Lost

Grabbing the reins of the horse, Lost guided it over to the road away from the cabin.

Passing the cabin, he ran his hand along the side, pushing mana through it and muttering, “Ignis.” His hand trailed flame, igniting the wood. It hungrily started to consume the wooden cabin.

Pausing at the beginning of the road, Lost looked down at the dejected wolf girl. She looked at the burning cabin, and the bodies inside it.

“Time to go, kid,” Lost said, putting a hand on her head and turning it away from the flames.

He frowned and shifted his hand to his chest, but kept it flat and level with Fen’s height. Comparing her size with his, she came right up to the middle of his chest. Then he moved his hand down a few inches, right where his stomach started, then back up to Fen’s height.

“Bahaha,” He laughed a little, shaking his head back and forth.

“What?” Fen asked.

“Nothing,” Lost said with a coy smile and picked up Fen, plopping her down on the horse. He then mounted behind her and flicked the reins for the horse to move forwards.

They cantered along the dirt road for a while, without saying anything.

When Fen finally spoke, she asked, “Where are we going?”

“Back to the capital,” Lost replied simply.

“Why?”

“Because we are.”

“Didn't we just escape it?” Fen asked, looking up at him.

Lost laughed, with a smile hidden under his hood. “Yes, well… The King and I need to have a chat.”

He moved the horse’s speed up to a run.

“You mean you're going to kill him?” Fen asked with a neutral tone.

“Maybe.”

“So, you are going to kill him.”

“I am not sure.”

They fell into another lapse of silence. Lost’s thoughts slowly wandered back to the past few hours.

He had obtained a number of things from the dead soldier's bodies. The best of them being a flintlock pistol that was now holstered to the belt on his chest.

Back before he died, the world was more reliant on Magic. Therefore there was no use for ranged weapons like these. He hadn't given it much thought before now, but it seemed the this world, without its magic, was headed down a similar path of industry as earth.

Lost had also obtained another belt that he wore around his waist. Several small bags of coin he got from the dead soldiers were hung on it, along with a small fanny pack attached to the back of his belt filled with herbs, food and medical supplies.

He was tempted to take some of the armor, but found that it limited his movement, and therefore his speed. Speed was his greatest ally in combat and he was reluctant to give it up. He had also acquired some gray cotton pants and shirt from the cabin. It was much more comfortable than his prisoner garb.

They turned on a main road and Lost steered the horse towards the capital.

Lost tried to think of how far from the capital they were, maybe a day? Two at most? He wasn't sure.

An hour passed by in the thick silence as day slowly turned to night. A grutal roar shattered the quiet as the sun touched the the horizon.

Lost immediately yanked on the horse’s reins, scanning the woods with his amber glowing eyes.

“Was that a wolf?” Fen whispered, gripping onto Lost’s right sleeve.

“I’m not sure. In my experience, wolves don't roar,” Lost said, spurring the horse to go faster.

He had heard that roar before…

A pit of dread opened in his stomach as he looked behind him.

Thankfully it wasn't near them, but he had no doubt it was coming for them. Lost whispered encouragement to the horse, telling it to go faster. He hoped that they would reach a town soon, if not that, then at least an open area. Preferably one with lots of corpses. Or lots of fire.

Lost mentally started going through his list of spells that he believed might be able to kill The Beast.

********

Lost dismounted the horse, helping Fen down.

He looked around. They were in a large field, surrounded on all sides by trees. The grass was brittle and dry, perfect for burning. If he was going to make this work, he would need a lot of fire.

Leading the horse away, he made sure it was out of sight from the field and tied it to a tree.

Walking back into the field, Lost looked down at Fen. She looked scared.

“Hey, kid. I’m going to need your help,” Lost said, patting her on the head. He wasn't going to offer a lie that they would be fine, she would know he was lying. He knew that they had a slim chance of defeating this creature.

Fen nodded slightly.

Crouching down, Lost picked up a stick and started sketching in the dirt. “Do you know what a mine is?” He asked, Fen shook her head.

Lost let a smile creep across his face, hidden in shadow.

********

Lost sat on the ground, his legs crossed. He stared into the fire, looking at it lick the air. He glanced over to a blanket laid on the ground, a bump under it.

The air was split by a bloodthirsty roar, thumps shortly following behind. Trees groaned and snapped as it entered the field, stopping at the edge.

Its red eyes focused on Lost’s back, who still stared at the fire.

Growling, it stepped forward, and roared again. Lost didnt turn.

This time it paced back and forth, as it seemed to contemplate whether this was a trap or not. After a bit, it stopped and stalked forward slowly.

Lost smirked under his hood.

The Beast set a foot down, a click sounding from underneath it. It stopped, lifting its foot curiously.

A flash and a boom sounded out, as the beast’s fur was ripped into by metal shrapnel. It roared in pain, but it was more high pitched, like a scream.

Lost swiftly turned around, kicking the coals of the fire into the grass. The flames hungrily spread across the ground.

Drawing his sword, Lost faced the massive monster, that which favored its right leg. The other bleeding from multiple cuts and pieces of metal embedded in the flesh. The metal vanished, like it was never there, but the torn flesh remained.

The Beast glared at him, it’s clawed hands flexing.

Lost walked forward, brandishing his blade. The fire spread out around him, engulfing the field in flame and illuminating the night.

“Beast isn’t such a good name for you, is it? I think the name Goliath is fitting. Ya’ know, from David and Goliath?” Lost said, looking at The Beast.

It didn't look amused. Growling, it charged at him.

A bullet whizzed from between the trees and hit Goliath square in the back, causing it to stop. It grabbed at nothing behind its back, turning around.

Lost pushed magic into his sword, the runes glowing amber. He started speaking a spell, while running around Goliath as it turned its attention back to him.

By now they were walking in a sea of fire, smoke rising and making it hard to see. But Goliath outline was big enough to see through it.

“By the burning of fire, by the ever hungering flame and the ever thirsting heat, I call upon you to do my bidding. To carry out my will and empower my wish,” Lost continued speaking, the fire parting in front of him, never touching his clothing or skin.

Goliath chased after him, the flames singing his fur, but doing nothing else. It leaped into the air, aiming straight for Lost.

Lost jabbed his sword into the dirt behind him, wrenching himself back. Goliath landed in front of him, fire being put out in the small area around it. The whole time Lost didn't stop speaking, his voice hoarse from the smoke.

Stopping a few meters from where Goliath was getting back up, Lost finished his spell. “I summon you, Infernos!” He spread his fingers and jutted his arm out towards Goliath, pushing massive amounts of mana through his sword.

The sea of flame stopped. The fire froze, no longer moving and not making a sound. Goliath looked around confused.

The the fire started up again, but this time it all swirled together in front of Lost. It melted the dirt and rock, turning it to magma. It slowly built itself into the air, gaining legs and arms. It was crowned by a blocky head. The arms turned into sharp and jagged points. The legs and feet thick as a tree trunks. The entire construct was about 13 feet tall, smaller than Goliath.

The magma stopped flowing, taking a solid form. For a second, the crags of fire running along its body dimmed. Then they burst with flame, igniting the entire body on fire. It looked like a being made of pure flame.

Goliath took a step back, in what looked alot like to Lost, fear.

Lost spoke in a weak voice, “Infernos. Destroy.”

The fiery construct rushed forward, heading straight for Goliath.

Goliath roared and charged toward Infernos. They collided in a explosion of fur and fire.

Infernos stabbed with its spike-like arm, aiming at Goliath’s chest. Goliath reached with a clawed hand toward Infernos’s head.

Goliath barely dodged the fiery spike of an arm, grabbing onto the head of Infernos. It ignored the flesh of it’s hand being singed by the fire and started squeezing.

What Goliath didn’t notice was Infernos’s right arm aimed at Goliath's side. It burst through the fur and skin, slipping between the ribs and spearing Goliath’s heart.

Instantly Goliath’s grip weakened and Infernos pulled its head out of the clawed hand. Infernos stepped forward, driving the flaming spike deeper. Goliath slipped forward, the other spike arm driven into its gut.

Letting out one last pitiful roar, Goliath fell forward as Infernos pulled its arms back. Landing with a thump, Goliath lay still on the scorched ground.

Infernos stood still for a second, then drove its spiked arms again and again into the giant corpse of Goliath.

Lost, slumped over his sword, watching the fight with an impassive expression. “Infernos, stop.”

The fire elemental stopped, and looked over at Lost. Then it started running at him.

He had feared this, elemental’s were hard to control and depending on their order. Infernos’ order was destroy, that could include everything it sees. He wasn't powerful enough to control it.

Lost closed his eyes and cut the mana he had been giving Infernos, drawing back the mana he had given it. Reopening them, he watched as Infernos slowed down, flames dying, and eventually coming to a slow stop in front of him. A spike inches from his face froze.

The magma hardened and Infernos’ flames died.

Lost let out a sigh and stood up unsteadily, leaning on his sword. His head hurt, like Infernos really had driven that spike into it.

His vision, although blurry, focused on something to the left of the statute. A hooded figure stood behind it.

The Wraith.

It appeared before him in an instant.

A hand made of bone shoved itself into his lower abdomen.

“Oh, F**** yo-,” Lost couldn’t finish his curse before the cold ash ground rushed up to his face and a cloud of gray enveloped him.