No Storm Lasts Forever, a DND inspired story, by Allan Concillado

Chapter Five: The Party At The Mansion, Part Fourteen

     Reality returned to normal and the black void was no more. Ledias was on her knees, barely being supported up by her sword. A cloud of dust surrounded her, making her vision unclear. Everyone that watched were amazed.

     "Did she kill him?" Alexander asked. He tried to peer through the cloud of dust, but it was impossible.

     As the dust settled, standing among the destruction was a disfigured humanoid. His arms were stubs that poured out golden blood, his body and face was nothing but a charcoaled mess. He looked at Ledias with his blood-thirsty eyes.

     Ledias looked up in horror to find Timber still alive, but definitely not well. He groaned and limped towards her, his stubbed arms bubbling, trying to regrow.

     The rest of the party watched in defeat. Justin's legs shook with fear. Slayer covered his face and looked away.

     Timber stood right in front of her. He looked down and reached towards her face, then stopped. "You know what?" he murmured. "I give up." He retracted his arm and sighed while turning away. "I'm tired and in pain. You guys win for now."

     Ledias gave out a relieved sigh and fell on the floor.  "Why are you giving up now? You were so close to awakening Midnight," Ledias asked.

     Timber stopped in his tracks. "Didn't I say? I'm tired and in pain, but that doesn't mean that I won't be back. I might reincarnate as villager, a king from a far away land, your future friend or," he turned around and smirked at them, "your future spouse. Maybe even your children." His body started to crumble and turn into dust. It started from his legs and worked its way up his body. "Goodbye for now, but I'll always be back, so you better watch your selves heroes." Once his entire body turned into stone, it cracked and dispersed into dust.

    Ledias quickly got up and ran over to Phil's body. "Phil! Stay with me!" She kneeled down and turned over his body. His skin was still burning hot. Phil winced when she touched him.

     "It's...hot..." he groaned.

     "I know it is. Just keep breathing and I'll try to patch you up." Ledias placed her hands on his head, but he pushed away her hand.

     Phil reached down towards his dagger that wasn't melted and picked it up. "It's hot!" he yelled and placed the blade on his forehead. He sliced open his burnt skin and gasped for breath. Hot steam exited out from the wound and Phil got up from his burnt shell. He sighed and rubbed his hair. "It was so suffocating in there and so hot. I'm never doing that ever again."

     Ledias sat there in shock. "You're alive?!" Ledias screamed.

     "What do you mean? Of course I am, I'm a Ro-"

     Ledias jumped in for a hug and wrapped her arms around his still steaming body. "I'm so glad you're alive," Ledias cried.

     "You're gonna burn yourself," Phil warned as he patted her back.

     "I don't care." After a moment, Ledias released her grip and looked at Phil. "But how are you even alive? Does burn marks looked extremely severe. How did you even get that badly burnt in the first place?" she asked as she gave him spare clothes.

     "Uhhh, reasons, but I found this strange grease in the barrels of the cannons that made me immune to their blasts," Phil answered as he put them on.

     "You blasted yourself with those cannons?!" Ledias slapped him across the face. "Don't ever do that again!"

     "Sorry 'mom.'" Phil joked.

     Ledias chuckled, but she suddenly turned pale and fell over. Phil quickly caught her with his arms. "Hey, are you alright?"

     Ledias nodded. "Yeah, but I'm a little light headed."