The Realm

Chapter 3 (pt 1) Something's Wrong.

    Ivan reads as he roams the halls. His thoughts are far from the book. He is suddenly bumped out of his head by the twelve-year-old ‘twins’. The girl looks up at him and smiles nervously.

    “H-hey, bro- um sorry for bumping into you..” She rubs the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact.

    “Shouldn’t you be at your language lesson? Don’t tell me you grabbed Flame from his training, Charlotte.” Ivan gives them a stern glare. At this point, the twin boy is getting nervous.

    “Please don’t tell dad! He’ll put me in the cellar again!” Flame grabs his sister’s sleeve to hide behind her.

    “Don’t worry Flame! He’ll have to get past me and my fire and my bow!” Charlotte hugs him close to her. Her infectious smile calming to Flame.

    “Thanks, Char!” He hugs her back as she messes up his hair.

    Ivan hides a smile and closes his book.

“Just hurry back to your lessons before your teachers notice. Your illusion magic isn’t that strong yet.” He sets his hands on both their shoulders, “And next time, don’t go down the open halls. A servant could see and tell on you.” 

“Thanks, Ivan!” The twins hug him gleefully.

    Charlotte starts running back to her lessons, Flame in toe. Flame looks back at Ivan. Ivan gets a chill through his spine. Flame’s eyes briefly flash red. The twins fade out of sight into the dark hallway. A voice begins to sound as shadows surround Ivan. 

    “It’s begun.”  A whisper echoes through his head, “Leave this place. Else you will be taken with it.“

“I hear you. I’ve heard you for years. Yet my distrust has only grown from your mysterious nature.” Ivan growls quietly, “ What the hell are you?”

The cloaked creature lurks within the shadows.

“I’m a friend. That is all you need to know, for now.” The creature’s silhouette morphs into a humanoid figure.

“Why should I heed the advice of a cloaked beast?” He glares at the figure. 

“You do not have to, it is merely a warning. I know the dangers to come, I made the mistake that created the fuse.” The creature circles Ivan.

“Fuse? What are you talking about?” Ivan watches nervously. 

“That is enough for now. Heed my advice, or don’t. It does not change the outcome of the fuse.” The figure fades and vanishes, taking its shadows with it.

The twins return to their classes. Charlotte is sat at a desk to suffer through proper table manners. Flame returns to the training arena on the outskirts of the kingdom. He keeps his head down as he walks to the armory.

The best knights of the kingdom were trained here. Flame’s father is one such knight. To the king’s dismay, Flame was not given his father’s bloodlust, but when it came to fighting statistics, Flame knew it all. He could recognize fighting styles and weaknesses in skill and could analyze a fight and predict who would win. 

He never got it wrong, though he preferred not to fight. Flame could never control his magic. Something felt wrong whenever he tried.

Flame started to head to the bench when the instructor grabs the collar of his shirt and pulls him back.

“Not this time. Your father is here and it will be my head if you don’t fight.” The instructor speaks harshly.

“But I can’t fight! Last time I almost blew up the stadium!” Flame attempts to get loose, but it is too late. He is dragged to the armory.

“Then do that to your opponent!” He shoves Flame towards a servant boy.

“Please! Don’t make me fight, I don’t want to hurt anyone!” Flame struggles to get away from the servant boy and out of the armory. 

He approaches and grabs Flame by his throat, “Here’s the truth,” He tightens his grip, “ I’m tired of dealing with you. I hope the other students kill you.” 

The instructor shoves Flame back, releasing him, and walks out of the armory. The servants begin to dress Flame in sparring armor with the Phoenix crest upon it. 

He trembles as a servant hands him a sword. They push him out to the arena battlefield.