"Why do I have to be the only one sitting and waiting? Not fair." Raj complained under his breath. "And who is this little red one I am supposed to wait for?"
"Raj, a calm focused mind is the ultimate tool against any stressful or challenging situation. So take a deep breath and calm your mind." A memory of his time with Master Bian surfaced.
"Master Bian, today is the last time I can come see you with Bodhi. My dad is making me work at the local blacksmith shop after school so I can start learning a trade."
"He is not wrong to want you to do so Raj. Plus, it is a skill that matches your creative talents and your elemental affinity for fire. Blacksmith Jim is famous not only for his smithing skills but also for his metal artistry and his meticulous control of fire magic. He even creates artifacts on occasion."
"Yeah I know, but I want to keep learning with you as well."
"Don't worry Raj, this won't be the last time we will meet. So relax and come sit down to practice. I want you to meditate on focus and awareness."
"Ok ok..."
"Just take a deep breath and focus your attention on the flame of this candle. Notice as it flickers, changes its shape, produces a halo, and displays several colors. Hold your sight and attention solely on the flame, without thinking of anything else or looking at anything else around you. Just immerse your complete attention in the flame of the candle. If you catch yourself thinking unrelated thoughts, bring your mind back to the candle and allow them to melt away."
A few moments passed by.
"Now close your eyes and meditate on the afterimage of the flame that remains in your inner sight. Allow it to flicker, change its shape, produce a halo, and display several colors as if burning in the center of your head. Allow your mind to be a container for this flame and focus on it. As you focus on the flame, be aware of your mind as your mind focuses on the flame... be aware of your own mind... be aware of your awareness... meditate in that awareness...."
After a while master Bian said, "Here is a gift for you. I want you to hold this fire gem as you meditate."
Raj grabbed the gem and it was as if the flame in his head reacted to it by flaring up and he saw a realm of flames in his inner vision. "Whoa, what was that?"
"That is the Fire Realm. Magic gems act as bridges for those with an affinity for an element and allow them to manifest it from their respective realms. And the amount of mana you possess determines how wide that bridge is."
"Oh, so that's how magic gems work. And what were those dancing flames that seemed to be moving around almost as if they were alive?"
"Those are fire elementals. They live in their elemental realm though some can manifest in our world. Okhan for example is an earth elemental who gained increased sentience and can now manifest at will. And he even became the guardian of the Great Forest."
"That's amazing."
"It is, but know that elementals can be corrupted and used in evil ways. So if you ever encounter one in that state, be careful as they can be very dangerous."
"Aaah there is no way I can just sit and meditate right now. I am too hyped up! What is Thelos doing anyway?"
Thelos quietly approached the wagon and spotted the bandit sitting behind a rock, carving a wooden figure while talking to himself.
"Those bastards think they are so great. How dare they not accept us into their group. Now we have to stoop so low as to make a living by selling children. Could things get any worst?!"
"Things can always get worst if you are on the wrong path," Thelos said.
"Who are you?!" The bandit yelled as he jumped up and pulled out his sword.
"I am an obstacle in this wrong path of yours."
"Ahahaha you and what army? Do you even know who I am?!"
"Should I?"
"Damn right you should, I fought in the Great War and I was a commander of the Shadow Army."
"Oh, how interesting. What is your name then?"
"Ahaha I am Armagon, the Destroyer! So bow down to me you lowly mortal."
"Indeed that is quite an infamous name. But are you sure that is your name?"
"How would I not be sure of my own name you imbecile."
"I am just asking since I am pretty sure I took Armagon down during the last battle of the Great War."
"Wait... Are you... Are you saying... you are Thelos?!'
"That is my name."
"Aaaah... ahaha... you see... haha... I was... I was just joking... silly me haha. How about we just forget this whole thing and I will just be on my way?"
Thelos expression turned stern and his gaze a fierce penetrating stare.
"You are not going anywhere."
"Damn it... Damn it all... That's just my luck. Screw it then!"
The bandit grabbed his fire gem and blasted Thelos with a sudden flame attack. Without moving, Thelos created a whirlwind around him which deflected the flames.
"You are an Air Mage?! I guess I need to pull out all the stops then."
The bandit dashed to his horse and mounted it. He grabbed a black lantern with a fire gem inside of it.
"Ah, It is a cursed artifact then," Thelos said. "I am surprised a lowly bandit such as yourself would have such a thing."
"Ahaha even someone like me gets lucky sometimes."
The bandit summoned a corrupted fire elemental from the gem inside the relic. It was a red salamander.
"The little red one!" Raj thought to himself.
The salamander blasted a ferocious burst of flame towards Thelos who had grabbed the shield on his back to deflect it. His shield was a relic with an air gem embedded in it, allowing him to summon a powerful whirlwind of air to act as a shield. He was able to block the flame torrent barraging him.
"Whoa, such strong fire magic!" Raj said.
"You are done for ahahaha!" The bandit proclaimed.
As soon as the salamander let up his attack Thelos unsheathed his sword.
"Resistance is futile!"
Thelos said nothing. Rain began to fall from the gathering clouds above. Then thunder roared. He extended his arm and cleaved his sword onto the ground.
"Ahaha that's right, all you can do now is surrender!"
"What is Thelos doing?" Raj thought. "And where did this storm come from?"
At that moment, Horui flew into the scene. As she approached Thelos she transformed into a swirl of air magic that enveloped Thelos and morphed into a pair of wings on his back.
"Wow, he has wings!" Raj exclaimed.
"Planning to escape after surrendering? I don't think so. Attack!"
The salamander blasted Thelos once more but with a flap of his wings, he was able to deflect the flames and began to float into the air. He was now looking down onto his attackers as the rain intensified and more thunders resounded through the sky.
"You can't run away!"
"I am not going anywhere."
Lightning struck down into Thelo's sword. The intense sudden blast caused the bandit's horse to rear violently, forcefully throwing him onto the ground. The black lantern was sent flying and shattered.
"Aaaah, my arm!" The bandit yelled. "Oh no, the lantern... this means... the salamander..."
Before he knew it, the salamander turned against him and engulfed him in flames. Thelos created an air shield around the bandit to put out the flames and save his life. The salamander was now rampaging and blasting everything in sight.
"It is so angry and hurt," Raj said as he felt the salamander's feelings. He saw images flashing by of him meeting the bandit when he was younger and befriending him only to later be cursed by him with the artifact, being forced to do the bandit's evil bidding.
Raj revealed himself from behind the rock and walked towards the salamander.
"Raj..." Thelos began his warning but then he heard Simi in his mind, "let him be Thelos."
"Hey little buddy," Raj said as he approached the ferocious salamander. "Don't be afraid, no one will hurt you anymore."
"Hissss."
"I get it. This bastard betrayed you. He made you suffer. He is a bad guy." Raj said as he looked down on the bandit laying on the ground in pain. "He is even getting a little taste of his own medicine right now."
"RAAAWR." The salamander roared at the bandit.
"Don't worry, it is over now. He will pay for his crimes. You don't need to become like him." Raj said as he got closer.
"Hisssss..."
"Ok ok... I won't get any closer. See, I am just gonna sit here. I just wanna talk to you." Raj said as he calmly sat down several feet away.
"Why don't you relax for a bit too and tell me about yourself?"
The salamander was still apprehensive but he sent Raj a few memories.
"Oh, you did that! Ah then you met him and this happened... I see..."
The exchange went on for a bit before the salamander transmitted a word.
"Kin."
"Kin? Is that your name?"
"Kin."
Raj saw a glimpse of the fire realm in his inner vision. He then grabbed the fire gem master Bian had gifted him and that he had made into a necklace with the help of blacksmith Jim.
"Oh, I see them now," Raj said as he saw the dancing flames in his inner vision. "Are they your friends?"
"Kin."
"They also seem happy to see you..." Before Raj even finished his sentence the salamander morphed into a swirling stream of flames and dashed into Raj's fire gem.
"Whoa, ahahaha. That's right, go and have some fun with them hehe!"
"Raj, are you okay?" Thelos asked as he made his way to him after securing the bandit with ropes.
"Yes I am, and the little red one is also feeling much better now. I will call him Kin, hehe." Raj said with an ear to ear grin.
"Hey guys, are you ok?!" Vana yelled out as the three of them approached.
"Vana! Bodhi! Yes, we are fine, how are you guys?!" Raj asked.
"We freed the kids and they should be halfway home by now. We tied up the bandit and also purified the guardian of this area."
"Purified the guardian?"
Rak asked as the big brown bear approached them.
"Whoa, he really is a big boy!" Raj exclaimed as he remembered Simi's words. They all burst into laughter. The bear then slightly bowed to them before he made his way into the hillside.
"Let's get them onto the cart and head back to town. Tomorrow we will hand them over to the Knights from the capital before we head out." Thelos said.
Back in town, they received a hero's welcome. And on the following day, the knights finally arrived. Once Thelos was done handing over the bandits he announced.
"We are heading out to the city of Moah in the Great Plains. It will take us two days to get there, so later tonight we will make camp and continue onward tomorrow morning."
After a grueling hours-long ride they camped out for the night. All the kids were pestering Bodhi, Raj, and Vana to tell them what had happened. Raj decided to finally oblige them.
"Let me tell you guys about the greatest rescue mission in the history of the kingdom!"
"Here we go," Bodhi said as Vana laughed.
"They think they are so great. I bet they didn't even do anything and just watched Thelos from a distance." Bhran said to Rogan and Keegan as the three of them sat several feet away.
"That's right, you are all liars!" Rogan heckled.
"Yeah, that's right!" Keegan chimed in.
"Can the crowd in the back quiet down, I am getting to the best part!" Raj said.
"Yeah, be quiet... shut up..." Several of the kids also protested.
"You are a bunch of idiots!" Bhran said as he got up and walked away. Rogan and Keegan followed.
At the break of dawn, they were back on their way to Moah and by midday, they finally arrived.
"Alright everyone, you have the rest of the day to enjoy the town and make sure to get some good rest tonight," Thelos announced.
"What do you guys want to do? I am thinking of visiting the local galleries." Raj said.
"I am not sure, I think I will just explore the area for a bit," Bodhi replied.
"I want to go visit the famous local apothecary." Vana said.
"Ok then, let's meet up for dinner later at the lodge then," Bodhi suggested.
"Sounds good," they both agreed.
After visiting the apothecary, Vana was heading to one of the local herbal gardens when she was confronted with a disturbing scene. Three young boys her age were harassing a younger girl and pulling her plushie away from her..
"Bullies really are everywhere," she thought to herself as she instinctively approached them. "Hey, stop that!" she said firmly.
"Huh, who are you? Don't be nosy and move along."
"I am not going anywhere until you stop bullying her."
"What is it to you? She is my sister, I can bully her as much as I want."
"She is your sister?! You are even more scummy than I thought then. How can you treat your own sister this way?"
"Shut up, you don't know anything. Because of her, my father left my mom to be with her mom. So now I can do whatever I want to her as payback."
"Oh, so you mean instead of confronting your dad, the one who is actually responsible, you want to work through your anger by causing pain to someone who is even more powerless than you?"
"Who said I was powerless?!"
"I am saying you are powerless. It is painfully obvious. Oh no, now you are also causing me pain by having to watch such pitiful boys being so satisfied with themselves by acting like a pack of hyenas."
"Shut up!" The boy said as he stepped up to Vana to shove her. With one swift motion, she easily evaded his attack.
"You little..."
"Oh, you are gonna call me names now. Compensating for feeling even more powerless now by being even more aggressive. Does it make you feel big and tough? Does it make you feel in control?"
"I said shut up!" Once again the boy goes in for a shove and once again Vana easily avoids it.
"I don't want to be the one who is bullying you now. So why don't you boys go home and think about your actions? Hopefully, you can realize how ridiculous you have been acting."
"Guys hold her!"
"I guess that's a no."
"Brother stooop!" the little girl yelled as she stepped in front of Vana with her arms outstretched. "You can bully me as much as you want. Just leave her alone."
"It seems your sister has more dignity and decency in a strand of her hair than you boys do in your whole bodies. Is this still not enough for you to feel ashamed?" Vana asked.
The boy pushed her sister aside and the three of them continued their attack on Vana. She grabbed a handful of powder from one of her pouches and opened her palm in front of her mouth. She forcefully blew on the powder to cover the boys in a puff of particles.
"Cough cough... what is this?!"
"It is meant to dull the senses to manage pain, but I thought maybe it would help dull your shamelessness."
The boys began feeling dazed and having a hard time standing upright.
"You witch! You poisoned us!"
"Poison you say. Do you mean to accuse the famous Great Plain's Apothecary of selling poison? Maybe I should let them know you kids are besmirching their good name."
"You..." The apothecary of Moah was famous in the whole region and exerted a lot of influence among many towns that depended on their medicinal materials. Even these boys knew they should not trivially offend them.
"Here, you can go catch your toy from the bottom of the well." The boy said as he grabbed the plushie from the ground and threw it inside a dry well before they all stumbled away.
"No!"