CHAPTER 1- Soul of Flames : Ifrit

Part IX - Jax's Grave

The couple walked up the path to a brown cottage on a hill. It was Lynn's home, a place deeply familiar to the both of them. As much as Lynn wanted to burst in and hug her family, she knew she couldn't do that. It would place her family at greater risk if the Empire found out.

With tears in her eyes, Lynn peered through a window and saw her mother sobbing at the kitchen table. Her father's hand was on her mother's back and his head hung low. Her brother was cooking, something he did only when he was depressed. Tremors ran through Lynn's body as she struggled to control herself, to stop herself from charging in and comforting her family.

Xeno stayed by Lynn's side, eyes filled with tears. Lynn's family was as dear to him as Jax was. He and Lynn had been playmates since a very young age. After a few minutes, Xeno pulled Lynn away from the window and back to the path. They had to leave soon. As they walked back down the hill, a bang was heard and Lynn's mother shouted from the door : 'Lynn, you have to come back! Promise me!"

The couple kept on walking without turning back, in her heart, Lynn promised to do so, and in her mother's heart, her mother knew her daughter's answer.

They walked until they reached a cluster of white stones in the ground. Xeno told Lynn to wait and headed on alone. In the clearing where his home stood, now lies a pile of charred rubble. Xeno dug through the rubble and gasped as he uncovered Jax's body. Covered with slashes and arrow stubs, his body was almost unrecognizable.

Soundlessly, Xeno rummaged around for a shovel. He found one and began to dig out a hole in the ground. He dug until his hands started to swell, his body covered in sweat and dirty all over. He laid Jax's body into the grave and covered the hole back up. Xeno found a large rock, put it at Jax's head and carved words into it with his knife.

Jax Wenderson
Like a father to me,
A man amongst men,
You have fought for long enough,
Rest in peace forever.

After he was done, Xeno knelt at the grave and cried. He turned when a gentle hand touched his shoulder. Led by an angel, he left the clearing, leaving behind a final prayer for the lost.

CHAPTER 1- Soul of Flames : Ifrit

Part VIII - Back to the Village

When Xeno came back, he found Lynn leaning on the rock, watching the sun rise above the trees. Xeno went over and said good morning. Lynn gave an uninterested mumble but otherwise remained silent. Together, they gazed at the sun until their eyes hurt and they could gaze no longer.

Lynn got up and headed for the stream, beckoning Xeno to follow. At the stream, Lynn said to Xeno "now, I want you to be a good boy and stand guard while I bathe, can you do that?" Xeno nodded in agreement. As images of Lynn bathing began to form in his mind, Lynn gave a stern warning, "if u ever dared to take a peek, I swear to every god I know, I will dig out your eyes."

After Lynn was done and dried off (and finished beating Xeno up for peeking), they started on the path back to the village. As they neared home, Xeno and Lynn pulled up their cloaks to make hoods so their faces won't be seen. Soldiers were patrolling every inch of the village, questioning villagers and searching houses. Posters of Lynn and Xeno's faces were all over, a reward of 100,000 gold was offered for the live capture of the couple.

First, they headed for the keep. There, Xeno withdrew all the money from Jax's savings. The keeper looked at them with sorrow in his eyes. Xeno feared not that the other villagers would sell them out. The villagers were all trustworthy people and would never betray a fellow villager.

Next, Xeno and Lynn stopped at the store to buy food for their journey. The lady handed them their food without a word, took the money and turned away. Xeno didn't blame their behavior, messing with the Empire could only bring pain and trouble. Having everything they needed, Xeno and Lynn headed for their last two stops before leaving the village.

Part VIII - Back to the Village

CHAPTER I-Soul of Flames: Ifrit

Part VII -The Dream

Before his eyes stood the house that had been his home for 16 years. Flames sprouting out from its windows, fire licking the walls. Dread filled his heart, he knew, there was nothing he could do to save his home now.
With a jolt, he remembered who else lived in the house. Swearing, he dashed towards the blazing house. He kicked down the door, and rushed inside. He searched every room. Anything standing in his way was kicked, shoved or otherwise moved out of his way.
After searching evrey room on the lower floor, he suddenly remembered that Jax was supposed to be upstairs. Cursing his thoughtlessness, he scrambled up the crumbling stairs, burst through the door of Jax's room. There, he found the man that had been like a father to him. But, he found something else.
Standing there between them was a beast. It stood on four thick legs and had two muscular arms. Its tail swishing behind him. With every breath, it exhaled flames. It made no movement, but Xeno could feel the immense heat coming from it. Remembering where he had seen this beast before, he turned to the painting only to find it empty.
Paralyzed with fear, Xeno could do nothing but stare at the Ifrit. After a moment, the beast seemed to finally notice him there. It stared at him for what seemed to be an hour. And, with a roar, it lunged at Xeno and sunk its flaming fangs into Xeno. Finally regaining his senses, Xeno yelled with pain. In his mind, he thought, this was the end, there was nothing he could do.
As he felt death come to him, he heard somebody calling his name. The voice was oddly familiar. He knew he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember. But, the beast began to shake him.
"This must be how Ifrit kill their victims," he thought with a sigh.
"Xeno.... up... Xen..." the voice was yelling now though he could not hear what the person was saying.
Then something weird happened. The Ifrit put Xeno down then gave him a hard slap. With a start, Xeno opened his eyes and saw Lynn looking down at him. Her face was red and covered with a layer of sweat.
"Where have you been? Running? Why're you covered in sweat?" he asked.
"Look who's talkin', you're the one that's really covered in sweat!" she answered.
Touching his head with his hand, he found it to be wet. "Well whadaya know? I'm wetter than you!" he joked.
"What happened, Xeno? I woke up when u began screaming like a madman! I've been trying to wake you for ten minutes!" she said.
"Have you? Wonder why I didn't wake,"
"You were yelling something about fire and a monster, did you have a nightmare?"
"Naw, it was nothing," he replied in what he thought was his most convincing tone. "Dun worry bout it."
"If you say so," Lynn replied, trying to sound convinced.
They both knew they hadn't fooled each other. But Xeno didn't want to talk about it and Lynn knew it, so she didn't press him more.
"You hungry?" Xeno asked.
"Yeah, you go wash yourself first, I ain't goin into town with a guy lookin like you do"
"Hmph" was Xeno's reply and he went off to wash himself in the stream leaving Lynn alone in the clearing.

Part VII -The Dream