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

Chapter 21: Creatures of Destruction

They counted the hours since the attack. They counted the number of people who had been lost and separated from their small banded group. They counted how long Kenta might have before his beaten body would finally give way underneath the rubble.

His breathing was slow, but he inhaled deep gulps like he wasn't sure which one would be his last. He gagged several times, like he was close to vomiting, but nothing ejected from his brutalized body. Part of him wanted something to discharge - then he'd at least have a reason for appearing so weak.

Calcifer sat calm atop the piling ashes, his fiery arms crossed over each other as his anxiety coursed through his being. They had been in hard times before, and nearly each time fought their way out. Giving up would allow Suliman an easy victory, so it was never an option.

But seeing Kenta in this state, watching him gasp for each breath and not having the ability to help - it reminded him of Gwenda's kidnapping all over again.

A rumble in the sky shocked the three souls. Rain clouds - just Calcifer's luck. It seemed far off, but they weren't any closer to freeing Kenta than they were a day ago.

Had it really been a whole day? Calcifer thought to himself. There wasn't much to do to pass the time as the day rolled into night. Talking helped keep Kenta's mind off of his current situation, but the pressure atop him made it excruciating to continue lengthy conversations. And with Markl's foggy memories of magic, there wasn't much to do but watch the poor boy wrestle with his mind over what he should have already known.

"Think, Markl, think." He lightly punched his head, badgering his mind to jog back to his old self. It was as if a part of him had dissolved, half of his personality dwindling like dandelions in the wind. He felt incomplete and useless.

The movement of his hands as he attempted spells seemed inappropriate. Kenta tried repeating spells to him, but just saying the words wasn't enough. Markl needed the motions to fall exactly into place in order to fully enact the spells. With no recollection of his novice abilities, Kenta was simply waiting for his death sentence.

"You're going to hurt yourself, Markl." Kenta said with exhaustion. Markl peered up to him, his eyes glistening from Calcifer's flames. Kenta's shone as well, though the soul of his gaze was forlorn. "Maybe take a break and try again when you feel like it."

"But I want to help." Markl said, his little fists shaking in front of himself. "I want to get you out of there."

Kenta nodded. "I know you do. But pushing your mind isn't going to do anything but make it harder for you to remember."

Markl attempted a rebuttal until Calcifer interceded. "You've been at this for hours. Please, Markl. You need rest."

Calcifer worried for the boy; he was already showing signs of sleep deprivation, even after his unconscious period. His eyes drooped like small weights bore them down. He was wearing himself out - something to which Howl was often a victim.

Like master, like apprentice.

Since the beginning of Markl's apprenticeship, he had always pushed himself to be the best. Howl taught him a spell and Markl chanted it ten times over until he got it perfect. Calcifer sometimes saw him sneak downstairs late at night - especially when Howl was away - reading through spell books to get ahead of their lessons. Seeing how powerful of a master he had made Markl even more determined to be exactly like him.

Markl finally submitted to his exhaustion. His wobbling legs bent and he dropped to the ground in a depleted state, his eyes immediately shutting. He may not have fallen asleep right away, but at the very least he was resting.