Story Two: The Burnt Note

AN: Welcome to the second one-shot of this compilation! The chosen charachter this time for the story was Brand. If you suggested something else, don't be worried. I'll keep you all on the list, and the randomizer might choose you next. I'll eventually write most, if not all, of the requests I get.

Also, if you're a reader of Valoran Bleeding, I'm sorry for not really updating, but: 1- I did update, but it was only in the chapter and for some reason the archives don't consider that an actual change and update the info, and 2- Writing short stories like this one usually is easier than writing long chapters of a nearly novel-sized fic, which means this will get probably updated more often. I'll still try to writ VB as much as I can, though. It's just that I'm in an especially tough part.

But enough of this. You probably are here for the story, anyways.

Ice and Fire.

Two things as old as our world.

Two opposing forces whose clashing has shaped the very land.

Two things that definitely shouldn't go together.

No, two things that simply cannot coexist.

Yet, there it was: A flame frozen by the cold of the north.

It was even stranger than what it sounds. The flame was burning inside its small frozen encasement. The fire recused to die down and the ice refused to melt, making an impossible, yet beautiful, composition.

Kegan Rodhe couldn't resist. The artifact in front of him surely had magical properties, and he and all of his crew had learned through their trials to stay away from magic, but that single piece of ice was so enticing it was about to make him break all the anti-magic rules he himself had created for his crewmembers.

He took the first step forward. His second-in-command tried to stop him, and got cut down by an axe he hadn't even time to see. The rest of the crew would try to stop him, but one death had been more than enough to stop any action from actually being done.

The men, however, still tried to convince their captain to come back. They couldn't see; they couldn't understand. They weren't the ones who had been called by the voice.

Kegan slowly approached the ice encasing the flame, his hand extending out. He touched the fire.

A sudden burst of flames lightened the cave up, emanating so much light all of the Lokfarian were blinded.

They eventually recovered their sight, but just to see the horrendous sight of a man burning alive. However, their leader burning wasn't the most terrifying part, nor was the smell of flesh being burnt past all kinds of recovery. No, the worst of it all was the laughter.

Kegan was dying, and laughing like a madman while doing so.

His body had been burnt black by the flames, but he still moved normally, as if the fire had always been there.

He slowly turned to his men.

Or rather, his body turned to his men, but it wasn't him anymore.

It was something else, something inherently evil. That Lokfarian was known for being ruthless and cruel, but even he couldn't be called evil, like most humans. However, whatever had gotten control of his body must've been born in hell.

I can say so because I was there. I saw him becoming a flame. I saw him burning to death each of our former companions. And I escaped him.

That only happened because I was considered a weakling by them, and thus was forced to walk behind all of the oh-so-prideful warriors.

And I must say, being a weakling is a good way to survive, as long as you have also the right amount of cowardice. I fled while they fought, but I still saw them die in the fire. I also saw his face. The face of that devil. He was smiling, like if killing all those men was just a hobby he enjoyed. I still have nightmares about it, about him deciding I have lived too long, about he actually caring about my demise.

I also have the marks to remember that fateful day: My entire left arm is still marked by the flames that jumped from man to man inside that hellhole of a cave.

I barely escaped serious wounds, the fire hitting only my arm, but still it hurt like hell. I can't even imagine how painful dying in flames must've been. Yet, that devil was just watching his gruesome handiwork and – the worst of it all – showing his satisfied smile. His smile was like he had just done his task - like killing was but a chore he had.

While I was leaving. I made eye contact with him. That is the main reason I'm afraid he'll come after me. His eyes were death staring at me. I don't know how my fear didn't freeze me right there, but those bright orbs had already marked me for life. I am now a man who fears all fire, or any light. I don't know how I'll deal with that, or even if I'll deal with it at all. I fear that, if I ever abandon the darkness and embrace daylight once again, I won't see him coming.

And… wait… where is that light coming from?

No… It can't be him… Can it?

I remember my captain once said that, if I ever left him behind and fled, he'd find me. Even if he was dead, whatever was left of his body would come after me.

He was more right than what anyone would imagine.

He's bringing hell to end us, and I don't see how we can stop that thing.

AN: So spooky! Consider yourselves formally spooked.

I got many interesting suggestions, from the extremely cracky Kha'Zix and Rek'Sai suggested by "Your Brother", who happens to be my brother :p, to, well, to this Brand story I wrote. I am very thankful for all the love you guys gave me, and i certanly look foward for more *not even asking for reviews*.

Also, two of my favorite authors from this site reviewed this! Thank you two for being constant inspiration for me to write!

So, I think I'll write answers to all those reviews. Welcome to the Review Reply Corner(tm), a place where I reply your reviews!

Malleus08: Lucian defnitely is an intersting character and I'll love to write it when the randomizer says so. Until then, stay tuned and see what I have in store :)

Creator0fWords: Well, your OTP will have to wait. Brand was chosen, and there's nothing I can do about that. I won't break the rules I created to try to be fair. Don't think this means I don't love you anymore, you still are the best! Let's just hope the randomizer gives you more luck next time.

Oceanbourne: Your idea, which was just as great as the previous ones, was the chosen! Celebrate your luck, oh fabled writer! Next time the Randomizer might not be so kind towards you. But it might be even kinder, who knows? It's totally random anyways :p

Your Brother: SOWWY! I JUST COULDN'T CONTAIN THE FACEPALMS! FORGIVE ME ONI-SAN!

Also, you were late. Brand already had been chosen. Better luck next time.