It’s ya boi Basicbörje bringing u another quality chapter once more

What does fire need to exist? That’s something that most of the people that finished elementary school knows. Temperature, fuel, and air with magic you can replace more than just one of these elements with mana.

It can generate heat, it can be used instead of fuel and air, but, the more elements you would replace, the greater is the mana consumption. For example, if you would want to lit a fireplace in your camp in the middle of the forest, it would be almost as easy as snapping your fingers if you would cast the fire spell on a pile of dry logs. If there would be rain falling from the sky, it would be that much more difficult because magician would have to keep granting heat for the fire to not die out.

Creating fireball as ranged damaging spell usually means that mana has to take the role of the fuel, as it has nothing to burn on, still, as flames usually flew the only couple of seconds before exploding cost wouldn’t be ridiculously high.

In conclusion, creating same fire spell on the desert on already prepared material is billions of times easier and less exhausting than setting fire underwater on in the void. But why am I bringing this matter?

Cuz right now I wanted to summon a wall of fire hundred meters long and at least eight tall having only air available. Yes, decent level of fire magic and pretty high mana pool would allow me to create it, yes to keep it burning is completely different thing. If I only had something to use as fuel… solid objects, or… Wait. I can have it! I am not just a pyromancer, damn it! I have it in my class name!

I quickly cast a shockwave that sent lesser greenskins back earning few precious seconds. Seconds, I used to start another quick chant. My eyes were moving in all directions looking for possible threats as I was singing prayer for Aira. Green vines started erupting from the ground below me forming a wall that caught few slower goblins. I ignited it before it managed to raise high enough. It doesn’t really matter to me. My quick calculation said that summoning this small forest in front of me and using it as firewood cost me less mana that simply forcing fire into existing.

Still, I had to use two spells, so the cost of mana was balanced by casting time. Nothing in this world exist for free. How very sad and true.

Greenskins, especially ogres, tried their best to cross the line of flames, yet because of the heat, they couldn’t even get closer. I looked behind me. On this side of fire, it was no longer battle. Seeing that their enemies were deprived of reinforcements my allies started pushing, trampling and slaughtering a bunch of goblins, hobgoblins and the few ogres that remained. Morphing my nails into claws I allowed myself to speed up the process.

Dwarfs were still using the same tactic. Heavy armored were striking with their shields, pushing enemies back, then they would stab them with their spears and halberds before making an opening for their companions from the back lines to rush in, flood the battlefield with gore and blood before the shield men would charge in with their shields again.

Ironblood prince was shining. I could no longer tell if his armor was red because of meteor it was made of, or because of all the blood that was covering him.

My mana was depleting in awfully fast pace. I only allowed myself to cast a small, bright fireball in the air drawing their attention to me. With few fast gestures I politely asked them to” [stop playing around and fucking move their bloody asses as I am about to faint, for fuck sake!], or something similar. Prince yelled something in dwarfish speech, the squad he was commanding yelled same words in response. Each of them dropped their shields and spears as they took off their twin axes that up until now were waiting in special sacks on their backs.

And they rushed in. Through the whole battle, Prince showed that he was not only good fighter, but also a great leader that managed to keep the whole squad under control. Right now he showed the world why they were named Bulldozers.

They no longer moved like one body. They were simply a mass of axes that happened to move in the same direction. Seeing them charge in my direction made even my heart skip a beat. Am I wearing anything green? Could they possibly mistake me for a greenskin? No. Can’t be. I am wearing black, I am covered in blood, much taller than goblins, far shorter than ogres… No way they could accidentally slice me in half, right? RIGHT?!

When the first squad of dwarfs reached the fire wall I slowly started putting the spell down.

- “LISTEN, YOU SON OF THE GOATS!” young prince yelled with every bit of power he had in his throat “BEHIND THIS LINE OUR ENEMIES WOULD BE ONLY OGRES! BREAK YOUR SQUADS! FIVE MEMBERS FORMATION! WE WILL BLEED THOSE BASTARDS DRY!”

A shout of valor combined with weapons raised once by his comrades was his only response.

- “You have my thanks…” He said looking at me “… you have pretty much saved our lines.”

- “I am sorry to disappoint you, but I was far more concerned about certain hot blooded redhead idiot.” I said shifting my gaze at Gisele that was standing near us. After hearing me she lowered her head and her tail moved between her legs as if she was a scolded puppy.

- “I… I know. I am sorry, I just…”

- “Save your breath, sweetie. There is more of them behind the wall. Also, I would never let them harm you. You are my idiot.”

Somehow it helped her mood, or so I thought seeing tip of her tail raise and fall twice.

- “GEEET REEEADY!” main forces commander yelled seeing the fire slowly die.

The army had already shattered, creating dozens of smaller teams. I took Gisele with myself and sank a bit deeper between our forces. She had a few awful wounds and her muscles were fatigued. Allowing her to fight now would be simply foolish. Oh, she wasn’t happy about that. Not at all, but after few quick insults, she eventually followed me.

- “Gis, battle is being won with many methods. Fighting is not the only way. We will look upon the battlefield from that little hill, so we could react if something would be happening.”

- “Bullshit. No war has been won without a bloodshed.”

- “I call bullshit on your bullshit. Many were won this way. Simply, there are not put into military books. There was famous strategist living long ago. He was known even by their enemies which respected him greatly. Once he was forced to protect the city, he had very few soldiers. He was heavily outnumbered, he knew that there was no way he could win the battle. So, he ordered his soldiers to hide in the city, told to open the front gates, he sat on the wall and played on the flute. Everyone thought that it was an ambush, so they didn’t attack the city.”

- “… never heard about it.”

- “Of course you didn’t. Formally this battle never happened.”

- “… I see your point, but…”

- “You don’t like leaving your friends behind?” she nodded “Gis, you have a pierced thigh and side, a dislocated limb and exhausted muscles. Atop of that everyone saw that. If you would fight side by side with them now, they couldn’t focus on their enemies cuz they would check all the time if you are still breathing. You would only cause more bad than good. Think about others too, at least from time to time, sweetie”

She lowered her head even more. Someone had to teach her that… but maybe I was bit too harsh?

- “Come here, I will patch you up.” I said with a much more gentle tone.

When we were in a much safer spot, behind main forces I laid her on my laps as I start using rest of my mana to heal her up a bit.

My foolish little berserk.

Capital of Holy Kingdom

The hero did his best to act humble all the time. When he was offered best tier equipment he refused and asked for training gear. After some negotiations, he agreed on some steel set. Still, as he later found out it was made by a best blacksmith in the city. After he appraised it he could clearly tell a difference between his equipment and the other soldier and city guards. Yet, he pretended he didn’t notice that.

He was training with the captain of the city guards in the barracks. Middle-aged man did his best to teach him everything he knows. Hero liked him. He was treating his job and him seriously, not overly-polite, just seriously with just-right dose of politeness.

And he had to say, that he was making a decent progress with swordsmanship.

Oh, he asked to be allowed to eat together with other guards, he even said that he thinks it would boost their morale… but he did that only because he knows that Prophetess would never agree on that. She wanted to have him near her as much as possible. Hero was more than sure that she wanted to indoctrinate him. Did she want a foolish hero that would make progress only with martial arts? She wanted someone she could “enslave” with her charm and feeling of a greater cause? He will comply. He will let her think that she has an intellectual advantage.

So, in the end. Three main meals he was having with Prophetess Alicia, in the main dining hall, eating best food that was available in the kingdom.

But, he has to give her that – she was perfectly killing two (if no more) birds with one stone. On same meals, few nobles and higher priests were usually invited. She was using HIM to build her own position in the country. Every now and then she asked him (of course with other nobles watching) if he is willing to support the Holy Kingdom. Then, he would raise from his chair and ensure her, that if she would give him such order he would aid HER in EVERYTHING.

Of course for sake of people, prosperity, to help those in need… Blah, blah, blah. His acting classes in middle school finally paid off.

In the same time, when she was surrounded by some of the best food, she would eat barely anything, taking most dull in taste meals. Ascetic, is she? Well, he already checked with few measures if she wasn’t eating more later, making dinners only a public show… but she wasn’t. At least she was honest with this part.

Maybe she really was more pious than he thought? Maybe politic is just addition? Well, it doesn’t matter. She wanted to use him. Whatever if her reason were political, religious or other… he didn’t care. He wanted to USE her instead, as much as he can, gather knowledge, experience, maybe even allies, and when the time would come for him to pay his part of the debt… well, we will see.

But. Right now. He was doing his best to make himself look like dumb, brave kid. He wanted to make her even more sure regarding her intellectual dominance. He wanted to pick and argue, and after a short confrontation, admit loss, telling that prophetess was right and she has opened his eyes.

- “If you would pardon me, prophetess…”

- “Please, call me Alicia.” She smiled gently

- “V..very well!” he blushed a little and averted his gaze. If she would think that she bewitched him with her charm, that would be only better “I wanted to ask about the person you want me to… put down. Why? Why is he more important than demon invasion?”

She stopped eating, took a small gulp of water gathering her thoughts.

- “Tell me, hero, what is the most frightening monster in your opinion.”

It was a tricky question. He needed to stop himself from giving a very long answer. But, he needed to play dumb, so he just picked something.

- “Would say that dragon.”

- “Indeed, many would say the same thing. But, you would have to first answer another question – for who is that monster dangerous?”

Exactly! Damn it! That’s the same thing he wanted to say! Looking at someone saying exactly what you wanted to! So irritating! But he had to keep playing. He swallowed his pride

- “What do you mean?”

- “Do you think that peasant from the small village would be afraid of a dragon? No, they rarely bother with such small settlements. Such peasant would be far more afraid of the wild beast living in the forest, that would be killing his herds. For him, losing two sheep per week is a tragedy. Dragon would be a worse nightmare for the city guards. Indeed, a monster with scales like iron which makes most of the arrows just bounce off would be their greater enemy. And then again, do you remember miss Scarlet? The woman I wanted to ask for training you? As a paladin, she entered many dungeons to purify them from beasts that were raiding local villages. I asked her what she thought to be the worst kind of beast. She said: insectoids. These are usually venomous, move in huge packs, when you kill one smell of their blood would usually bring his dozen friends… and because of their primitive brains, there are fearless. If you would invade their territory they would fearlessly abandon their life just to sting you once, to stab, to bite… And that brings us to abomination Zariel. He isn’t a threat to the villager, nor a city. He won’t jump at you in dark cave…”

She made a pause. She wanted him to ask. So, he did as she wanted

- “So… why is he dangerous? For who?”

- “For me, and for the kingdom. He is a royal beast, when a few would simply stick to their territory, killing only if provoked… No, sorry, it’s more like… he thinks that whole world is his territory, and he is provoked by everything. You see, it’s not like that I WANT TO kill him. More like, I have no choice. You see… an angel came to me. In person. I wasn’t blessed like that since the day of my birth. She warned me of what is to come if we wouldn’t act quickly. She saw the world in fire and him, sitting on the throne made of bones and flesh. He is a cunning beast that right now gathers strength. This is why we have to kill him now. Before it is too late.”

… Stupid cunt. Can’t she see the most obvious thing?

- “M..My lady… what if he never intended to do that in the first place?”

- “Pardon me?”

- “I am sorry, but let’s just say, that he never had such desires. But then, suddenly, out of nowhere – a whole country and church would start attacking him. Sending assassins… To deal with such threat the only thing is to counter their actions with similar… I was told that previously he lived in the forest that belonged to no country… and now he lives in Neira. What if that happened only because you forced him to do so? What if this whole vision would become true only because you forced him to defend himself?”

Alicia’s eyes opened wide.

Damn, he said that without thinking! He was supposed to be dumb!

- “Interesting point of view. But then, why would angel warn us about that?”

- “Ah! Yes! I forgot about that! Indeed, now my theory makes no sense! Haha! Sorry.”

There is a very easy answer. Maybe that angel wish to fulfill her own goals. That’s bad. He could easily play with most of the humans around, but where it comes to some rebelled angel… stuff just got heavily complicated.