A Burnt Promise 1

Alice Landheart.

I would've lost my arm if I reacted even a second later; I had failed to notice the monster had disappeared from Igris. I was too focused on this trap; a simple mud trap would've done, but I had to go beyond and try to give it a similar effect to quicksand.

But it wasn't complete; once I heard Igris scream, I had completely lost control. If anything had happened to him, I wouldn't know what to do. I could feel tears begin to form behind my eyes.

I don't think the spell even worked correctly, but I still have to follow through with whatever his plan was.

Igris looked like he was having a hard time moving; did he get injured?

"Igris! I'll hold him down, but you have to hurry. I won't last long!" I said my voice came out shaky.

Grabbing the arm that slashed at me with my remaining gauntlet, I used every ounce of strength I had left to make sure it wouldn't move.

Jerking its arm down into the mud, its upper body fell with it, falling into the sticky mud. Striking its shoulder, I pinned down the monster.

Its body wildly twisted and shook as it attempted to escape.

"Igri—" I could feel the sweat dripping from my face as I stared at the boy who just struggled to walk.

His messy but neat black hair fell just below his ears, and his beautiful blue eyes, which I thought were focused on the monster, were intently staring into mine. 

The mud below him was popping and warping wildly, almost like it was sizzling.

Flames—flames too wild to contain overtook his arm, and they were only growing wilder. As he took each step, the mud warped and popped like it was forming a path only for him to walk; it was no longer a hindrance to him. 

His usual flames would coat both arms, but only his right arm was coated in those wild flames, and what followed was a palpable sensation; just being in the presence of those flames made my body tremble.

With a sudden burst of power, the beast snapped out of the mud, sending me hurling backwards. Igris body moved in what was like a calm but hasty motion before he appeared in front of the monster.

The monster roared, its fur standing on its Witt's end.

The monster lunged out with incredible speed as it tried to hit him but failed; Igris had already moved in the very instant the monster had.

His arm embodied in flames roared as his hand sought out for the beast's arm, and then, with a second of contact, a cry came from the beast as its entire body jerked in retaliation.

His hand had completely eviscerated its fur, and the monster gnawed at him.

Igris didn't let a moment pass before his arm swung at the monster's jaw as an arc of burning flame followed. The monster's neck completely twisted to its side to dodge the attack, but Igris's arm came flying back, snapping its neck back into place.

A pained scream escaped from the monster; flesh began melting from its cheek, and then it vanished.

Appearing in the air, the monster's jaw was wildly out, and it was preparing to eat him whole.

The jagged arm of flames arced toward its mouth, flickering violently before condensing into a chaotic, otherworldly ball in his grasp.

This small ball of fire twisted and warped, its unstable form shifting with all its power.

Then, the chaos was unleashed.

As the searing torment surged into its mouth, the monster's jaws clenched tight. Smoke shot from its ears and nose, and with a thunderous roar, it exhaled a torrent of fire—like the legendary dragons from a story.

But in the end, they share the same fate.

Neither emerges victorious.

As I watched Igris the air hung thick. 

The beast collapsed, lifeless, just a few feet from Igris. He stood over the creature he had just slain, a testament to the fight that just unraveled, the smell of flames lingering throughout.

I had no words… he had done it.

Igris turned his head before he walked over, "Igris, you did I—"

Before I could finish, he dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around me. "I'm glad you're okay."

A few tears broke free as I returned his hug. "Thank you for coming with me; I wouldn't have been able to do this alone."

As I held him close, I realized just how much smaller he felt in my arms. "I'm sorry, I—Igris," I stammered, my voice barely breaking free.

My throat feels like it's closing up, and my heart ached, so in response, my hold around him tightened.

"It's fine; don't cry. I should be the one sorry. It's my fault you got hurt," he said softly, running his hand through my hair.

Any other time, I might have moved his hand, but for now, it just felt right. 

In this moment, him being here was all the comfort I needed. Just for today, Iggy.