Flames of Proof and the Hero's Call
The mercenaries stared at my aura for a good long while, like it was the most amazing thing they'd ever seen.
Not a single one chattered excitedly or lost their shit.
They just gawked at the roaring flames, blank-faced, exactly like I used to do back in the day.
"Wh-whoa..."
One of them snapped out of it and stammered in a dazed tone.
"F-fuckin' real aura, huh?"
"...Pfft."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at their pure, innocent reaction.
"You said you believed me earlier."
They panicked at my jab and started babbling excuses.
"No, no!!! We totally believed you! It's just... we don't see aura that often, so it's kinda wild!"
"...Okay, you pass."
"Phew..."
Classic mercenary survival skills, honed by years on the job.
If you judged them purely on silver tongues, most of these guys were basically at Master level.
"Alright, we're good then? I'm heading out."
I let the overheated mood cool off and headed back to the barracks.
When I mentioned I hadn't bathed in eight days thanks to no water in the Demon Realm, they just nodded and let me go without a fuss.
Gotta respect a man relieving that sticky grime.
*Splash.*
"Haaah..."
*Bubble bubble.*
I sank into the tub of warm water up to my neck.
The tension coiled in my body slowly washed away.
Based on the entry logs, I'd camped out for a full eight days—not just anywhere, but in the goddamn Demon Realm.
Probably solo, which explained the exhaustion.
First things first, wash up... think tomorrow.
I closed my eyes in the tub.
Wasn't planning to sleep, but fatigue dragged my heavy eyelids down anyway.
And just like that, I passed out unintentionally.
I had a dream.
Didn't know who it was, but I was following someone, trudging along.
Hunted monsters.
Killed 'em, kept killing.
Someone just stood there ahead, waiting patiently.
Didn't lift a finger, just stayed put.
I thought they were a lazy asshole for it.
Sometimes I even suspected them.
But as time wore on, suspicion turned to certainty.
I rubbed my blurry eyes, straining to see them clearly.
Ugh...
When I opened my eyes again, no one was there—just a massive light.
It was warm, glowing softly.
But more than comfort, it radiated overwhelming majesty.
Sensing my gaze, it suddenly flared up fiercely.
Soon, the light turned crimson-black, rippling as it surged toward me like it would swallow me whole.
This time, you're the one who burns, the flames seemed to whisper.
"Hah! Hah!"
The room was dead silent.
Dawn's gray light filtered through, the sun not fully up yet.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"F-fuck... just a dream."
I scanned the room slowly, silently.
*Tick tock. Tick tock.*
Alarm clock still had ages before ringing.
Damp towel slung over the chair—I must've stumbled back half-asleep.
Nothing else amiss. No fire, no disaster.
Just my familiar room, same as always.
"Haaah..."
Just a dream.
I let out a deep sigh of relief and flopped back onto the bed.
............
"Ah, shit. This is driving me nuts."
Too early to be up, but lying there, sleep wasn't coming back.
I scowled, kicked off the covers, and got up.
*Creeeak. Thud.*
Dunno if it was the morning or that weird dream, but the old hinges squeaked louder than usual.
*Chirp chirp. Tweet.*
Sun barely up, air still chilly.
To Rotten locals, maybe "cool," but up north in the Empire, it was all freezing-your-ass-off weather to outsiders.
Anyway, here I was, early morning, heading to the cathedral.
The historic Rotten Cathedral smack in the city center.
I needed answers ASAP on these bullshit things happening to me lately.
Wouldn't relax till I was sure no more weird crap would pop up.
Had to be constant demon energy exposure in the Demon Realm.
Purification at the cathedral should fix it.
The whole building gleamed pure white.
The holiest spot where the northern sun hit first.
Here I was at the Rotten Cathedral.
A massive white tree embracing the structure from the center welcomed me, blending with nature.
Even after ages away, the endless stairs to the cathedral screamed sanctity and grandeur.
Early as it was, a few folks sat panting halfway up, catching their breath.
Anywhere else, that'd be awkward, but...
*Rustle. Rustle.*
Trees lining the stairs shaded from the sun,
*Trickle trickle.*
And waterfalls from above let people quench their thirst.
The water came from a fountain at the top, drawing underground springs beneath the cathedral—said to have mild healing vibes.
Not curing diseases or anything, just a slight energy boost.
I took a sip midway up and pressed on.
Lucky it was so early—fewer people than usual.
Afternoon would've meant lines from the entrance to the stairs' base.
Figured thirty minutes tops to see a priest.
"No corruption on you, brother."
"Huh?"
The priest dropped that bombshell after my wait.
"If demon energy affected you, holy water would sting or burn on contact. But you felt nothing, so it's not that."
"No way..."
He stayed calm, like he'd heard it a million times.
"Likely psychological. Common for first-timers back from long Demon Realm stints. That place keeps you on constant edge—who knows when monsters pop out? Eight days solo... your brain's still wired for alert mode."
"Ah..."
I nodded at his explanation.
"Yeah, could be."
"Live normally, and it'll reset. If it worsens or lingers, skip us—head to the cathedral clinic inside."
He gripped my hand tight.
"Pray you recover quick and get back to daily life, brother."
I thanked him, paid up, and left.
Convinced cathedral treatment would fix it, I trudged out disappointed.
*Plod plod.*
Descending, I sat under a tree like those folks on the way up, sorting my thoughts.
Closed my eyes, breathed steady in and out.
People think mercenaries are dumb thugs who can't control their tempers, but nah.
Always thrown into danger zones, we needed meditation's focus and calm—lifesavers.
I sank the negative thoughts, separated them from the rest.
Waking up on Tusnis Mountain out of nowhere,
The Demon Realm feeling familiar despite first time,
That someone in the dream, flames swallowing me.
Those kept feeding the negativity.
Whatever the cause, can't know it anyway. Point is, I'm alive and fine right now, yeah?
Forget it, live normal.
Ignore the weird vibes.
No need clinging to the past.
I made it back to Rotten safe.
Yeah, that's enough. Cathedral confirmed no demon influence.
Using their check as anchor, I shrugged off the freakout, stood, and headed home.
I changed into work clothes, strapped on the sword from Tusnis Mountain.
Leave over—back to the grind today.
"You're here!"
The early birds greeted me warmly.
"Yeah. What's on deck?"
"Mutant boar in the nearby woods."
"Eh, standard stuff."
"Right?"
I strode to the center and bellowed,
"Everyone assembled?!?"
"Yeah!!!"
These were all my squad—Dawn's Torch unit under me.
Led 'em out of Rotten for the job.
Lucky spot: woods close by.
Group figured I'd trained a week in the Demon Realm, so easy pick to ease me in.
Didn't have to baby me...
Grateful deep down.
A twinge of guilt too—
I'd just blacked out a week, not trained.
Aura? Woke up with it post-knockout.
Whatever, finish the job first.
Hit the target zone quick.
"Eyes sharp, everyone!! Gart, scope the boar with binoculars! Scol and a few, scout for tracks!"
"Got it!!"
They jumped to tasks fast.
Five minutes after my orders, Gart yelled from a tree,
"Boar sighted!!"
Pointed it out—we all bolted that way, me included.
The mutant boar we faced was huge.
Biggest variant I'd seen.
Full 4 meters.
Body parts hardened to steel—tricky bastard.
Group gave me this thinking "basic mutant," probably.
Normals were 2m max, tougher hide, packs of four tops.
Anyway, squad tensed at the unprecedented size.
Normally, I'd be right there with 'em.
Steel plating meant regular iron weapons? Forget it.
No quick kill method.
Usual case: few sacrifices brainstorming while it rampaged.
But.
Something tells me I can handle it.
I drew my sword on impulse and charged.
"Wh-whoa??? Evan?????"
"What the hell!! Get back and form up!!!"
That'd be normal play.
Common sense.
If I lacked aura.
*Whoosh!!!*
Crimson-black flames leaked from my lips.
Fire rippled along the blade.
I kicked off lightly, leaped, slashed its neck.
*Tap.*
Landed smooth, glanced back to check.
Miss...?
First monster kill with aura—brain screamed doubt.
But my senses insisted: got it.
Tense moment.
*Sliiiice, thud!*
Its head slid clean off, hit the dirt.
Mercs' eyes bugged out, jaws dropped—some drooling.
"E-EVAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Woooaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
They mobbed me cheering.
"Fuck, you insane or what?!?!?"
"Knew you were a talent freak, but damn!!! You went and did it!!!"
"You're our merc group's hope, man!!!!!!!!!!"
"Hahaha."
I grinned sheepishly at the hype.
"So yeah, you should enter the mercenary selection tournament for the Hero's Party."
Uh...?
"Me????"