Chapter 81: Sleeping Flames

Sen 

The announcer stood there in shocked silence. A visual of Sen appeared above the stadium with some information about him listed. 

Sen Locke

Ranked Fourth at Bright Sail Academy

First-Year Student

The audience’s reaction was mixed. Some booed, thinking Snake was taking an easy fight. Some cheered, recognizing Sen from his performance during the Academy Wars. Of course, many simply wondered what Snake was thinking. This was his chance to show what he could do, and he’d chosen an opponent that, on paper, was far less experienced than him. Sen didn’t care about any of that. He was happy that the taunt had worked. Susanna, Girch, and the attendant all looked at him in shock.

The announcer certainly wasn’t going to let the hype die down. “It appears the top student in the Isle of Magic has challenged the prodigious first-year student who shot upward to claim the number four spot on the Bright Sail Class rankings! If you saw the Academy War, then you saw the absolute whirlwind of a performance he gave, and numerous sources said he was the one to strike the final blow in round three of the Academy War! You may wonder why a graduating student would challenge a first-year, but this is no normal first-year student, folks. In a few more years, I wouldn’t be surprised if he held that top rank! It seems Snake is coming for him early!” 

The announcer turned to face Alari and Ano. “And of course, with the Brightsail vs. Brightsail final round, we’ve also cemented what is sure to be a legendary match between the top student of Fire Kite and the top student of Green Book! We’re in for some superb matches over the next few days everyone!” 

Susanna looked at him. “Sen…what…why did he choose you?” she asked.

Sen chuckled. “I may have antagonized him a bit.”

The lumbering giant of a man behind them crossed his arms and shook his head.

“Why?” Susanna asked.

“Because I promised I’d make him pay for what he did to you,” Sen said, turning to look at her. “And I intend to keep that promise, Susanna.”

She blinked in stunned silence. 

Girch nodded his approval.

The match between Ano and Alari took place three days later. The day before Sen was scheduled to fight Snake. Both duels had attracted a lot of attention, and the stadium was filled to the brim. A fight between the top student of High Professor Laurette, who was apparently more famous than Sen realized, and the daughter of the Flamelord. Two students trained by famous mages. Which one of them would emerge on top?

Today, Sen would watch from the sidelines like everyone else. Though he’d gotten good enough seats. Milim and the others sat all around him, and they waited with anticipation for the match to start.

Sen looked over and caught Milim eyeing some kind of sweet treat someone was eating a few rows below them. Steam radiated from it, and even the air smelled pleasant from the aroma of the cream-filled pastry. Sen took a coin from his pocket, waved a hand and cast under his breath. “Fair Purchase Maxim.” 

Somewhere, the food merchant, who was moments away from handing one of the treats to a customer, found the item disappear from his hand, replaced by a gold coin. One of Sen’s coins would likely pay for the vendor’s entire stall, so he found the confusion the merchant was experiencing right now a fair trade. “Here you go,” Sen said, passing the treat to Milim.

She turned and stared at him, dumbfounded. “How did you get this? How did you even know I wanted this?” She froze and her eyes widened. “Can you read minds, Sen?” she asked seriously.

“No, but I can follow a gaze. Yours has been aimed at the poor man’s pastry for five minutes.”  

She blushed. But sheepishly reached out to take the treat. “Thank you.” 

He smiled and turned to look out at the arena. It was time. 

Alari

She stared blankly at the letter she’d found in her waiting room. The cushioned chair in the well-decorated, lounge-like room added to her comfort, but did little for her shock. The letter had been penned by none other than the High Professor of Green Book, Laurette. She thought it was odd that Ano’s teacher would write her a letter. Until she’d read it. She shook her head. “This…this is the reason he didn’t want to fight?” 

Someone knocked at the door. They didn’t wait for her agreement to enter. She quickly slid the letter between the cushions of the chair she was sitting in. 

A tall man with a domineering presence stood in the doorway. Long strands of brown hair hung to either side of his face. A carefully trimmed beard traced his powerful jawline. Light brown skin and a smoky, but not unpleasant smell filled the room. It was the Flamelord. Her father. “The match is starting soon.”

She nodded. He hadn’t asked her to speak. 

His head bobbed slowly as he thought. After a quick scan of the room, he turned his attention back to her. “I spent a month training you. A month I could’ve spent conquering. If you disappoint me again, Alari, I’m going to kill you.”

Her heart stiffened. Her father wasn’t the type of man to make an empty promise. 

He meant it.

Ano

He was sure the announcer was giving a grand spiel right now. He was sure the audience was going crazy, shouting his name and cheering him on. Booing, in some cases. Ano was almost positive that if he’d been paying any attention, he’d hear the raucous sound of applause and the chatter of a crowd eager to watch a fight that they’d remember for the rest of their lives. 

They were going to be disappointed. His pillow was trapped under his bed by a row of cinder blocks. His magic artifacts were stuffed inside it as well. He had indulged Laurette and worn some serious clothing, at least. If for no other reason than not to show Alari disrespect by showing up to their duel in pajamas. He wore a shoulder guard strapped over his shirt. It wasn’t much, but it was more than he’d usually wear. A simple short sword was strapped to his side. He didn’t fight with swords, but again, he was mostly keeping up appearances. He made it all the way onto the arena without ever looking into the audience. Then he looked up. The stadium was absolutely packed today. That was to be expected. Aside from the fight tomorrow between Sen and Snake, this was supposed to be the biggest fight. Some were more excited about this one because of who their teachers were. 

Though he wasn’t sure of Laurette’s exact rank, he’d seen her go blow for blow with lord-level magicians before. And he could probably count the number of people he’d met that didn’t know the Flamelord on one hand. If he even needed that much. His head buzzed, and he lifted a hand toward it. When exactly had he seen Laurette fight a lord-level mage? The thought had been so natural a moment ago, but now he struggled to remember it. 

He sighed. This wasn’t the time to reminisce. Ano turned his attention to the announcer as the man announced Alari’s entrance. 

“…prodigy of both fire magic and swordsmanship, Alari Kingcrew’s potential is limitless. But will her fiery blade be enough to overcome the Demon of Green Book? We’ll find out today!” 

Ano flinched at the name. He hadn’t heard it since settling down in Bright Sail. Another reason he was glad fourth-year students often trained abroad with Laurette. He wasn’t sure where it originally came from. But it was inevitable that the other students would learn about his sleep paralysis demon during training. Rumors were nothing unusual, especially in an academic setting. He sighed. There wasn’t anything he could do to change it. Besides, he didn’t even have a name. Could he really blame them for making up something to call him? It was just unfortunate that the title had reached people even here. He’d hoped to leave it behind once he graduated.

Ano looked up at Alari, finally giving up on avoiding the inevitable. He couldn’t avoid her gaze forever. She looked every bit the image of a goddess of war. A breastplate lined with living flames. A red cape on her back billowed outward with the blazing symbol of House Kingcrew on full display. Long metallic greaves, heat-resistant undoubtedly, had built-in mana channels to allow her to freely cycle her mana through them. A thickly warded loincloth covered her waist, offering protection and freedom all in one. Of course, Flamesaber brought it all together. She wore it on her waist. Its fire danced and came dangerously close to her skin in an almost rhythmic pattern. But he doubted the weapon would harm her even if it reached. She was the Flamelord’s daughter after all. 

A hush fell over the audience as the two competitors faced each other for the first time in the arena. Alari’s expression was serious as ever, but something else lingered within. Something he couldn’t quite identify in her eyes. She noticed him, and whatever emotion he’d caught a trace of momentarily disappeared so fast he questioned if he’d really seen it. 

The announcer looked between the two of them. “Are both parties ready?”

Alari nodded. 

Ano shrugged.

The announcer frowned at that, but threw his hands up. “Alright then, let’s begin!” 

Ano didn’t budge. Alari shot forward like lightning instead of fire. She didn’t draw her sword. But the force of the punch she delivered to Ano’s chin was enough to make him slide back several feet. He straightened up and stared at her.

Alari shot him a look of confusion, which quickly turned to anger. “Fight me,” she said.

He was silent. 

She shook her head. Then her mood soured. “Fight me!” she screamed. Alari charged, and her movements were a blur as she threw punch after punch. She struck his face, chest, stomach, and sides. Blow after blow, Ano endured. He didn’t want this fight. 

Ano hadn’t asked for this. He’s done everything in his power to stop this from happening. The last thing he wanted to do today was lift a finger to harm someone he cared about. The last thing he wanted was to lose someone else.

Alari grunted in frustration. “Fiery Lion Fireking!” Her hand surged forward, and a spectral lion of flames covered her hand and smashed into Ano. He lost his footing and slid across the arena floor on his back. 

Alari stood and waited for him to get up with a look of pure anger. “Get up,” she demanded.

Ano stared at the sky. It was a cool blue today. The clouds floated by like pillows, and honestly, he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep right there. Someone lay beside him. 

“Let me out.”

His sleep paralysis demon. It was only in his head; he knew that much. But the sudden appearance was disconcerting. “Go away,” Ano said.

The demon appeared on the other side. “Let me out. Let me fight,” it insisted.

“I don’t want to fight. That means you don’t get to either. Besides, my pillows back home. You couldn’t come out if you wanted to.”

“The pillow isn’t my gateway. We both know that. I use it for your sake.”

Ano turned to look at the creature. But it disappeared again. “What does that even mean…” He groaned and sat up. 

Flames covered either of Alari’s hands. Well, he’d already determined himself to take this beating. Might as well stand up and face it like a mage. He pressed off his knees and rose to his full height. Towering over Alari by about a foot and a half. He nodded to her.

That just pissed her off even more. “She wants to fight!” The demon screamed. That time Ano swung blindly at the demon. Alari had already closed the gap, but his sudden movement forced her to reevaluate her attack. She jumped to the side and stared at him. He probably looked crazy. Swinging in a direction she wasn’t even approaching from.

The audience was starting to talk. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but the vibe was obvious. He was losing fans by the minute. Ah well, he’d never cared for that.

The demon appeared directly in front of him. In between him and Alari. This time, he was forced to stare at it. Its eyes were wide open. A deep, dark blue that Ano wasn’t sure had always been the color of the demon’s eyes. “You owe Laurette. You can’t just give up. I’m done letting you run away.” 

Ano wanted to swipe at the demon again, but the paralysis effect was in full swing. How? It wasn’t here physically. And what did it mean by he owed Laurette? Sure, she’d trained him, but there was something implied in the demon’s words. 

Something that gave him a splitting headache. 

Behind the demon, a mass of flames started forming as Alari cast a spell. His eyes widened at that. Sure, he was ready to take a hit or two, but there was something about being trapped in your own body with a storm of flames growing in the distance that was really unnerving. “Hey…we should uh…we should probably dodge this…”

The demon sneered. “I’m not really here, remember?” 

Ano groaned. “You wouldn’t…” 

The demon smiled. As if in sync, Alari’s attack came rushing toward him. He closed his eyes, and the flame washed over him.

He didn’t feel a thing. 

Well, the air was scorching. But he wasn’t in pain. He cracked an eye open and saw Alari standing in front of him among the fire. “Ano. Please. Fight me,” she pleaded. The tone wasn’t like her. It didn’t fit her at all. 

“Alari…you don’t know what you’re asking for. I’m…I’m not good at holding back. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Alari frowned. 

The flames obscured them from the crowd, and he realized that had been her intention all along. But he still stared in the general direction of her father’s private viewing area. “Is this about your father? Did he threaten you? Is that why you want me to fight so badly?”

“I know what happened, Ano. Laurette told me. In a letter,” Alari said. “I know about Anastasia.” 

Ano’s face hardened. “She told you about Anna?” The grip that was ever chained around his heart tightened at the memory. The only person he could remember from before his memory loss. Anna. Even then, the memories were vague at best. He felt warmth towards her. He cared about her. But he didn’t have any idea why. His first memory was Anna bleeding out in his arms. That, and the feeling of heartbreak and anguish that it left him with. 

He closed his eyes and tried to push the memories away. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and turn his mind off. 

“No. It’s time for you to remember,” the demon insisted.

When he opened them, the arena was gone. He stood on an icy mountain. Anna’s corpse at his feet. “Anna…” 

“Remember.” The demon stood in front of him. It was here now. Physically here.

“No!” Ano grasped the sides of his head.

“How can you take revenge if you won’t even remember?”

Ano blinked. “Revenge?” He looked up and saw the charred demon standing before him. Its hands were covered in blood. He looked down at Anna’s body, and it hit him. Had this demon…had the demon killed Anna? 

The demon nodded slightly. “I did. I’m the reason she died, remember?” 

Rage boiled inside Ano’s heart, and he moved without thinking. He punched the creature in the torso, feeling a satisfying crack under the weight of his arm. The demon slid backward. Ano rushed after it, clasping his fists overhead and slammed them down towards his foe. The demon dodged, but the blow still caught it on the shoulder. 

It coughed up blood. “Finally…” it said. Ano snarled and drove another fist forward. Then another. Another. Over and over. He’d kill it. This wretched demon. This murderer. He’d obliterate it. Smash it to pieces. Wipe it out of existence. He’d never wake up and find it standing over him again. The demon slashed at him; a sword appeared as if out of nowhere, and Ano jumped back. A cut formed on his arm. It was cauterized. So it could use fire. He’d need to be careful. 

The demon rushed at him, blade in hand. Ano drew the short sword at his waist. Their blades met. His sword was cheap and poorly made. But it held up even against the might of this artifact burning down on him. They exchanged a series of blows. He channeled as much mana as he could spare into the pathetic excuse of a sword, forcing it to go slash for slash with the sword his demon had summoned. Cuts lacerated his body, but he ignored them. When he fought like this, pain was a mere suggestion. Even if he lacked experience with a blade, he would win through sheer will. His senses felt heightened. Even if the demon was formidable, right now, Ano could see its every move as if the creature moved at half his own speed. The demon overextended, and Ano spotted the opening in an instant. He brought his own blade rearing around and—

The demon’s magic artifact exploded into thousands of pieces. Shards of fiery hot metal stabbed Ano’s leg, but he ignored it. This monster had killed his friend. The demon looked genuinely shocked. Ano struck. He drove a fist into the creature’s stomach and sent it flying high into the air with the full force of his power. 

With a hand he reached out for his pillow. It was far. Farther than it should have been, and he sensed it was weighed down by something, but finally, it obeyed. He sensed it flying towards him as fast as it could. Though its arrival would take time, the connection expanded his power. He floated up into the air after the demon, thirty, no, forty feet high in the air. He hovered and snatched the demon out of the sky by its throat. His fingers clutched around its throat. “Die.” 

“Ano…” it choked.

“Die!” he roared. 

“Ano!” Her hands grabbed at his. Warm blood poured over them.

Her? Blood? 

He blinked. Suddenly he floated above the stadium with a crowd watching from all around him. 

His hand was wrapped around Alari’s throat. In shock, his grip loosened, and she fell toward the ground. He stared at his hands. How had—how did this happen? He was…

“Do you remember now?” his demon asked, floating beside him. “You haven’t fought like that since back then. So, did it jog your memory?” the demon asked. 

It was in his head again.

Flashes of memories shot past. Ano sitting in the snow, holding the body of his best friend. His eyes focused on her wound. The realization that his own spell had caused it. The horror he felt back then mirrored by what he felt now. It all passed through his mind in less than a second. 

“You do remember. It was me. It was us. You were the one who killed Anna. You were the one who killed Professor Laurette’s daughter.”

“No…it was the demon,” he whispered to himself. 

“The Demon of Green Book. I’m you, Ano. We’re the same. We killed her. You just chose not to live with it.”