"What is your name, little girl?" Carl asked in a low and gentle tone.
"Josephine," she replied in a scared, low tone.
" I won't do you any harm, I promise. I am here on adult business and you are not an adult. We have messed up this world and you, the young ones, don't have to pay for the crimes of the grown-ups. Please put the dagger away. Your life is too precious to be thrown away."
By this time, Carl was an arm's length from her. As tears dripped from her eyes, he gently held her hand and removed the dagger.
Before he could say another word, Josephine hugged him so hard and cried.
"Please leave my father alone," she sobbed.
"My dear, join your family and stay safe. Grow strong, for in this evil world, only the strong survive. The weak live miserably or die. The strong pick on the weak. Grow strong to protect those close to you." After uttering those words, Carl heard a voice behind him.
"Joe, leave us!" a deep male voice from behind her said.
Josephine turned to her father and left the room slowly, a bit grudgingly.
The general looked advanced in age; he had clear eyes and gray hair. Wrinkles lined his face, and he seemed to radiate strength, although he appeared to be battling an illness. In Carl's mind, he knew that this man would give him a hard time if they were to engage in a fight.
" Promise me that no harm will come to my family," the general said. "Swear to me as a fellow warrior."
"The Grand Flame General," Carl said in awe. Everything about the man exuded simplicity while simultaneously conveying power. How he managed to blend the two left Carl in wonder.
The Grand Flame General was a terror in battle—an unstoppable force that struck fear into the hearts of his enemies. In his everyday life, he was remarkably simple and humble. Yet, when it came to matters of the battlefield, he transformed completely. The contrast between his gentle demeanor and his fierce battle persona was striking.
In combat, he wielded flames with a masterful grace that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. With a mere flick of his wrist, he could summon roaring infernos to engulf whatever threatened him or his comrades. His enemies would often find themselves paralyzed by fear as they witnessed the sheer power of his abilities.
As he observed the Grand Flame General, Carl felt a deep sense of respect growing within him. He realized that true strength was not merely about power; it was also about knowing when to show compassion and when to unleash fury. The general embodied this philosophy perfectly.
Carl couldn't figure out why he was assigned this mission when he clearly was not a match for the Grand Flame General.
"I promise on my honour," Carl replied sincerely.
The general sat on the floor assuming a posture of meditation. He placed his palms on top of each other, each facing upwards. A blue light enveloped him and Carl could feel manna accumulating within him. The items in the room vibrated as manna from all corners of the room were absorbed into his body. Suddenly, the blue colour changed into red and started taking the form of a transparent dragon. The dragon enveloped the general.
"Kneel before me," he commanded.
Carl normally would not obey an enemy, but he knew without knowing why, that the general meant him no harm. The look in the man's eyes told him that the man was very upright and just.
Carl knelt respectfully.
Upon placing the tip of his finger on Carl's forehead, manna flowed directly from the general into his forehead.
Carl felt good and strong as more and more manna flowed in. He felt the manna form a circular swirling pool at the center of his body. He felt as light as a feather, and at peace. Gradually, the feeling changed from good to hot. The accumulating beads of sweat forming on his face and the rest of his body was the only evidence of the perspiration taking place in his system as he stayed as still as a statue.
The pressure and pain were severe. He tried to control the pain, but it was increasing, as his whole body temperature also increased. Sweat dripped from his face like drops of water. Like a spider's web, the pool spread out in all directions throughout his body. He could feel the pain in what seemed like the very cells of his body. From the crown of his head to the soles of his feet felt like they were on fire. His breath became rugged and painful.
"I don't think I can hold out," he shouted out of pain.
" Accept it and endure it." The general replied. " You are almost through."
Tears trickled down his face as the pain became unbearable. Finally, the pain began to subside. Carl could feel the increasing flow of manna in his system. His manna had increased by more than two hundred percent. The feeling was intoxicating, the raw power building up within made the previous pain worth it. He could feel the unquenchable glow of a flame within.
" I have transferred all my power, including all my manna to you," the general croaked. "This is the reward for not harming my daughter. You will not be able to fully use my power immediately, but you will learn. Go to the dragons. They are the only ones who can teach you how to fully control the flames I have given you. Make sure my family comes to no harm. Use the power I have given you to protect them."
" Sir, why me and not your daughter?" Carl asked, bewildered by everything.
" She cannot control my power. Besides, your chances are much better than hers," he said in a very fatigued manner. " What a man does when no one is looking is his real nature. Your genuine care for my daughter is the only reason why I spared your life and gave you this gift. Cherish it."
Carl still looked bothered, "With your power, you could fight us and probably win all by yourself, so why give up so easily?"
"I won't be able to live much longer due to a disease I am suffering from. But in this way, there is honor. Please honor your promise."
"Sir, you are standing in the way," a young waitress said to Carl, waking him from his thoughts.
"Oh sorry," he said and moved aside.
His heart calmed a bit as he moved further away from the party and towards Hope.
" Hi Lazy General." Hope she threw herself at him.
"Hello my bebe." he smiled back. He enjoyed calling her 'bebe' instead of baby. Bebe sounded special, unlike baby which was commonly used.
"You seem on edge," Hope said, rather than asked.
"Yeah, I feel on edge, the atmosphere isn't right"
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her interest piqued.
"Hmmmm" He sighed. It just feels to me that everyone seems overdressed as if preparing for a battle".
"Or is the pressure of approaching my parents getting to you?" She teased him.
"Oh no!" he replied with a laugh and said, "I love you."
"I know." She replied with a naughty knowing grin.
They stood hugging each other for a long time. Never did Carl imagine that that would be his last time with the woman he loves. The warmth of her body made the sleeping dragon in his loins cock its head. He felt heavenly taking in her scent. He could never have enough of this woman. The more he spent time with her, the more he wanted her. Her scent continued teasing his nostrils.
"Oh God I love this woman," he sighed.
"As if preparing for battle. As if preparing for battle," Carl muttered over and over again, and as if struck by lightning, he understood.
"We are to be executed," he screamed to Hope. Please run to the hideout.
There was no response. He shook her only to feel her limp in his arms. Her body was limp and lifeless in his arms. He just couldn't believe it.
He felt her all over in search of a wound. There was none. Then it clicked. She had been poisoned.
"Hope, don't frighten me, wake up." He cried!!!
But there was still no motion from her. The poison in the drink had driven all life from her. He laid her down and tried to revive her. With his palms overlapping each other on her chest, he pumped her chest in an attempt to resuscitate her. Tear drops fell freely from his cheeks onto the back of his hands and onto her lifeless body as her body shook under the force of the compressions. All this while, he felt immense pain in his chest and his eyes were blurring, but he still pushed on.
He then understood why only the Blistrix were given the Madonna wine. It was poisoned. It was not an honor, but rather, to kill them. Nathan urging him to drink now made sense to him.
The clouds were gathering, but Carl was in a different world, oblivious to the changes in his environment. He screamed with all his might and, as if in response, it thundered and lightning struck across the sky, temporarily lightening up the surroundings.
He wept bitterly and wailed intermittently. He cried till his throat became sore, completely forgetting the rest of his men. His right arm rose to his chest in an attempt to stop the pain in his chest. His heart almost literally bled within as he cried but could hardly get any sound out. He hugged her body and sobbed quietly, hoping that by some miracle this would all be a bad dream, and he would wake up to reality. He bit his tongue hard till it bled, hoping to snap out of the unpleasant dream, but nothing changed.
Hurried scattered footsteps approached his location. Slowly, Carl stood up and turned to face them. The approaching men were approaching with speed, and he knew they were not his men. As they drew near, one stopped abruptly as he saw Carl. He stood in fright as if he had seen a ghost. The red eyes that met his gaze scared the hell out of him. Life seemed to drain from his face as he stood frozen in place and dreading what was to happen. The rest of them surrounded him and stood still as they realized something was off.