17 The Man Of Flames

"What in oblivion…" Russel murmured as he looked up into the seemingly lifeless eyes of the grey skinned Navvare.

"Surprised are we?" The voice of the caster spoke.

"So you made this thing?" Russel yelled.

"I did no such thing. This is what would be called an echo. When casting illusions of peoples dreams they sometimes show up." The caster laughed. "They don't take kindly to you being technically in their mind. Though I assure you it is killable and will collapse the spell."

"And why should we believe you?" Russel growled.

"Do you really have any other choice right now?" The caster asked.

With that Navvare's echo launched a beam of energy towards Russel. Russel jumped out of the way, seeing that the beam had completely destroyed the ground he had once stood upon. Russel cursed and started to try and think of a plan.

"Word of advice, against an echo you want to play all of your cards. No holding back! This would be a great time to show your companions what you really are!" The caster laughed.

Russel growled in anger and felt his wings deploy and his transformation go into full effect. He focused on Navvare and leaped into the sky. Russel swung his sword wildly, attempting to wither down the echo's defenses. After a few swings the echo used a spell, creating a shockwave that knocked Russel back and staggered him.

Russel regained his composure just in time to counter another energy beam with one of his own. The beams struggled against each other, fluctuating as to whom was winning. Russel clenched his teeth and put even more effort into his attack, so much that he himself became surrounded by grey flames. The echo showed a look of surprise on its face and let up its attack, letting the full force of Russel's attack hit him square in the chest. The echo was pushed into a stone wall at lighting speed and screamed out in pain as the beam continued to ravage his body. The screams grew fainter after a moment and the echo lay still in the body shaped hole in the wall. Russel felt himself become lightheaded and he fell to the floor of the room.

When he opened his eyes he saw that Oliver, Rachel, Frederick and the rest of the group were crowding around him. He struggled to sit up and placed his hand to his forehead trying to soothe his raging headache. He heard muffled noises and looked over to see Oliver talking to him, but Russel was unable to make out what was being said. He slowly rose to his feet and looked around the room that seemed very blurry to him. He caught a glimpse of his sword and started to walk over towards it.

He picked it up and it felt extremely heavy in his hand. He looked around once more and spotted the echo fall to the ground. He forced himself to walk over to the echo who he saw was starting to stir. He agonizingly struggled to life his sword and plunged it into the echo's chest. The echo dissolved into a pile of black ash and Russel saw his vision fade. He felt himself fall and hit the ground, followed by muffled yelling.

When he next woke he found himself sitting in the back of a moving carriage. He turned only to find himself staring straight at someone's stomach. He looked up to find a sleeping Elizabeth who had her arm across his chest, and determined that he was lying in her lap. He tried to sit up only for Elizabeth to force him back down into the position he was in before. He sighed as he listened to the groaning of the carriage wheels and the rustling trees of the forest outside. He let himself smile as he realized that the illusion had been broken and that they were back on their way to Southbeach.

A few moments later he heard Elizabeth yawn and turned to look up at her. She smiled sleepily and removed her arm from his chest, allowing him to sit up normally. Russel stood up and stretched.

"Good job breaking the spell." Elizabeth smiled.

"Thanks… But where were you? We never found you in the illusion." Russel inquired.

"I'm not sure… I don't remember anything from inside the illusion… Only that it happened. It's the same with the others. All anyone remembers is that you broke the spell. Though it seems you kept your memory of events." Elizabeth told him.

"It's very hazy." Russel lied.

'So I don't have to explain the whole being a demon thing… That's a relief.' Russel thought.

"So I take it we are continuing on?" Russel asked.

"Yes. Since there are only about thirty of us left it is making it much easier to continue on. So we got going almost immediately." Elizabeth explained.

"Only thirty?" Russel groaned. "There were three brothers I went hunting with… Are they…"

"They were among the missing ones after the illusion ended." Elizabeth told him.

"Dammit… I thought we had found the rest of the group… Though thinking back I didn't see them…" Russel cursed.

"Are you sure your memory is only hazy? It seems to me that it is quite vivid." Elizabeth questioned.

"I can remember certain details." Russel lied once more. "So the bodies just disappeared? No trace?"

"Yes. It was almost as if they vanished into thin air." Elizabeth explained.

"Damn it… Even more dead… When will this nightmare end?" Russel spoke to himself.

"Well, the rest of the group will be having a meeting tonight. So you may as well just stay here until then." Elizabeth told him. "Oh, and here. This is yours."

Elizabeth leaned down and pulled out Nocte from below the bench and handed it to Russel. Russel nodded thanks and slung the sword onto his back before sitting down across from her.

"I guess all we can do is wait then… I assume they don't want people breaking formation after the monsters the other day…" Russel sighed.

"Indeed. They want everyone to stay put." Elizabeth confirmed.

Russel sighed and let himself drift off to sleep. He found himself once again staring at the man made of purple flames. Russell reached back and grabbed his sword, somewhat surprised he still had it with him.

"You did not heed my warning. Those people will be your downfall." The man spoke.

He began to walk forward and stopped when he was in front of Russel.

"I have no clue what you are talking about." Russel scowled.

"You are a Fallen Angel. The last of our kind! When we fraternize with humans or let our feelings get in the way that is what gets us killed." The man spoke. "We need not show emotions, for we have the power to overcome all obstacles. Even though you may not be able to control yours yet, you have been able to fight your way out of things."

"You're kidding me right? It's because I'm a fallen angel that I lost everything, and it's why everyone I'm with is in this position. So I'll be damned if I abandon them." Russel yelled, drawing his sword in anger.

"Are you daft!? Set aside your idiotic convitions for a moment and think about this logically! The one causing these illusions is after you, the king of the country is after you, along with every monster that comes out of the shadows. Your soul is enough to revive him… Satan himself. If he comes back into being then he won't stop until this world is a pile of ash." The man scowled.

"That's not my problem." Russel insisted.

"It's not your problem because you are the problem! You need to get to Dublios and learn to use your power so you can stop that madman from destroying all life in the world!" The man yelled. "Leave this group to their demise so you can save the rest!"

"Not a chance. I'm getting these people to Southbeach and then going after Kathleen." Russel yelled.

"To oblivion with your selfish goals. Do what is right! I did not lay down my life for you to just throw it away. Your mother would be the same!" The man yelled once more.

Russel stood in silence, looking at the man. The man sighed and placed his hand of flame over his face.

"When we escaped the siege on Dublios, your mother wanted to try to save everyone. Like a fool I agreed with her, and we both died for it, barely giving you a chance to escape…" The man said quietly. "Last time I saw you, I told you important things that you need to understand. Betrayal is all you will know is you trust everyone you come across, and you don't trust everyone, that I know. After all you were the kid who only had one friend growing up."

"I know I can't save everyone, and many don't deserve saving. But I'm the reason these people are suffering." Russel responded.

"I can't say anything to change your mind… Instead I'll let you see for yourself. Next time we chat I have a feeling you'll see things my way… So long." The man said before disappearing.

Russel opened his eyes and saw Oliver standing over him.

"Hey." Russel greeted.

"A fire is set up and everyone is eating." Oliver told him motioning outside.

Russel stood up and followed Oliver out, becoming lost in thought over his conversation with the man of purple flames, and what he had said.

'Do not trust those who claim to seek asylum. Do not trust those who seek to stand by your side eternally. Betrayal is all you shall know if you trust those people. There is an old hermit in the ruins of your birthplace. In Dublios you will find the answers to the questions you need answered.' Russel thought. 'That man told me those words… But what do they mean exactly? People claiming to seek asylum… That matches my current companions. People who seek to stand by my side eternally… The only one I can think of is Kathleen, but he must be referring to someone else. If I trust them I will know betrayal… Well that's a risk of trusting people and one of the reasons I don't.'

"Russel! You in there?" Frederick asked, waving his hand in front of Russel's face.

Russel snapped back to reality and looked at Frederick who was handing him a bowl of stew. Russel took it gratefully and started to eat, returning to his thoughts.

'A man in Dublios can answer my questions… What kind of questions? I know I want to be able to control my power, and I want to find Kathleen… But this whole deal with my soul reviving Satan, I need to know more about that.' Russel thought.

He looked around and saw everyone gloomily eating and avoiding any sort of conversation. He frowned as he looked upon the group and sighed.

'These people suffer because of me, Kathleen and Father Edward suffered because of me. I just bring people heartache…' Russel scowled, clenching his fist.

He looked towards the sky and saw that the sun was starting to drop in the sky. He looked back at the group sadly.

'It'll happen tonight too if we are keeping with past patterns… How many of them are going to die this time?' Russel wondered. 'Maybe it would be best if I just flew off and went looking for this ruined city. After all it is what my father said to do… That man in flames he really is my father isn't he? How else would he have those stories… Unless he is acting and trying to lure me into a trap… What am I supposed to do.'

Russel turned his attention to the sky and used his hand to shield his eyes from the still bright sun.

'What would you have told me to do Father Edward… If you were here beside me… But that's impossible, you died because of me and if Kathleen isn't dead then she's still suffering because of me… I need to acknowledge that Kathleen may be dead, most likely she is.' Russel thought, slightly tearing up as he clutched Kathleen's ring.

"You ok Russel?" Oliver asked as he walked towards him.

"Yeah… I'll be fine." Russel spoke, pulling himself back together.

"I trust Elizabeth told you we would be having a meeting tonight?" Oliver inquired.

"Lead the way." Russel urged.

He followed Oliver over to the rest of the group who sat in their own circle. The two sat down and directed their attention to Rachel.

"Well there isn't much to discuss… We know that we are dealing with an illusion, but nothing else. No one remembers much of anything about what happened last night so if there is one tonight we are walking in blind." Rachel sighed.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Oliver asked.

The group looked at eachother each showing looks of hopelessness on their face. Russel scowled and stood up.

'To oblivion with that man! I am going to help these people first and foremost. And I'll go from there.' Russel thought.

"We pick up our weapons and we fight so we can get out of the spell and keep moving towards Southbeach." Russel said with determination. "Frederick how many days are we from being out of this forest."

"At the fastest I believe it's ten." He answered.

"Then we just have to survive ten more nights of this. Then you're home free." Russel smiled. "At the end of the day, do we have any other choice but to lay down and die?"

The group looked at him and nodded. Russel turned his attention to the sky and watched as the sun sank and the moon started to rise.