A white shape, a woman, sat inside a clearing, holding her hand out as fiery butterflies landed upon it. With a shook of their wings flames spread sideways, nearly burning the plants around before they extinguished mid-air.

“You need to control your flames better.”

The butterflies took of once more, sparks flying off with every flap of their wings. The woman smiled at the leaving flame, “Goodbye,” before vanishing from the clearing without a trace.

Doors crashed open followed by a humanoid golden flame striding inside a throne room. “Where’s my sister?”

Fires sprang out from their places in chandeliers and holders, twisting towards the ground, taking on a humanoid and bowed towards the golden one. “The empress isn’t here.”

“Where did she go?” The flame started to shout. “She can’t just leave!”

“It is not our decision to dictate what the first does.”

“Do you really think it’s okay for her to leave her throne, to leave all of us alone?” He shouted out, only to be met with silence. He opened his mouth to shout once more, only to stop and turn around, looking into the far distance. “There she is.”

She stood inside a field, burdened by ripples in space, the cold void and everlasting flames. Slowly she lifted her hands, letting her flames rush forward, covering the ground, running through the air, all to create a giant circle.

As her white flames shifted around her a golden flame appeared in the distance. “I believe I said that nobody is to step onto these grounds.”

“Sister!” He rushed nearer, stopping on the edge of the field. “How can you just leave us alone!? You don’t even know if this will work!”

“I’m not leaving you alone. I watched over all of you for eternity.” She smiled at him. “You no longer need me. But there is someone who does.” As she said this she lifted her hand, her flame sparking with a golden gleam. She released the golden gleam, it rushing forward into the circle of fire, quickly turning it golden. “Watch over them for me, brother.”

When the flame circle completely turned golden it began to move, the symbols inside spinning around. Then it stopped, collapsing inwards, leaving nothing in its path.

“Be careful, Amy.”

Shaaaa. I woke up to the sound of rain. So, it finally began. I opened my eyes, seeing a patch of leather span over me. I twisted my head, my body screaming out in pain from the use of a skill far to advanced for it. Only foliage came into view, making me try to roll over and get a better view, only for the ground beneath me to shift, yielding under my weight. No, this isn’t the ground. Leather?

“You’re awake!” Alice’s voice resounded behind me, something rustling as she made her way to me. When she came into view I saw little cuts all over her body. “You okay?”

“I believe it would be better to ask that to you. How long was I out?”

“A week. You didn’t wake up and your wounds never really healed completely. We thought you’d…” She fell silent, weeping as tears gathering in her eyes.

“Hey,” I tried to lift myself up, only to fail miserably. In much effort I lifted my hand, placing it on hers. “It’s okay. I’m alive.”

We fell silent for a moment as Alice calmed herself.

“Where’s Sarah?” I asked her belatedly as I still didn’t see her.

“She lures the goblins away, they nearly found our position last night.”

“Where even are we?”

“Somewhere south of the goblin camp. At first me searched shelter inside a cave, only for the goblins to find us, nearly trapping us inside. But they were only hobgoblins at most. We fought our way outwards and landed here, atop a tree again.” She chuckled slightly. “Never thought Sarah would’ve taken the tent only to rip it apart and span the leather over the branches. It holds for now. I feared you would burn it and fall right through, but your fire didn’t do anything to it.”

“As long as I don’t want it to it doesn’t do anything.

“Good to know.”

I felt exhaustion rush over me again. “Sorry, I think I’ll rest a bit more.” I closed my eyes, sleep coming to me. Gently I felt a hand brushing through my fiery hair.

Branches rustled as Sarah made her way upwards. “How is he? Still unconscious?” She came near, stopping on a branch next to us.

“He finally awoke, even if only for a few minutes.” I saw relief flash over her face. “What about the goblins?”

“The mage was there again. Finally managed to get it by shooting it in the back of its head. Finally managed to get to level 30.” She struck her hand out, showing a victory sign, while striking a pose.

“Finally ready to play with the big ones?” I couldn’t help but tease her.

“Come on, you’re just a few levels above me! And if I continue at this rate I will be stronger than you in a flash.”

I let her talk about her exploits today till we decided to rest once more, the rain continuing to come down without ever stopping.

I woke up at night once more. At least I thought it was night as everything around us was dark, but it could also be because of the never-ending rainfall blocking out all remains of light. I tried to lift myself once more, this time prepared as I knew about my surrounding.

As I came into a sitting position I looked around, seeing leaves surround me on all sides. Shortly besides me I saw Alice and Sarah lying on another patch of leather with Sarah lying in her embrace. Good to see that you’re okay too.

Seeing that my surrounding offered nothing worth noting I let my upper body rest against the leather once more, concentrating on the messages that were left by the system, resting at the periphery of my vision as I wasn’t conscious to receive them.

Fuck you, should I even care about a five percent increase if I get all their attention for it. At least I hope the other messages are better.

I started to laugh. You think I don’t know that? And over 12 days? Haa, what does the last one say?

“Did I ever tell you I hate you, system?” I whispered into the night and closed my eyes once more. What should I do for now?