- Dagger and Fire (Part 2)
710 Words
He returned to an impatient Dom, who decided not to question Marc's abrupt leave. Giving him an apologetic smile, Marc mounted Conflagre and resumed riding. Just as they started eating breakfast on the ride, Dom pointed out some hoofprints on the main road.
"We should expect a wait at the gates of Cartrile. A new trading party will be arriving there, by the looks of it."
Marc paid no attention to Dom's words. He let his mind wander freely. Then he remembered something that was constantly nagging him in the back of his mind.
"…but there aren't that many sets of tracks for it to be a trade-."
"Dom? You're an Elbendi Siphilon aren't you?"
Dom looked at Marc, shaking his head at the interruption.
"Sometimes I have no idea if I even understand you. Half the time goes by with me talking words that have no value to you."
"Dom! We've come to an agreement. No holding anything back!"
"If we go on this way, you'll have way too much information that you can't begin to understand. Sorry, Marc but what you must know is that this is a learning process for you. I have a say in what you need to know."
"And does this fit your complex criteria?" Marc asked sweetly and mockingly.
Dom sighed in defeat and grumbled to himself. He gave Marc an imperceptible nod.
"Okay, yes I got my first sign at the age of twenty-three, I started off as an Earth bender, and at the age of twenty-nine, I developed the Wood element. But surely you knew this already, I demonstrated my skills at the grove…"
Marc snorted, Dom has control over Wood?
"How, may I ask, does Wood and Earth even help you? Prune the flowers at the grove?"
Dom growled and swiped his hands horizontally, then vertical in an inwards claw.
Immediately branches from the surrounding trees grew in an unnaturally fast speed, straight towards Marc. Branches wrapped around themselves in unity and picked Marc off Conflagre, the latter whinnied furiously and stopped. Minutes later, Marc was completely suspended a few feet from the ground in a cocoon of hard, strong wood.
Marc pounded the wood and shouted. All he got in response was uncontrollable laughter.
"Those who laugh last laughs longest, dear Dom!" Marc grumbled to himself.
Marc brought forth the fire from deep within his skin and erupted his arm in flame, a few drops of lava spewed out of him and melted the wood so easily, it made Marc wonder just how hot he had become. Experiencing a sudden energy loss, Marc extinguished his arm. The last bits of branches caught fire and burned away and Marc fell lifelessly onto Conflagre's back.
Marc smiled weakly at Dom and said,
"Told you, wood is weak. Fire is feral and fearsome."
"Foolish boy, that was way too much energy you used there, and all of that just for one burst of fire. If you were fighting against a trained Siphilon, you wouldn't have lasted a minute!"
"Doesn't matter, I passed your test." Marc grinned. Dom tried to hide it but Marc sensed the pride in Dom's eyes after watching Marc's latest performance.
"Who said anything about a test?" Dom said airily.
"I thought I caught a whiff of it in the air. You wanted me to learn not to underestimate minor Siphilons. Lesson learned."
Dom shook his head, smiling at Marc.
"Now why don't you get some rest, young man. You'll need your energy for Cartrile. I'm sure of it. Something about that place causes all kinds of trouble."
With that Dom turned silent, giving Marc the opportunity to finally close his eyes.
Marc dreamt of a girl in heavy combat with a man. The man was in very bad shape, desperately trying to hold off the girl's painful blows. The girl dances with ease around the man, throwing weak but effective punches and kicks at the man.
At last, the man slumps down in exhaustion and the girl kicks him unconscious. The girl senses Marc's presence and turns to him, face tight in a scowl. She shouts,
"Where on earth are you?"
A blast of wind pushes Marc backward and Marc falls down under the girl, away…and away…and away.
- Writer
