The Everburn Mage

18. Thunder's End

"Hey!" a boy called.

Rune frowned. Who's bothering me now, of all times? Having just completed a mission, he longed for nothing more than to hand in his report and head home for a good night's rest. It was bad enough he already had Lukas and his goons' consistent prodding to deal with. He craved not for the interaction of others or the accompaniment of strangers. So Rune didn't bother to camouflage his annoyance nor did he spare the boy a series of muttering curses jittering out of his unhappy lips.

"Go away," he groaned.

"But I can't! You're Rune Ransford aren't you?" Here it comes, a new face echoing the same, tired routine. "It's such an honor to finally meet you! When I found out they were sending me here I thought my heart would bust out my chest! A fire mage that graduated at the top of his class and is already starting to make waves in the military's ranks! You're my idol!"

At first, Rune suspected his eardrums to be malfunctioning. Was he receiving honest to Ryas appraisal from someone that wasn't Leora? No, this didn't make any sense. Perhaps this kid was confused, or simply messing with him. Was he close with Lukas? 

Rune stood up from his desk and turned around to acquire a better look at this oddity. Judging from his freshly made outfit and the sparkling grin painted with innocence, Rune automatically realized that he was a rookie ignorant of the dichotomy and reputation he himself had in relation to others at this branch. 

Still, surely he would have heard about him. About the infamous Ransford Cremation. About his reputation as the son of the Crimson Traitor. So why then, why did he look like a young brat meeting his superhero for the first time.

"Yes, that would be me," Rune reluctantly responded. "...And you are?"

"Oh! Right, where are my manners?!" The boy quickly teleported his hand to the top of his scalp and announced, a bit too loudly, "My name is Private Daze Springs! As of today, I will be the newest addition to Ponsetta's Mage Bracket 9!"

Rune blinked twice. "...Really?" This Daze person didn't appear to be as old as him. He looked much younger in fact. How dangerous or skillful of a mage was he that the military felt confident in placing him in a mage bracket at such a young age? Based on the rays of optimism practically beaming off the kid, Rune kept his expectations relatively low.

"Despite my graduation, there's still a lot I don't know! So, I hope I can depend on your guidance and support, Mr. Ransford," he said, bowing towards him.

"No problem, I guess. And please, Rune is fine."

"Whatever you wish!" he cheered, pumping his hands into the air. "From this day forward, I shall be your apprentice! And you, my master!"

Rune flinched at the absurdity of his comment. "Wait, what?! I never agreed to..."

"Here's to our brilliant future, Master Rune."

"Stop calling me "Master"! I'm only twenty years old!" the mage retaliated.

That was how his life crossed with Daze's. Looking back on how it all started, and how their story eventually ended, why, Rune still had trouble confronting reality.

They gathered in a sea of gold grass when the sun was cut in half by the blade of the horizon.

Typically, a soldier that was killed in the line of duty, combat mage or otherwise, would be buried in the Savanis National Cemetery. A grave of heroes. Under the request of the Springs Family, however, it was arranged that Daze's burial would be done in his hometown of Nautia. 

Dressed completely in black attire, Rune stood in the third row of two groups of people. He kept his eyes forward, trying his best to disregard the cries and prayers of those surrounding him. However, this task became increasingly difficult when four soldiers carried a wooden coffin down a pathway separating the two groups, and leading to the massive hole dug deep into the earth.