The remaining journey to Fanghoof Pass was uneventful. Lieutenant Valka continued to grumble and complain, especially after their supply of Vodka ran out. Lieutenant Anya continued to have me train with my Fire Bolt and it finally dawned on me just how incredible the Born of Fire trait was.

  When casting my Fire Bolt spell, I never missed where I aimed. On top of my unerring spell accuracy, was that I often placed a [Burning] debuff on my target if I didn’t just outright destroy it. I had originally thought the debuff acted as causing additional flame damage over time, but what it really did was increase the flame damage and critical chance of subsequent fire spells in a stacking pattern. After a total of five bolts, my chance to do greater critical damage on my target was increased by 15%, or so said the notification I received. More confusing numbers, but I knew it was a positive occurrence. After learning that I could possibly gain an additional spell in the Dungeon, I felt eager to enter it and succeed.

  Active Spells (1 of 3)

  Fire Bolt

  “Lieutenant Anya, when I look at my equipped spells, it says I have one of three spells. What does that mean? Can I only use three spells?”

  “It means you need to raise your Focus attribute more. Yes, you can only equip so many Active spells at a time, but you can gather and learn as many as you can and that are useable by your Class. Dungeon Bosses are guaranteed to drop at least one. During combat situations Active spells are the only ones you will have access to. When you start to gain Passive abilities as you level up your Pyromancer class, their equip limit is determined by your Will attribute. Think of Passive abilities as synergies or additional effects that might occur when casting an Active ability. Other Passives may just perform some minor task that relates to your Class. For instance, I possess a Passive called Diagnose Blood that lets me determine if a wound has become infected or poisoned just by looking at it. It is good to remember that not every ability you gain is necessarily good for combat, but will still have their uses. There are also additional abilities one can unlock through leveling or performing some task which unlocks an Achievement, something only Awakened are able to do.”

  Her words reminded me of Imbolc’s Breath, but I decided not to mention it as Igvild’s warning about only telling people what they needed to know was still fresh in my mind. I wanted to trust Lieutenant Anya and a part of me already did, but it’s hard to trust someone who keeps a Manastop bracelet strapped to your wrist and a hand on her dagger while she takes it off you.

  We camped in the shadow of the mountain next to a well trodden dirt road. It made me feel better to know other people traveled in this area. The hardest part of learning traveling skills was teaching myself not to jump at every noise in the night. Listening to the two Lieutenants talk about the Slynt was enough to make anyone nervous.

  That night after we had eaten a dinner of salty biscuits and beans I was informed that we would reach the dungeon by midday on the morrow. I chewed on my biscuit thoughtfully. I still knew next to nothing about what to expect, but Lieutenant Valka at least seemed confident.

  “I don’t want to spend any more time than is necessary sifting through goblin junk and getting my armor covered in monster guts. We get in, kill everything, get out, clear?” Valka was looking directly at me when he spoke so I nodded to indicate I agreed with him. I also decided that now was the time to ask my questions.

  “Sir, how do you know the Goblins will be there? I mean, couldn’t the monsters get bored and have moved on to somewhere else?” My voice trailed off as I watched the frown on Valka’s face get deeper and deeper.

  “By the Eye, you really are the most clueless little…” Lieutenant Anya cleared her throat.

  “What I believe the Recruit is asking, Lieutenant, is what makes the beasts inside a dungeon different from ones found without.” I nodded my head quickly, grateful for her intervention. I was well aware Valka didn’t seem to like me for some reason, but he had to know I didn’t know anything about dungeons!

  “Beasts in Dungeons are created by a Dungeon Core. That means they were created by Mana, not some Mama and Papa monster, you dolt.” Lieutenant Anya glowered at Valka’s tone and turned to me.

  “A Dungeon constantly populates itself with beasts, animals, monsters and what have you in order to challenge those who enter its demesnes. They are both real and not real. Yes, you can kill them and they can kill you, but eventually they will return, respawn if you will, and the process repeats itself.”

  “That’s almost too incredible to believe, Lieutenant. How can something die, but then live again?” Lieutenant Valka appeared as if he was going to yell at me again, but Anya intervened.

  “It is a lot to wrap your mind around, I know. All you need to understand for the purposes of what we are doing here is that by killing the enemies within a dungeon, the Mana used to create the enemies you defeat will return to the Dungeon Core and in its place are rewards of Experience Points that allow one to reach a higher level of power. Once you pass a certain benchmark of gained experience, that is. Left behind when the enemy dies are also treasures…”

  “Which you don’t need to concern yourself with,” Valka interrupted.

  “Why?” I asked. Igvild also gazed at Valka sideways as he chewed on a biscuit.

  “Because as Party Leader, I will be setting the loot rules before we enter and all dropped loot will automatically be coming to me and from there I will be delivering it all to General Torlack.”

  “True,” Lieutenant Anya sighed.

  “You owe the army 10 Gold Crowns for taking you in, don’t forget.” I couldn’t argue with that fact and wouldn’t have even if I could. Lieutenant Valka had the Dawn watch, so he curled up in his blankets and went to sleep. Anya had first watch, so both Igvild and I prepared to sleep as well, but I felt restless and nervous about what the next day would bring. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I would be defending myself against murderous monsters on the morrow.

  “Murderous monsters on the morrow,” I whispered. It made my jaw hurt to say that. I suppose it still didn’t feel real. I sat staring at the fire, Igvild snoring beside me. I’m not sure how much time passed as I sat staring into the flames before Lieutenant Anya spoke.

  “You should sleep, Davros.” I looked over at Anya. She had a weapon laid across her lap I had not seen her use yet. It had a leather grip like a sword and a long shaft with a spiked ball attached at the end. She saw me looking at it. “This is a Morning Star. It has a much longer reach than a sword. Many of the creatures in the Bleakthorn Holler will be small, but quick. I will be looking to knock down a few to give you some support.”

  “Thank you.”

  We sat awhile in silence. The sounds of the forest were muted this close to the Pass and the stars were obscured by clouds. The only light came from the campfire itself. A part of me wanted to reach out and grasp the flame in my hand. I shook my head to clear away the strange thought. Awakening had changed me in so many ways, some more subtle than others. I wanted to ask Anya more about it, but didn’t know how to. How does one become familiar with another person? I hadn’t had any real friends at the Orphanage, only others I had suffered burdens with. I wasn’t sure if it was the same thing.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I’ll just throw Fire Bolts until I can’t anymore. Even Lieutenant Valka won’t…

  Lieutenant Anya leapt to her feet and whirled around, her morning star in her hand. I froze. Beside me, Igvild had stopped snoring. I turned my head to see the dwarf was out of his blankets and also staring out into the darkness, a dagger clutched in each hand. I opened my mouth to ask him what was the matter, but without looking in my direction he shook head from side to side. I clammed up. It was like when one of Madame Fevre’s lackeys was spying on you, but you didn’t want them to know you knew they were there doing the spying. My mind caught up with Anya and Igvild a moment later. We were being spied upon right now.

  “Valka. Wake up!” Anya hissed. To his credit, Valka didn’t call out or complain. His eyes flew open and he was on his feet, sword in hand in a moment, wide awake. It was not a moment too soon.

  There was a baying screech that ripped the silence of the night to pieces. A thing entered the edge of the light of the fire, towering above us all. My mouth dropped open at my first live look at a Slynt. It really was like a cross between a man and a goat. Its head was goat-like with black fur all over its body, curved horns growing from its forehead, a narrow snout and wicked looking teeth stained red with blood. As it bayed at us, which was what a normal goat sounded like crossed with an almost humanlike roar, my heart leapt into my throat. Its call was echoed by similar cries surrounding us.

  “A whole damned pack!” Valka shouted to be heard over the cacophony. Igvild cursed, but he clutched his daggers and readied himself for a fight. Anya also held her morning star in one hand, her other hand holding a familiar item.

  “Davros, shoot it! You might scare them off!” Anya shouted, tossing me the wand to remove my Manastop bracelet, which I quickly used. I had seen it done enough times now and despite my hand’s trembling the bracelet quickly fell from my wrist to the ground. Mana surged from my Core in a euphoric flood.

  There was no time to doubt. No time to even think. The eyes of the Slynt were worst of all. They were slitted sideways like a goat and as it stared at me from across the campfire I saw its malevolence and hunger. Valka’s statement came back to me.

  They enjoy eating humans after hacking them death!

  I raised my finger and pointed it directly at the beast. I cast Fire Bolt and the magic bore a smoking hole into the Slynt’s left shoulder a moment later. The creature screamed and reeled back, which gave Valka time to slash the creature across its abdomen, spilling its intestines onto the ground. The beast screeched and tried stuffing its innards back up inside itself before collapsing to the ground in agonizing death.

  There was no time to celebrate the victory as more Slynt emerged into the firelight. Their size varied, but even the smallest of them matched me in height. All of them were baying loud enough to drown out any other noise. I heard Anya shout something and I saw Igvild stab one of the Slynt in the chest before darting around behind the creature and slicing it along the back of its leg causing it to drop to its knees.

  Don’t just stand there!

  I pushed myself into action once more. Everywhere I pointed a finger I launched another bolt. A Slynt caught fire and ran screaming back into the forest. Another I shot through the eye. It’s head jerked back and it dropped to the ground as its tiny brain cooked inside its skull.

  We were winning. The Slynt’s surprise attack was turning back upon itself. Valka was impressive as he dropped another when he stabbed it in the throat. Anya’s morning star smashed another in its leg then followed up by finishing it off with a clean strike to its face, pulping it into mush. I couldn’t see Igvild, but then there he was appearing behind one larger than average Slynt stabbing with both his daggers into its lower back. I lined up another Fire Bolt, my breathing heavy from the adrenaline and from my mana reserves dropping close to empty.

  Where many of the Slynt had brownish or black fur, this one was pale white. My fire bolt took it in the chest, but the Slynt snarled something at the last moment and my bolt deflected off an invisible shield, a red glow briefly outlining its form. It was a Mage! Not only was my bolt deflected, but when Igvild tried to backstab the Slynt again instead he cried out in surprise as one of his daggers started to melt when it made contact with the invisible shield.

  “Igvild, look out!” I shouted. The Dwarf skirted away before the Slynt could backhand him with its claw. I lined up another fire bolt, this time aimed at its head. I fired again. Again. Again! Each bolt deflected. Finally, when I had nearly reached my ten bolt limit the Slynt’s shield failed and I took the monster in the neck. It gargled in pain and fell to the ground where Igvild finished it off. There was a flash of light and I received a new window, but there was no time to look at it.

  Something smashed into me from behind. It happened so quickly that I lost my spell and went flying forward to fall directly into the campfire. I put my hands out to catch myself, the sudden pain in my back making me cry out. Igvild yelled something, but I couldn’t hear what it was. The flames were in my face. With a groan, I stood up. My cloak and part of my shirt was on fire, but there was no time to address it. I was black with soot, but while the flames were hot, my skin was unblemished and unburned. I stood there a moment, the pain in my back enraging me. I saw the Slynt who had attacked me from behind. Its face was monstrous, but I saw its disbelief that I was not currently burning alive.

  “You bloody bastard!” I hissed. The pain in my back enraged me. I fired off a bolt which penetrated the monster’s cheek. The Slynt howled, the inside of its mouth lighting up as if the creature were trying to breath fire itself. I walked out of the campfire, clothes smoking and tossed away my now ruined Czak cloak. “You goat-faced, smelly, rot-brained freak!” I sensed I only had enough mana left for one more bolt. There was no need. Anya’s morning star ended the creature’s life, bashing its skull and leaving it twitching in its death throes upon the ground.

  “Are you hurt?” Anya asked, walking up to me after tossing her weapon aside. Her hand glowed as I nodded and winced.

  “It hit me in my back. It hurts. I think it intentionally knocked me into the fire.” Anya nodded in agreement.

  “Some of the Slynt are smarter than they look. They can use tactics and strategize.” She placed a glowing hand upon my back and it was near instantaneous relief as the pain receded then disappeared completely. Anya saw to Valka next who had suffered a few scrapes and cuts, but Igvild was unharmed and waved her away.

  “I’m alreet, lassy.” Anya nodded and looked the dwarf over. Only his hands were bloody from his knife work, but he looked otherwise unharmed. She filed it away that this hairless dwarf was tougher than he looked. She turned back to Davros.

  “You aren’t burned?” I shook my head and grinned.

  “Fire doesn’t harm me,” I answered. “It’s my friend.” Valka interrupted us.

  “We can’t stay here. The smell will bring scavengers if nothing else. We’ll break camp and head into the Pass now.” Valka’s orders were quickly followed. Even Anya didn’t feel the need to argue with the other Lieutenant’s reasoning, despite their fatigue. There were always more Slynt this far north and had the pack been any larger the four of them may have been hard pressed to survive the attack.

  Valka carried a torch and prepared to set off when Igvild stopped him.

  “Best let me scout ahead, sir. I kin see fine in the dark and be as quiet as a Deepscrout. I’ll swing back and warn ye if there be any more o’ the uglies ahead.”

  Valka hesitated, then nodded. Wordlessly, Igvild held out the wrist with his Manastop bracelet. Valka stared the dwarf in the eye and Igvild stared back, neither blinking. Finally, Valka sighed and reached into a side pouch to retrieve a small wand.

  “The General said you’re be more reliable than the rest of your kind usually are. I suppose now is as good a time as any to test that.” Igvild grinned and rubbed his wrist after the bracelet came off.

  “Right-o.” The dwarf stepped from the firelight and seemed to disappear. I blinked. Did Igvild have the power to turn invisible? Was he some sort of Mage too? A dagger wielding Mage? Anya chuckled.

  “I have a feeling if he does come across any Slynt, he’ll do more than scout their location. He knows his knife work.”

  “That doesn’t mean you get a free pass.” Valka jammed a finger in my direction. “You did adequately in that fight, but I want your bracelet back on. Now!” I glanced about focusing on the ground. It was still full dark and even without the blood and corpses it would have been hard to find where the Manastop bracelet had fallen after Anya removed it.

  “Um, sorry Lieutenant, but…”

  “We don’t have time for this Valka, we need to move.” Anya shouldered her pack and knelt beside the dying fire to light a torch of her own. Valka looked from her to me and back again.

  “You’re going to trust a newly Awakened Pyromancer to watch our backs and not light them on fire? Have you even explained to him what Corruption is yet?” Valka stalked over until he was nose to nose to me. I backed up instinctively.

  “You just watch what you’re doing, hear? You ain’t making it out of the dungeon, let alone to Bruhle, without us. You do what I say, when I say. Understand me, Bentface?”

  “Yes, sir!” Without another word Valka whirled around and stalked into the night until all I could see of him what his torch. Strangely enough, I felt that even if I had my eyes closed I would still know where his torch was.

  It is because I touched those flames when I fell into the fire. I can feel them! I’m connected to them now. Was this another boon of my Born of Fire trait?

  I rubbed my wrist. I wouldn’t miss that damn bracelet, that was for certain. I felt the mana in my core slowly restoring itself with each beat of my heart and the ring of flame surrounding my core burned all the brighter. I felt more connected to my fire than ever before. It felt good and lent me confidence I didn’t know I had.

  “Lieutenant, if there are any more Slynt I’ll burn them to ashes.” Anya looked me in the eyes, her expression unreadable until she nodded.

  “Let’s move out. We’ll be fine once we reach the Bleakthorn Holler. The Slynt won’t go there.”

  I set out after Lieutenant Valka, Anya bringing up the rear. The fight had given me a burst of energy in more ways than one. I had blinking notifications indicating I had Eye given messages I needed to check, but walking through a dark forest at night wasn’t the time or the place. I also kept it to myself that I felt eager to use my power again. I wanted there to be more Slynt. I wanted another one of those bastards to try laying hands on me again. I felt a rumble in my innards and I swallowed some extremely acidic bile. If one of them did manage to hurt me again, they would get a whole lot more fire than their tiny goat brains could ever imagine possible.