Starborn

Chapter 3 (Part 2)

I peer around a corner just as a loud explosion erupts, and amid the smoke, a faint orange glow pokes out from over the rooftops, painting the sky purple. I climb up a building and run along the roof to get a better view, and I see no less than an army's worth of people around the tavern.

When I spot a cart full of hay nearby, I get an idea. I summon my Auryn, and I toss the ember at that cart. The hay instantly burns, and a harmony of confused and pained groans comes from the mob. I'm surrounded by trees and other liveries, so I toss more flames at everything that can burn. With all this fire, the Shadowhearts start grabbing their chests and screaming in pain from all the light around them.

Using this opportunity, I call upon my sword and jump down to the streets. Slicing through the scoundrels with ease, I make my way closer to the tavern. But I have an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, seeing the people gush the same crimson blood that courses through my own veins. Maybe these were once good people. Only they were lost to darkness. I leave behind plenty of corpses, but I cannot bring myself to look over my shoulder.

A horde of people run away from the tavern coated in orange flames and flailing about. Duncan had made his way onto the roof with a bottle in his hand, a burning rag hanging from its neck. Tossing the bottle, it explodes loudly and burns even more of the Shadowhearts. Some of them begin climbing the roof, but Duncan pierces one of the attackers in the gullet with his longsword. Another cretin stabs him in the side, nearly dropping him to the ground. With one mighty leap, I'm able to reach up to the roof and join the fight. Duncan at my back, we fend off the Shadowhearts one by one, some falling off the roof and some being left as withered husks.

When we catch a moment of peace, Duncan gives a friendly nod.

"No doubt," Duncan smirked. "You're the Flamekeeper, alright."

"And you must be Duncan. I see you like to play with fire."

"It's the only thing that kills these bastards. We gotta get outta here!"

We sprint over the rooftops as Duncan reaches for his Echo Stone.

"Charlotte! We're okay! Where are you?"

We tumble down off the roof, and we sprint for the exit. The tenacious Shadowhearts chase after us, but none of them can slow us down.

Then, there was a deafening growl, loud enough to make me and Duncan stop in our tracks. Every Shadowheart around us freezes, even those still giving chase. They each drop to the ground, puffs of smoke leaving their mouths. What once was an army of dark foes has been reduced to a cesspit of bodies, and one man stands before one of the burning buildings, his fingers splayed and his palm engulfed in black power. The Fiends contained within the civilians are being absorbed into his hand. Then, with a wicked smile on his face, the man unleashes a dark greatsword out of nothing but his own shadow.

"Son of a-," Duncan said as he bolted towards the exit. "Run! That's one of Bishop's knights!"

Before I can run, the Shadowheart slashes his sword upwards, and a wave of darkness races toward me from the ground. I roll away just in time, but not before glimpsing at the wave and seeing dozens of little red dots lost in the dark. Before long, the Shadowheart rises next to me out of his shadow, and with his dark sword, he slices me in the shoulder. The pain makes me drop to the ground, and the cretin towers over me.

"Accursed Flamekeeper! I shall send you back to the sky where you belong!"

But before he can end me, a burst of light shines in the Shadowheart's face, causing him to drop his guard. I see a worn carriage with Duncan in the doorway and Charlotte in the driver's seat. Duncan tosses another burning bottle at the marauder again, and it bursts on impact, showering the Shadowheart with fire and making him scream again. Duncan holds the door for me, and Charlotte snaps the reins as soon as I step inside the carriage.