- The Shadow and the Candle Wick

The house was much smaller than expected, even as the unexpected shower that fell from the sky puddled around his feet, Cain couldn't help but notice the small little hut. It was made of plaster and stone, brick and mud, with hardly what one could call a roof made from thatch.

The small hut was located far on the other side of the city, far from the title painted houses with their shingle roof covers and their pale glass windows, no, this hut did not fit in with that riff raff. It was situated just between the outer wall, a wall which this particular section had pieces of it missing, crumbling to pieces.

Slums is what a normal person would call this area, crawling with mud and cow dung that littered the streets, thieves and beggars running amuck down the roads and the allies, children coaxed by older kids to steal from stalls because they were easier to forgive. No, this place was not one someone of the more sophisticated side of the city would be in.

Their warmly lit houses and dull moving fires, their neighbors that waved and smiled rather than sneered and stare at you as you leave, your mind rushing with worries about what they would do to the house once you left.

Cain carried a small umbrella, enough to just perfectly fit over his shoulders so that none of the rain could reach him. He wore a long cloth trench coat for the rain, something that immediately set him apart from the others in the streets who gave him weird looks of envy and mistrust.

Looks that Cain cared little for, as he was focused on reaching this little hut sectioned off from the slums. If the slums were the banished of the city, then this hut was the banished of the slums.

The lower than low.

'But why…?'

Cain couldn't help but look up at the poorly made thatch roof, the water that ran down the sides of the thatch and straw and fell to the ground, puddling in the street.

'No doubt they have leaks in the house. I'll have to fix that when I enter.'

He looked to the ground where his feet stood on a small dotted bit of stone that made up the street. The rest was covered in mud or litter from the people who passed by. There, at his feet, he saw a little puddle, one that mirrored his reflection perfectly.

'Hm…I could use a hat.'

Just as a small raindrop fell from his umbrella and rippled the puddle, when his image formed back again he was wearing a small hat, neatly made and well fashioned. Not something one would expect to find here, and most certainly one that would attract trouble…

"Hey."

Cain tilted his head to one side, finding the time of the unknown voice all to perfect as he smiled.

'Huh…that was fast.'

He turned around to find three men standing behind him, one centered off from the rest - clearly some type of leader. He wore small and ragged clothing, clothing that looked as if it had seen better days.

They were soaked from head to toe and speaking of which, Cain noticed that two of them didn't have a shoe. In fact, the two looked almost like twins and thus, each one was missing a shoe. One left shoe, one right shoe.

"Can I help you gentleman?"

The leader, though he didn't look much like one, spoke up with his arms crossed, gesturing with the nod of his head towards the house.

"Whatcha doing here?"

Cain looked between the house and the three men, pretending to be curious about the connection between the two entities.

"I'm here looking for someone."

"Well you can look elsewhere. This house here is off limits."

He looked around beside him, in the grass, in the street, even in the makeshift flower bed that served as a vegetable garden as well. Cabbage and tomatoes grew well in the small amount of clay like soil that spilled over the stone edge, weeds snaking up alongside it.

"I don't see a sign saying that."

The leader grabbed Cain's coat with both hands and brought him close so that he didn't have to speak too loudly, afraid that someone might hear him.

"I'm the sign and I'm telling you to get lost. Now."

He pushed Cain away who staggered back several steps before standing upright again. Instead of replying to the man's remarks and warnings, he turned his back to him and raised his hand towards the door.

"Hey! I said the house is off limits fool! Can't you hear?"

He stopped, his fist hovering in the air just inches from the door as Cain turned his head over his right shoulder, giving the leader a look of indifference.

"I think I can hear just fine. Whether I chose to listen though, that's another story."

"You think you can just waltz in here and do whatever you please, don't you?"

The leader gritted his teeth as his two goons behind him readied themselves. He took two large steps towards Cain and placed one firm hand on his shoulder, gripping tightly against his coat.

"Let's make sure that you can listen then, shall we - Off!"

The leader never got to finish what he was saying as the arm Cain had raised to knock on the door shot backwards, slamming his elbow into the man's face. The leader staggered back several feet, falling to his butt on the ground as mud splashed around him.

"Let me give you a warning boy, don't interfere, lest you want a few broken bones in your body."

The man held a hand to his nose which was gushing with blood, spilling out through the crevices of his hand. He looked up to Cain as he spoke, unable to see the man's face as the umbrella plus his hat shaded his feathers.

"Gah - Tommy, Donny, get him!"

The two twins rushed Cain with their arms related back ready to attack, the first - Tommy - sending his fist flying towards his head. However, as his first sailed through the air, Cain reached out with the same free hand and wrapped his entire arm around Tommy's before slamming his other fist - clenched from holding the umbrella - into his face.

Tommy reared back his head in pain, his nose gushing blood as Cain raised his leg and used his foot to pull Tommy's leg inwards, pulling him forward just in time for Cain to slam his free hand into the man's chest, twisting it.

The unmistakable sound of something snapping beneath flesh echoed through the air, while Cain let Tommy fall to the ground writhing in pain. Tommy's twin had little time to react as this was all far too fast for his eyes to catch up, and before he could stop himself mid air, his fist was already flying towards Cain.

The man was waiting for him. In the same second that Tommy fell to the ground, Cain shifted his focus to Donny, trading his umbrella from one hand to the other, wrapping it around Donny's arm just as he had done with Tommy.

"I warned you."

With incredible strength, Cain bent Donny's arm the wrong way, snapping his bone in second. Donny tried to scream in pain but Cain's hand was already over his mouth before a sound could come out, and the next moment he regained feeling to his body, he felt his knee snap sideways.

"Mghh!"

His muffled screams were even heard over the rain as Cain sighed, pulling his hand forcefully from Donny's mouth, gripping the sides of his jaw as he did. The result silenced Donny in seconds as his jaw bent one way too far. He fell to the ground to join his brother as one withered in pain, the other twitched unable to.

"You bastard!"

The leader staggered to his feet, and in one quick motion threw his whole weight behind a left hook punch that Cain dogged easily by leaning back. In one quick motion he reached out his hand and grabbed the leader's wrist, using his other to place a flat hand against the backside of his elbow.

They stood like that for several seconds, the two just staring at one another. One with dull blue eyes, the other with crimson red like fire and flame.

Suddenly, the sounds of a glass object shattering inside as footsteps pounding against the wooden floor rushed towards the door. The handle turned and in one quick motion the door opened swiftly. There in the open doorway stood a woman in loose clothing, her rough and uneven hair puffing up in small spots.

She was breathing heavily as if she had just run to the door full sprint.

"Val-"

The leader started but to Cain's surprise he was interrupted by the woman's loud and angry voice.

"Denis! Are you starting fights outside my house again?!"

"What? N-No I-"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear it. You've got two friends on the floor with - oh my god, broken bones!"

The woman turned her angered face and attention towards Cain, who watched her with a slight curiosity. Her voice and tone were a lot duller now as she spoke to him, and he could tell she was silently pleading with him.

"These three are knuckle heads so I understand if you were defending yourself, but did you have to break their bones?"

"They attacked me first."

The woman sighed, stealing a fury filled glance at Denis the leader before her eyes shifted towards Cain's stance against him.

"Would you mind letting him go, please?"

"Why should I? Once again, he attacked me."

"And from the looks of it you seem perfectly fine."

She gestured to Cain's physical form, sighing to herself as she rubbed her uneven hair back from her face.

"Look just...let him go please. You don't look like you're from around here, so there's no point for someone like you to waste your time breaking the arm of someone like him."

The two of them locked eyes for a minute, a silence settling between them as the rain continued to pour down on the woman, water streaming down her skin, though she didn't seem to mind.

Finally, Cain dropped Denis' arm and stood firm once again with his umbrella raised high, showing his face.

"Fair point."

***

"So, what can I do for you?"

The Master seated himself at his large leather chair behind his large and darkly colored mahogany table. He wore a smile on his face, one of per joy as if the world itself could not get any better than the perfection that it was currently.

"I honestly can't thank you enough for what you've done for me Lia. Sina has been non-stop chatting my ear off about your friend and how he saved her."

By 'friend' he meant Cain, though neither him nor his child knew the real name of the man who supposedly saved them. To the Master and his family it appeared as though Lia had sent someone ahead to hold off the farmers until she could get there, and that friend just happened to do more than was needed.

They never thought to connect the summoner with her summons.

"I'm glad that your daughter thinks so highly of him, but what I've come to speak to you about is more important than simple idle chatter."

The Master frowned, realizing the seriousness in Lia's tone and quickly sat up straight with his arms across the table.

"Then speak. Hold nothing back."

Lia took a deep breath and began to mumble to herself, quiet enough that the Master couldn't hear it, but loud enough that it forced Lia to realize the path she would have to take.

"Trust me…you'll want me to."

She pulled from her side along her belt a small map, a map that she had gotten form one of the Master's servants, who was quick to do as she asked. The Master had made it clear that she held just as much authority in his house as he did, unless he was present.

She placed the map in front of him, using small paper weights to keep everything down. The Map showed the Kokono area, as well as the city limits. The forest, the marshes, the plains and even the edges of the mountain - all within the city's limits. It wasn't the capital for no reason.

"What is this?"

"It's a map. A map that shows where Arnold and his Fire Drakes are hiding."

She pointed to a small position along the map where the marshes sat against the swamps. A small ink trail led along the edges of the marsh heading towards the Eastern end of the paper.

"...Lia. Are you sure?"

The Master could hardly touch the paper, afraid that it would disappear from his eyes if he so much as laid a hair on top of it.

"I'm sure. If you don't believe me, then believe the man who saved your family from bandits. He was the one who reported this to me."

"But how could he have known where they were? How are you certain that this isn't some trick or, or ploy?"

Lia leaned forward on the table, her red eyes boring deep into the Master's. Her face was stone cold and serious, she left no room for debate and she didn't even need to say a word, yet she did.

"I trust him with my life and you should as well, considering that he saved your family. It doesn't matter how he found this out, all that matters is there is now a confirmed sighting of Arnold."

The Master sighed, rubbing his hand in his hair. Clearly he knew he had to trust the word of this man, this unknown hero that his daughter praised and even fawned over at one point during their talk. But he still couldn't wrap his head around it.

It was too…too fake. Too unreal.

"So what do you want then?"

He looked at her with blank eyes and the face of a politician, a face Lia had never before seen him wear. Whether it was the face of a hero who cared for his people, or the face of a villain who would do anything to avenge them - Lia had seen them both. But this was new.

"I've already told you that you have the authority to go after him yourself, you don't need to ask me to leave the city, or to use any of my horses."

"You also told me that once the supply line was delivered, I could use any resources I deemed fit to catch up to Arnold."

"...And so what are you implying?"

Lia stood up straight, pride filling in her chest as she spoke with a stern seriousness, a voice that would determine the question that lingered in her mind.

"I ask for a small legion of men to hunt down the traitor to this city, Arnold the Dragon Slayer."

Whether she could trust the Master now that everything was over.

The Master said nothing, first he looked between Lia and the map, then he took it in his hands to peer over its drawing, the expansive landscape, the small towns and farmlands that surround the large city in the center of the map. It was this city that drew his attention, this city that he passed his fingers silently over.

"...you know, this city is half the size now than it was on this map when it was drawn. Half. Can you imagine that?"

Lia said nothing. She remained in the same position before his desk as she had been keeping, silently waiting, silently watching.

"So many monsters, and now so few people. We used to have thousands, and now that number has gone down by zero. Half the city, half the people, half of my life I will spend wasting away blaming myself for mistakes that I can't take back."

Lia didn't want to say it, she wanted to hold her tongue as best as she could, but the raging fera inside her was growing with every word he spoke, with every gesture he made to the ink drawing of his city.

In the end, fear compels anyone to do anything. Even the things they hate.

"Your answer, sir?"

It wasn't a request, it was a demand for answers. A demand that compelled the Master to look up from his map, his eyes no longer filled with the same sadness that he once used to look upon his city.

Now they were dull like the pale moon's light that painted his flaming city once before.

He stood from his chair as he towered over Lia by three inches, inches that casted a shadow over her features and expressions. His voice was hollow and empty, his skin pale and Lia had to keep herself from shaking with fear.

'I won't say it. I won't threaten him with it…'

Then he spoke.

"I know what I promised you. That day, when I told you of my plan I warned you of the rage my people had for Arnold and for you, but rather than tell my people the truth, tell them of the hero they called a monster, I asked you to wear the ugly face of a villain. For just a little longer, it was all I asked."

"Please…"

Her pleas were like small gasps that escaped her lips, gasps that she held back as if she was holding back her own breath.

"I told you of my plan, how you would be the villain - my spear head for my revenge. To avenge my people. I promised you my help, my thanks, my undying gratitude."

"Please…"

"I promised you my city."

"....please…"

The Master clenched his hands at his side as he shut his eyes tightly closed, chasing back the tears that threatened to flow. He hated himself for what he was about to say, but as it was said before…

Fear compels those to do what they hate the most."

"I'm sorry Lia, but I can't help you, even though I made you that promise."

"Please…!"

Lia was looking to the ground now, fighting her own tears, fighting her own mind. She didn't want to threaten him with his own family, she didn't want to become the villain that she hated so much.

She wouldn't do it. She wouldn't do it!

"...But I won't make the same mistake again."

Even if it shattered her, she wouldn't do it.

Lia stood with her head to the ground in silence for several minutes, the Master watching, knowing that she was crying on the inside and he knew it was all his fault.

'I'm sorry…please forgive me.'

But, instead of turning her head up to face him, Lia raised her head, her dull red eyes staring out into the distance behind him. She reached for the map slowly, taking it from his hands before she wrapped it up tightly under her arm.

Her voice was meek and silent, as quiet as a mouse.

"...then I'll do it myself."

She quickly turned her back to the Master and walked away before he could grab her and say something.

"Lia, you can't beat him alone. Just let it go, your friend will be fine."

She didn't say anything and instead continued walking away, forcing the Master to raise his voice.

"Lia. It's impossible, you will die if you fight him."

"I have to try."

"You will fail!"

"I have to try."

The Master was growing more desperate now as he reached out towards her, knowing that he couldn't reach her, but the image of him grabbing her shoulder and forcing her to stop was still clear in his mind.

"You can't fight him alone!"

"But I will."

This last line from Lia was filled with such determination and reason that the Master drew his hand back and in a fit of anger and fear, yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Stand down! That's an order!"

He didn't mean it, he immediately regretted saying it, but if it made her stay, if it kept her from marching to her death alone then he would say it.

He needed her to stay alive, because he would never forgive himself if she died because of him.

But these words did stop her, stopped her dead in her tracks before the door. At once the Master thought he had won, he thought he succeeded. But when she turned her head over her own shoulder, the Master discovered the gut wrenching feeling of failure.

Anger, rage, fear, hate, sadness, malice - all of them raging within the glowing red eyes of one woman, a woman who looked as though she were a lion.

And with her words, like ice to the fire, the Master was left wide-eyed and silenced.

"I don't work for you. Not anymore."

With that, she closed the door, and it was the last time the Master ever saw her again.