A Heart in Flames #2 (Howl's Moving Castle fanfiction)

Chapter 20: Fleeting Choices

The sound of silence was more terrifying than the attacks. How strange to feel this way. Silence was normally peaceful. It was a lovely sound to nod off to or focus on the random thoughts that float around. However, this silence was patiently waiting for a breath of life, an optimistic gleam, that was only a hopeless nightmare away.

The silence in Howl's castle was terrifying.

There was a cloud of smoke in the main area, hazing the view of the crippling home. It was difficult to picture the castle as it was before - Furniture, sturdy walls, a bright and happy family finding refuge inside. Now, the entire foundation was completely devastated. It was the first war all over again, only this time there was no restitution.

Calcifer couldn't wrap his mind around how this was possible. He had reconnected himself and had access to every inch of the castle. The fire demon knew every weakness and every advantage. Howl placed dozens upon dozens of protection spells over the exterior to ensure their safety. Spells to keep intruders out, spells to enhance other spells - Howl was careful.

Calcifer gasped. He, on the other hand, was not. "The powder."

A rustling came from underneath a large pile of debris. Kenta's head jostled about, but that was the extent of his movement. His hand peeked from under scraps of metal and wood, though his fingers could hardly move.

He exhaled a dusty breath. "What was that?"

Calcifer smacked himself, fire against fire. "I'm so stupid. I cannot believe I let her do that."

"What are you mumbling about?"

Calcifer sighed. "Noe, that sneaky witch. She sent me back to the castle with a disabling powder and deactivated my transportation spell. Once I came back, the powder must have deactivated everything Howl protected the castle with."

Calcifer hadn't given her much credit before. When Howl spoke to him of his classmates during his apprenticeship, he assumed Noe was just a showoff or a know-it-all. He didn't think she was actually creative or intelligent. Then again, she did train under Suliman - who knew the kind of tricks she learned.

Kenta coughed as his lungs barely held on. Calcifer couldn't imagine the weight upon him. While he saved Markl from the debris, he did not prepare for his next blow. The poor boy, lying on the ground next to the fireplace with labored breathing, still hadn't awakened yet.

"Any way you could burn him?" Kenta asked, his voice pleading. Calcifer noticed a sense of desperation in his voice. Markl was his only hope of releasing him from this prison. "Maybe he'll wake if you give him a spark."

Calcifer nodded. He turned to the boy, staring as his chest rose softly and lowered with ease. There was a trickle of blood straggling down his forehead from under his greasy hair. His clothes were torn and dusty, since he had been unconscious for nearly half a day.

The attack happened sometime last night and it was already midday, with the sun already at its highest peak. Calcifer had tried healing him, similar to how he healed Gwenda's wounds, but nothing forced the boy awake. Kenta's predicament prohibited him from moving even the slightest muscle. A quick spark against Markl's cheek might be enough to shock him back into consciousness.

Calcifer sucked in a deep breath and flicked a vibrant piece of ash toward him, the molten light landing softly on his cheek. Markl sniffed and scrunched his face, like he was having a bad dream. It took a few seconds before his brain signaled an urgent alarm that there was a burning sensation on his cheek, and he awoke suddenly in a highly defensive mode.

"Ah!" He shouted and immediately started slapping his face, trying to relieve himself of the fiery pain. He pushed himself away from the fireplace and expected to hit his back against the couch. However, after sliding on the ground, he noticed the torn wooden planks piercing up toward the open ceiling and the couch turned upside down, no longer with its soft cushions.