The water dazzled under the sunshine; and the evening glow which bathed the water's surface made the sight even more ethereal. The water shimmered and twinkled like countless stars on a sea of twilight. Only faint waves rippled across its surface as the wind blew, carrying a cool refreshing air.
James felt a warmth well up in his chest. ' Getting to see things like this might make dying worth it. '
Meanwhile in another section of the Silent forest, the Convoy Bound for Outpost Number One had just come into view.
Outpost number one could barely be called an outpost. It was mounds of rubble surrounding a mottled stone tower. There were pieces of the tower missing, allowing for anyone to see its interior structures. Most visible was the remnants of the staircase that wound upwards towards its battlement.
There was no defensive perimeter other than a few dry stone walls which had been breached in a few places. The air around the outpost reeked of fresh blood and death. It hung around the air like drapes on a window clouding the vision of everyone around.
There was another distinct smell. It was something burning. Behind the tower out of sight a humanoid pile was burning. The soft sizzle and pop of flesh burning never seemed to end.
A young man was hauling another body to the pile. His eyes were burning and tears kept welling up as he felt his chest tighten looking at the body he was holding. Just last night they were drinking and smiling. Now he could never drink again; it felt like his brain was playing a sick joke on him. He couldn't even remember his friend's voice or the words he said to him last night. All he could remember was his laugh. "That dumbass laugh"
He blinked and looked towards the flames. It was a human bonfire…One that hadn't stopped burning for three days. The young man clenched his bloodied fists and heaved a heavy sigh before he threw the body onto the blaze watching another turn into fuel for the flame.
"Shit…Shit…Shit…FUCK! GOD DAMMIT! WHEN WILL THIS END!" He screamed out. A couple figures who were resting on the remains of other structures glanced in his direction but didn't move. They were all tired. All tired of this pointless fight. A fight they were losing.
The young man heaved as he fell to his knees and pounded the earth.
*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
He heaved and almost vomited as his lungs wheezed inhaling the ashes of his dead comrades. He covered his mouth and looked up at his friend through teary eyes and gripped the insignia of the fireaxe on his chest.
" Burn brighter in the After-life Yonnis. I will kill that mutt with my own two hands the next time I see it. I'll make sure that vial empties by my hands. I swear it."
A faint gust of wind blew by his face. As he returned to the camp and found a quiet place to think.
He glanced up at the outpost tower. The interior of the tower could be seen through large holes in its exterior. Even portions of the staircase were exposed and broken beyond repair. He sighed and looked off at the road leading to the outpost. " I hope they don't come"
There were two people stationed atop the circular battlement looking out in the distance. The first was a young lady. Her uniform was torn in many places and stained blood lined the portions that remained. Open wounds still drizzled blood down to the soles of her feet, however her gaze lacked the wince of someone who was in pain. Her eyes seemed distant and lost.
" Mylo." Her voice exited her lips awkwardly as if she hadn't spoken in a few days. " Farod and Company are here."
She felt up her uniform and found a piece of stained wood. She with the effortlessness of doing this many times struck the wood against the stone and a torch blazed to life in her hands. She held it up in the sky for a few seconds before the flames fizzled out.
Her compatriot Mylo sighed and rubbed his black hair in distress. " Would you hate me if I said I wished they didn't show up?"
"Mmm." Jenna brooded on the topic.
"This place is a lost cause. We're a lost cause…and now they're a lost cause too. At least If nobody showed up we could go home. " Mylo coughed into his fist and flashed the blood off his hands like water.
She didn't respond to Mylo's words immediately but glanced downwards at the base of the spire where a towering figure sat on the toppled ruins of a small wall. In front of him were two familiar faces. She spat to the side and continued to look out into the distance. " When will those two leave again?"
Mylo, who was leaning on the battlement glanced briefly at where his partner spat and frowned; his originally carefree mood turned sour. " I think they're just here to fuck with us. Vivian hates Juraman afterall. Everyday they watch him crumble is another day closer to him giving up the keys to the Farm. Don't remind me they exist again Jenna. I didn't climb up this tower because I was fond of company. I wanted to escape that smell…I hate how it never gets old…but, I am starting to think the smell is coming from me"
Jenna sighed and took a deep breath. The air smelled like death…Too many things have died here. Too many lingering emotions and Post-humus karma.
Jenna's eyes furrowed. " I just hope a Duppy doesn't appear"
Mylo's brows furrowed as karma coated his eyes and revealed that the ethereal haze that lingered in the air was actually a thick purple fog. " I just hope Juraman figures out what he's doing fast. I don't want to be here when that happens…"
Jenna frowned. Her lips trembled slightly. " I was really hoping you'd say 'if'."
Mylo blinked and the karma around his eyes dissipated. " Don't ask questions you don't like the answers to."
Below them was Juraman who was seated near the base of the tower. In front of him were two figures who seemed out of place.
" Juraman…I really think you should accept her offer. Just look at your firekeepers; their flame might just burn out at this point." A mature voice tried to reason with Juraman once more.
Juraman picked his eardrums and glanced upwards at the person who was shorter than him by a head even while he was sitting.
He was bald and was dressed in tight fitting trousers and a loose button up shirt. On his wrist was a golden watch that glared in the sunlight. A golden linked chain was wrapped around his neck. On his hip uncharacteristically was a longsword. His build was rather sturdy but any comparison of size made next to Juraman was irrelevant. He would always appear small.
He looked up at Juraman, uncaring of his stature and simply smiled as Juraman's eyes narrowed into slits. 'Feego Balm'
Next to him was a younger boy who looked around 17. His expression lacked the confidence of his compatriot but he was dressed in loose fitting dress pants and a plain white shirt that was untucked. He was busy looking around Outpost #1 with nothing but pity. Eventually he whispered to himself. " I really thought this place would have lived up to the hype…I should have stayed at #15 where I wouldn't have to stand all day."
The boy realizing Juraman was looking at him snapped back to attention and smiled amicably before praising Juraman. " Lovely place you have here Mr Juraman. It's amazing that you've managed to keep this place standing. I hear that King Shuck has focused all his attention on destroying this outpost. Mr Balm told me that, 'If this place falls then the Garden is doomed.' "
As he spoke about the doom of the Garden Juraman could see no remorse in his eyes. It seemed more like entertainment. Even his tone seemed excited at the prospect of losing one of the 12 bastions of humanity that have stood for thousands of years.
Juraman closed his eyes and heaved a sigh. He shifted his weight slightly before resting his palm on his knee and leaning forward. " And If I give up the rights to the Farm Vivian is going to protect everyone?"
The boy's eyes gleamed with glee. " Of course Mr Juraman. However, things will change a bit. Vivian likes the old ways better…" The boy tapped his lips as if trying to recall something.
" I think she said it's more 'efficient' right Mr Balm?" The boy looked over towards Feego who laughed out loud.
" Yes. Yes. Efficiency is the name of the game. After all, if you're not a karma master. You're not worth much of anything in the Wilds. Regular people do much better work indentured, than on wages. Vivian just wants to return the Garden to its rightful state. I mean it's not like you will suffer from this eh Juraman? You're a rank 4 karma master, the same as Vivian. You'd be of equal status and treated as an honored guest–"
Feego raised his voice and spread his arms. "-Along with all the firekeepers! You would be treated rightfully.You are powerful. You stand above normal people so you should be treated as such. Not working as slaves to protect those who scorn you and are ungrateful behind your back! You hear them speak about you. They think you all are out here partying and doing nothing! While you all light bonfires of your friends' corpses that never seem to go out! All to keep the fire going! To keep the Garden Alive!"
Feego shook his head in sorrow and tears welled up in his eyes. " No. No. No. Under Vivian things will change and be better! And all she asks is for ownership of the Farm? Something as insignificant as that shouldn't be such a hard price to pay right Juraman?"
Juraman listened to their impassioned sales pitch with a despondent expression. Even his steady heartbeat began to waver slightly. He looked around at the remainder of his Firekeepers. Some were maimed and were only being kept alive by sheer tenacity. Some had lost the will to fight and for some, death of a loved one seemed to ignite a fire in their spirits. But none of this hid what lay underneath.
Exhaustion. He could see it plain as day. The sluggishness of their strides. The dark circles that couldn't be erased from their eyes with any amount of sleep. He could see that the fire was waning but…but…
At that moment a memory appeared before his eyes. The figure was indistinct, but her hands were extended out towards him and her voice was nothing but a weak whisper, yet he could hear it as clear as day. " Will you carry my flame Jura? Will you burn all the bad things away?"
Hearing this voice his heartbeat which was out of sync returned to its rhythmic titanic thump. In fact it grew stronger. Then suddenly, from his relaxed position he stood upright towering over the two men who were basking in the vastness of his shadow. Hiss... the temperature slowly began to rise as a deep red karma blazed from his body. It pushed the duo backwards and immediately raised the surrounding temperature by a few degrees.
Feego and the boy shielded their eyes as they could only crane their heads.
Feego stared at the deep red karma which surrounded Juraman. It appeared as tall as the tower behind him. ' Fuck me…I think we went to far Wilcot. Vivian told us not to provoke him too much'
Seeing the look in Feego's eyes Wilcot shot him an accusatory glance. ' Don't look at me like that old man! I just set the trap, You're the one who poked him before he could fall in. '
Everyone in the garden watched the towering karma that surrounded Juraman and could not help but feel amazed.
Mylo whistled and reached his hands over the edge in an attempt to touch the tip of it.
" AHhh!" Mylo removed his hands that were set on fire and quickly flashed his wrist in pain.
Jenna smiled and looked towards Juraman. "Right. With him nothing is hopeless. Because he is…"
Juraman Straad, The Burning Man!
" Their corpses shall burn…but their flame will be carried in the hearts of all Firekeepers, In Me. We are Firekeepers, the heat doesn't bother us. We live in the heat, We train in the heat. Burning only welcomes us home!"
Juraman thumped his chest as his karma output spiked again. This time it dwarfed the tower and even the stones beneath his feet began to crackle and spark into flames. He pulled the Wendigo's Jawbone from his waist and pointed it towards Feego
" Tell Vivian, She can have it when I'm dead."
Feego, who felt the sweat falling from his brows, could only swallow hot air as he nodded towards Juraman. Wilcot had already fallen back towards a safe distance, uncaring of his image.
Juraman's karma dissipated like a smothered flame as he spat on the floor. " Now leave. I have things to do."
Feego swallowed his saliva and turned away. He looked towards Wilcot who was hiding behind a stone wall. Wilcot laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"Tch. Let's go." Feego didn't wait for Wilcot as he strode out of the non-existent entrance of outpost one.
A few seconds later a convoy of carriages passed by him. Farod, who was heading the carriage, glanced at Feego before looking away.
Feego sighed and shook his head. " They're all going to die."
Wilcot who at some point appeared behind him chuckled. " Isn't that great news for us?"
Feego knocked Wilcot on his head as they made their way down the dirt road on foot. " No dumbass. Did you not see that karma? If he dies to a cryptid the Garden has no chance of surviving. Not even Vivian can beat Juraman in a one on one fight."
Wilcot looked at Feego as if he was a madman. " Are you serious?"
Feego's expression grew darker as he recalled distant memories. " He killed an adult Wendigo as a rank 1 karma user. His karma reserves are basically bottomless and his output is just as disgusting."
" Those weren't rumors? He actually killed a Wendigo?" Wilcot's expression was playful.
" No. That much is true. The rumor is about how he became the new Farm owner. When Juraman came to the Wilds, a similar event to the star fall a few weeks ago happened."
" Really?" Wilcot was intrigued. He wasn't born at the time and there were too many stories surrounding events before his birth for him to distinguish fact from fiction.
Feego nodded. " It was a massive forest fire that burned down an entire section of the Silent Forest making the whole forest less…silent."
Wilcot raised an eyebrow at the remark but didn't say anything. Feego massaged his forehead with his knuckles and continued.
" The previous Farm owner took a group of Firekeepers to investigate and put out the fire. After they entered, the fire went out but they were gone for days, and Vivian who had taken over decided to search for them. However, before she needed to, a young Juraman, on fire, stepped out from the silent boundary, gripping the bloodied Jawbone of the Wendigo in one hand and in the next was a baby."
Wilcot did his best to give an animated reaction as he placed his hands against his cheeks and made an 'O' with his mouth.
Feego ignored Wilcot " I hate talking to you sometimes, kid. But yes it was a baby. Apparently it was his daughter."
Wilcot, not getting any reaction from Feego, frowned and spun on his heels looking back towards the now bustling Outpost #1. He could see fortifications being put up and the outpost quickly regained some semblance of a fortress to be defended.
" I wonder where she is now.."
"You don't know?" Feego seemed baffled by the revelation.
" Is this some sort of basic knowledge?" Wilcot frowned, his pride wounded.
" Yeah its-"