The pathway began to grow wide and split off in many different directions. He blinked and realized that while he had been recollecting many of his experiences he had traveled double the distance he had intended to and his legs were sore from travel. He chuckled to himself and found a nice place to rest with a pond near him and set up a small camp. He sat three logs of wood from his pack which held his armor and supplies onto the ground and built a small dirt barrier around it. He whispered the words “Ember Gaius” and the fire sprang into life upon the wood. He smiled, yawning and stretching his arms and legs before heading over to the pond and looking inside.

Down in the waters he noticed a few fish that were good enough size for a small meal, and he sat there before walking over to his pack and pulling out a small brown book. He shuffled through the pages and came upon one that was filled with odd words that he had written down. He moved his finger down the lines of words and then nodded before closing the brown book and took a deep breath.

“Find the life source…” He focused upon the fish in the water, zoning everything else around him out before lifting his right hand, trembling before he uttered three terrible words: “Dark Palm Gaius!”

     There was a sickening screech in the air and then four fish floated to the surface of the water. James sat back and stared at them, his entire body trembling as he looked at the dead fish, which had been living just moments before. “It’s a necessary practice” He tried to convince himself, but his stomach churned as he picked up the fish and skewered them on a stick, laying it near the fire to cook.

     He hugged his legs to his chest and trembled. Tears formed in his eyes as he felt a sinister feeling creep over him. Such magic was devastating on the caster, usually throwing them into madness upon over-use, which is why James refused to delve deep into it. But having the use of the spell was important, if necessary; it was a surprise attack to use, even though it was sinister and had devastating effects on his mind.

     “Magic… I sometimes wish I hadn’t delved into its arts…” He sighed and looked up at the sky, the blackness of night complemented by the shining stars. He smiled and lifted the skewer out of the ground and took a bite from the biggest fish. “Still… This fish tastes as great as it looks.”