Assessment: Firestar, #5

Chapter 1

Hope

HEAVEN ONCE SMILED on the peoples of the First World, but delight faded to concern by the advent of the Second, and when humanity came to the threshold of the Third World, the heavens abandoned them entirely. The survivors of that tumultuous age were scattered across the continent, and the old powers that used to govern it were obliterated. Determined to persist, they once fought the oncoming change with conviction and fervor, but the instruments of their perseverance and rage were annulled. Few upon the face of the earth remained untouched after this. Civilization as a whole was forced to start over again, and this time, the forces of the higher plane offered little to no assistance.

In the northwestern end of the landmass, a small population emerged from shelters hidden deep below the scoured landscape. Among them were intellectuals and wise men, the Magi of a prior government. The keepers of that government, the Overseers and their Directors, survived alongside them, and with the world so radically altered, the two sides gathered together to decide on what course they should take. They could not agree. The Magi argued for a new order designed to avoid the pitfalls of the old, but the Overseers wished to rebuild their ruined nation and restore it to its former glory. Divided between the two sides, the people could not decide which way to go, so for a time, they excavated what they could of their old lives while the debates continued on in the background.

During the excavations, a brilliant man named Denarius, chief speaker among the Magi, stumbled across the burial sight of an ancient tomb. Its architecture and markings predated the world they lost, and he marveled over the sights and impressions within. The chambers spoke to him and whispered of their hidden meanings and secrets. They guided him and directed him, and he absorbed everything they said without concern. After weeks of exploration and study, he located the primary treasure hidden within the tomb, and it was a large but unusual gem with arrays of densely organized words woven throughout the material. Denarius immediately recognized this as a source of great and ancient knowledge, and upon extracting the text and translating it carefully, he learned of the long-lost art of alchemy.

Emboldened by his discovery, Denarius brought his findings directly to the Magi, and the knowledge of alchemy was disseminated to them until it was understood. This, Denarius argued, was how the nation would progress. Alchemy would be the foundation of their new existence, but when this plan was presented to the Overseers, the idea was soundly rejected. They had seen a form of this art before and did not want to give it legitimacy, and though Denarius argued what he uncovered was very different, the establishment party refused to listen, so Denarius altered his approach.

It took months for his plan to settle among the Magi and another year to put it in motion, but with everyone agreed, it was finally done, and another meeting was organized. The Overseers and Directors were all present, and the people sat as witnesses to what would be their final debate. Denarius, once again acting as speaker for the Magi, presented his case and the cause of alchemy to the people. He explained its structure, its purpose, and how these things would be modeled in the new society. His vision, and by association the vision of the Magi, was clear and orderly, but the Overseers, concerned by the cold rigidity of it, refused to concede their position. The people were collectively agitated by the refusal, a first in the debates since the arguments began, and the Overseers were concerned by this. Denarius smiled. It seems the people are no longer divided on the issue. Would you still refuse our proposal?

The establishment party observed the people and saw their eyes were partially obscured, and their minds were in a haze. They appeared to be drugged, but without knowledge of how such a thing could have happened and to such a scale, they asked, Have you done something to the people?

We stand on the precipice of a new era, gentlemen, and that era requires sacrifice. This is all for the greater good, of course, but we Magi are concerned you are simply not willing to make these necessary sacrifices.

What have you done, Denarius?

Denarius smiled. What have I done? No, I believe you are mistaken to ask me this. The correct question is not what have I done. It is what you have done? At once, the entire committee of Overseers and Directors was surprised by an alchemical device that encircled them, and it generated a brief pulse of energy that passed through the men within its domain. Upon reaching the center of their position, the pulse rippled back paralyzing the captives and rendering them unable to move. It was even difficult for them to speak, and Denarius drew a knife from underneath his robes. As he turned the tip of the blade between his fingers, he said, We are giving you an opportunity to be an integral part of that new era, gentlemen. Think of it. Solidarity, change, and a form of security that is without question and absolute. Is this not the ideal society? A society free from defect and social incongruity, free from the influence of spirits and gods, free to pursue the very ambition that lies within the collective heart of all mankind? Is this not what we should be striving for, what we should be sacrificing for?

Are you mad? they answered.

I am not mad at all. I am chaos, Denarius corrected, and he slowly approached. Though unpleasant, even distressing I must admit, chaos is necessary for the initiation of lasting change. What you call corruption, I call a proving ground. What you call madness, I call a culling. The weak and feeble are continuously devoured by the strong. That is an undeniable truth, but the strong are continuously sustained by the weak. That is also true. This is not a bad thing. It is a natural and beautiful thing. Knowing one’s place in the cosmos is a beautiful thing even if one’s place happens to be that of a ravenous monster. I know my place, and I have known my place. It is a wonderful thing. Even across worlds, it is something I have always known. I revel in it. Don’t you agree?

We do not agree! Let us go! You’re insane!

Denarius shrugged. No one can say I didn’t try, and he plunged his knife into the nearest overseer’s throat.

Stop! Denarius, stop! Someone, stop this!

Sacrifices, gentlemen, Denarius replied, and he swung his knife outward sprinkling those around him with blood. His captives pleaded for release and screamed as they were viciously stabbed by the magi’s blade, but no one rose to assist the suffering, and no one spoke. The people and the Magi simply watched, accepting and still, of the brutality before them. When the last overseer was killed, Denarius wiped his brow spreading the blood on his hands across his forehead. He then dropped the knife. And with these sacrifices, our debate is finally over. Though his robes were already wet with the fluids of the dead, Denarius wiped his hands among the folds of his garment, and with a broad and satisfied smile on his face, he declared, The new era has begun. I don’t believe any more sacrifices are necessary for now, so if it’s all the same to you, let’s get started. Out of this event, the nation of Taurus was born, and the whole region became known as the Silent Realm.

Generations passed, and countless years were spent on the development and maturation of Taurus. Excavations of the past continued and became a field of study on its own. Technological advances, some recovered and some newly inspired, were implemented alongside the growing culture, and through it all, alchemy became the basis for all that was known, taught, and practiced. Of the seven realms that formed in the new age, none were more knowledgeable and innovative than the Silent Realm, so it was no wonder that even through the two-century conflict known as the Magic War, the Taurens emerged just as powerful and resilient as they had ever been. Though the entire continent was embroiled in the conflict, except for the capital and a few cities, the Silent Realm was relatively unscathed, and even the wounds that were suffered were quietly endured. Something greater was stirring in the Land of Heaven unknown to the denizens of the other lands, but one subject among them, his eyes turned to the nation, arrived to uncover the true nature of what had been so carefully hidden.

To the world, he was known as the Great Destroyer, but to those familiar with him, his name was Darrio. He was a young man in appearance with dark skin and raven-colored hair, but neither showed signs of age despite him being more than two hundred years old. More peculiar was his attire. He was wearing a dark violet ensemble with long pants, sleeves that only covered his shoulders, and a sash tied around his waist with stretches of fabric draping down his front and back. On the fabrics was an emblem resembling a torch, and accenting his contours was a sequence of blue patterns that lined and encircled the edges of his clothes. A stiff and raised collar surrounded his neck, and around his arms were a pair of predominantly orange bands patterned with warm colors. They were edged with green beads on red tassels, and a Firan hunting knife was girded to his right side. His hands were modestly protected by a pair of black gloves, and on his back was a large black emblem resembling a circle cradled in flame. His outfit was a clear composite of multiple cultures, four specifically, and he bore them all with respect and dignity.

The woman traveling with him, Tatiana, simply thought his clothing was strange, and despite being with him for a few days, she could not understand the meaning of it. As a native of the Hollow Realm they left in the east, her dark hair, complexion, and feminine features placed her body in the same visual age range as Darrio’s, but she was moderately covered with leather hides to protect her legs and chest. A sash was also tied around her midsection with fabrics to drape down her front and back, and a pair of black, fingerless gloves protected her hands. Her right arm was defended by a shell of plated bones, and her left arm was fully exposed and covered with a pattern of scripts that spanned between her wrist and part of her upper shoulder. If not for the final feature, she would have been considered normal among the hunters of the Hollow Realm, but the scripts she bore as well as the permanent marks on her face were consequences of a crime she committed, a crime that rendered her incapable of returning home.

Listen, Darrio said. Have you ever been to the Silent Realm before? I need to know. Tatiana shook her head, so Darrio turned to her and spoke with a grave and serious tone. Then you need to listen to me. Stay close because you can’t trust anything here. Not a damn thing. Understand?

The gaze from his dark and experienced eyes pierced Tatiana’s frame, and the weight of his tone was heavy with dark implications. Tatiana had only a faint frame of reference to comprehend what he was alluding to, ominous whispers from elders back home with no details to be shared with her. Despite her ignorance, she nodded her head in agreement.

Not a thing, Darrio emphasized.

And Tatiana nodded. I understand. Not a thing.

Good. And stop looking at me like that.

I’m sorry, and she averted her eyes.

Tatiana had been sullen and unusually compliant since their departure from the Hollow Realm, but as a Death Chaser and an exile, Darrio knew she had much to be sorrowful for. Her comparatively short life was dominated by a desire for vengeance over a beloved brother she lost during the Magic War. Tatiana was only a child at the time she witnessed it, but it did not change what she saw. Darrio had been the red-eyed and unrepentant killer, and her quest for retribution turned her heart and mind evil with rage. Years later, after the war was over, Darrio returned to the Hollow Realm in peace, but in a moment of madness, Tatiana set fire to the village where he had taken refuge. Many perished from the destruction, and several children were rendered without parents. The sheer scope and depth of the act were enough to permanently sever her from her people. They could not forgive such an act, and there was no hope of returning to reconcile. The punitive scripts Darrio seared into her left arm only compounded things, but since she tampered with them to free herself of his memories, memories meant to correct her, their limiters had been removed, and the scripts of magic bonded with her will. She was then made as immortal as he was, and with the powers at her command, even death would not bother to pursue her. Magic itself was a strange and unwelcome power to her, and she did not want to know it, but upon remembering these things anew, Darrio spoke and said, Listen. We haven’t been gone that long, and I know you don’t want to be alone, but do you still want to do this?

Yes.

You still don’t know why I’m here. You haven’t even asked yet. Are you even going to ask?

Why bother?

Darrio sighed. Stupid girl. You could at least put up a fight, but Tatiana failed to respond. I’m going to have to train you on how to use magic. You know that, right?

I don’t want to learn. I’m not ready.

I wasn’t ready either when I started, but I still had to do it.

Tatiana pressed her lips together. There was a concern behind them she did not want to air, but after a moment of hesitation, she asked, Why do you think I can change?

Darrio lowered his head. Why are you asking me about this?

It’s bothering me.

Well stop letting it because I already answered the question. Twice. If I can change, you can change. Of all the things to ask me about, why do you think I even agreed to this, you idiot?

She was hopeful upon hearing these things at first, but she had doubts after crossing the border and seeing the naked sky. She was ravaged already by her twisted attempt to kill her sibling’s destroyer and humiliated by her failure and utter defeat. Her self-image regressed from that of a defiant fighter to a broken little girl, a girl still weeping for the consolation of her caring and older brother. When she looked up, she felt pathetic and weak. She hated that feeling. I don’t know if I can make it.

You’ll make it or die trying, and don’t even think about dying on me. I won’t let you.

Sure you won’t, she uttered. Then tell me. Why are we here?

Finally, he said. Three things. One, I’m here to learn whatever I can from this place. Don’t ask me how I’m going to do that because I don’t know yet. Two, I’m doing someone else a favor. Don’t ask me about that either because I’m not telling you. Three, I’m looking to see if there are any threats to the village I need to worry about.

Threats? Tigris is deep in the Wilds and insignificant to the rest of the world. Why would the village have threats out here?

It’s not just about Tigris. Anything that’s a threat to the people living there and to the Hollow Realm in general is something I want to know about. Besides, I’ve still got people in the world looking for me, and I don’t want our fight endangering the people I care about.

Like that woman you traveled with?

Tatiana was referring to Elea, a zealous and devoted soul who became Darrio’s companion prior to his departure. He entrusted much of the village’s care to her, but he was already beginning to miss her. He attempted to hide this from Tatiana. Yeah, like her, so…this isn’t exactly a peaceful mission, and I’m not planning on everything ending well. You’re going to find this out sooner or later, but I hate Taurens. I’d destroy them all if I could, but I’ve got to exercise restraint while I’m here, so if I can help it, I’d rather not get into another fight until after I’ve got everything I need.

What happens after that?

After that, all bets are off. I destroy whatever I can find, and then I leave. I want to keep this simple.

You’re not worried about starting a war with the Taurens?

I’ve already got two nations, a hidden faction, and who knows how many aspiring heroes looking to take my head, and that’s mostly because I still exist. What’s another one going to matter? I don’t care what they try to do to me as long as they do it out here. I’m not taking these fights back home with me. One way or another, this world is going to learn how to back off.

The people of the Hollow Realm often referred to Darrio as the Terror for a reason, and hearing him speak of these things only reminded Tatiana of why. So where do we start? she said.

Probably Oxus, the Tauren capital, but I don’t think we’re going to get there before any of their patrols spot us, so when they do, we’ll play it by the moment, and if we’re thrown off track, we’ll just pick up whatever leads we can find. In the meantime, I’m going to teach you how to use magic.

I said I’m not ready.

Too damn bad. You’re not going to hit me with some random fireball just because you never learned how to control that stupid will of yours. Even if I don’t teach you anything else, I’m sure as hell going to teach you restraint so you don’t fall into a state limit and bring down everything around you without even thinking. I’m not going down like a moron and dying a stupid death because of you, not over something like that. To hell with that.

Whatever you say, and Tatiana took hold of her scripted arm. Though some time had passed since it was crippled and healed, the surface was still sensitive to touch, and though she winced at first, Tatiana came to welcome the pain. On the inside, she knew she was dying, but the physicality of a painful touch, no matter how brief, brought her a minor sense of relief. It was all she could hope for at the moment, and it was the only thing that allowed her to believe she was still alive.

Darrio took note of her actions and continuously monitored the state of her will. He could sense the dissonance and coldness within her, but he said nothing to it. He had already been through these things himself, and seeing her only reminded him of what he had been. He shook his head and sighed. You stupid, stupid girl, but when Tatiana failed to respond, Darrio silenced his tongue and continued to lead.

It would be some time before they were noticed by the Silent Realm, for the nation of Taurus had little care in maintaining its borders. Unless overt hostilities were involved, the infusion of new souls into the land was welcomed. Everyone had their place, and the twelve castes that composed the population were open to newcomers. So long as the greater order of society was not disturbed, anyone would be free to satisfy their fate. The pursuit of fulfillment was even a cultural goal for the Taurens, a goal that was manifested in multiple ways through every level of their multifaceted life.

There were very few overt regulations on what could and could not be done and even fewer taboos on what a person could and could not practice. Because life was patterned after the very concepts of alchemy, experimentation was highly encouraged, and potential along with intelligence were prized above all else. It was the basis of their philosophy which viewed all things as adhering to an interconnected system of elements and forces that kept creation and their realm in time and in tune. That which was useless or out of order to this Clockwork Cosmos was necessarily discarded as waste, and only those things that contributed to the grand machination would live to thrive and reach their fullest expression. It was the unambiguous desire of Taurus to understand the elements and the forces at play, and they studied them without end to mine as much useful material and knowledge as they could find. A person never stopped learning in the Silent Realm from the day of birth to the day of death, and while the denizens of other nations found such an emphasis on continual education burdensome, the Taurens believed it to be a virtue and the source of their many innovations. The sheer ingenuity of the Taurens was even something to be feared by the other nations, and throughout its history, there were very few who even dared to suggest an engagement with them. Because of this, the Silent Realm shared an inequitable relationship with the realms that bordered them. The Hollow Realm in the east would have nothing to do with the Taurens, and the Burning Realm to the south only dealt with the Silent Realm grudgingly. The Saline Realm in the southeast was the Tauren’s only direct competitor but still, in the eyes of the Silent Realm, an inferior one at best.

Magic, though powerful and full of potential in its own right, was not looked upon with the same level of respect as alchemy. Natural bias aside, alchemy was viewed as an intellectual practice that was more refined, innovative, and progressive than the will-based powers of magic. Magic, in the eyes of a Tauren, was emotional, erratic, and nonsensical. There was no equivalent of a state limit in alchemy, no differences in power due to uncontrollable factors, nothing dependent upon emotional and mental states, and no drain of any significance on the practitioner in the act of practicing. Alchemy was an art without fetters whereas magic appeared to be composed of such restraints. While magic in the Saline Realm was viewed as the expression of self-determination and independence, for the Taurens, it was a force that limited these things by binding the soul of the user to the elements. Alchemy was even called the art of change whereas magic was derided as the art of chains.

Nevertheless, there was still some value in the knowledge of magic. Alchemy could not directly subject a whole element to a person’s whim. Instead, extractions of the element, sometimes called particles, were channeled by a sigil through a container and into a medium. The composition of the sigil would vary the effects and strength of the modifications the element imposed, but a sigil, once created, could not be modified or changed. To alter anything about what was extracted or what element the extractions came from required the creation of an entirely new sigil. It was a tedious exercise for many, especially those who wished to finely tune their concoctions. It was thus not uncommon for even a base alchemist to have many sigils all created to alter a single aspect of their chosen element. The ability to freely and directly change these properties was highly desired, but the Taurens, for all their ingenuity and cunning, had yet to understand how to utilize the flexibility of magic. Until they could do this, synthesizing even that one coveted ability with alchemy was impossible, but not all alchemists sought such things.

Within the capital city of Oxus, debates were frequent between the different types and classes of alchemists. Theories were often tested in the open chambers of discussion and in the quiet labs of operation, but there was no greater forum for discussion in all of Taurus than the Spire. It was the central structure for alchemists from all across the realm to gather, discuss, and expand their craft. Tall and black, the bean-shaped edifice rose high enough to pierce the sky, but the material it was composed of rendered it cool to the touch. The inside was particularly comfortable due to the combination of tubes, funnels, and clockwork mechanisms that channeled alchemical heating and cooling agents throughout the building to regulate the temperature. The bottom floors were for common use and open to the general public. Above them were chambers devoted to dedicated alchemists and those wishing to master the craft. Further up were the accepted teachers and instructors, all experts in their own right but practitioners only of the established and tried. The uppermost floors housed the innovators, theorists, and experimenters, men and women who pushed the very boundaries of alchemy. They were eccentric individuals with visions of their own, strange souls often considered unconventional even by Tauren standards. Such people were few and far between in the Silent Realm, and even among them, none were like the void alchemist Arcturus.

True alchemy, he uttered with a pause, is…the study of relationship. The study of change. Alchemy is…the study of ties…between the elements…and what those elements and their relationships…can become. He mused alone in his study analyzing each fragment of thought before and after speaking them. He had to have consistency if he had any hope of making sense, so each idea was to be tried during and after conception. His seasoned but untroubled eyes stared off into the distance as he spoke while his spectacles periodically threatened to slide off of his face. He pushed them back before running his hand through his prematurely peppered hair. True alchemy, he continued, is…this. Order out of discord…sanity out of madness….light out of darkness…love out of hate. True alchemy is…the transformation of relationships because transforming relationships…transforms the elements. The gears of thought snapped into place as he concluded his session. So the true nature of alchemy is not what they expect it to be. He then checked the timepiece that encircled his arm. He was surprised. Is it time already? and he quickly rose from his seat to gather his research together. Arcturus had gone to great lengths to make his notes as clear and organized as possible, a feat that was further complicated by their intended purpose. He’ll be at the appointed place soon, Arcturus muttered. I can’t prolong this anymore. I have to hurry. He spent months preparing for the event, and now that it was upon him, his blood boiled with excitement, and he quickly gathered his prepared travel bag. He passed through his own personal lab on his way to exit the Spire when he suddenly remembered his most vital asset. He shook his head and returned to retrieve his tightly bound tome of research before leaving altogether.

Though well-known and respected among his peers, Arcturus had been reclusive for so long that many did not recognize him at first, but they said nothing as he hurried by. Void alchemists were generally not well received in the Silent Realm, and there were only two within the upper reaches of the spire. Between them, Arcturus was considered to be the most sane, but even this was not truly a compliment. Citizens in the Cultural Caste, the Sign of Anule, frequently took up astronomy and astrology in addition to the void element of alchemy. Arcturus was no exception, but the two fields were often used in a deterministic way of foretelling the future and living by the predictions. This was frowned upon by others as superstitious and subservient behavior. Taurens did not bow to the whims and machinations of the heavens, but this did not stop Arcturus. He had already tested his observations of stars and universal bodies in his own life and would not be dissuaded. It was not long before he left the city of Oxus to begin his journey east and personally intercept the Reaper of Cilica.

That very day, Darrio shuddered as he sat down at the camp Tatiana prepared. Something unsettled him, but he did not know where the disturbance came from.

Tatiana handed him a stick of freshly cooked meat. What’s wrong?

I don’t know, Darrio said as he received the food from her. I just got this really bad feeling all of a sudden. I don’t like this. I don’t like being here, but I definitely don’t like this.

Why do you hate the Taurens so much? Are they really so bad?

Yes, they are.

Tatiana paused, but Darrio failed to elaborate. Is that all? You won’t tell me why?

I don’t want to tell you why. I have too many reasons to count. The only regret, and it’s the only one I have when it comes to this region, is the destruction of Cilica. Everything else I did was justified. I don’t regret anything else I did while I was here.

What was Cilica, and why was it your only regret?

It was the capital of Taurus before Oxus. During the war, I was sent in to destroy it as a test of my abilities, and I did.

It was a test for you?

A stupid test that I should’ve never accepted in the first place. My mentor in magic at the time was the one who proposed doing it. Seris was against it from the start, but that just made the generals over him consider it more. It looked like the war was going to go badly again even with the suspension of bans on amplification, and there were rumors going around about me.

What kind of rumors?

I was showing restraint, and magic isn’t something you restrain in a time like that, and since no one could get a read on just how strong I was, they started speculating. I didn’t care. I just wanted to do my job and be left alone. It was bad enough people kept looking at me like I was an outsider, but that was one thing. After Cilica, everything changed. I wasn’t a spook anymore. I was a monster.

Tatiana averted her eyes.

That job I took in Cilica made me no different than the Taurens I hated and still hate, and I killed a lot of kids when I killed that city. Even if they were already dead or dying inside, they were still kids. Stupid, defenseless kids.

She did not understand what Darrio meant by the state of the children, but she said, So your crime was no different than mine.

Which was the whole reason I gave you those scripts in the first place, you idiot. Darrio then leaned back. You really screwed things up, you know that? You weren’t even supposed to be here, but now you are, so we’re just going to have to make the most of it, aren’t we?

How do you…how did you overcome your hatred? How do you not hate me right now?

You’re not so different from me that I can hate you. I don’t condone what you did, I can’t, but I can’t hate you for it either.

Tatiana huddled her body together and said, The people of Tigris can hate me. They have every right to hate me.

That’s different. You were family to them. They loved you, and you betrayed them. Hate out of love lasts a hell of a lot longer than hate out of nothing, but at least there’s a relationship to go back to. Maybe some of them will find a way to reverse the process. Maybe some of them won’t. That’s not up to you. Your job is to learn from this hell you’re going through and to get rid of all the shit that brought you here to begin with.

Will you overcome your hatred of the Taurens?

Darrio huffed. Not likely.

Why not?

They haven’t stopped doing the things I hate them for. Taurus hasn’t changed, and neither have the Taurens.

So there’s hope for me if I change?

That was my whole point. Again. How often are you going to make me repeat this? but after saying this, Darrio remembered his own denials in the past and groaned. You’re just not accepting this, are you? but Tatiana failed to reply. Stupid girl. Fine. I’ll keep saying it until it gets into that thick head of yours.

Why? Because I remind you of who you used to be? I’m not you, you know.

I know you’re not, but you’re close enough, and that’s why I’m planning to pound these points into you until something sticks. We’ve got too much in common now, and I’m not about to let you go through this the hard way just so you can fail and blame the whole thing on me anyway, not if I can help it. The fire between them suddenly flared, and Tatiana’s eyes were illuminated. Her dying ferocity, it seemed, was rekindled even if it was in defiance to his words. When Darrio saw this, he closed his eyes and sighed. It’s about damn time. Your damn weakness was getting on my nerves. Get up.

What?

Get up, and Darrio stood to his feet. I can see you’ve got your will back, so it’s time for me to start teaching you how to use magic.

Now?

Yes, now.

But it’s late. Shouldn’t we sleep first?

But Darrio insisted. Get up, dummy, and as Tatiana stood, he erected a large post of stone a few feet from their position and proceeded to instruct her on the fundamental principles of magic use. Now listen closely. The will is a living extension of yourself. It’s your desire to perform an action that’s manifested by your own thoughts and essence. Remember that. It’s a fundamental concept. If you don’t understand it, you won’t get anywhere. Tatiana nodded, and as she attempted to gain awareness of her will, Darrio encouraged her to shape, extend, and retract it at regular intervals. This was primarily so she could understand how to contain it, and once this exercise was completed, he said, Now I want you to look at that post I made and decide on an element.

What element? How many are there?

I don’t know. Seven that I’m aware of, but there might be more. Just pick one. Earth, fire, lightning, water, air. Pick one.

Tatiana chose lightning. It was an exotic element to her, and she had not seen it often. I’ve chosen. Now what?

Now I want you to hold it in your mind. You’re going to use your will as a channel for it. Do you still have the element in mind?

Tatiana nodded. I do.

Now channel that image as a form of power through your will into that post.

Tatiana extended her left hand and visualized. A surge of energy immediately rushed through her being as the instructions of magic mingled with her will to produce a strong bolt of lightning. The white hot streak seared through the open air creating a high-pitched shriek, and the stone was struck with violent intensity. Tatiana recoiled from the burst and nearly fell, but she managed to brace and keep her footing. That was…that was incredible. She extended her hand again and proceeded to repeat the exercise three more times. She felt empowered by it, strong, and she started to take pleasure in it, but after her seventh blast, her arm was gripped tightly and pushed downward. Tatiana winced from the pain and turned to protest, but when she looked, she found a pair of dangerous red eyes glaring back at her. She was terrified and uttered in short gasps, What? Why? What did I do?

This. Is not. A toy. Darrio’s eyes faded back to their natural color, and his grip upon her arm loosened. You do not allow a power like this to control you. You possess it. It does not possess you. If you abuse something like this, if you drift away and lose your will, if you become reckless with it, I will personally put you down. Do you understand me? Do not make the same mistake you made in Tigris. I will not protect you again.

Tatiana’s chest tightened, and her breath was restricted, but she nodded her head in fear and respect. I won’t. I won’t. I won’t do it again. I promise. I won’t do it again. I promise.

Damn it, Darrio groaned, and he released his grip on her. Again. That’s not what I…, and he steadied himself and took a moment to breath. Don’t…do that again. I wanted you to understand how serious this is, not give you a damn condition. He then dissolved the post he created and placed his right hand on top of her head. His thumb was pressed against her forehead. Restraint you dummy. You have to learn restraint. Alright?

Tatiana nodded.

And I don’t want to hurt you. You pissed me off, but I don’t want to hurt you. You know that, right? Tatiana said nothing, but Darrio gently nodded her head for her. Right?

Tatiana’s fear dissolved relieving her of the tightness in her chest, and she sighed with relief. R-right.

Good, and Darrio pulled away. You did fine for the most part, so that’s all for tonight. Let’s get some sleep.

I’m sorry.

Do I still sound mad to you? I’m not mad anymore, dummy, so deal with it.

Darrio was a harsh person to be around and overly abrasive, but Tatiana accepted these things and returned to the camp. For what she had done, she felt she deserved it anyway. As the two settled down to rest, Tatiana lingered to consider the lessons she learned, and when she looked at her hands, she saw them as different from before. For such a brief lesson, she realized her own perspective shifted dramatically. They were not mere hands anymore. They were physical extensions of herself and her desire to manifest her will upon the world. She snapped her fingers and sparks of flame ignited themselves just beyond the reach of her fingertips. She was not weak and could do more than she thought. She then remembered her madness in Tigris and saw the fires of the village in the licks of flame she produced. This caused her to end her snapping. Restraint, she whispered. Hatred. Change, and her eyes turned to Darrio. Change. She had to change, she thought, and the fire in her eyes grew stronger. I will change. I will not lose control again. I will conquer this. I will overcome, and as she rolled over and closed her eyes to sleep, she whispered, I will overcome this. I must.

The following day, the great white capital city of the Saline Realm, Ambrosia, enjoyed another day of relative peace, but the leadership did not. The Council of High Elders and Generals engaged in a series of meetings to discuss how to proceed in their pursuit of the Firestar. Seris, Darrio’s former overseer and parental guardian, once headed this effort, but since his demotion to captain following his excursion to the Hollow Realm, he was relegated to an advisory and support role. He was closely watched, and as he sat alone in his office, he could not help but be disturbed by the invasive presence of his outer observers. Seris nevertheless attempted to ignore them as his eyes scrutinized the report before him. His long, silver hair softly reflected the rising light of the sun, and his mind was likewise illuminated by the expanding range of his vision. With the foundation of his schemes already set, and with the parting words of Darrio still lingering in his mind, Seris no longer felt any need to tunnel his sights. He was free once again to broaden his view, and he set his intelligence upon outlining his new model of order.

There was a knock at his door, and when Seris granted permission to come in, Abaddon entered. Can we speak? he asked. I have a request.

Seris looked up from his desk and detected a change. Abaddon’s appearance remained the same, and his face still showed no signs of interior passion. Even his will, once fractured by an apparent betrayal, was solidified, but something about the man’s spirit had shifted. Seris was curious about this and said, Sit. Tell me what you wish of me.

Abaddon closed the door behind him and took a seat across from Seris. When you spoke to the Firestar in the Hollow Realm, did he appear different to you?

Why do you ask?

In all my time of searching, I have personally met several candidates to the powers of light and darkness, but I have only seen three fully realized conduits.

Three?

The twins of Night and Day and the Firestar. I know of no others in existence.

Were there no conduits in your time?

The powers were not as practiced in my time as they are now. We did great things with them, but our initial accomplishments were…naive and unpolluted. There was simply no need for conduits. We were not ready for them.

Seris mused over these words but soon answered, Darrio has changed, but for him, it is a natural progression. If you ask out of concern over whether or not the elements have changed him, I can say they have not. They were subordinate to him. He was not enslaved.

I see.

What is your request?

I wish to observe the Firestar myself and make an examination of his condition.

We agreed that he was not to be touched.

I will not seize the light from him. I wish only to see how it has been arranged. Nothing more.

I will not allow this.

Then I must insist.

On what basis?

The Silent Realm is no place for a conduit of magic.

Have you learned something, Abaddon?

I have given thought to your suspicions regarding the Taurens and alchemy, and I have considered their possible interactions with magic. I am not pleased by what I see.

Go on.

Magic was derived from the light side of the original power, and you suspect alchemy to have been derived from the dark. If that is true, they will not interact well even in proximity. His mere presence in the realm may have unforeseen effects. The realm may also affect him in a negative way.

Will his dual status as a conduit of light and darkness not shield him from this?

Perhaps but only if those elements are in agreement with one another. Light and darkness may have been made subordinate to him, but this does not mean they will cooperate with each other. It seems likely to me that alchemy will empower the darkness within him. Whether the element will then seek to impose itself upon the light is not something I can know unless I am able to witness their relationship. If the Firestar has truly found a way to reconcile their differences, he may very well be capable of escaping contamination, but I do not know if this is possible.

Is there anything else?

Yes. His composition, if nothing else, may be the template I require to form the bridge to what I have long been seeking. Would I be right to suppose magic was not erased from his being?

You would.

Then he has managed to accomplish something even I have not. I must know how he has done this.

Seris quieted for a moment to think, and after a brief time of contemplation, he asked, Should this have been enough to persuade me, Abaddon?

Perhaps, but as you once informed the council already, this nation cannot follow the Firestar into the Silent Realm, and during your trial, did you not state the two of you were attacked by Wind Bearers? If what I believe of their aim is true, they will pursue him there as well. He is still vulnerable even as a conduit.

Seris lowered his head and sighed. You have made your case. I will permit it but only on one condition.

Name it.

You will neither find nor examine him without me present.

Are you able to move so freely?

I will create a cause but do honor my condition. You are asking me for more confidence than I can spare.

As you wish.

Once Eloi has returned from his task in the Silent Realm, I will petition the council for a temporary leave. We will search for Darrio then.

How will we find him? Do you know where he has gone?

"I do, but this is not a concern