Roy brought Eric and Kevin to a Stadium at the base of the mountain. The sky was already dim, covered in thick clouds. The looming mountain was draped in thick shadows, its peak hidden by low hanging clouds. Streaks of purple lights leaking from the various long cracks and crevices that run along the mountain face.

  At the stadium, several torches made of glowing crystals lit up place with the same luminosity of electrical lights. Lots of Ingan people were busy setting up the seats, putting banners up, setting the drums and involved in many other activities. However they seemed to avoid the center of the arena. There were wooden planks placed on the ground, but just from the gaps one could see the gaping abyss that the planks tried to conceal.

  “That’s it.” Roy spoke. “Due to an earthquake that happened some weeks ago, a crack formed in the arena.”

  The Ingans who were working were surprised to see Roy coming back and he even brought two of the outsiders. One of the Ingans who came to them, his face visibly distressed.

  “What are you here for?” He asked Roy.

  Roy walked passed him, much to his annoyance, ignoring his shouts Roy led them towards the center of the arena and begun taking apart the planks.

  “We had tried to fill it with dirt and rocks but, whenever there was a tremor, the crack would widen and become deeper.”

  The Ingan workers had stopped working, spectating on what was happening. The previously ignored Ingan rushed to Roy. He tried to stop Roy’s actions, but it seemed Roy was the stronger of the two.

  With a crack, a huge section of the planks broke and were pulled out. Some chunks of wood falling into the deep ravine down.

  “What’s wrong with you?” The Ingan asked loudly, his veins popping and his fist clenched. He was trying so hard not to throw a punch.

  Roy turned to look at him calmly and said. “Can’t you see the clear safety hazard? What were you going to do once people were swallowed up by the earth?”

  “That won't happen, we have a clear plan to make sure of it.”

  “That plan was sure to fail.” Roy said, turning to Eric he asked. “Well can you close the hole up?”

  Eric looked thoughtful, he walked closer to the exposed hole. His bangs flapped into the air and his clothes rustled as a stream of warm air gushed from the hole. He coughed a little, the warm air almost chocking him. Bending low, he placed his palms onto the ground. He closed his eyes for a moment and, RUMBLE.

  The ground begun shaking, loudly rumbling as the Ingans in the Arena were thrown into chaos, they scampered seeking safer places to hide. They weren’t to blame as this situation was very similar to an earthquake.

  The ground surged and extended, the planks still in place creaking and snapping, shattering into bits as the gap narrowed. The warm stream of air that flowed from the crack became violent, picking up the wooden debris into the air. A small tornado formed and the seats, banners and lights within the stadium were swept up, the hiding Ingans getting thrown into further chaos. With a low bang and whoosh, the last air escaping from the ground, the deep crevice had been closed.

  The whole stadium arena went silent, slowly the Ingans emerged from their hiding places. They had realized this was all done by the human whose hands were on the ground. They immediately noticed the filled up crack, the stadiums ground looking whole again. After witnessing such a miracle, they stood there in a daze not knowing what to do. They got out of their daze when the debris and equipment that had been taken be the wind begun raining down.

  After things stopped falling down, they carefully approached the center. Tapping the filled up sturdy ground with their feet, they took a moment, confirming that the crevice had really disappeared. Coming to terms of what had just took place the Ingans began cheering and applauding raising Eric high up while calling him a hero.

  …

  Time trickled by as Eric and Kevin helped set up the stage. With Eric were involved in re-fixing the damaged pillars and walls. Even though the Ingans were grateful to his help, Eric felt a little sad since some people had been inadvertently injured due to him. When they were done Eric and Kevin were tasked with leading their people to the arena for their official welcome by Muelug kingdom.

  The two made their way to their camp and after informing the captain, the people who were scattered about the kingdom were called back to the camp. From here they were all informed about the welcome ceremony the Ingans had prepared for them. Entering the prepared carriages, they were taken to the stadium, the venue of the ceremony.

  The sun had fully set when they reached the stadium. The streets were lit up with crystal lamps, diffused beams of orange lights filling up the night. The road leading to the stadium was lined with glowing blue crystals, configured with glass lenses to focus the beams upwards to the sky like show lights. When they entered the stadium the light beams, like the spotlights on a stage, swung and focused on them, guiding them to their seats. Drums erupted into intense beats, accompanying their presence till they took their seats. After a few minutes the spotlight swung focusing on the king and his entourage as they walked into the venue. Rhythmic drumbeats resounding through the stadium as they walked up to their seats.

  The lights dimmed and silence befell the stadium, only a section of the stage remaining lit. The hostess who was illuminated, smiled and waved at the audience above. She walked up to the center of the stage and began introducing the foreign visitors.

  The hostess’s voice was particularly loud that even people at the far end of the stadium could clearly hear her. After the introducing the visitors, the audience erupted in applause as they welcoming the expedition team. After that, she begun introducing various Ingan faculties to the visitors. This took a full hour before ending, looking at the audience, some of who fell asleep. The hostess announced the start of the next session of the program, the entertainment.

  Drums rolled in setting the beats went off. The drum rolls were joined by music from stringed instruments, music instantly filling up the stadium. Groups of Ingans went to the stage, wearing beautiful ribbon like clothes and their exposed skin colorfully adorned with markers. The lighting dimmed as they began dancing and their markings begun glowing with vibrant colors. Their dancing styles were entrancing as they used both four arms and their inhuman flexibility to choreograph their dances. The rhythm of the beats increased as the tempo of the performance increased reaching an all high crescendo.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Boom.

  Sparking fireworks erupted from different positions in the stage as the dancers and singers bowed, bringing their performance to an end. This was just the opening.

  The hostess voice resounded again, this time accompanying the actions of the performers on the stage. This was a play, a play telling the stories of the past.

  It showed how the people lived in bliss and happiness till tragedy struck. Their home that they’ve depended on all this time was becoming hostile. They sent brave soldiers to search the outside world, to find a safe haven. However all was grim, the outside world was unforgiving. It seemed all paths led to their eventual doom. That’s when hope was found, the Vireonians from outside, were proof that there was indeed a safe place outside.

  When the play was over the whole audience cheered, realizing the significance of the visitors.

  At this time a huge pile of sticks and firewood was dragged in and placed at the center of the arena. The next performers walked in holding lit fire torches on two of their hands. Boom, a blazing flame shot to the sky as a torch was brought to the pile. The music started playing as the Ingans started dancing while juggling the flaming torches.

  The captain, Matelda, turned to look Eric, right now Eric was trembling his gaze fixed on the blazing flame raging at the center of the arena. She quickly came to Eric's side grabbing his face and forcibly tearing his gaze from the flames. The others realized something was wrong with Eric, though they didn’t know what was affecting Eric, the warriors became highly alert and vigilant fearing an attack.

  Seeing Eric still in a daze, she shook him trying to snap him back into reality.

  “Hey, look at me,” she said hoping Eric would only focus on her.

  Eric's eyes behind the mask regained focus when he heard her. He heard the clamor and cheers within the audience. He heard the sound of the drums, the pluck of the instruments, even the footsteps of the doctors who were coming to check up on him and his own heartbeat, he heard it all. He wanted to tell Matelda that he was fine, he only needed to go out for a while. However, when his eyes met hers, he saw that which haunted him.

  The sounds started fading away. The footsteps disappeared, the music softened and stopped and the audience quietened down. All that was left was his heartbeat, loud and incessant. The colors became dull, his vision beginning to fill up with smoke, blurring all but Matelda’s eyes. No, even the eyes became blurred, leaving what was reflected upon them, its color a blazing blend of orange and yellow.

  In an instant, everything burnt away, leaving only him and the flame in a dark space. The only sounds he could hear was that of his heartbeat and that of the flames, its crackling, roaring and the wails and shrieks from within.

  The fire danced wildly, its form shifting and twisting, jumping and leaping as it spread to cover this lonely space Eric was in. Within the flames invisible figures wailed, thrashing about trying to escape. The flames leaped and landed on him. He felt the temperature sear and sizzle his skin, an intense hot piercing pain making him howl his lungs out. He tried putting off the flames that attached to him, but it was all naught. His scars started to erupt in flames, and concealed beneath his mask and clothes, the scars spread and grew, covering more and more of his skin.

  His heartbeat increased now loud to a deafening degree. The flames roared in fervor, dancing even more wildly, as if rejoicing in his plight. His breath became rapid and erratic, he could feel it burning his lungs.

  ‘This isn’t real.’

  ‘This can't hurt you.’

  ‘It’s all in your head.’ He tightly shut his eyes and repeated this thoughts in his mind yet the heat increased, the flame roared.

  He tried to imagine flowing water, it had always helped him.

  The heat increased. He tried tuning the world out, however he couldn’t seem to tune out the crackle from the flames. He could swear he heard a chuckle, the flames laughing at his efforts. The heat increased, unable to bear the flames presence, he had to escape.

  …

  Matelda had just controlled Eric, she thought she made it in time but the next second Eric screamed clutching his head and falling down. His begun clawing on his body and even his mask fell off his face. It revealed a horrifying sight, his burn scars, as if he had worms underneath his skin, wriggled and spread fully covering face. His body was heating up, emanating dangerous levels of heat for a normal body, even the doctors who had come close to him had to back away.

  Suddenly Eric jumped from his position with such force that the floor underneath him shattered. With one bound he passed overhead the audience, a boom resounding as he landed somewhere outside the venue. Not stopping he dashed out, running blindly, just wanting to get away from the flames.

  Back at the stadium, the people were surprised by the situation and even the performance halted. Matelda looked at the bonfire in the arena, her thoughts unknown. She turned and glanced at Kevin, waving her hand Eric's mask flew to Kevin's side. Releasing Kevin, Kevin immediately dashed out of the seating area following Eric.

  The Ingan performers and the audience were shook, all these happened to suddenly. Matelda stood up, she wanted to shout but remembered that Kevin was not with them this time.

  …

  Eric glanced around, he had escaped the large fire but all around him, flames were still dancing, mocking his attempts. Taking out his staff, he extended its range sweeping it in an arc trying to destroy the flames. This didn’t do much, in fact the flames seemed to spread even closer to him.

  He couldn’t stay here anymore, so he took off, running off to the unknown. As he run he anxiously looked around him, seeking a place free of the flames, knocking any fire that came close to him. After spotting a dark place, he dashed into the alley untouched be the flames.

  Plopping onto the shadows, he still felt his skin burn and a suffocating sting of smoke choked up his nose. The pain was unbearable, he clawed on his skin, tearing his clothes into tatters and creating wounds on his body.

  …

  Kevin had dashed out of the stadium immediately he got Matelda’s signal. He spotted destroyed street lamps, their orange crystals smashed into bits scattered on the road. Following the trail, he came to a particular street that had a small crowd of Ingans gathered. One of them particularly was laying down, his figure covered in blood and his arms wrapped in cloth. He had previously stepped into the alley, trying to help Eric but the guy who stepped into the alley was attacked and severely injured.

  Hurriedly coming to the front, he saw Eric hurdled in an alley, his figure cloaked by the shadows from the buildings. He took a step forward, plunging into the shadows. The sound of the wind breaking resounded and he subconsciously dodged. Eric's staff swept passed his head, striking the walls and deeply embedding within them.

  “Eric, it’s me Kevin, your friend.” Kevin said stretching his hand to Eric.

  At this time he heard a crackling sound, the staff embedded into the stone walls shrunk back and immediately shot again towards him. Kevin side stepped the attack, coming before Eric with a lunge. He then spoke again. “I'm your friend, there’s no danger here.”

  At this moment the clouds cleared a little allowing the light from the moons to partially light up the alley. The light fell on Kevin, his smiling face touched be concern and his right hand outstretched. Heat rushed through Eric's body. Unlike the burning heat of the flame, this heat brought with it a warm feeling. Like a popped bubble the flames and pain disappeared. The world regained its color and the sounds came flooding back in. “See, everything’s fine.”

  Kevin pulled up Eric, bringing him into the light. Eric looked haggard, his long hair was messed up and his clothes were practically strips. Streams of blood oozing and trickling from his wounds pooling onto the ground, wisps of blue energy escaping from his blood. His chest moved rapidly as his breath was still labored. His face was fully covered by the burn scars. The scar had stretched to cover more of his upper body.

  Taking back his mask from Kevin, Eric didn’t put it on yet. Kevin came to the crowd which was still gathered around them and asked for the directions to the stream or river. He also apologized to the injured citizen on behalf of Eric. Surprisingly the injured guy was still concerned about Eric. He handed Kevin a small porcelain jar containing medical ointment made for external wounds. Kevin gratefully took in the jar bowing to the people.

  “Follow me.” He instructed as he took the lead, walking towards the river with Eric following behind him. The Ingans were left behind still trying to fully comprehend what they had witnessed. All that was left back at the alley were strips of clothes and blood that was emitting a blue haze.