprise and discomfort. "I'm sorry Gearhead, the first combat awakening is always the hardest, and we don't have the time to take it slow. Close your eyes, feel the power flow through you and manifest it. Your Guardian Gear!" Argon explains. Breathing heavily, I close my eyes as he instructs.

Internally, the warm feeling evenly spreads itself through my body. Externally flits of ember shoot out of the keyhole and shroud my form. Moments after, the heat has stopped it's chaotic flow, focusing on my four limbs and the tip of my tail. I open my eyes and see lightweight claws affixed to my fists and feet paws. My tail flicks forward from my side with confidence, the tip now holding a sharp spearhead of flames. And my jacket is lined with fire, snazzy. "It's a bit sloppy, but it'll do for now."

"A unique manifestation, Lockbearer, But alas, you've awoken power only to have it be taken away mere moments after..." The stranger muses. Pulling out a pair of short swords from either sleeve of his cloak and lunging at me with both blades charging straightforward.

It feels like I've gained a surge of courage as I do a forward somersault over his him, survival instincts and my experiences escaping arrest kick in. My open palms using his back as a vault box, throwing him off balance and making him fall onto the ground, face first. It's as if the baptism of fire has burnt away my fears. The sound of scraping metal screeches in the clearing as I land on all fours. Looking down, I see that the scorching claws on me have burnt through the steel floors. I stand back up with confidence.

"Tsk... His innate abilities are better than I expected." He grunts as he gets up, black smoke rising from the middle of his back, where I touched him. Pressing onto a communication device fitted to his cloak, he speaks. "We fall back today, but the target is now identified." After he finishes talking into the device, he turns his gaze back to me. "Watch your back, Lockbearer. For we will hunt you down until the relic is ours. Dead or alive." He utters a warning before throwing down a smoke bomb, using it as cover as he flees the scene.

With the situation being somewhat resolved for now, my shroud of flames extinguishes and I fall to my knees, utterly exhausted. "Haa haa..." I pant, taking in as much oxygen as I can now that the area is clear of fire. I feel a weight on the right side of my hip. Looking over, I see the lock that started all this strung on a chain on my pants. 'When did that happen?' I chuckle to myself right before I gave in and everything went dark.