My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 22: Secrets Of The Flame

"Sarah, why are you carting Phillip's body with us? Surely there's nothing to gain by doing so?" Jason asked.

"Hmm, there's plenty to gain though. Oh, that's right. You haven't been with us long enough to know." She replied casually.

"Know what exactly?"

"No rush, you'll see soon enough."

"Hmph!" Jason grunted getting pissed off with her attitude.

"Right everyone listen! We'll rest here and wait for the rest of the subjugation army!" Sarah yelled out while dropping Phillips body.

"Hm, even though we were just the vanguard Phillip never expected that we would be defeated. Now look at him. Pitiful." Jason said miserably.

"True. His pride got in the way. He should've ordered a retreat the second we became aware of the situation. He was too eager to claim as much merit as he could. What's the casualty rate Jason?" Sarah replied.

"Ugh, we've lost about seventy percent of the vanguard and two of the five commanders. Luckily our force was only a third of the total that was dispatched. Lucas should be here soon with the rest."

"Ah yeah, what was name? Michael or something right? Got himself cooked real good. What an idiot."

"Sarah, this was meant to be a simple expedition. These monsters aren't exactly known for their cunning. You can't blame the dead for acting on previous experience."

"I can and I will. Why let down your guard against an enemy you've never fought? Does every member of the human race fight in the same way just because we're of the same race? No. So why would you expect monsters to do it. Foolish." Sarah critised scaldingly.

"Just because your Lady Fellblade's sister it doesn't mean that you can act like this! Show some respect to your peers!" Jason yelled furiously.

"Sure, when they earn it that is." She replied coldly.

Jason walked away at this point to provide healing where he could. Sarah watched him go without a care in the world. 'Should be anytime now.' she thought.

She waited patiently for another half hour before it happened. Phillips lifeless body suddenly erupted in flames. I guess you could call it spontaneous combustion. After ten minutes all that was left was a large pile of ash.

Mana rapidly gathered around it. Raising the ashes to take the shape of the body that had just been burnt away moments ago. As the ash fell away there stood Phillip in pristine condition including his robes.

"Ugh, I can't get used to this." He complained as he opened his eyes.

"No kidding. It's a pretty useful curse though right?" Sarah said as she watched him.

"Hm, I'm not so sure. It's not like I'm immortal and the losses are a hefty price to pay."

"Oh, I believe that's the first time you've let something useful about it slip." Sarah smiled serenely at him.

Phillip slapped his forehead in frustration. He had not meant to say that. He had not fully recovered mentally yet which had been the cause of his slip up. 'She's trying to bait me.' he thought.

"Ah!" he suddenly said as he remembered, "That Hunter! Is he still with us?"

"Hmm? No? You sent him back remember?" Sarah replied, confused by his words.

"DAMN IT!!!" he screamed as his anger got the better of him.

"Phillip?!" Jason called out as he arrived at the scene. Having been drawn over by the sudden appearance of the fire, "H-how?"

"Just a delayed spell I cast. Nothing to concern yourself with." He said waving a hand at him. With his eyes he shot a look at Sarah warning her not to mention his curse. "How soon until we can strike again?"

"Hm, roughly two days if we wait for Lucas and the main force." Jason replied as he got over his surprise.

"Two days huh?" Phillip mumbled as he rubbed his chin in thought. "That should be fine. Spread the word to rest and prepare. Also if anyone spots the Hunter from before. Kill him on the spot."

Jason and Sarah stared at him in surprise. They had no idea why Phillip would give this order. He did not feel inclined to present them with an explanation either. How could he admit that he had been taken by surprise by one so far beneath himself? Another thing was troubling him though. Why would a Hunter kill a Hero? A hired assassin maybe? That was definitely possible. His eyes glazed over as he thought through his list of enemies.

Time passed slowly, day turned to night then back to daylight. As Phillip stirred from his slumber a man wearing an extremely serious expression stared down at him. His hair was short and brown. A light stubble covered his face and his eyes were like staring into the abyss. He wore an unassuming suit of medium armour. Mostly remi forced leather with metal plates made from an unknown source covering all of his vital points. A well worn, brown travelling cloak hunk from his shoulders.

"You really fucked up Phillip." He said calmly, giving off the vibe that him being calm was far worse than if he was angry.

"Nice of you to join us Lucas." Phillip replied sarcastically.

"I've heard it all so don't bother trying to play it off. You even had to activate that disgusting curse of yours just to survive. We're doing this my way from here on out."

"I'm the one in charge of this expedition Lucas! Don't you dare try to take this from me!" Phillip roared as his anger flared up.

The ground under Phillips feet parted in an instant, his body sunk down into the earth that had previously been solid, as it reformed around him encasing him entirely from the neck down. He attempted to struggle against it but quickly gave up on his useless attempt. Instead he fixed Lucas with a hateful gaze.

"If you don't calm down, refuse to follow my orders or act against me. Then make no mistake. I won't hesitate to bury you Phillip. Get your shit together." Lucas turned his back on Phillip and slowly walked away. Releasing the effects of his spell.

Phillip climbed out of the earth that had been softened again. Staring at Lucas's back as he disappeared into the crowd of newly arrived heroes. He took his frustration out on a nearby rock. Kicking it into the forest.

'Who does he think he is? Believing he's hot shit, like he's never made a mistake before!' he swore to himself, 'It's not as though I want to be like this! If I ever get my hands on that fucking Phoenix I'll strangle it to death with my bare hands!'

Phillip allowed himself to get lost in his own despair. He just stood there, contemplating the curse that had been laid upon him. 'Where did you go you damn monster?' he quietly asked himself.

"Phillip, come on. Lucas wants us all to gather." The voice of Sarah called out behind him.

"Yeah, sure thing." He sighed as he gathered his belongings. Having lost all of his previous energy he dragged his feet as he followed after her.

"Don't be too down on yourself. You'll still gain plenty from this." Sarah said after the walked for a bit.

"It won't be enough anymore." He replied with a downcast voice.

"Maybe, maybe not. You just have to get on with it." She advised, knowing that Phillip had been hoping to gain enough merit from this mission to increase his rank in their organisation. "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." He replied, having lost the energy to refuse.

"Do you ever think about it?"

"About what?" Phillip responded, confused as to what she meant.

"Home... you know. Our old lives on Earth?"

"Ah, not really. Never really had much going for me back then."

"I do. A lot actually. The people my sister and I left behind. I think she's trying to find a way back."

"That's impossible. She wouldn't be that foolish. We died for fucks sake." He snorted

"Really? Hm, then where's the proof?"

"What do you mean?" he replied cautiously.

"Well, do you remember how you died? I don't. Neither does anyone else I've asked."

Phillip thought about it for a moment. Trying to jog his memories. He had already spent several years here after all.

"Not really..." He eventually said, "I guess there is a possibility in what you say."

"Yeah, I have a problem with it though. I don't want to go back. But I don't want to lose my sister either. Do you think we'd go back if we actually died here?"

"Possibly, I wouldn't want to test it though. We should just do our best to live to the fullest here."

"Yeah, so won't you tell me how you got your curse? I want to make sure I can spend as much time as possible here." She said while smiling, giving Phillip the chills.

"Not likely. I know you Sarah. You'd probably kill me the second you found out." He replied with a hint of mockery.

"Hmm, It's ok." She replied flashing him a sadistic grin, "One of these days... I'll convince you to tell me."

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