Chapter 20: The wolf in chains

The giant wolf seemed to realize that the black flames surrounding Kael weren't going to disappear anytime soon. Its glowing eyes swept across the battlefield until they landed on one of the unconscious bandits. Without hesitation, it lunged forward.

Kael caught onto its intentions instantly. His body moved before his mind could catch up-he dashed through the ring of black flames and fired several small bullets of dark fire at the direwolf. The searing projectiles forced the beast to recoil, buying him just enough time to surround the fallen bandit in a protective barrier of black flames, cutting off the wolf's approach.

"One safe. Three more to go," Kael thought, his breathing unsteady. "I think I'm finally starting to understand what running out of mana feels like."

"Why am I even saving these guys? They terrorized this village for weeks and just tried to kill me." Kael asked himself.

His limbs felt heavy, his vision slightly blurred, yet despite everything, Dorian's words from before he joined Second Dawn surfaced in the back of his mind, steady as ever. "We don't add to the bloodshed unless there's absolutely no choice. People deserve a chance, even if they've made mistakes."

Kael let out a tired chuckle. "Such a lame reason... but I'll do my best to follow it as a member of the guild." He grinned, pushing himself forward once more.

The wolf lunged toward the other unconscious bandits, its glowing eyes locked onto easy prey.

Kael didn't hesitate. Gritting his teeth, he thrust both arms forward in a punch-like motion, unleashing two massive streams of black flames. The fire roared to life, forming barriers around the fallen bandits just in time to cut off the beast's advance.

He turned to the last one-Hughes, the poison mage. Kael left him for last on purpose.

The wolf snarled, its patience clearly wearing thin. Kael had denied it an easy meal one too many times. With a furious growl, it lunged straight at him, claws outstretched and fangs bared.

Kael barely had time to react. His body felt sluggish, mana nearly drained, but he forced himself to move. Spreading his arms and legs, he called upon the last reserves of his strength and unleashed a massive sphere of black flames around himself.

The blazing ball of fire roared to life just as the wolf closed in, swallowing Kael in its dark glow.

The wolf leaped back, its glowing eyes locked onto Kael. At that very moment, Kael felt it-his mana reserves completely drained. Every flicker of black flame he had conjured vanished, leaving nothing but darkness and silence in their place.

Everyone was defenseless now. Easy prey.

The wolf seemed to realize it too. Its lips curled, fangs bared in something eerily close to a grin.

Kael clenched his fists. He had no way to fight it, no magic left to burn-but he could still run. If he became the prime target, maybe he could lure it away long enough to recover even the tiniest bit of mana.

Without another thought, he turned on his heel and sprinted deepr into the forest.

...

The wolf pursued Kael through the forest, but it wasn't running at full speed. It was toying with him, enjoying the hunt. Every time Kael pushed himself to move faster, he could hear the beast's heavy footfalls closing in-never quite reaching him, but never far enough to give him hope.

Nothing more than a cruel game of hunter and prey.

The thick, metallic lighter Orin had given him bounced violently in his pocket with each desperate step. The weight of it felt almost unnatural, like it was demanding his attention.

Kael made a sharp turn, heart pounding in his chest, and dove into a ditch, pressing himself low against the earth. He barely had time to steady his breath before the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed above him.

A sphere of water slammed into the wolf's side with a loud splash. The beast flinched, its glowing eyes snapping toward the source of the attack.

A deep blue light shimmered in the shade, hovering just above the forest floor.

There, floating with an air of visible annoyance, was a small fairy. Her wings fluttered, leaving faint trails of luminescent mist in the air. She crossed her arms, tilting her head at the wolf as if scolding a misbehaving pup.

The wolf growled, baring its fangs. Its amusement from the chase faded, replaced with irritation.

Kael, still pressed low in the ditch, blinked in disbelief. "What's she doing here?"

The tiny fairy hovered in the air, her deep blue glow casting soft shadows against the trees. But what caught Kael's attention most were her eyes-those unmistakable, her deep dark shaded irises with the distant stars that lit the night sky. At the center a bright glow radiated strongly. Divine eyes that looked as if there was a miniature galaxy inside of them. She looked at the giant wolf and looked at it as it was something beneath her, even considering the size difference.

The wolf growled low, clearly irritated by the sudden bath.

Then a tiny and thin water blade flew by the wolf's head, cutting clean off the tip of its left ear.

The wolf let out a large bellow, causing nearby birds to start flying away and smaller animals to run away. It then lunged towards the fairy, ready to turn her into a tiny snack.

The fairy flew away, wolf behind her.

Kael exhaled sharply as the pressure around him shifted. The wolf no longer had its sights set on him-it was chasing after her now. He could finally catch his breath.

His muscles screamed in protest as he pushed himself up, forcing his exhausted body to move. He was just poisoned almost 10 minutes ago, now his mana was completely drained, but he couldn't just sit there. As his body collapsed once more.

The fairy, despite her small size, effortlessly maneuvered through the trees, weaving between branches with a fluidity that made her glow seem like a shooting star against the darkened forest.

The wolf, however, was relentless. It crashed through the underbrush, tearing apart roots and splintering trees as it pursued her. Despite her agility, Kael could tell that the wolf was gonna catch up.

"To think Orlae had to fight something like this." Kael chuckled out of concern for his friend, "I'll need to go check up on them after this."

Kael's hand instinctively reached for his pocket, fingers brushing against the weight of Orin's lighter.

It felt warm. Probably from Kael covering himself in flames so many times.

Furrowing his brows, Kael flicked it open.

A small, warm orange flame flickered to life, casting a faint glow against Kael's dirt-streaked face. 

His exhausted eyes locked onto the tiny fire. Even as his mana reserves sat at zero, even as his body screamed for rest, this flame burned without hesitation.

He hesitated, then let his fingertip touch the fire. No sting. No pain. Only warmth-steady and alive, like a pulse beneath his skin. The embers curled around his hand, as if recognizing him.

"So I'm immune to all kinds of fire, huh?" he murmured, a breathy chuckle escaping him despite his exhaustion.

But then he noticed something else.

A faint pulse, like a heartbeat. The warmth from the flame seeped into his skin, spreading through his body in slow, steady waves. His fatigue didn't disappear completely, but a bit of his strength and mana returned-just enough to clear the haze from his mind and loosen the heaviness in his limbs.

Kael's eyes widened. "Oh… so that's how I can absorb fire."

A shiver ran down Kael's spine-not from fear, but from the sheer realization of what this meant.

For a fleeting moment, he felt like he had full authority over every flame in the world.

"Contracts with gods are this powerful..." Kael thought.

Kael clenched his jaw, as he pushed himself to get up, a bit of his mana had returned but it wasn't enough, he flicked open the lighter again.

The small orange flamed flickered to life once more, this time Kael put the lighter close to his face and tried inhaling it, after several failed attempts, he successfully managed to start inhaling the flames.

Kael wasn't a fan of the taste, it tasted like old iron old iron and charred wood-but he pushed through it, forcing himself to absorb every flickering ember. A rush of warmth flooded his veins, and with it, more mana returned. It wasn't a full recharge, but it was enough to stand without his legs giving out beneath him.

Kael exhaled sharply, watching the last wisps of heat escape his lips like fading embers. He flicked the lighter closed with a sharp clink, tucking it back into his pocket. His gaze snapped to the direction the wolf and fairy went. "That damn mutt is gonna get it."

...

As Kael sprinted through the forest, his sharp eyes caught sight of deep, singed slashes carved into the bark of trees. They weren't claw marks-they were cuts, like those made by a sword.

Kael questioned whether it was truly just an ordinary giant horned direwolf or if there was more to it. It displayed unusual intelligence, had proven its cunning, and now it was leaving slashes on trees.

Before he could dwell on it further, Kael saw a deep blue light speeding toward him-with a giant beast close behind. The fairy had lured the wolf straight back to him.

Kael's right fist was engulfed in black flames as he charged at the giant wolf, which hadn't noticed him yet, too focused on the fairy.

The fairy flew above Kael, then veered off into the forest, vanishing into the trees. At that moment, Kael's flaming fist slammed into the wolf's face, sending it flying.

The wolf slowly rose to its feet, its fury intensifying with every passing moment. As it stood, light blue, crystal-like chains shot from its body, lashing out directly at Kael.

Kael's eyes widened in shock. He barely managed to duck, narrowly avoiding the attack as the chains vanished after missing their mark.

"Chains?!" Kael's mind raced. "I didn't know monsters or animals could use magic…"

He quickly tried to increase the distance between himself and the wolf. "If I get too close, it can bite and claw me. But if I keep my distance, it can attack with those chains..."

Kael gritted his teeth. He was at a loss for what to do, as he thought. "The only thing Jesp and Davit have been teaching me for the past month is how to control my mana and how to fight. It shouldn't be that different, right?"

Steeling himself, Kael charged at the wolf once again. The beast swiped at him with its front right leg, claws gleaming, but Kael rolled under the attack, narrowly avoiding it. As he came up, he swept his right leg-now bathed in black flames-into the wolf's side.

The wolf let out a pained growl, its fury only intensifying. Kael quickly put distance between them again, just in time to see more chains erupt from the creature's body. This time, small blades gleamed at the tips.

The first chain strike was easy to dodge, but the second came too fast-Kael barely twisted out of the way, but not before it grazed his right bicep, leaving a sharp, stinging cut.

Kael gritted his teeth, groaning as blood dripped from the wound, but he couldn't afford to lose focus. The wolf was already charging straight at him.

Thinking fast, Kael propelled himself upward using his black flames, barely avoiding the beast's lunge. But his escape was short-lived. Several chains shot out from the wolf's body, striking with terrifying precision. Before he could react, they wrapped around him mid-air and flung him across the forest.

Kael crashed through several trees before slamming into the ground. Pain shot through his body as he coughed up a fresh spew of blood. For a moment, he struggled to breathe, his vision blurring. But he forced himself to move-just in time to see the wolf charging again.

With no other choice, Kael blasted himself backward with a burst of flames, narrowly avoiding the full force of the attack. But the wolf's claws still managed to graze him, leaving a fresh wound across his left pectoral. Part of his black shirt tore away with it.

Kael struggled to get up, his body screaming in protest. He felt like he had reached his limit-but he couldn't give up yet. His new family would be devastated if he got killed in the middle of the woods by some random monster. He had to keep fighting. A small fire burned in his eyes.

The wolf lunged, and chains shot out-razor-tipped, glinting with lethal intent. Kael twisted away, barely avoiding the worst of it. A sting ran up his arm. Shallow cuts, but too close. The wolf was relentless. It closed the distance in an instant, jaws snapping as it lunged to take his head off.

Kael rolled beneath its massive frame, igniting his entire body in black flames. Planting his hands against the ground in an X-formation, he blasted himself upward, slamming into the wolf's belly with explosive force.

The beast toppled over with a snarl, but before Kael could press his advantage, two thick chains shot from its sides, wrapping tightly around his arms.

Gritting his teeth, Kael tried to set them ablaze, willing the fire to travel down the chains toward the wolf. The black flames surged forward-but only halfway. Then, suddenly, they flickered and began to die out.

The wolf was pushing back.

More and more of its mana poured into the chains, forcing Kael's fire to a standstill. It felt like trying to swim against a raging current, his flames struggling to advance but steadily being drowned out.

The wolf slowly stood up, its lips curling into an eerie grin, fangs bared, ready to devour the young fire mage.

Kael strained against the chains, but they wouldn't burn or break. Every step he took backward, the wolf reeled in its bindings, closing the distance once more. He felt like a bug caught in a spider's web.

The beast stalked toward him, its movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring its impending victory. Then, without warning, it lunged, just as Kael's eyes flared gold.

The moment the wolf saw the shift in his gaze-and felt the sudden, overwhelming change in Kael's presence-it halted mid-attack. Its ears flattened against its skull, and its pupils shrank. Fear flickered across its face, as though it had sensed something far beyond itself-something divine or even the personification of destruction itself.

For a single breath, the beast hesitated.

Then, with a snarl, it forced itself forward, shaking off its fear and lunging once more.

Kael didn't know why the wolf had faltered, but he took full advantage of it. Just as the monster's fangs came inches from his face, Kael unleashed a torrent of black flames from his mouth, blasting the wolf point-blank.

The searing black fire engulfed the wolf's face, an eerie yet majestic sight as the bright lights of the sun, slipped between the leaves of the trees as they fell onto the black flames. The beast howled in agony, its massive body thrashing as the flames clung to its fur like a living entity, refusing to die out. The chains binding Kael tightened even more, almost making the blood flow in his arms to stop.

The wolf, still smoldering, growled and snapped its jaws, trying to shake off the pain. Its fur was charred in patches, and one of its glowing eyes had been scorched blind. But it wasn't finished. If anything, the attack had only made it more desperate.

There was a muffled sound-then, without warning, a massive slash tore through the air and ground. The invisible force sliced clean through the chains binding Kael and sent the wolf's head flying.

The leftover chains on Kael's arms shattered as he suddenly heard approaching footsteps.

A towering woman strode toward him-her long, wild dark brown hair cascading down her back, with thick braids running along her spine like twisting vines. Scars covered her muscular arms, and her barbarian-like attire did little to hide her battle-worn form. She dragged along a colossal double-sided axe, forged entirely from the earth itself.

With a stern voice, she said, "Sorry for stealing your kill, but this one slipped away from me when I took down its pack. Been tracking it for the last few days."

Kael flexed his fingers, letting the blood flow return to his arms, then took a good look at the giant woman looming over him. "Thanks for the help. I thought I was a goner for a second." He processed what she had just said, then suddenly exclaimed, "Wait, so it's your fault this wolf was here?!"

The woman nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, hope it didn't cause you any serious problems." She didn't sound particularly guilty about it. Her sharp eyes studied the young fire mage, assessing his injuries. As she examined him, her gaze landed on his right glove-specifically, the emblem stitched into it.

An eye, flanked by a sun and a crescent moon.

She frowned in thought, tapping a finger against her chin. Then realization struck. Ohhh. It was a miniature version of the guild logo of Second Dawn-her guild.

"Ohhh, aren't you a member of that guild? What was it called again… Second Yawn? No, wait-Second Drawn? Ah, got it-Second Dawn, right?"

Kael stared at her, dumbfounded. "Yeah… you've heard of us-"

Before he could finish, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Kael! Are you okay?" Abel called out, leading a group of tied-up bandits toward them.

"I'm okay… You're okay… for the most part?" Kael's words trailed off as he took in Abel's battered state.

"You're one to talk," Abel shot back before his gaze landed on the towering woman beside Kael. His brows furrowed. "Vicrona? What are you doing here of all places?"

Vicrona gave a lazy wave. "Hey, Pebbles. I was out hunting before heading back to the guild. This one escaped from me, and I had to track it down. Some villagers up north said it came this way. Or was it west? Hm. Well, I found it, so that's what matters."

Kael blinked. "Wait… you know her?"

"Of course I do. She's from our guild." Abel sighed. "Not surprising you don't recognize her, though. She's hardly ever around. Takes jobs, finishes them, then vanishes to do her own thing until she finally decides to come home."

Kael seemed to connect the dots. "Wait, is she the half-giant Orin mentioned?"

"The one and only," Vicrona said beaming with pride.