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

NOTIFICATION

I will stop posting for a while, posts will resume next year on a weekly basis.
Thank you

Resonanz

CHAPTER I-Soul of Flames: Ifrit

Part VI - In The Forest

A multitude of eyes watched the couple as they ran through the forest. They had been running without stopping for hours since they left town. They hadn't stopped for food, not for water, not for rest. The soldiers had long given up the chase, but the couple still didn't slow.They weren't safe as long as they were still in the valley.

They went on for a few more miles in this manner. Finally, the lass tripped and fell when her foot caught a rock she didn't see. Only then did they stop.

"Ow... My feet are killing me," complained the lass.

"So are mine," Xeno replied sharply.

"Why are we running in the first place?" asked the girl.

Xeno didn't answer her. He just sat on a rock with his head in his hands.

"Xeno...' the girl moved over to Xeno and placed her arms around him lovingly. "You can tell me anything, you know that."

Xeno looked at her with wet eyes. He embraced her and hid his head in her bossom and cried freely. The girl did not push him away but let him let out his emotions. She could do naught but hold him close and shut her tear filled eyes.

As the sun began to set, Xeno pulled away from the girl but still held her in his embrace.He looked at her with eyes that told of a great loss.

"Lynn, I'm sorry I dragged you into this, I'm sure you hate me now," Xeno said somberly.

Hearing that, Lynn said nothing. She stood up and stared at him hard and cold. Xeno couldn't bear to hold her gaze and turned away. As he looked at nothing, Lynn slapped him hard on his right cheek. He did nothing to show that he felt that. Lynn sat down beside him and stared in the opposite direction.

"Xeno, you dummy! How could I ever hate you! I love you more than anyone in this world!" she said.

Xeno stared at her with wide eyes but otherwise kept his mouth shut.

"Have you forgotten the moments we spent together? How I promised you that I would love you forever?" she asked. "If you did, then I would truly hate you and curse you to the darkest pits of Hades' hell."

"Lynn," was all that he could say.

"If losing everything is the price of being with you, so be it," she said passionately.

Xeno lay back on the rock and looked at the darkening sky with wistful eyes. In his mind, he went trough the recent happenings again silently and painfully.

"I'm cold," Lynn complained. Xeno opened his arms as an invitation to her. Wordlessly, she crawled into his embrace as his arms closed around her slim figure.

"Mmm... much better," she moaned, satisfied.

After a few minutes of silence, Xeno asked, "still wanna hear what happened?"

"Sure I do," said Lynn quietly.

Thus, Xeno told her of all that had happened. He told her of the hidden room and its traps, the box and its chains, Abane and his men, and the soul of flames, Ifrit. He told of his mission, his objective, his goal and his aim. He poured his heart out onto Lynn's listening ears.

All the while, she said nothing but gave a few 'mmm's' and 'ah's' through the recollection. When he finished, she asked, "better?".

Xeno gave a laugh and ruffled her hair. "Just go to sleep."

So she closed her eyes and went to sleep in her lover's embrace. With the ground as their bed and the sky over their heads. The last word she heard before drifting off were the words 'I love you'.

Part VI - In The Forest

CHAPTER I-Soul of Flames: Ifrit

Part V - Escape

"How long has it been? Ten, eleven years?" the fat man asked Jax.

"It's been ten years, three months and twelve days, to be exact," replied Jax.

"Has it? It surely doesn't feel that way, how time flies, Jax!"

"It is and it does, Abane, last time i say ya, you were still an underling cleaning the Emporer's shoes," Jax agreed. "Oh wait! You still are! Hahaha..."

"Why you little-" Abane lunged at Jax with sword his in hand.

Xeno stopped him in his path and pushed him aside before he could get near to Jax. But the moment he did that, he knew it was a bad idea when he felt sharp points stabbing into his neck.

"No, it's okay," Abane said as he got to his feet. "Forgive me, I forget my manners sometimes," he said as though nothing has happend. His calm and mocking manner was rubbing against Xeno the wrong way.

"Lower your weapons, we don't want word to spread that the army is beating up children, no?"

The soldiers lowered their lances but remained ready to strike.

"Now, as I was saying before my temper got the better of me, hasn't it been a while, Jax?" he continued without stopping, "I still remember the day we last met." He added with a smile, "I'm sure you do too."

As Abane con tinued his recollection, Jax whispered quietly to Xeno, "listen, take the soul and flee, you know what to do."

"What about you?" asked Xeno.

"No need to worry about me, I'm dying as it is. Might as well go down with a fight."

"Sure you can handle them?"

"You know I do."

"Hmph, proud as always, even on your deathbed."

"Hey! Are you two listening?" Abane interrupted their muted conversation.

"Yeah, sure, you were talkin about Zhuoon's face when he died by your blade, right?" Jax answered.

"huh, so you were listening, that's good," Abane replied, satisfied. "You should've seen the look on his face when he found out I betrayed him, it was hilarious!" he went on.

Jax whispered to Xeno, "ready?"

"Yeah."

Jax gave a yell, got to his feet and held Abane's sword in his hand before anyone could react. Xeno took the chance and dived for the soul. He got it in his hand and jumped out the window. He rolled to the side as he hit the ground to minimise the force on his feet. They still hurt terribly but not to the extent that he couldn't run. And that he did, he ran as fast as his legs could take him.

He ran as he heard Abane's men behind him. He ran as he past the trees and rocks that had been his friends. He ran as he left his entire world behind him.

Halfway down the path, he saw a beautiful brunette with long, beautiful hair ahead of him. He gave a shout to catch her attention. As he past her, Xeno grabbed her smooth white hand in his and pulled her along whilst yelling her to run.

The confused maiden did as she was told and ran with him. Together, they ran into the forest, leaving everything they had behind.

Part V - Escape

CHAPTER I-Soul of Flames: Ifrit

Part IV - Inheritance (IV)

Only the rythm of his feet against the ground was heard as he ran along the corridor back the way he came. Thud after thud came from his shoes. His rmindless running gave his mind plenty of freedom to think of the recent happenings.

"What the hell is going on?" he thought to himself.

"What is this thing?" he asked aloud looking at the orb in his hand.

At last, he reached the end of the tunnel and stopped just before it. The darkness behind him was still fast approaching. He desprately pushed against the wall. He kicked, he tackled, he pushed, nothing could budge the door.

"Why won't you open?" he complained.

The moment the word "open" left his lips, the door opened quite suddenly. Still pushing hard, he was taken by suprise and fell flat onto his face.

Remembering the old man, he quickly got up and rushed to the former's side. The old man's body was hot to the touch, his breathing labored and sweat covered his body.

The boy dropped the orb in his hand and fell to his knees by the man's side.

"I'm back, are you okay?" he asked in a worried tone.

"Does it l-look like I-I'm okay, you idiot..." he replied sharply. "T-the soul, where is it?" he asked.

The boy turned his head and saw it lying on the floor by his feet.

He hurriedly picked it up and put it into the man's hand.

"Here it is, what is it?" he asked. At that moment, the sound of metal against metal came from outside.

Looking out, he saw a mighty sight, the imperial army gathered outside his home. He cursed out loud and turned back to the man.

"Dammit Jax! You had so better tell me what is going on!" he said not unkindly.

"As you wish Master Xeno," the man replied. "Those men out there are after that," he said gesturing at the orb. "That thing you are holding is called Ifrit, the s-soul of flames!"

"What do you mean? Aren't the seven souls just a legend?" interjected the boy.

"If you wan to know what's going on, let me finish, you dope!" came Jax's sharp reply.

"Okay, okay, cooldown..."

"As I was saying, that there is the soul of flames. It gives the bearer tremendous power through manipulation of fire," he went on, "but, you can not control it without the daemon."

"I'm sure I told you the stories when you were young, do you still remember them?"

"Sure I do, I remember everything you taught me!"

"Good, now I-" Jax was cut short by an angry shout from downstairs. "In the name of our holy ruler, open this door!" yelled the voice.

Jax continued, "shit! there isn't any time!". With that he suddenly coughed up blood.

"Jax!" shouted Xeno.

"Don't worry about me, now I need you to remember three very important things," he went on, "first, do not, i repeat, do not, let anybody get the soul!"

"Okay, Jax, okay..."

"Second, I need you to bring that to Dominion in the east."

"Dominion!? That's miles away from here!"

"Just do it! When you get there, find a lady called Hope, she will help you."

"Okay, I'll go."

"Lastly, know that though you're not my son, I have always loved you as my own flesh and blood."

"I know Jax, I know! You have always been a father to me!"

"Now go! You have my blessing, leave the soldiers to me."

Xeno got up and went to the floor wordlessly. As his hand turned the knob, the door burst open and threw him to the side.

Soldiers filed into the room and pointed their baldes at the two of them.

Their leader, a short fat man with a trimmed moustache came forward and said "it's been years, Jax! How are ya?"

Part IV - Inheritance (IV)