I flipped a blank card between my fingers. Standing in the shadow of a tree with the low sun beams keeping my back warm from the winter’s bite.

I pulled my collar higher. Slipping my hand into my pocket to pull out my pocket watch, it was nearly time.

Dust kicked up a storm at the bend. Sounds of horse stamping hard packed dirt roads came across in the cold breeze.

I brought my hands together and tried to blow on them, but forgot I was wearing a mask. Four heavy carriages came into view, dozen knights in leather armor escorting.

“Intel a bit off.” I said to the sinking sun.

The card resting between my two fingers glowed with red light, runes crawling up the blank surface. Bottom of the card turned to little embers that floated away in a breeze.

I checked my mana watch, only ten percent removed from one of the twenty mana pearls. I had ten minutes before the bestowment faded, which was plenty of time.

The convoy rolled parallel to me. One of the guards turned, I could see my red eyes reflecting in his. Watching a bigger reddish-orange wolf head enlarge before it engulfs him.

“Arghh!” a scream went up.

More fireballs shaped like wolf heads, came flying into the convoy. Devouring both horse and man alive, leaving not a single wisp of suspect behind.

I walked out of the shade. Fire billowing out of my hands.

The guards not dead pulled out their swords, turning their horses. Racing towards me while a mage climbed out of the carriage. Floating over the roof, bringing up a barrier.

I formed more than a hundred flaming daggers and sent them flying forward. Cutting down the guards and horses before turning my attention to the real threat.

“My lord, I think this is the end of the road for us.” the mage yelled over the wind that was whipping his carriage.

A flaming horse formed beside me and I hop on, chasing after my prey. There was a long stretch of road before any patrol would appear. An hour and twenty-six minutes to finish if I couldn’t take them out immediately.

I formed energy conservative flaming daggers, sending them to bombard the barrier. All landing at the same point, the area of weakness. The wheels and horse.

The enemy mage grunted and sent back his own attacks. Silver beams of light that I was forced to deflect to the side with a small flame shield. I glanced at my mana watch and realized a bead was already black.

He was hitting pretty hard. I didn’t have any type of summon that could disrupt others' magic. I sigh and take a bead of mana to form a white flaming wolf, sending it hurtling at the shield. I smirk at the dumbass shocked expression. He jumped off the carriage, saving himself.

The barrier melted and the carriage lifted up upon being hit by the flaming wolf. The carriage flew over the horses, bringing up their hindquarters right after it.

The screams of the horses before they were engulfed by the wolf left me feeling pleased, I wouldn’t have to chase the carriage down if it magically righted itself.

I pointed at the dumbass who struggled to his feet. The white flamed wolf became a blur of light. Flashing towards the only opponent I felt I had. Whether it could kill him or not wasn’t my goal. Just needed him out of the game.

The carriage hit the ground hard enough for me to wince. It bounced a few times before slamming through trees. Sending bark and dirt flying everywhere.

My horse slowed down, pulling up beside the door. I hopped off and threw open the carriage’s door, my flaming shield in front to block any attack.

I was smart for that thinking. The bastard shot a crossbow at me.

Well, it wasn’t my target, but a strong knight. I devoured him with a blast of fire and grabbed the coat of my target, forming a sword in my free hand. I shoved it into the target chest as he stumbled to his feet and towards me.

His eyes held disbelief and fear. The light of life faded from his face with a quickness that the coldness could learn from. I cut off his head and ignored the sniveling bleeding women inside.

Activating my ring, summoning-portals surrounded me and I disappeared.