Sands of Destiny: Five Lights Appear

Chapter 3: Little Brother and Sister

I don't think I'll ever forget the next three years. Aux sent us on missions to fight the strongest of the strong, and at the end of every month, the two of us would take turns fighting him. We never even came close to beating him though. We learned new tricks and developed our fighting styles, making them more diverse. Every night Frixius would bath in golden water, both healing, and making us stronger, helping us develop at an insane rate. He'd even read us bedtime stories, telling us that our proper rest was crucial. He'd fight with us in our sleep sometimes, so Mio started keeping extra pans. Our names scared most low level sheriffs into retreat. Mio even trained a little, saying she at least wanted to be able to defend herself. By the time we were ten, we had truly become real, hardened wranglers. Which is when we got our next mission.

"Hey brats, come over here real quick!"

We ran up and Frixius swung at us. We both dodged it easily, drawing our weapons to prepare for another attack.

"Good, at ease boys! I got a new mission for you two, and if you do well, I'll take you all out for ice cream!"

"Let's hear it, old man!"

Frixius chuckled.

"There's a kid that reminds me of you two, and he's about the same age you were when I picked you up. I've been busy lately handling my own missions, and I need you to track him down, and pick him up."

"What is his name, Master Frixius?"

"Hear that, manners Miadco! Aux you get two ice creams! But anyways, his name is Igneous. He's a wannabe wrangler, but he isn't bad for his age. Problem is, he thinks he's indestructible, and he's way too cocky for his own good. He can get himself killed if we don't find him and put a leash on him. Aux, you'll take the lead as always, you're a skilled tracker and you can keep a cap on Midaco just as well as me now. Midaco, please behave, I know you're the stronger one, but Aux is the best leader for missions. Try to contain yourself, if you get into real trouble, I won't be here to save you."

"Ugh, fine old man, I'll be good."

"Good. Now get lost brats! Mio get dressed, you're hanging out with me, believe it or not you're gonna be safer with me, if that kid does what I think he's gonna do."

Me and Midaco walked out of the house. We walked until we found the sheriff's board for news and wanted wranglers. Right under us and Frixius was the boy named Igneous. He looked like a younger Midaco, except with pitch black eyes speckled with small lines of white light.

"Midaco?"

"What?!"

"Where would you be right now if it weren't for this mission?"

"Honestly, wherever I could find a good fight. Why ya ask?"

"What I told you there was an Elixir Brawl in the works right now?!"

"Oh shit! We gotta hurry, that kid really is tryna get himself killed!"

We rushed off, running as fast as our legs could carry us, hoping we could get there in time. After a few minutes, we could see the Elixir temple in the distance. We burst through the doors, accessing the situation within an instant. There the boy stood, little Igneous. His little hands were dripping in the blood of his enemies. The poor boy's eyes were glossed over, and he looked like he'd been to a slaughter house. He fell to his knees, severely injured, but the clear victor of the Elixir Brawl.

"Well, it seems he's stronger than we anticipated Midaco."

Midaco's expression was serious as a heart attack.

"Tend to his injuries, I'll go talk to the temple keeper!"

Midaco walked with a purpose. Whenever he was angry, or saddened, or bothered, he'd turn into a different person. One that scared me, but I still could help but admire. I went to Igneous, who had been slashed, stabbed, and shot multiple times. It was a miracle he was still breathing. The Temple Keeper was hiding in a corner, probably scared of this kid.

"You choose fear in a time like this? That kid will die if we don't take this to him now, so I guess I'll do your job for you. You're a coward, and you'll never understand what it takes to win the very thing you guard!"

Miadco snatched the Elixir and walked it down to us.

"Open wide kid!"

"We are kids too, you know."

"Shut it Aux!"

Midaco poured the Elixir into the kid's mouth. There was a brief moment of silence, before the kid jolted suddenly, eyes alight with pure lightning itself. Igneous gasp for air, seemingly in shock. His wounds healed, and his bleeding stopped. As he calmed himself, he looked up at us, his eyes back to normal.

"Who are you two? Why did you save me?"

"Hehe, I'm Midaco and this guy is my brother Aux! You're gonna be our new little brother, old man Frixius wants to train ya himself!"

"Wait, THE FRIXIUS?!"

"The one and only!"

"Cool!"

"Hehe, well if ya got anything you care about, let's go pick it up, after we get back, we'll be training and running missions all day everyday!"

"Well, there is one thing..."

"Yeah kid?"

"Hehe, follow me!"

—

"This feels familiar, wouldn't you say Midaco?

"Hehe, I like this kid!"

We waited for Igneous as he searched for his friend he claimed was just as strong as him. Suddenly we were hit by a powerful gust of wind.

"Hey Natura, don't fight them, they came to take us to Master Frixius!"

"How do you know they're really his students, they could just be trying to use us for our power!"

The little girl jumped from a roof, using her wind to land softly in the sand. I raised my sword slowly, preparing to give her the proof that we were exactly who we said we were.

"Use whatever you like to battle me."

The girl without another word charged at me with reckless abandon.

"So, you're pretty fast!"

I looked down at her, standing on the roof she'd attacked us from. She turned around slowly with a look of pure confusion and frustration.

"How did you do that, are you a wind trigger too?!"

"No, I don't hold the power of Elixir. I'm simply faster than you. Midaco down there is even faster and stronger than me."

"So you really are his students?!"

"Yes, those brats are my students, little lady!"

Natura jumped. Frixius seemingly appeared out of nowhere, slipping right behind her. Mio was fast asleep on his back.

"And once I'm done with you, you'll be at least as fast as me, and probably faster!"

"Master Frixius, you've returned early!"

"I overestimated my mission, but it was still good money. Seems you two did well here, but I'll be taking the reins back. First mission starts now, damn it!"

Everyone looked with anticipation, preparing for Frixius to give us a difficult task.

"We're... going out for ice cream!"

Everyone laughed, both happily and relieved. We followed Frixius, laughing and talking, enjoying the sunshine and the brisk breeze in the air. That day, our family grew, we got our first little brother, and a little sister too.

-to be continued (but probably not)