[b][i]Flame Brooks[/i][/b]

Flame noticed the guards' 'suspicious' behavior just in time for a loud voice to echo across the area, and people dressed in sterotypical Cultist clothing flooding the streets, killing and maiming as they went. As the guards presumably helped everyone evacuate, Flame directly attacked the Witch-Cultists to buy them time to get to safety. 

"[B]Goa![/b]" he shouted, sweeping his right hand at a group of enemies to project a whip of searing fire, one that should hopefully scatter or even kill the opposing band. He then proclaimed himself, "My name is Flame Brooks, currently sworn to the Art Fortye Household! Come at me and burn!"

A grin - He had always seen such proclamations work in Anime. As the Cultists presumably converged on him, drawn by his actions and taunt, Flame launched two wide cones of fire from his hands, throwing off the aim of any ranged attackers while scorching those of the enemy who were foolish enough to be drawn into melee. 

Then he withdrew before the next onslaught came, trying to follow the fleeing guards and civilians towards where they were evacuating, pausing only to throw more fireballs at any Cultist who tried to follow them. [i]So the climax of this little epic is approaching,[/i] he thought. [i]Time to make Lord Talus pay for everything he did to Ashton, me, and everybody else he cursed to land in this place![/i]

Flame knew that mere days ago, he'd have been too cynical to do what he was doing, too selfish. But although he was still the latter, his selfishness had grown to include more than just him and Ashton's well-being. No, he had grown to like everyone else after his own fashion, even Aerith and that mean girl Chieko. He had learned to care about more people than just his family.

[i]Ashton, I love you,[/i] he thought, [i]Now and forever. But I can love other things too, in different ways. Is this what growth feels like? How growing up feels? If so, I have nothing to fear.[/i]

"All those with Magic!" he shouted, "Rally to me at the rear of the crowds! Cover the other civilians' evacuation!"