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Chapter 7: The Brilliance of Fire

“Masou...?” Keahi whispered.

He was...he was using a Spell Binding Circle! Only talented Fire Brands were able to call forth a Binding Circle. It was a spell used at the beginning of each battle, calling forth the flames to encircle the wielder in a protective barrier.

“Hey there, Beautiful,” Masou said as he moved his arm out to his side in a swift action, inciting his Spell Binding Circle to surround Keahi within its warm protection as well. “In a bit of trouble, I see.”

The flames...they moved so fiercely and yet so elegantly. The burned so brightly, with such confidence that Keahi had never seen before. Not even the head priest of the Fire Temple could control their Binding Circles so well.

“You can use Fire Spells?” Keahi murmured dumbly, staring unblinkingly up at his savour. “You’re a FireBrand as well?”

Masou made a small noise that sounded like a half-chuckle, casting a small smile over his shoulder at him before abruptly turning back toward the bandits. “I’m afraid further chit-chat will have to wait. Let me take care of these guys for you.”

Seemed to have gotten over his shock, the supposed leader of the bandits struggled to his feet, his expression twisted into a look of rage.

“Use Fire Magic all you want, FireBrand!” he shouted as he whipped out a knife and twirled it around in his hand in a display of his knife-wielding skills. “It won’t be able to defeat solid steel!”

However, instead of being impressed by the man’s words, Masou laughed good-naturedly. “Ooh, that sounds like a challenge to me,” he said, treating this as if though it was nothing more than a game to him. “Let’s see what you’ve got!”

A sense of fear touched Keahi as he watched the other two bandits join the other man, all three of them pulling out whatever weapons they had concealed within their clothes and got ready to attack.

And Masou reacted by lifting his right hand and placed it in front of his forehead, his fingers spread apart as his body moved into a fighting stance. “Fire in the Moonlight,” he said as the flames picked up around him and then he threw out his arm in front of him in a swiping motion, directing the fires toward the three approaching enemies. “Elusive Flame!”

“The hell-?” one of the bandits tried to yell, but seemed to gag and his hand flew up to his throat as if he was unable to breath. “Gah!”

The heated air seemed to quite literally suck the air out of their lungs, causing their bodies to convulse as they gasped for air, their eyes widening in fear and shock, sweat dripping down their faces and any exposed skin. Then, the flames grew more intense, swirling around Masou as he stood fearlessly before them and slowly raised his hand, signalling that he was ready to deliver the final blow.

The bandits never stood a chance.

Masou moved his arm through the air swiftly to the side in a cutting motion, and as he did so the flames crackled and the bandits were suddenly, but forcefully, flung off their feet by the heat of the fires alone. They seemed to have flown a few feet into the air before landing heavily on the beach, kicking up sand as they tumbled with painful thuds, more air being knocked out of them.

And after that, none of them made an attempt to move.

“Hey, that wasn’t a challenge at all!” Masou said, actually pouting with a sense of disappointment as he flapped his hand, dismissing the fires around him. “Sheesh, bandits these days.”

That was...amazing! Such skill, such confidence in controlling the flames. He could easily match Bharath in battle and he was the most talented Fire Priest within the temple. How could such a powerful FireBrand go unnoticed upon the Island?

Through the thick haze of confusion and shock, Keahi managed to utter something to his rescuer. “How did...?”

“Hello again,” Masou said brightly as he finally turned to face him, looking all too cheerful and amused for someone who had just engaged in a Fire Battle. His gaze soon softened though as he held out his hand for Keahi to take, his expression more understanding and concerned. “Are you alright?”

“I, ah, yes, I’m fine,” Keahi found himself stuttering to him as he lifted his hand, noticeably more slender than Masou’s and placed it in his in order to stand up. As Masou pulled him to his feet, more carefully then Keahi had thought possible, he couldn’t help but notice how warm his hand was.

Now more steady upon his feet, Keahi looked up at Masou, his rather unusual savour and wondered how to thank him. Surely, a simple thank you wouldn’t be enough, would it? But really, that was all he could offer the taller man. He was a Fire Priest; he held no significant possessions to offer as a sign of thanks.

But, he also felt a sense of inadequacy just by being in the presence of someone so skilled. Keahi was a Fire Priest, but his skills as a FireBrand were almost nonexistent. If he wasn’t the Peace Keeper, he was pretty certain he would have been ridiculed by everyone for his lack of Fire Magic ability.

Keahi is quickly pulled out of his thoughts when Masou leaned forward so their faces were heart-stoppingly close together and gave him a rather suspicious look. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a Fire Priest when we first met?” he asked.

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