Oh, ashes, ashes, dust to dust

Chapter 3

'Councillor! Are you okay?' A younger Bronte yelled out to the councillor.
'Yes, I am fine. Thank you, Emissary Bronte,' he replied. 'I should've expected that to happen.'
Bronte sighed and gave a small chuckle.
Councillor Fintan had been attempting to create some fire, although it wasn't a type that was known or studied. He was attempting to create a brand new type of fire. He called it 'Balefire' and said that his end goal was to make a fire that could sustain itself without fuel, contained inside of a crystal, just like the ones used for leaping. Bronte asked if he could sit in while he figured out how to design and create this idea.
What had just happened was that in one of Fintan's many attempts at trying to bring his ideas to reality, the crystal had shattered and rained little glittering sparkles over the two of them. The crystal had made a loud bang as it broke, scaring Bronte to his feet.
'Do you really think this can work, Fintan?' Questioned Bronte.
'Do you doubt me that much, Bronte?' Responded Fintan.
The two elves locked eyes with each other, and Bronte was the one to break the slightly uncomfortable silence.
'You're right. I should doubt your vision, Councillor.'
Bronte said, stone cold, but Fintan could see his embarrassment on his face. Despite his tone, Bronte's face was alight with red and rosy cheeks, and he was awkwardly looking away from Fintan, not wanting to meet his eyes as Fintan stared at him intensely.
'Look at me, Bronte.' Fintan asked, although it didn't really feel like a request coming from the councillor.
Bronte still felt too embarrassed to meet his eyes, so he decided to look at Fintan's circlet.
He first looked towards the sides of the circlet, golden metals making pretty patterns that led to the centre, where a crystal made of a sunset orange-coloured sunstone was set in place with smaller shards of red carnelian, the circlet demanding respect.

'I said, Look at my eyes, Bronte. Not my circlet,' Fintan commanded, assertive but not aggressive. Bronte looked a little further down Fintan's face, down to his bright blue eyes.
Fintan's gaze was both stern and calm, a complex display of emotions that made Bronte slightly uncomfortable looking into his eyes.

'I'm sorry, councillor, for any disrespect; I didn't mean it.' Bronte answered back.
''s ok, Bronte. I know you; I know you meant no offence by what you said. Be careful next time, though; not everyone is as nice as me.' Fintan said it with a teasing tone and a playful smirk. Bronte looked away again, and the blush returned after it had finally left his face alone.
~~~~~~~~~~
'Bronte, hey Bronte.' Fintan said, drawing Bronte out of his imagination.
He missed the days when Fintan was known for his goodness, his ability to help.

If only he had known how Fintan felt about the world, maybe he could have helped change everyone's minds. Maybe Fintan could have never started a rebellion, changing so many lives.
Unlike not long ago, Fintan was now known for his bad acts, the all-consuming everblaze he learned how to summon, the rebellion he ended up leading. Bronte wished it was how it used to be. Fintan was a pillar of hope for people who were just like the two of them.

Not many people knew for certain who he and Fintan were to each other. Now that Bronte thought about it, he realised that Oralie and Kenric reflected him and Fintan in a way, two councillors, in love, but both never stepped off together before it was too late. One of the striking differences was that Kenric and Oralie would've been a perfect pair, both in their souls and on their matching scrolls. He and Fintan would've never had that for themselves.

'I'm sorry, Fintan. i got lost in my thoughts.' Bronte responded after sometime
'i get it. do you wanna talk about it while i try to fix up my injuries?' Fintan added
'maybe later, but you don't have to try to fix your injuries by yourself,' Bronte assured 'hand me the cream and bandages, would you please, Fintan'
Fintan reached over to where the medical kit was resting, grabbing what Bronte needed with a little wince when he had to stretch to grab the bandages.
when Bronte saw that Fintan had what he needed, he walked closer and sat down behind him