Chapter 9: Caden

　　Go to him. . . said the Defiant Flame. Burn.

　　Caden`s head whirled around in a frenzied blur. The last thing he remembered was speaking with Luna and Elena in the hovel. He recalled orange flames; did he create those? Perhaps that settled his debate on whether he had Pyromancy or not. When he opened his eyes, the surroundings had changed entirely.

　　The barracks training room looked demolished. Glass was everywhere, and one of the walls was absolutely broken. What had happened here? He could hear whispers around him.

　　"A squire Kindled?"

　　"Yeah, but that`s Hector`s kid."

　　"Oh. . ."

　　"Do you think he`ll be a Crusader too?"

　　"Shh, don`t talk about them!"

　　He tried to get to his feet, but his hands were chained behind his back. A metal pole that was attached to the ceiling prevented him from moving. He pulled, but a searing pain ripped through his left arm.

　　"By the Crown! He`s awake! Someone call for Vance," a knight shouted from outside. Everyone began to scurry around, and Caden watched knights vanish down corridors.

　　Vance. . . Caden thought. That wretched man, hiding beneath the guise of the Order. He had no right to live among the righteous. Of all the men in the world, he knew Vance was least likely to know true honor.

　　His Defiant Flame was snuffed out. The small place where a fire usually burned was now nothing more than a pile of ashes. He recalled the strength he felt around Luna, and perhaps that meeting was not such a bad idea. . .

　　No. I can duel Vance right now. I don`t need them. Caden thought. After easily defeating Elwin and standing his ground with the Lady of the Stars, he knew he could defeat his Elite Captain.

　　Vance entered the training room a moment later, closing the glass door behind him. The man glared down at Caden with furious eyes; typically, he would have been afraid. However, right now, his eyes lingered with defiance.

　　He remembered the illusion Luna had conjured for him, and part of him wondered if it was real. However, she did have the same magic as Isabel. . .

　　"You Kindled," Vance said. His voice was disgusting, full of malice. "I assumed this would happen. That`s why I disciplined that vagrant girl on patrol. I see how you interact here at the barracks. You play fair. That girl did nothing to you. While I`m strict with you, it made sense you would protect her." He crossed his arms. "What happened to you, soldier?"

　　Caden said nothing.

　　Vance narrowed his eyes. "You have Pyromancy, and it is now active. You were gone for a whole day, and when you returned, you were Kindling. I pulled enough strings to make this go away, but you need to tell me what happened to Twill`s Squad."

　　How could he care about stupid knights like that when he killed Isabel?

　　"The only thing Cal would say is Lady of the Stars,`" Vance said quietly. "I was hoping you`d provide more insight."

　　Did the other squire survive? Was that Cal? Caden suddenly wondered if he was okay. Seeing your whole squad die would be a terrible thing to live through. . . but, then, why was he so okay with that?

　　Because of him, said the Defiant Flame. He killed her. Nothing else matters.

　　Caden shook his head. His Defiant Flame could not be talking to him right now. What was this madness?

　　Vance bent down, "Tell me what happened to Twill."

　　Caden spat in his face.

　　Vance sighed deeply. Then, he repeatedly kicked Caden in the stomach over and over. There was pain, of course, but nothing he felt could compare to the blinding rage.

　　"Tell me what happened!" Vance demanded.

　　Caden read his face and smirked. Vance cared about Twill. He knew him, somehow, and his Captain`s pain only made him laugh: "They are all dead," he said proudly, "the Lady of the Stars killed them all. I watched it happen; she tore them apart. Twill died screaming."

　　That last part was not true. As from what he could see. . . Luna had killed them painlessly.

　　However, the lie got Vance to viscerally react. He sneered and turned around. "Were there any survivors besides Cal?"

　　"Just me," Caden said.

　　"Where. . ."

　　"Main path, by the south gate."

　　He spun around, "There were no bodies there. We`ve checked."

　　"Then she took them. We don`t know what the Lady of the Stars does. She`s half-crazed and a bloody vagrant!"

　　"She`s . . . a vagrant?"

　　Caden gasped, then cursed at himself. He was not supposed to say that.

　　"What happened to you? Why did you survive?"

　　Caden kept up his facade of pride, "I fought the Lady of the Stars and lived. You`ve heard the stories, right? The menace who took on two Crusaders at once?"

　　"You defeated her?" Vance asked; he cracked his knuckles and shifted his weight.

　　Caden gasped, "No. . . I was knocked unconscious."

　　"For the whole day?"

　　He nodded and decided to come up with some kind of lie. What should he tell him? Or should he say nothing? Perhaps. . . nothing was better.

　　"I feel your gaze, Arkell," said Vance. "Something happened that you`re not telling me. You came here and attacked me. Why?"

　　"I Kindled, sir. How should I know?"

　　He narrowed his eyes further. "I`ll have you start training with Elite Kieran tomorrow. Don`t be late." He paused. "Oh, and congratulations."

　　"On what?"

　　"Becoming a knight."

　　"You`re promoting me?"

　　"You have Pyromancy now," Vance stepped around him and unchained his arms.

　　Caden stumbled forward, catching himself with his right arm.

　　"You can heal." Vance lifted him to his feet, and his Defiant Flame flickered to life. It was different, more flexible, more tangible, like a person rather than a flame. Something he could use. . . a tool.

　　"So, heal," Vance said. He grabbed Caden`s left shoulder and shoved his arm back into place. He cried out and crumpled to the floor. The Defiant Flame began moving. It transported itself from a mental sensation into a physical one, traveling around his body through his blood. It tingled as it moved to his eye, his cheeks, his broken ribs, and his arms. Every injury began to stitch itself back together.

　　Caden fell to his hands and knees and began coughing horribly. "What was that?"

　　"First lesson," said Vance, opening the door to leave. "You can gather Heat from any kind of fire - and transfer that between Pyromancers. I gave you some of mine. When a Pyromancer is injured, you will automatically be healed, and your Heat will drain. So don`t waste your magic by being reckless. And don`t get yourself stabbed in the heart or decapitated."

　　I guess that`s why Luna killed Twill by severing the spine, he thought.

　　Caden tried to get to his feet and was surprised at how easy it was. The pain was gone; his injuries were gone. He was. . . fine.

　　Vance stepped out of the room but kept his hand on the door. "Get some sleep. You`ll start training soon. When you stop glaring at me like a bratty child, perhaps I can teach you something."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

　　"That`ll never happen."

　　Vance chuckled, "Very well, train with Kieran then. Get some rest. Your sword is in the barracks dormitory." he said, then raised his voice, "Pull yourself together, soldier. You have no time for petty revenge."

　　Caden gasped and spoke before Vance left: "Tell me why."

　　"Why what?" said Vance. "Say it."

　　"Tell me why you killed Isabel."

　　"The same reason I do everything. I was following orders."

　　As if that was an excuse. . .

　　"Who ordered that?"

　　Vance walked further away, turned his head back a little, and said: "He did."

　　Caden watched Vance go with a stupid look on his face. His jaw dropped in shock. He? The Crown? Ordered him to kill Isabel? Was that why Luna said she was running from Him? But. . . why?

　　I`ll show you what she stole from the palace. . . Elena`s words. He hadn`t thought about it then, but what she stole, was it. . . enough to cause her execution? Caden didn`t care; there was nothing Isabel could have done to deserve death.

　　* * *

　　Caden wasn`t going to wait. He retrieved his sword from the barracks living quarters and crept his way around the corner and out toward Vance`s chambers. He would kill him right now, even if it cost him everything. This was why he joined the Order - to kill the bad guys and save the good guys, just like when he was a kid.

　　He found Vance`s room quickly and slid along the wall. He unsheathed his sword quietly and watched three lanterns on the wall lose their light. His Defiant Flame reacted to this and burned a little brighter. Pyromancy. He ignored his magic and twisted the door handle, opening it ever so slightly.

　　I`m going to drive my blade through his heart. He entered the room and found Vance sleeping on a mattress in the corner.

　　He took more steps forward, lifting his sword up high. He stood over Vance, and darkness loomed thick in the air. It poured out of him and surrounded the room. A dark aura, one of vengeance. He held the blade high, one attack, right through the back and into his heart. He could do it right now.

　　Nobody in the entire world deserves to get hurt.

　　Caden`s hands shook at remembering Isabel`s words. You`re wrong! he shouted back in his mind. He froze, watching, waiting, hoping to kill the unmoving man before him.

　　It was him. He killed her. He knew about it the whole time. He-

　　He stopped, everything stopped. Caden saw on the wall next to the mattress. . . a painting. It depicted Vance, a much younger Vance. He didn`t even have his Elite rank. He stood with what looked like a younger Twill and a younger Kieran.

　　Caden gasped. Vance was once just like him, just like Elwin and Kaelea and him. He was a person, one with a life, with heart, with. . .

　　Your pain will end if you destroy your enemies. Darian`s voice. He was right. He needed to bring justice; he must. He lifted the blade further. He couldn`t stop himself. He needed this. . .

　　A moment later, he was suddenly a child again.

　　"If you use that sword," Isabel had told him, "Make sure it`s only for protection." She took a few swipes through the air with her own sword. "Never take the life of someone, not unless you have to."

　　"But what about killing the bad guys!" Caden had complained. "If we don`t, they will keep being bad!"

　　"I`ve met one of the baddest bad guys ever, and you know what happened to him?" she had said, sheathing her sword and glancing down at Caden with soft eyes.

　　"He died?"

　　She smiled, "No. He became a good guy."

　　"That`s impossible!" Caden had said, "Bad guys don`t become good guys!"

　　"You`d be surprised at how the world can change people."

　　Caden blinked and found his mind back in Vance`s room. He hardened his resolve. Isabel was wrong about so many things. They never once saw eye to eye. Vance was his enemy. He deserved to be hurt and killed just like Isabel was. The sword fell through the air, aiming for his heart. Caden caught a glimpse of his hands.

　　"Are those the hands of a murderer?" Isabel had said long ago, on a winter morning.

　　He found himself without an answer back then, and that remained true even now. Pausing, he stopped the blade in its tracks. His expression softened, and his body shook in anticipation. After exhaling deeply, he turned away and left the room. He told himself this choice was not because of Isabel but because of his honor. He desired to kill him in a duel between men and take the glory to prove his strength to everyone.

　　* * *

　　The following day, Caden sat in the mess hall and tried adjusting to a regular routine. He was at an oak wood table with his hand on his chin, and his gaze fixed out the window. The dim light of day fell like waves. The rest of the mess hall was what one might expect. Tables and chairs strewn about, piled high with food, full of knights and squires eating and shouting.

　　Caden`s silent mealtime was interrupted when he was quickly surrounded by three people. Kaelea, Elwin, and a new face, someone he had seen before, Mia - a squire. They pulled up chairs and sat down at his table.

　　Mia was usually quiet, and she went to the academy with Caden - they graduated at the same time. She was typically foolhardy and na飗e, but he was surprised to see her with Elwin.

　　Caden glanced at each of them. "What?"

　　Elwin and Kaelea shared a look.

　　"Are you okay?"

　　"Yeah, Nuff, you were kinda. . . crazy."

　　"Kindled," Mia said quietly.

　　Elwin glared at her, "This is Mia. By the way, she was placed on our squad in your absence."

　　I can see that. Caden thought.

　　"Cool," he managed, then scooped potatoes into his mouth.

　　"So. . . how are you feeling?" asked Kaelea.

　　"Fine I guess."

　　Why do they pretend to care? Go away.

　　"What happened with the Pyromancy?"

　　"Mia said it," Caden explained, "Kindled."

　　Elwin snorted. "What does that mean, though?"

　　"Ask her."

　　Elwin glanced at Mia. She didn`t look nearly as defensive as Caden did only three days ago. It was like she was completely content with her own mistreatment or blind to it. He didn`t know; what he did know, though, was that if Vance was in the Order and evil. . . Kaelea and Elwin could also be evil.

　　And Mia? She`s good.

　　"Well?" Elwin asked.

　　"It`s when a Pyromancer activates their magic," she said smiling, "I read about it in a book once. It usually happens in a life or death situation."

　　"Twill`s Squad!" Elwin said, snapping his fingers, "That`s what caused you to activate your magic. But that was two days ago. Did you just lie on the street or something?"

　　Caden grunted in reply.

　　"I read the reports, but what exactly happened to you? Did you really fight the Lady of the Stars and live? And I thought standing up to Vance was a bold move! You`re going places, huh Nuff!"

　　Caden had enough, "Yes. I Kindled. Fought the Vigilante. I have Elite Training. Pyromancy. Can you all go away now?"

　　Nobody moved.

　　"Pyromancy, huh," Kaelea put a hand on her chin, "So I guess your victory against Elwin wasn`t a fluke after all."

　　"Hey! Cut that out already," Elwin said, waving a hand at her.

　　"Why don`t you two have a re-match to prove it?"

　　Caden shrugged.

　　Elwin paled. "What? No, that`s unfair. I can`t fight a Pyromancer! That`s all kinds of cheating!"

　　Kaelea laughed, "You`re such a baby."

　　He flushed red. "Shut up! This isn`t about me. We`re checking on Nuff over here, right?"

　　The two continued to bicker, and Caden shared a glance with Mia. She was giggling. She wasn`t like him. She`s less defiant, less . . . of what Caden was. What was he even?

　　"Are you going to take some time off? Go home?" Kaelea asked.

　　Even Elwin looked concerned, "Yeah, I`m sure we can take care of things in our squad now. Besides, we have Mia, and she`s like you. . . but a girl."

　　"No," he snapped, "I`m fine. My hours are with Kieran today for training." He wanted to yell at them. He hated the fact they were hanging around him - acting all concerned. They had never once stood up for him or even begun to try to comprehend how he felt.

　　"How`d you manage it?" asked Elwin, "Fighting the Lady of the Stars? I heard she fought two Crusaders by herself and won."

　　"Got lucky," Caden said, "Guess that was a fluke too."

　　Elwin smiled. Seriously? The man who threatened to beat him up daily had smiled at his failure of a joke.

　　"Let us know if you need anything," said Kaelea. "It`s hard to go through something like that."

　　"Yeah, Nuff, we`re here to help out or whatever."

　　"I`d love to chat more with you," Mia said.

　　Caden glared at all of them, "What are you all talking about?"

　　"We`re saying that -"

　　"No!" Caden shouted. He stood up. "Why are you all acting like this? Treating this situation like it`s some kind of excuse to come over here and torment me now? I`m a knight! I was promoted! That means you should leave me alone and let me live my life! Is this some kind of big game to you?" Caden slammed his hand on the table. "People died! You should take this seriously and not waste your time pretending to care about me!"

　　The room fell silent. Some people looked in Caden`s direction.

　　Elwin put his hands up defensively. "Look, man, we thought you were dead for a whole day. This is a serious situation. We want to check up on you. I know we joke around sometimes, but this was different, so we wanted to-"

　　"Joke around?" Caden laughed, "That`s what you call it? Seriously?"

　　Elwin paled and glanced away.

　　"It`s okay, Caden," Kaelea said, "Please, just sit down and relax, okay?"

　　"No! Why are you all consoling me? Just two days ago, you two were breathing down my neck because how dare I be stronger than Elwin? And now? What changed? I Kindled? Do you all suddenly like me now that I have Pyromancy? Now that I`m a knight? Flame off!"

　　Kaelea placed a reluctant hand on Caden`s shoulder. He almost shrugged her off, but he saw compassion in her eyes. "We`re your friends, Caden. This is what we do. We help each other and console each other. I`m sorry you felt hurt by us."

　　"No! You`re not!" He shrugged her off. "I don`t have any friends. You are not my friend. Stop pretending like you care about me!"

　　Everyone was silent. "Why?" Caden asked. "Was it the Pyromancy? Me becoming a Knight? What made you two decide to wake up today and treat me like a human being?"

　　No answers. Of course. No answers.

　　The other knights and squires in the room were all staring at him now. They knew he Kindled. Everything changed because of some incredible magic he happened to stumble into. Nothing he did mattered. It wasn`t his actions; it was how he was born. Now, they had expectations of him.

　　Caden took a few deep breaths and sat back in his seat. "Do you really want to know what happened?" he snapped.

　　His squad held pensive but eager expressions.

　　"Fine," he said. "I found out that Vance murdered my sister. That`s what caused me to Kindle. I used to think the Order was full of good people, but I was wrong, so my goal is to find those who are evil and destroy them. I`m starting with Vance. I will challenge him to an honorable duel the next time I see him and kill him."

　　He was left in silence. Elwin, Kaelea, and Mia had their jaws dropped and eyes wide.

　　"Are you certain?"

　　"Vance? Nuff, come on, he`s scary but. . . evil?"

　　Mia stayed silent.

　　"It`s true. . ." he said grimly.

　　Vance entered the mess hall a moment later as if reacting to Caden`s words. He approached their table, and Caden tore at him with his eyes.

　　"Squad."

　　They all perked up, all but Caden.

　　"Sir!" said Elwin.

　　"With me, on patrol."

　　Caden clenched the pommel of his sword with fierce determination.

　　"Yes sir!" The squad saluted him and began to leave.

　　Caden waited momentarily, then stood up, spun around, and pointed at Vance. "Elite Vance of Barracks Four. I challenge you to an honorable duel between comrades, witnessed by all in this room, to seek justice for the murder of my sister. How do you reply?" He shouted; his voice silenced the room.

　　"This is outrageous!" Another Elite rose from the mess hall. Jin, who Caden thought was second to Vance but didn`t know for sure. "You are barely a knight; you cannot challenge him to a duel in such a manner! Know your place, or I`ll have you -"

　　"Easy, Jin," Vance said, raising a hand to silence him.

　　Jin stared at him, puzzled, but sat back down in his seat.

　　"You really want to fight, kid?" Vance asked.

　　"Yes."

　　Vance stood there for a long time with Kaelea, Mia, and Elwin beside him. His squad had shocked and shameful expressions.

　　"Very well," said Vance, "Let us duel."