Chapter 30 – flame of vengance

  The calm before the storm

  It was noon. The twin suns peaked in the skies of the Northern Kingdom. The whole kingdom, unlike its usual self, was silent, as the demons of the kingdom had not gone to their jobs, were not in their homes, but had all gathered under the shade of the grand Magic Tower.

  The Magic Tower was specially modified for the occasion— a colosseum with the tower in its center. The crowd of people, akin to the drops of water in a dam, were all quiet, filling the place, ready to burst out at any moment.

  The silence was brought by the presence of all the grand mages of the Tower, the Tower’s defenders, the Demonic Mage Order— all under the direct command of the Archmage. The Order took their place in the prime spot in the colosseum, the vast empty ground in the middle surrounding the tower.

  Then the silence was broken by a sound, zhhhhhh. Winds blew, the sand flew up, a storm formed, rattling the audience. The grand mages stood up, raised their wands, and a barrier formed shielding the people.

  The storm, as sudden as its arrival, subsided. Now, as the storm faded, the people could see— two giant pillars stood on the once-empty field. Then, from the top of the tower, a figure appeared: the Tower Master, in his grand chariot of flames, wearing the legacy robe of the Tower Master. He landed in front of the pillars.

  The crowd’s cheers erupted, "Long live the Mage Tower! Long live the Tower Master!"

  He raised his hands. The cheers stopped.

  He spoke, "My people, I welcome you all to the execution of the traitor. I am sad to inform you that the cunning, cruel old traitor has escaped our grasp with his tricks."

  The people started shouting, almost a riot was about to start.

  The eruptions of the people were interrupted by Scorn:"Silence, my people!" he spoke with amplification magic. He continued,"But worry not. Today you gathered here to see a traitor meet his end. I will make sure you shall see it.

  I present to you, the traitor’s daughter— Melody."

  As he said that, a wounded Melody, with ripped dress, mana shackles restricting her limbs, appeared in the air. Her battered body floated and finally hung in the air.

  The crowd erupted in cheer— except for three demons standing in the crowd: Leo, Ryan, and Reed.

  Leo, seeing this, his eyes tearing up, veins bulging, was furious.Ryan, by his side, placed his hand on Leo’s shoulder and spoke, "Not yet, Leo. Patience."Hearing this, Leo held back and sat down.

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  In the Inn Leo Stayed

  In Leo’s room—On the bed lay an old demon. At his side stood Drake, preparing something in his hands.

  The long-unconscious old demon’s eyes twitched, his fingers moved. Drake noticed these subtle movements. He immediately took his water jug and rushed to the old demon.

  The old master slowly opened his eyes. He spoke with a dry throat, "Leo…"Drake interrupted, "First drink some water, old man." He placed the jug near his mouth and helped him take a sip.

  The old demon, his vision still blurred, asked, "Where is Leo?"Drake answered, "He went to the Tower to rescue your daughter."

  Hearing this, the old demon grew agitated. He almost jumped from his bed, raising both hands and grabbing Drake’s shoulders.He shouted, "It’s a trap! He is going to die for nothing!"

  Drake replied, "They spoke about challenging the Tower Master to a Trial of Mana. I don’t think the child of mana is going to lose its trial."

  The old master responded, "That’s only true if the flames were their former pure self. Now Scorn has contaminated them! He fed the souls of the starved, wronged demons into the flames, defiling their purity. The old Flames of Serenity are long gone. What remains is only a slave of Scorn— the Flames of Malice!"

  Drake, relaxed, spoke out, "So you say the flame will burn Leo to cinders."

  The old master cried out, "Exactly! Why are you so calm? Hurry! We need to stop the young demon before it’s too late!"

  Drake replied, "Worry not, old man. His light shall be extinguished today."

  The old man’s vision slowly started to recover, his clouded mind becoming clearer."Aren’t you his friend? Do you want him to die?" asked the furious Tower Master.

  Drake stood up, went near the window, and opened it and let out a lighter .

  Hearing this the old master remembered something ,he felt something… the voice that was talking to him was familiar. He had heard the same carefree obnoxious, yet reliable voice somewhere.the same obnoxious laughter.

  As his mind turned, his vision cleared— he could see the familiar back of the demon, he whispered ," it can't be".

  Then Drake spoke, as he turned his head to see the old master, "Worry not, old fool.as long as I live Death dares not touch that child."

  Speaking this, Drake leapt out the window with his sword, moving across the roofs toward the colosseum.

  The old demon’s dried eyes moistened, his stiff limbs relaxed. He took a sip from the jar, placed it down, and smiled. Slowly, the smile turned to a crazy man’s fanatic laughter, almost echoing throughout the whole tavern.

  He whispered with tears tracing down his face, "So you lived…"

  In the Colosseum

  Scorn stood in front of the shackled Melody.He spoke, "Now, the time you awaited so long— let’s burn the witch!"

  At that moment, three figures jumped out of their seats to the middle of the stadium, before the evil mage. Propelled by mana under their feet, they arrived at the threshold between life and death.

  Leo spoke, "You cruel, evil mage! How dare you frame the innocent for your crimes!"

  Scorn replied, "How dare mere insects crawl into the open? Don’t you fear being squashed?"

  Leo declared, "Scorn, by the law of the Ancient Archmages, and with the undying flame as witness, I challenge you to a Trial of Mana!"

  Scorn, with disdain, replied, "Want to burn to death? Fine, I shall grant it."

  After a pause, he spoke, "Let the Trial of Mana begin."

  Who is Drake?Will the fire swallow our young demon, or will he overcome the flames?Stay tuned to find out what happens next.

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