| ((Lol, it's his left arm, and it's really not tremendously disfigured...I'll roll with it and assume you saw the demonic shadow.))
Viktor clutched his left wrist with his other hand and val'Kishtar's manifested arm shrank back into his flesh.
Using his right hand to pull his cowl back to show his face, while holding his left arm close to his chest, Viktor looked up at the man who approached him with a blade singing with flame. In a quavering voice, he called out to the newcomer.
"I-I am Viktor Ramirez...do not be alarmed, for I mean you no harm. Please, extinguish your flame...I cannot bear the sight of it...not after..."
His face clenched in effort as he suddenly shook and stumbled forward slightly. Even as he clutched his left arm to his chest with his right, it seemed to reach for the fire, the disfigured shadow Auric had seen earlier reappearing and calling to the flame as if to an old friend or a lost limb.
Grunting with effort, Viktor pulled the demon arm back into himself. The soul of val'Kishtar missed the fires that once burned within it, and Viktor had been trying to avoid any villages or travelers who may be using torches. He didn't think the demon could really claim the flames for itself, but he didn't care to give it the chance. It was already too strong in his mind...any more and his battered defenses would collapse and allow the demon's will to control him. Last time that happened...
Standing up as straight as he could, and placing his left arm behind his back as if shielding it from the flame, Viktor spoke once more to the man standing before him.
"Please...I have been walking for so long...can you tell me where I am?" |