The Bait

At one point, she wondered if this man was actually lying about his abilities to use elements. With a sword alone, killing demons would be difficult. That is, with the exception of spell casters who could cast a spell to make their sword stronger, and more lethal for both demons and dark ones.

"Then let's go out," the prince's words interrupted her stupor. "I will act as bait."

That declaration surprised her. She had never expected him to agree to her suggestion. However, his next words sent shivers down her spine. "But you have to pay me back," he added.

"Pay you?" she squinted, a grim foreboding beginning to simmer in the deepest part of her heart. She couldn't help but feel that something bad was about to happen if she agreed to this deal. Sadly, her visions weren't showing her anything.

"Let's go."

"You— "

"Don't forget, you're the one who suggested this." Without waiting for her to say another word, his tall frame approached the entrance as he walked ahead of her. She thought she heard him chuckle, then wondered whether she was just hearing things. Why the hell would he laugh in the middle of this situation?

"How long?" he asked without looking at her.

"Thirty seconds," she answered. The prince was asking about her casting time. Powerful magic like her huge fireball that could burn houses and turn people into dust was not something that would just happen because she willed it.

She needed to cast a spell, concentrate, and focus all of her energy in casting the spell. This is why she needed him to act as the bait.

"Thirty seconds? That's too long, what if it kills me? Are you taking responsibility?"

"Does this mean that the famous general is actually scared of being bitten by a demon?" She was a little irritated. For some reason, she felt like he was making fun of her.

"Alright, you start chanting." With that, he walked out of the cave as if he hadn't been acting weak a few minutes back. The fact that he could even walk this fast was a bit astounding. She calmed her breathing and followed him as he neared the entrance of the cave.

Then she stopped moving and focused all of her energy on her palms. Usually, Cassandra did not need to chant when conjuring magic. She could just flip her hand and create one of her black fireballs, then shoot it towards the enemy.

However, this time, it was different. Smaller flames couldn't easily kill a demon. In fact, even a normal fireball wouldn't be able to do any harm to the creature. The only advantage that she had now was the fact that she had a black flame.

Everyone in Zealandia knew how black flames could easily consume anyone in their way. They were hotter and stronger than the normal ones that most people had.

"Cassandra! What the hell are you doing?"

Cassandra stilled as she met his eyes. He was standing a few meters to her left, the demon staring at him in daze. She noticed a dark blood on his sword.

She gulped and watched as the demon pounced on him. The prince managed to leap out of its way. Its loud growling sound echoed against the tall trees surrounding them, irritated that it didn't catch its prey. Cassandra gnashed her teeth, then she stared at the prince and started chanting.

"Element of Fire, bless this servant. I call you forth to burn and bring destruction. Spirit of Fire, bless this servant. I call you forth to burn and bring destruction." The instant those words left her mouth, Cassandra felt her chest turning hot. Sweat trickled down her back.

"Here and now, I evoke the elemental ghost of fire. Bless this servant. I seek the glowing force within. I call you forth to burn and bring destruction. Burn away all the misgivings. Burn away all the hatred. Burn away all the impurity. Burn away all that stands in your way." Her voice turned louder, attracting the attention of the demon. However, the prince was quick to use the sword, stabbing the demon's arms, cutting them in one swift motion.

The demon howled and used its other arm to attack him.

"Element of Fire, bless this servant. I call you forth to burn and bring destruction. Spirit of fire, bless this servant. I call you forth to burn and bring destruction!"

"Fierce spirit of fire! Bless this servant! I call you forth to burn and bring destruction!"

"Fierce spirit of fire! Bless this servant! I call you forth to burn and bring destruction!"

"Fierce spirit of fire! Bless this servant! I call you forth to burn and bring destruction!"

Cassandra opened her eyes just as the demon turned to look at her again. The ball of fire in both of her palms was now slowly turning bigger. The wind slowly turned hotter as the trees danced as if choreographed to welcome the presence of the strong element around them.

Sensing the danger, the demon screeched and suddenly ran towards her. Seeing this, she snorted and yelled.

"Fierce spirit of fire, let my black flames burn and bring destruction!"

The ball in her palms became heavier as it grew bigger, turning into a huge ball of dark flames, poised to destroy everything in its path.

"Fierce spirit of fire, let my black flames burn and bring destruction!" her voice echoed inside the forest. It was followed by a loud explosion that shook the area around her. The demon rent the air with a terrible scream as the flames seared its being, destroying it's core. The blast wave that followed was what she dreaded the most.

She heard trees creak, as the wind caused by the wave destroyed everything in its path. The destruction only took a few seconds, but the damage around her was immense, comparable to the stunning feat of magic that she had just performed.

Cassandra felt her face lose its color from the exhaustion. She chuckled. Creating fire that could kill hundreds of people in an instant could easily kill the one who conjured it. But she was safe, alive and… was about to faint.

Just as she felt the world start turning, she hit something. Rather, her body fell into something. She opened her eyes and saw the prince staring at her, tenderly, with a look in his eyes of one who has discovered a precious treasure. She wanted to open her mouth and ask him to let her go. But she couldn't.

She was too weak to do anything, to even speak.

Finally, her consciousness faltered. She closed her eyes wondering if the prince would kill her after all.