The Battle For Carthagiom

I woke to hands shaking my shoulder.

"Jackson, the suns up let us go now." Veronica's soft voice echoed to me. i slowely opened my eyes to see her bent over me. Her face close to mine.

"Morning." i grunted.

she smiled and extended her hand out to me. i grabbed it as she pulled me up. her skin was softer then silk. not warm but not cold either.

"We must start our journey to Carthagiom. its a fishing village. we might be able to find some gear there. won't be anything fancy though." she said still gripping my hand.

"ok, can I have my hand back please?" I asked

she turned a bright pink and quickly let go of my hand. she turned and walked away a little bit while I got up.

"I'm sorry." she quickly said.

"I just couldn't fix my shirt if you held onto my hand. it didn't bother me." I replied shuffling my now tattered shirt.

Her blush turned into a darker red. her face towards the ground.

"Alright lets go." I said.

she nodded and we took off. it was a gorgeous day, the sun was shinning and a gentle breeze was flowing through the lands. Veronica looked like she was in a decent mood.

"So what's Carthagiom like?" I asked.

"It's small. war has hit it hard. people there are honest. its one of few places our species co exist." she replied quietly.

"Don't worry about that. someone treats you a way that I don't like I will deal with it." I replied noticing her change of attitude.

She looked at me with surprise. then smiled. her eyes shinning.

"See I knew I was right to come with you jackson!" Her voice bubbly.

we chatted as we walked. she told me she was the last of her village. That the empire had been hunting her to wipe them out completely. She had been trying to fight back by leading them into traps and ambushes. quickly attacking and dissapearing. At one point there where more then thirty men chasing her down.

"Its amazing you survived that long. I know it wasn't easy on you. Like i said don't worry, now we will fight together." i replied after she had explained all that to me.

"Thank you. it was hard, i want revenge on the horrible things the empire has done to my people." She looked sad.

i wasn't good with sad, something twinged in my chest and my body moved on its own. my hand shot out to hers, gripping it. i pulled her to me and hugged her. She was slightly taller then me, her tears falling onto my shoulders as she cried. Her body shook with anger and pain.

"It's ok to cry, let it out. after your done show strength. be the vengence your people deserve, i shall help you." i said stroking her hair.

she sobbed for a few more minutes. slowly recovering.

"Thank you Jackson." She said with a tearful smile.

i nodded. i knew what it was to be truly alone. i didn't want her to feel that way ever. i began thinking on how i could actually help. i still didnt know the full extent to what this world was. i figured it had to be a fantasy world, since Veronica was what looked like a wood elf from my world. Was there magic, or was there demons and angels. i was still lost in thought when i felt Veronicas hand grip my wrist and yank me down a small hill and into some brush.

"Whats wrong?" i asked.

"Smokes in the air. the village got hit." her voice was sad again.

i shook ooff her hand.

"Then we mustn't hide Veronica." i said pulling the knife she gave me.

"very well i will follow you." she replied readying her bow.

"Is there magic in this world?" i asked quickly.

"Yes but very few have the ability to use magic." She replied.

i nodded and formed a plan. i began moving towards the smell of smoke. my mind steeled for more bloodshed.

"Halt you don't belong here this is empire land." a soldier yelled at me.

i looked towards where he was standing. i noticed he was burning bodies of the deceased.

"That is where your wrong. i will send you to a fire much hotter then the one you condemn them to." i growed walking fast towards him. anger burning with in me. his eyes narrowed as he drew his sword.

"Last warning kid. don't throw your life away." he pleaded with me at the edge of his blade.

The anger boiled even more. i could feel it take control, it felt like a fire starting at my feet, the flames errupting in my stomach. once i was a few feet from the man he sighed and took a lunge at me. i sidestepped, my eyes locked onto his every movement. i could here Veronica fighting another guard behind me. The guard swung at me, i parried with the dagger, blocking his slash. the man stumbled back. that was my opening, i quick stepped to him. my hand gripping his face, whilst my dagger slashed at his sword arm.

"Remember that fire i spoke of?" i asked pulling his face close to mine.

"y ye yes." he stammered.

"Burn." i whispered.

i focused all my rage into my hand. i felt it growing unbearably hot then flames erupted from the space between my hand and his face. his screams muffled by the river of fire. the more he screamed the more my fire burned. white flames danced all around me, feeding off the other fires around me.

"What are you! what have you done." the other guard turned his attention to me.

"Me? Why i'm the vengence of innocence." i replied dropping the husk that was once a man.

The second guard tried to run. it was to late. i was on him like a predator on prey. The fires burned everything i touch. He screamed horrificly. Those screams drew more soldiers. they ran towards me only to be stunned by what was happening. some backed up, others debated on charging me. i turned my head towards them, my anger fully out of control. the fire of my soul was what errupted from me. draining other's fire. my enemies couldnt fight back. the flames were to strong, the heat to great to bear. many fell to their knees to pray to whatever god they prayed to.

"Whomever you call upon won't save you nor will they avenge you." i growled. The flames began circling the guards. faster and faster, a cyclone forming around the group. They began clawing at their throats as oxygen was sucked out of the cyclone. within minutes the fight was over. i felt the anger leave, i felt weak. my head began spinning and my nose bled. i began to fall when i felt Veronicas arms catch me.

"Over did it." i mumbled.

She nodded as i faded to sleep.