40 Miracle (1/2)

Within the weeks of darkness, Will began to feel the familiar friendship he once had with Maya before all of the insanity of the past months came. With every village they had to visit, he felt the familiar air of his good friend vanish for moments as she brought more orphans into the world.

Every time they returned to the dungeon, he embraced her as she cried. Each time, he vowed to bring an end to Jake. His first disciple was not who he brought in. With each deed, he saw the corruption of the man he once felt such promise from.

Each night after their mission, he took the remainder of the time to think of how to get Maya out of the situation she had found herself in. As he held her every night as he slept, he had the same dream he always had.

Each night he would dream of the inevitable task he would have to undertake. Each time they went to a new village, the amount of crimson would increase when he stabbed Maya. The vision never faltered, no matter what he would think of before shutting his eyes, he would always see the look of acceptance come from his friend as his sword was drenched in her blood.

Due to his dreams, Will tried to stay awake as much as possible. Having Maya so close, every time he fell asleep his sword would be in his hand when he woke.

Having just gotten back from Crystal Cove, Will had started to understand exactly where the land had gotten it's name. As he looked upon the large amethyst shards of Crystal protruding from the ground, he thought of the name Crystallia. He remembered the same stone on earth, but the Crystal always lay within stone. The crystals within this world had the shine of a stone never hidden in the earth.

Sitting in his dungeon, Will allowed himself to slip into meditation as he normally would. Cainus had taken advantage of his captivity by training him for hours. The time within his mind worked differently than he normal time. Seconds on the outside were like hours within.

Cainus had trained him in the art of flight with his flame in a few days within his mind. The ability was open to him by increasing the density of the flame to emulate jet propulsion.

Though the prospect of flight seemed straight forward, actually trying it was nearly impossible. He had to concentrate on the power it would take to lift his body throughout the flight.

Maya had let him train as much as he needed after her mission. Though they had finished the job, she wasn't exactly required to go back to the dungeon immediately. In order to get her mind off of what she had done, she would watch Will struggle to achieve flight. At first, his aura burst out and sent him flying uncontrollably into a tree, she had a nice laugh at his misfortune. Gradually through one week, she saw his power grow as he rose a few feet off the ground only to lose concentration and wind up on his backside moments later. Within the half way mark of the second week, he was soaring above the tree line.

Though it always looked like he was just having fun, there were times he would look off in the distance while smiling. Maya often stood as he flew up with joy in his heart and wondered what he could be so happy about after what he had to be a witness to.

She had always smiled at him in admiration while looking back on the days he had spent painstakingly trained himself in order to light a single flame. It seemed so long ago that he had sat under her tree day in and day out using every ounce of his strength to get stronger. Though it seemed so long ago, she knew it had only been a few months.

If he can improve himself this much in a matter of months, maybe he could really find a way- she stopped mid thought and bit her lip. She would not allow herself to hope so openly.

What he did after he mastered flight dumbfounded her. He had started training her almost right after he got the hang of it.

Why he would train an enemy was beyond her, but within the last half of the second week, she had been able to rise a few feet off of the ground as well.

Maya sat in the corner of the dungeon watching closely as Will sat cross legged on his stone. He was deep within his own mind even though his eyes were always open. He would sit there for hours at a time, staring off into nothing. Though it looked as if he were just sitting on a rock, she knew he was actually hard at work.

A smile played on her lips as she looked at Will. It was almost nostalgic, she had often watched Will train in the months that he had been with her. She would sit within her cottage and look out the door as he would struggle to light a candle.

Thinking back to how hard it was for him to light even the most simplest of things, Maya couldn't believe the same man was now capable of soaring through the sky.

Though his abilities had increased slightly in the time they spent together, she knew that he didn't yet have the power to release her from captivity. Though she was frustrated, she knew he was trying as hard as he could.

There was a reason she had chosen a months time to free her. It wasn't because she want patient, or even to give him a challenge. His time limit was given as her own limit.

The corrupt flame had only given her the ability to sustain life for only so long. She thought back to the day in which the wraiths had stabbed her and shuddered. Being brought back to life had not been a picnic either. She remembered waking up to Jake and what he had made her do. Kissing him was like touching death.

He had only given her two months time to live, even now she could feel her hold on life slowly draining away. Soon, the black flame would consume her entire being and she would be cast back into the nothingness the void offered.

Almost as if the thought of darkness had called it to her, the void called out once more. Maya's eyes grew black as she was summoned to the inner sanctuary within her mind.

The memories of her time within her cottage with Will. The sunlight dancing upon his features as he summoned three balls of crimson flame and set them above his head.

Maya smiled as she reminisced within her own mind. She was content just watching how things used to be.

As if sensing her happiness, Will turned to Maya, a grin playing upon his face. Maya shuddered at his appearance. The smile wasn't one of happiness, but of murderous intent.

Before her eyes, Will transformed. His long brown hair turned ink black, his usual hazel eyes took on a dark appearance and the crimson flame above his head turned black.

Maya knew in an instant that she was looking into the eyes of her captor.

”What do you want Jake?” she asked with an annoyed tone. She never liked to see his smug face, it seemed like a warped, evil version of Will. She could never stand to see him that way.

The raven haired man gave a chuckle as one of the black orbs of flame opened up like a window. ”Don't think I haven't a clue as to what our young William has been doing while he follows you at night.” he said as he waved a hand at the window.

Before Maya's eyes, she saw herself killing an elderly couple. The moment she left, she saw a hint of crimson before Will followed. The image stayed stationary long enough for her to see their children running out of the cottage. Each had a faint red aura surrounding them.

”Your final task before I have no more use of you,” he said in a bored nonchalant voice, ”is to find the survivors and kill them.” with that last statement, he waved a hand at the flame mirror and allowed it to dissipate.

Jake's friendly atmosphere turned to a look of disgust. ”I could kill you this very moment.” he said with a murderous gaze. A dark flame appeared in his hand as he glared at Maya. He gave the ball of fire a squeeze, simultaneously bringing Maya to her knees. She gasped for air, but it wouldn't come. As her vision started to fade, she saw Jake's black clothed figure towering over her. ”Do not forget who owns you, slave.” He spat as he kicked her in the stomach. Within seconds, everything went dark.

”Maya!” a voice called out from the darkness. ”Maya what's wrong? Wake up!” She continued hearing the panicked voice over and over. It took her a moment to realize who it was.

Will was standing over Maya with a look of concern. He had seen her black out once before, it was a sign that she was receiving orders from Jake. What he had never seen was her double over in pain from the encounter.

Will brushed a long strand of hair away from his friends face, light slowly coming back into her eyes. With effort, she sat up coughing up a mouthful of blood in the process.

”Jake isn't too happy with what you've been doing.” she said softly as she gathered her legs, sitting in a fetal position. ”He wanted to ensure I knew who my master was.”

Will gritted his teeth. The moment I can put that bastard in the ground can't come soon enough. He thought as he held Maya close.

”He's on to your plan now Will.” Maya said regretfully. ”If there's anything you can do to stop me, please think of it fast.” she looked up into his eyes, torture filled her expression. ”If not, I have to kill everyone and then die myself.