Ashes

Arch I. Enia and Xentaron. Prologue. Scarlet Vow

Once upon a time, far from our world, there were two large and beautiful cities - Enia and Xentaron.

Being the Capital, Xentaron provided its citizens with a decent life, education, good work, and excellent housing. But the rumors heard that people of Xentaron controlled magic though they never believed in magic and destroyed everything that had sign of spells or magic symbols on the pages. A lot of books have been burned those times, and mastery of magic remained a rumor, spread far beyond the walls of the city where other people fought with monsters trying to get into the walls of the Capital.

Not so far away from Xentaron resided the City in the Distance. This name was given by the people of Xentaron. This was the city of hunters who signed the contract with the Mayor. So the hunters protected the Capital, but the Capital, in return, gave the resources to live. They were the ones who started the rumor spread the rumors about mastery of magic, after all, the monsters couldn't just try to get into the city. They had their own goal.

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Those years, on Xentaron was living a young girl. Her name was Enia. Being an orphan, she was taken by the Priest from the local Church. He promised to protect her from other citizens. Local people instantly disliked the young beauty, because she was very different from them. They thought she was a witch because of her red hair. Not saying that they were mistaken about her, but she promised them that she never had magic. But the truth was known only by Enia and the Priest.

"You must promise me, Enia" he said "You will never use your magic for evil. Xentaron must not be scared of what they will never have. We must do everything we can"

"As a minister of the Church, I don't understand your motives" Enia replied calmly "You deny magic, considering it evil. Why then are you protecting me?"

"I see great potential in you. I believe that you can change the world"

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Time passed, the girl grew up. The magic inside grew along with her. The Priest gave her the last book which Mayor couldn't get to. The book of spells named Exaris. Learning the spells and the rules, she learned how to control her magic and the emotions with it. Also, Enia kept the promise she gave so long ago. But time spares no one, and soon the girl was left alone again. Mayor was sure that there was no one to protect her anymore. And so it was. One night, when the ministers of the Church were sleeping peacefully, guards burst into the building. The young sorceress was arrested and accused of witchcraft.

The trial took place soon. No one dared to protect the girl. And the main piece of evidence, the book of spells, became a death sentence for the girl. Not wanting to listen to Enia, the Mayor said only one word - burn. This attitude angered the young sorceress, and her power went out of control. Flames engulfed the courthouse, slowly burning alive people who did not manage to leave the place in time. Of course, many were saved, including the Mayor.

Enia came from fire. Her eyes were filled with rage and anger. She was ready to kill the Mayor right where he stands. Instead she left the city, promising to return

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She was hiding not so far away from Xentaron, in the City in the Distance. Telling them the whole truth about what was happening in the Capital, the hunters let the girl live in the City. They accepted her and didn't care about who she was, letting her evolve her magic. In return, she helped with the City life and the hunting as well. She became a great hunter who protected the place she hated most - Xentaron. Since the death of the Priest, this was  the first time she felt herself home.

"So, what are you going to do next?" the Leader asked her seeing her sitting near the bonfire. She was hugging her knees and staring in the fire in the total silence. It seems, she was crying right before the Leader came to her.