Specters

Hao Xuan raised the glaive, pointing it at the burly man.

"Choose, him or yourself?"

The man's frown deepened by several degrees. He looked at Hao Xuan and then at Ensis from the corner of his eyes.

Thinking that even he wouldn't last long if he was besieged by two people in this place, especially with the necklace still on his body.

"Listen to me, I don't know who you are or what you want, but we cannot fight here," he said in such a calm manner that it took Hao Xuan by surprise. Amused and curious, he decided to humor him.

"And why is that?"

"That- I can't say," he shook his head hesitantly. "But know that I'm not lying. There is no reason to. That fire, the second it burns out we will be in big trouble," he pointed at the 12 still burning torches on the ground not far from them. The blue flame was flickering lightly, hanging on by a thread.

"What is that flame?" Hao Xuan gestured towards it with his chin.

"It's a wormwood flame. Its only function is-"