Chapter 5: All Magic Has a Price

Ronan tried with all his remaining strength to carry his brother through the swamp. The sun had begun to set, turning the once golden rays of sunlight into beams of angry blood orange as they progressed deeper into the swamp.

He had managed to get them both clear of the mysterious and terrifying black cloud that had befallen them, Ronan later realized that his fast movements had cost him his sword. But his brother's life was worth more than some trinket his grandmother Xalesha had stolen from the Xandrian Emperor.

He felt the weight of his brother get heavier and heavier upon his shoulder as they walked deeper and deeper into the haze of green mist. His feet were beginning to collapse under him and his breathing was becoming weaker. Every few steps he'd convulse and cough up something red coated in black sludge.

"We're almost there, we're almost there..." Ronan repeated to himself as they approached a change in terrain. The murky water began to disappear and was replaced with rocks, hastily scrawled signs decorated this lesser-known path that warned of 'turning back now' and 'don't ask him for anything'

The cave opening soon emerged. By now Ronan's brother was almost gone, he could both hear and feel him slipping away as he began to gargle something in his throat. Faced with no other option as they approached the steep incline that leads to the inner sanctum of the cave, Ronan flung his brother over his shoulder and descended the rock-laden slope as best he could. He skidded as they approached the bottom and unable to steady himself with the added weight of his brother, both of them fell face first on the coarse dirt.

The sound of the collapsed bodies alerted something in the walls. Gradually, an orange glow began to grow in ferocity until it was almost blinding to behold the source. Ronan shielded his eyes from the being that had materialized in the center of the cave. It came no closer, just remained standing there until the glow subsided enough for the Human to look directly at the specter. It was tall, just about as tall as his hated nemesis General Grimley. Like Grimley, it was black all over but teardrops of orange floated upwards from each joint and random intervals where physical flesh should have been. Ronan could faintly see the stone of the opposite side of the cave behind this being. Every now and then the whole body would flinch and disappear for a while then fade back in, as though it was glitching in and out of this physical reality.

"It's been a long time since a Human has visited me." The being spoke, the voice both right next to Ronan and far away at the same time. "What do you want?"

Ronan held his brother on his lap. He couldn't feel his breathing anymore.

The dirty blonde haired man had heard of this being. How he'd just appeared one day about 30 years ago and had tried numerous times to escape the confines of an orange gemstone he was attached to that was embedded in the wall of the cave. Many had warned of how deceptive he was, nobody knew his name or where he came from, a few had taught him out for petty favors and had little good to say of him. But he was his brother's only hope.

"I beg you, please save my brother." Ronan almost wept.

The being looked at the dying boy and remained rooted to the spot.

"That's far more than anyone has ever asked of me before. I'm sure you know I demand payment of sorts. My services and something of yours in return."

"Anything! Just please help him!"

"Anything? How about a change of scenery, then?"

Ronan looked at the being in confusion, with a dying man on the floor, he couldn't seem to care less. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the unease growing in Ronan's heart.

"What do you want in return for saving his life?" The Human demanded. The being smirked.

"I want out. Free me and I'll not only save his life but my magic will be at your complete disposal. You can't refuse this offer, his life saved, and revenge on those who've done this."

"What's the catch?"

"All magic has a price, do you want to waste time haggling or save his life?" The being began to recede back into the gemstone embedded in the cave wall. Ronan, now distraught, leaped after him. He picked up a rock and began to chip away at the stone encasing the orange sphere.

"Fine! I accept!" He cried as the gem fell into his cupped hands. The being reappeared, gave a grin dripping with magma and enveloped Ronan in a mist of black and orange.