Finn's boots clicked on the ground as he ran through the streets at a measured pace. His cloak billowed behind him like smoke from a fire. Unfortunately, the flood of screaming flame people running in the opposite direction made it nearly impossible for him to continue in the same direction. Remembering the layout of the kingdom, Finn took a side route. He was happy that in the last two years the layout of the kingdom hadn't changed.
The distinct ting of metal on metal grew louder and louder until he could finally see its source. There the fire elemental he was looking for stood, sword held in the air and surrounded by downed fire guards. Before the elemental had time to drop the sword onto the guard at his feet, Finn ran at him. The fire elemental fell to the ground. Finn, still standing, dropped his backpack on the ground.
"So your finally here? I was beginning to think you got lost," the fire elemental said.
"Give back what you stole from me, Varisen." Finn's voice held no emotion but his stance betrayed a threat despite being hidden behind his cloak.
"What, this trinket?" Varisen threw the small object towards Finn who caught it effortlessly and placed it into his pocket. "The only reason I stole it was to get you here." More footsteps could be heard. "You wouldn't fight me unless it was for a good reason." The footsteps stopped right behind Finn. He didn't even have to turn to know they were more flame guards. "What greater honour could I have than facing the only being to ever pass the Tunnel of Pain?" Varisen continued. "They don't even realize how much you do that they don't see."
Finn held his cloak back with his left hand as he drew his sword. The blinding light of the blade began to radiate as he held it. He knew that Varisen only desired to prove himself to be the better swordsman. He knew that if he would not oblige, more would suffer. Finn relaxed and let instinct and reflex take over as he held his sword low, out and to his side, daring Varisen to attack. It would be like watching another man fight. It would also feel like it lasted an eternity.
Flame Princess stood behind her flame guards with her loyal Cinnamon Bun at her side. She had expected to find the rampaging fire elemental trying to attack more citizens or perhaps waiting for more guards to fight. She did not expect to see the cloaked figure.
"Just wait and see what happens my king. I know this Varisen. He would take down quite a few of us before we could get him. He seems to be scared of that guy, though," Cinnamon Bun told her.
Though the idea of putting an innocent in harms way did not sit well with her, for the moment she would follow his advice. If Varisen could be taken down without any more of her Guards getting hurt, she would do so. Before she knew it, Varisen had begun to attack the cloaked figure. However, Varisen quickly got more than he bargained for. Every attack he attempted against the cloaked figure struck only air and resulted in a position where the cloaked figure could of easily killed Varisen, had he wished it so.
As a result of her time with Finn, Flame Princess had developed an interest in sword fighting. Still, she had never seen anyone fight like the clocked figure despite the time she spent watching the kingdom's swordsmen train. The cloaked figure would fake a block only to dodge the attack instead, his sword in a position to land a killing blow. Had he not been holding back, he would have won more than ten times over.
"I have never seen that style. He's good," Cinnamon Bun whispered.
As if aware of the commentary, the cloaked figure changed his style. Every movement was attack and defense in one swing. However, this time, he made no attempt to dodge. He merely attacked his target at an angle that would force his opponents sword away. She was stunned.
Varisen backed away from the cloaked figure. When Varisen examined the itch on his arm, he was greeted with a fine cut. He noticed similar cuts on his legs and torso.
"Well done, but you're still holding back!" Varisen yelled as he thrust towards the cloaked figures torso. The cloaked figure however, did not attempt to dodge. Varisen's sword stabbed through the figures cloak as a loud crack rang out. The cloak fell back against its wearer as the sword slipped out. It was now easy to see that the cloaked figure was a full step to the right of where Varisen had thrust.
"He faked his location by lifting his cloak," Cinnamon Bun said in awe.
The burning white sword seemed to flare like fire before being returned to its sheath under its owners cloak. The cloaked figure picked up his backpack and pulled out a book before beginning to walk away from the location. As Flame Princess and her entourage got closer, they saw Varisen on the ground but relatively unharmed.
"He also struck him with the flat of his sword," Cinnamon Bun said to himself. "Very difficult to do in combat."
Flame Princess looked back at the cloaked figure, walking away with book in hand. She could swear she saw a patch of blue through the hole in the cloak created moments earlier.
"I'll be right back," she said to Cinnamon Bun as she ran to catch up with the cloaked figure. She had a guess as to who it was and wanted to talk to him.
It took her longer than she expected to catch up. The figure walked at a measured yet quick pace, resulting in Flame Princess being nearly out of breath by the time she caught up. She walked beside him, not knowing what to say until finally the figure closed his book and broke the silence.
"Is there a problem, Flame King? I don't believe I violated any laws. Even if I did, the treaty you signed gives me immunity," the man clearly said. It sounded like Finn's voice, only deeper and missing the enthusiasm and happiness she remembered.
"Finn?" she asked in a weak voice. It had been roughly two years since she had seen him.
"Yes, Flame King?" he responded.
She walked in silence again, simply stunned. She didn't know what she had expected when she saw Finn again but it definitely wasn't this. "Finn, can you take off the hood of your cloak at least? I want to be able to see my old friend."
He waited a couple of seconds but eventually complied. His hair was short but still as golden as ever. What surprised her more, however, was the colour of his skin and eyes. He was very pale and his shining blue eyes were mired by the red of being bloodshot. "Finn, what happened to your eyes and your skin? You look like you died."
He simply shrugged in response. "I don't eat or sleep enough." His voice reminded her of a clock simply ticking in even time. It had barely a trace of inflection that could be recognized as emotion.
"It's only been two years! What in glob happened to you?" she shouted. Emotion touched her voice.
Still, his tone was measured and constant. "Only two years for you but a lifetime for me."
She couldn't believe this. He would only answer exactly the question asked and not a word more. She decided to barrage him with questions. "How did you learn to fight like that? Where did you get the sword? Where have you been?" She then noticed something else. "How are you here without a flame shield?"
He answered each question one after another. "I learned to fight from old books and from this sword as well as devoting the last two years of my life to the art of sword fighting. I got the sword in a far off place. I've been around but since there are people everywhere that need my help, I'm constantly moving and can't stay still for very long. Any second I waste is a second I could help someone. As for the flame shield, the sword protects me."
"Well what about-"
"We are almost out of the kingdom and I'm sure you have duties to attend to. Farewell Flame King." He continued to walk even though Flame Princess had stopped. She was stunned and didn't know what to do or what to say, if anything. Suddenly, he stopped and walked back towards her. "Here," he said, handing her a small, clear sphere.
"Thank you...what is it?" she asked.
"It's an orb of sight that Varisen stole from me. It's why I came here to the fire kingdom. It can show you any time and any place. However, take my advice and don't look at the future. Speaking from experience, it will most likely only bring pain. The future changes with every choice we make so the vision you would see would be useless. However, it can also force you to act differently than you normally would resulting in the vision you saw in the orb coming true. Remember, everything has a price."
"I can't take this."
"Sure you can! Besides, I got five more. Just don't let anyone else use it."
"Finn, if everything has a price, what was the price of that sword?"
"You've got an orb that can tell you just that. Unlike me, it can't lie to you. Farewell Flame King."
"I'd rather hear it from you," she said as confidently as she could. Part of her was scared of the answer.
"I can show you part of it. If you really want to know," he said as he drew his sword of light and held it in his hands. "All you have to do is pick up the sword from my hands and hold it. I'd recommend you don't though. It won't bring any happiness. Only pain."
Flame Princess would not be dissuaded so easily. She reached out with her fingers and touched the sword. Instantly, pain shot through her hand. It felt worse than being submerged in water. She quickly withdrew.
"Your sword hurts anyone who touches it except you?" she said, trying to talk through the pain that was slowly leaving her hand.
"No. It hurts anyone who touches it. The owner of the sword however feels the pain at all times because of a connection he makes with the weapon."
"I'm so sorry, Finn. You don't deserve this." She didn't know what else to say. How could anyone take that constant pain?
"Everything has a price. Besides, I got used to it."
"Please visit sometime. I don't want to go another two years like this," Flame Princess blurted out. She didn't know what had possessed her, but it was too late to take back what she said.
"That might not be such a good idea Flame King. You've got a kingdom to rule, and I have a world to protect. Farewell." He turned around and started to walk away for a second time.
"Not a good enough reason," Flame Princess said. Finn turned around.
"Fine. I'll try my best, but I can't make any promises. Farewell."
"Bye, Finn," she called as he walked away. He had already put on his cloak and opened his book.
Finn felt strange. He couldn't remember the last time he could feel something. In recent memory, everything felt like it happened to someone else that he merely watched from the shadow. Yet now he could feel something in his heart. It felt like a spark. He quickly pushed it away, checked to make sure he still had his necklace and returned to reading his book as he walked on.
Well, I'm not sure I'm quite happy with what I did to Finn but I hope the idea of the story gets across. I'm also not sure if I wanted to leave this as a one-shot or expand it to go into further detail of what happened to Finn.