Chapter 12: A Fiery Mark of Beginning

“What happened? You look upset,” Lillin asked Grunt when they finally caught up with each other.

“We have to leave this place as soon as possible,” Grunt replied. “The village cannot be saved. Let’s hurry and find a safe place.”

Lillin was troubled. “Why are you just leaving your village like that? Tell us what happened.”

“I’ll explain everything once we…” Grunt was interrupted by a strong tremor.

After a few seconds, a thick pillar of fire burst out from the direction of Ishrock. Lillin and Chris saw the massive spectacle, while Grunt couldn’t even look back.

“What kind of powerful spell is that?” Chris asked in astonishment.

“It’s the scroll of Volcanic Embers,” Grunt replied. “It’s a spell that only the Chief knows how to use. It draws some of the fire out of Uld’s core, and incinerates everything within a 50-meter radius.”

“But… what will happen to the caster?” Lillin asked.

“As I said, the spell burns everything within its range. That includes all the village raiders, but also the Chief, the other Cyclops warriors, and the village of Ishrock.”

Lillin let out a gasp. Even Chris was silenced by what he has just heard.

“At any rate,” Grunt continued, “this is not the time to mourn. We have to go to the next village. They are also probably being invaded by the Discordians.”

“I’m sorry but what’s the three of us going to do against hordes of enemies?” Chris said in a sarcastic manner.

“Did the death of the goblin leader and the fulfillment of your revenge make you a coward, now?” Grunt retorted.

“Your Chief used a strong spell that incinerated the whole village of Ishrock just to kill those nutheads!” Chris exclaimed. “What can we possibly have to protect any village from being attacked?”

“We have you,” Grunt said.

“Me?” Chris seemed confused.

Grunt sighed. “In as much as I don’t like entrusting the fate of Uld to an ill-tempered adventurer, I will have to trust what the Chief told me that you are one of the destined children.”

“You mean the one in the legends who can control one of the four elements?” Lillin interrupted.

“Yes,” then Grunt looked at Chris. “You possess the power to manipulate ice, one of the three forgotten elemental magic. The Chief asked me to help you in your adventures to become stronger, and to find the other three destined children who will save Uld from the Discordians.”