Fire

Chapter 6

You know I thought I was going to get a nice nap. But God said no. I was woken up when the craft hit the ground. Hard.

I bolted up, dazed and confused. "What happened!" I yelled.

"Relax," the officer replied. "We just need to stop to refuel." Refuel? I looked outside one of the windows. There's nothing out there. It's all barren land. The officer and I exited the craft and headed to the pilot. Once in the sun I could more clearly see what the officer looked like. He had taken off the cap of his uniform to reveal short white hair to contrast his light brown skin. He had a rough face with a compassionate look in his eyes.

"You know, I don't even know your name," I said to the officer. "I'm Anthony. What's your name?"

The officer laughed. "Oh! I'm sorry. I am Officer Mel." Mel. Nice name.

We came around to the front of the craft and Mel opened up the door. Inside contained the pilot, a black rectangular tower in the center, and a dashboard with an assortment of colors and lights. The pilot had his hand on the tower which lit it red. From the base of the tower a web of cords spread were laid like snakes crawling into the interior of the craft.

"What's that tower?" I asked.

Mel gave me a puzzled look. "What, never been in a vehicle before? That's an Energy Transfer. It takes your energy and transfers it to the vehicle. It will take a few hours for us to have enough power to get back to Igno."

"Is there a way to make it charge faster?"

"It depends. The only for sure way to charge faster is to have someone with more power to charge it instead."

More power, eh? How much more power does a Protector have? I thought.

"Could I give it a go?" I questioned.

Mel and the pilot obliged. "Just place your hand on the tower and concentrate on putting your energy into the tower," the pilot stated. I did as the pilot said. As soon as I put my hand on the tower shown bright like a mini sun. The tower pinged a second later and I removed my hand.

The pilot stared at the instruments in shock. "We're at full power," he whispered. 

"Well then," Mel said hesitantly, "we should get going." Mel and I walked back and reentered the craft. Once the door was closed behind us and I had taken my seat Mel turned towards me. In his eyes I could see confusion, wonder, and fear. All this because I charged the craft fast? Mel pulled up close to me. He leaned over and asked, "Who are you?"

I looked down at my hands that rested on my legs. "I don't even know that myself," I replied. "My name is Anthony Harris. Well, at least that's who I am on Earth. Here, I'm called a Protector."

"You? The Protector?" Mel gawked. I lifted my head to see a joyous smile radiating from his face. "This explains everything!" Mel hollered. "You're here now and you can save Pyron."

"Really? You don't even question it?" I marveled. "How come no one thinks I'm lying? I mean, the Protectors have been gone for over a century, right? Why is it that you can just believe me like that? Bayle was the same. It doesn't make sense."

Mel laughed at my outburst. "You don't know do you." Mel began calmly stating his reasoning. "First off your presence has a very unique feeling. The power coming from you feels different; almost like a guardian. Secondly, you have a sword. Not only do you have a weapon that is rarely used, it has a shield craved into the hilt. The only sword that can have that symbol and not shatter is the Fire Sword. That's how I know." So the sword is a dead giveaway, huh? I thought.

"You said there was a power coming from me. What exactly is that power?" I inquired.

Mel once again seemed confused. "A person's power is their ability to control an element. As you have demonstrated you have the power of fire. It is the manifestation of that power within you that produces your aura. Your aura is what others feel."

"Is that why I can see a fire in your eyes?" I asked.

"That's interesting. You may have the Ranaw," Mel said intrigued. "Right, you don't know what that is. Ranaw is an ability unique to specific Pyrons. It is such an advanced skill that it takes years to be able to use it and half a life time to master it. Ranaw allows a person to see a person's soul, represented as a fire. Tell me, what do you see in me?" 

"Um... I don't know. It looks calm, controlled, and relaxed. And it looks, curious?"

"Ha! You may really have the Ranaw. It gives you the ability to see the emotions and thoughts of others through their fire. The first step is seeing the fire, and the next step is understanding it."

"Hey, Mel. How do you know so much?" I questioned. "Or really, how did you learn about all of this?"

"Well that's because I'm the king's closest officer. I have to know these things or else I'll fall behind. I can't let that happen because I'll lose my job if it does. My family needs me here." Aw, that's nice. He's a family man. 

"Hey Mel, what can you tell me about someone called the Master?" I questioned.

Mel looked away in thought. After a moment he returned to my gaze. "I don't know a whole lot on him. I'm not even sure if he's still alive. I mean not even the king knows where..."

Mel was cut off by the pilot speaking over the intercom. "We are arriving in Igno airspace. We will be at the Palace shortly," buzzed the pilot. Mel seized the opportunity to change the subject.

"Oh, Anthony you must see what the city looks like," Mel insisted. I wanted to hear more about the Master but Mel wouldn't have it. He dragged me to the window to see the city.

The style of Igno was, well, different. It was divided into two districts: an outer ring and a center circle. The outer ring was comprised of rough and jagged buildings that were primarily black with red borders. Some of the buildings were built in areas that were out of place that didn't fit any pattern. The streets looked like a maze that had no rhyme or reason to the layout. Within those streets I could barely make out stalls and markets in between the mass of people. All of that was contrasted by the center. Igno's center was such nearly a complete opposite of the ring. All of the buildings were smooth and rounded. All of the abruptness of the outer ring would not be found. And the colors! Wow. The center was full of bright vibrant colors. But no blue. Odd. The layout of the center made it so that everything was connected and spaced out. It looked almost like paradise.

In the heart of the city lay Igno's greatest structure: A beautiful red castle. The castle itself looked like a fire. From the curved walls to the sharp points everything about it reminded me of fire. Once Mel saw me staring at the castle he began talking again. To be honest, I wasn't listening. I just kept nodding as he went into detail on how the castle was made.

Our craft approached the tallest spire of the castle and a doorway appeared. Well, the walls kind of burnt away, and then reformed once we were inside. Wait, is that really what you saw? Yes, now yet me finish. But you did finish. That's all there was you saw. Shut up!

The craft landed with a nice clonk, and the doors opened. Outside waiting for Mel and I were two lines of soldiers dressed in uniforms similar to Mel's. At the end of the lines there was an elevator. Mel walked out and beckoned me to follow.

"So, where now?" I asked once we entered the elevator.

"Once that door opens we'll go see King Isean," Mel stated bluntly.

I was terrified. "Y-You mean right now?" I stuttered. I looked down at myself. I wasn't exactly in the best shape to meet royalty.

Mel merely laughed at my outburst. "You have nothing to worry about. This is was the king's request." If you say so. Doesn't really help.

My nerves began to build up. I don't know why. And no, it's not because I look like crap. As Mel and I descended into the castle it felt colder. Not by much, but it was noticeable. Not only that but I could feel something out of place. Something that shouldn't belong in this castle. I don't like any of this. Maybe things would have been a little bit better if the Ranaw hadn't shown me that Mel may not have been honest about the Master.