Civilization

"WAIT IAN! IANNNNNNN!" - Luke

With a small smile, Ian disappears in front of me, and the remaining bursts past him, bombarding Sylvia and me. I grab her and push her below me, clenching my teeth as I feel my skin burn from the heat.

"LUKE!" - Sylvia

Moments later, I could only feel the residue heat that was on my back and legs. It seems the heatwave that came from Casper's attack has finally washed past us. However, the heat was still there, my skin was still burning, and I let out a small groan as I tried to move off Sylvia.

"Sorry Sylvia, just give me a second. I'll get off you." - Luke

"STAY! I'll move." - Sylvia

Sylvia's eyes dart around as she looks for a way to get out from under me. Moving her arms above her head, grabbed onto the cave wall and pulled herself towards them, whilst trying her best to not touch me. Sweat rolls down the side of my cheek as my back feels like it is on fire, and after a little more maneuvering, Sylvia pushes her body up and around, falling to my right side.

"This might hurt, just stay still, okay?" - Sylvia

"What are you- AH!" - Luke

I feel a blunt object hit my back, forcing my arms to collapse in, and my face crashing to the ground. The armor on my back had been broken off and the small shards scatter on the ground as Sylvia gently brushes off the remaining shards from my back.

"Why… Why did you hit me so hard?" - Luke

"I don't know how hard I was meant to hit you. Sorry…" - Sylvia

"It's fine… Where is the mask?" - Luke

"Here. You dropped it when you got on top of me." - Sylvia

Sylvia picks up the half-face mask, placing it in my hand. I decide to wear the mask since it would be easier to carry around, but the mask itself feels so heavy.

"Ian he…" - Luke

"It will be fine. He said he will come back. For now, we should escape and find a way back to the main group that is outside." - Sylvia

"But… No, you are right. Let's go." - Luke

I peer through the cave entrance with Sylvia to my left, looking at the destruction Casper had caused. The area where the fighting had occurred was burnt black with a crater in the middle. From where we were located, I couldn't even see the bottom of the crater. Looking up, the giant upside mountain that pierced through the clouds had disappeared, leaving a gaping hole in the sky. Floating in the sky in his humanoid form was Casper.

I couldn't tell what he was looking at or what he was doing since he was so far away, but as I was looking at him, he vanished. One second he was there and in the next gone.

"So, it was you two that were spying on me." - Casper

His monotonous voice from behind makes my heart skip a beat and my blood runs cold.

"Two humans, no, I think there were three. I guess one didn't make it." - Casper
I gulp down my saliva and move my eyes toward Sylvia. Her whole body trembled in his presence. I place my hand on her clenched fists and give her a small smile.



"We didn't mean to disturb you." - Luke

"Oh, I know. I know you were there before I got there. However, I couldn't pinpoint your location at one point, which made me curious. Especially you young man. Someone who can harness the power of a golden wolf while still being in a human body fascinates me." -  Casper

"It's nothing special." - Luke

Casper's hand grabs my shoulder and with a burst of speed, he holds onto me and pushes Sylvia away as he flies into the air, floating outside the cave.

"Oh, but it is. You are similar to a true dragon. Inside you are two hearts, a human heart, and a magic heart. Unlike a dragon, your magic heart belonged to a wolf. A golden Fenrir. So interesting…" - Casper

His grip on my shoulder is so stronger, I feel like my arm would be ripped off. I can see his eyes sparkle as he looks at me like I was a toy.

"I saw you activate the magic heart, but it was incomplete." - Casper

"What are you saying?" - Luke

"Your transformation should have let you turn into the full beast. However, you only tapped into the smallest area. Much like how I transform between humanoid and dragon, you should have become a Fenrir or a wolf at minimum. Your humanoid side should have been tossed away." - Casper

"What…" - Luke

"GIVE LUKE BACK!" - Sylvia

My attention snaps back to Sylvia, who was still in the cave. She had an angry expression on her as she glares at Casper. Despite her courageous look, I could tell she was still trembling.  Casper looks at Sylvia as if she was an ant. Insignificant, no, maybe even lower.

"Casper, tell me what do you want?" - Luke

I try to turn his attention back toward me, but his brows crinkle and his eyes narrow as he looks at Sylvia closely.

"You… Who are you?" - Casper

"CASPER! What do you want?" - Luke

"Silence. Girl, who are you?" - Casper

"I… I… Forgive me, Luke." - Sylvia

Letting out a sigh, Sylvia looks at me with a sad smile. Her black hair, with blue highlights, magically changes color, turning auburn red. Her sapphire eyes become two ruby jewels, shining as bright as the sun, and on her forehead was a fiery symbol that looked like a circle with an arrow pointed to the top right of her head.

"My name is Rhea Sylvia. Return him to me, lizard." - Sylvia

"An apostle of the gods. I see…" - Casper

"Sylvia…" - Luke

"LET HIM GO!" - Sylvia

Sylvia's body flares up, as a flaming, hot aura appears around her. Her eyes shine with killing intent.

"I have always wondered what it would be like to fight an apostle of the gods, but unfortunately I will not be your opponent. Rautt, come." - Casper

"Ahh… Finally, it's my turn? That took a while, Casper. Here I thought you might have needed help with Kronos's golems. " - Rautt

That familiar deep booming voice echoes in my ears. Crashing into the mountainside next to Sylvia was the rampaging monster, the Blood Ogre., Rautt. His black tattoos glow on his scarlet skin, as he punches the top of the cave with his bare hands. Sylvia jumps out, landing on a rock, and grits her teeth.

I stare at the monster as its grin widens. Here I am, being held up by a dragon helpless while the monster which I wanted to kill and defeat happily rampages in front of me.

"Now then, while Rautt hands the apostle. Let me ask you a question. Do you want to become stronger?" - Casper

His last few words pique my interest. Stronger, yes. Of course, I want to become stronger. I have been beaten to the point where I could have been killed easily so many times, and yet each time I think I have grown stronger. I find out that I am still weak.

"Yes, I do, but why would it matter to you?" - Luke

"I can help." - Casper

Suspicion rises inside me as Casper 'offers' his help.

"Help? How?" - Luke

"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, LUKE" - Sylvia

"Silence her Rautt." - Casper

"With pleasure." - Rautt

Rautt's fist emits a black haze as his tattoos rise brighter. Sylvia's body glows brighter as red energy gathers in her palms.

"WAIT! Don't hurt her." - Luke

"Rautt stop. Speak." - Casper

"Wait, LUKE!" - Sylvia

"NO! Sylvia, stop. Casper, promise me you won't hurt her." - Luke

"Hmm… Depends on your answer." - Casper

Casper pulls me towards him, close enough that our faces were just barely apart.

"I want to become stronger." - Luke

"Good. From today onwards, you serve Lord Horde." - Casper

"No, no, no, NO, NO, NO! LUKEEEE!" - Sylvia

Rautt grin grows wider than before, as he smashes the mountainside with his fist, causing a landslide. In turn, it forces Sylvia to take evasive action as she runs down the mountain. Her distressed face with tears rolling down her cheeks was the last moment I saw of her before Casper's fist landed on my face and stomach. The mask falls off my face and my vision darkens.

"Sylvia…" - Luke