The guardian's eyes locked onto mine, filled with rage.
Its massive claws gleamed, sharp and deadly. Before I could take a breath, it lunged, slashing straight for me.
I moved back fast, dodging the blow, and brought the fiery sword up just in time, meeting the guardian's claws in a ringing clash.
Flames leapt from my blade to its claws, spreading fast, burning like nothing I'd ever seen.
*Roar!*
The beast roared, trying to shake them off, but the flames clung to its flesh like a shadow, sinking deeper, corrupting it.
I couldn't tell where this power came from, but I could feel its pulse, almost like it was alive.
The flames flared around my grip, and I couldn't help but let them guide me.
I lunged forward, slashing the blade down across the guardian's chest.
The guardian's eyes widened, fear mixing with fury as it swung its claws wildly, desperate to stop the burning.
I dodged, twisting my blade to deflect its strikes, feeling the heat of the black flames crawl up my arm.
This power was intense, almost too much to handle, but I couldn't stop.
Not when I was this close.
----
Toby was sitting by the tree, some distance away from the ongoing battle but he could see just fine.
He was surrounded by a protective shield, just like that around Sylvie but this one was somewhat different.
He had his ways and measures for protection. But he wasn't the one to just lay idle, and helpless.
He had long ago stitched the wound with Healing Heka, it was now closed.
Blood wasn't coming out, but the pain still lingered.
He couldn't grow his leg back, he wasn't able to.
Only certain people, mastered in the field could do that.. and that required certain conditions as well.
Sometimes the body part that has been cut could be joined together, and sometimes new could be grown.
Each case, their own unique conditions.
He couldn't go and help Sirius directly, so he was launching Elemental bombs here and there, now and then.
It wouldn't do much damage, but it was giving Sirius split second openings.
The guardian moved again, and slashed his claws.
Sirius tried moving out of the way.. but he was a bit late.
Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe a lapse of concentration.. but it had cost him.
He couldn't dodge it properly this time.
The claws raked slightly across his chest, tearing a deep gash.
Sirius bit back a squeal, his jaw clenched as he staggered, blood oozing from the wound, warm and relentless against his skin.
A scar now ran down his chest.
His breaths came slower, shallower, as he steadied himself, facing the guardian's massive form, taut with fury.
The beast's fur gleamed with black flames under the moonlight, casting an ethereal glow.
His half white fur stood in stark contrast to the ashen patches burned by the black fire, creating a haunting image of beauty and devastation.
Sirius has just wounded the guardian on his chest. The wound was deep, but it lacked the power.
He was always wary of the black fire's intensity, often reigning it in to avoid losing control.
But there were certain time in the past when he let go.
Instead of using them inside chains of control, he accepted and embraced them for what they were.
Toby remembered one of those time very well, after all it was one of the times he almost died.
Toby was going to throw another bomb, when he stopped.
The battle was at an intense moment, and he was observing it all.
The guardian lunged forward, his right paw almost on Sirius.
Sirius sidestepped just in time, his feet gliding back as his hand flickered with searing black flames.
The heat thrummed up his arm as he raised the blade and met the guardian's claws with a sharp, ringing clash.
*Clashh!!*
The beast howled, yanking its arm back, trying to shake off the flames, but they clung like a curse.
The black flames didn't stop there, swirling around Sirius's arm, flaring as if they had a life of their own.
He barely knew what he was wielding.. this power sometimes felt foreign, almost dangerous to even him.. but he held his ground, letting the fire curl around his grip.
He darted forward, and using the paws of the guardian as a foothold jumped upward.. even higher than the gaurdian itself.
Then with his black etheral sword in both hands, he descended with fast speed.
The sword's edge cutting through the air like a whisper before he slashed down toward the creature's head.
The blade made contact, sinking into the creature with a searing hiss.
The flames spread across the wound, corrupting and eating away at the guardian's thick skin, leaving behind charred, crumbling edges.
The guardian's body caught alight, the corruptive black flames licking up its hand, burning not just flesh but something deeper.
Sirius ducked, twisting his blade to parry, the black flames dancing up to his elbows, crackling with raw energy he could hardly contain.
The sword's form vanished and raw black flames rushed burning the guardian's guts and insides.
*Awwoooooo*
The guardian screamed at the top of his heart. It was full of pain and grief, even Toby felt goosebumps all across his body.
The guardian's eyes flared with a strange light.. something between terror and rage.. its claws swinging back wildly in defense.
It was only a matter of time before the guardians whole body was caught on fire.
Black flames danced around his body as if celebrating the assault.
Soon, the creature was engulfed, black fire dancing over its form as it slumped to its knees, consumed entirely until only ashes remained.. a pile where an ancient guardian once stood.
A chill ran down Toby's spine.
Sirius, he was a monster.. one who was just slumbering.
They were close, sure, but Toby was somewhat wary of Sirius as well.
He was fearful of a day, if and when they might point swords towards each other.
Toby looked ahead, and found Sirius standing at the middle of the field.
His right hand still burning, and his head low.
He wasn't moving, as if lost in some thought.
Then, as if snapping back, Sirius looked up at the moon, clenching his fists.
With a sudden, fierce punch, he struck the ground.
*Rumble!!*
The ground shook, and soon enough cracks started forming.
Black flames errupted and the ground churned to ashes as well.
The whole ground burned. No, it just didn't burn... It smothered to oblivion.
With that final surge, the fire died out, and he collapsed onto the ground, drained.
' He must have done this to exhaust himself and end the black flames. '
Toby watched silently, knowing that this was the way Sirius had learned to stop the black flames from consuming him.
This wasn't the first time this happened.
This was a way that Sirius found during one of their hunts.
He would exhaust them, then collapse, only to rise when his body was too weak to summon more power.
Suddenly, the trees swayed and an ancient voice reverberated around the forest, it wasn't coming from any directions but as if the forest itself was speaking.
" Your mother's last gift is safe with me. It has been waiting for you. There is much to discuss, much to exchange. I await you, and this is no trap. I swear upon my duties as guardian. Come, child, to the cave at the southwest edge of the forest."
The voice was old and heavy, as if the speaker hasn't spoke for years.
"Who… who is that?" Toby muttered, his mind racing.
Was this some trick, the guardian's last desperate attempt? Or… could it be true?
The one who has to make this decision has collapsed from exhaustion, and wouldn't be waking up for some time.
----
After half an hour, Sirius finally woke up.
His mind was fuzzy, and his body pained.
His hands burned and a dull ache throbbed in his chest where the blood had dried into a dark stain.
The scar would remain, a reminder of the guardian's last strike.
He walked towards where Toby was sitting, his speed slow but his steps still focused.
"So, what now?" Toby asked, his voice quieter than usual as he took in Sirius's battered form.
Toby knew that using the black flames was really painful for Sirius, but he has gotten used to it.
Sirius gave a slow nod, a weary smile hinting at the corner of his mouth " I don't know. For now, I will check on Sylvie, eat something.. rest and then we can go on. If it's trap, then we atleast need to be ready. "
" That's true " Toby replied. Sirius gazed at Toby's half gone leg, he was about to say something when Toby interrupted him.
" It will be fine. " He said.
With that Sirius stood up, nodded and started going towards the direction where Toby guessed Sylvie was hiding.