EVARIUM: The Blue Flame

Chapter 1

The roar of thousands of people in the crowd slowly ascending as we near the ceremony. All hoping to catch a glimpse of the ancient flame ritual meant to breed life into the new-born conceived during the third tri-phase. It is said the closer one is born to the full moon the greater the connection to the blue flame they possessed. As it is written in the scriptures of the old gods.

"I can hear it! The ceremony is starting! Hurry momma we cant miss it! " I could barely contain my excitement.

"I hope a child of the flame is born today. The city is overdue a blessing from the gods. Come Kiero you must stay by my side, or ill lose you in the crowd."

Ughh... as always I'm ordered to stay by her side. An eternal limiter on my sense of adventure. Creating a clash of my burning desire to run free and the responsibility to honor my mother's demands. I swallow my pride and answer respectfully, "Yes mother." As cliche as it may sound my mother was an over protective woman. Though iv learned to perceive it as a reflection of her immeasurable love for me. "The crowd seems so much bigger than last time."

"Well, what do you expect child, tis the third Tri-Phase Ceremony. The only ceremony said to breed children of the flame."

Off to the side of the crowd in the distance, there was a woman pleading to one of the Arcion priests chanting the preparation prayers. She was filthy, sweaty and wore torn rags laced with compromised leather due to improper tanning. Her feet were scrapped and beat to shit covered in her own blood. Blood that was dark and thick, a result of dehydration and malnourishment. The rumbling of the crowd's screams and trembling of the ground made it almost impossible to hear what they were saying. But having no siblings of my own, I've learned to spend my time observing. Apart from my uncanny attention to detail I've become quite the lip reader. I squint my eyes and focus every ounce of my will power into making out the conversation.

"Please I beg of you, my birth term is almost complete my baby needs the flame in order to survive! He's all I have; you must help me! Ill do anything!" Despair and panic paint her face like death flooding a battlefield.

"There is nothing I can do my child, the law is clear!" The priest scolded

"SO, YOU WOULD CONDEMN MY BABY TO DEATH!? HE IS INNOCENT! "The woman exclaimed. Each response the woman returned was met with an amplified anger by the priest.

"But your husband is NOT! For he wandered into the sacred temple of Veltrios and took ancient knowledge for personal gain! THAT IS FORBIDDEN! "

"I was sick! He did it to save the life of me and our child! "

I look up to my mother who stood just beside me with a bewildered expression on my face and ask, "Who's that woman? Why are the priests being so mean to her? I thought only the animals got sick. Right?"

She didn't seem particularly interested in satisfying my curiosity... but she's learned to quench my thirst for answers early as they present itself, or the unknown would haunt me. Causing me to go to great lengths to uncover the truth myself, regardless of the trouble I might cause along the way.

"Who told you we get sick?" Mother seemed visibly annoyed. Not at my curiosity nor the question I asked but because she never understood where I get them from. As if their pulled from thin air without context. "You mustn't trouble yourself with such knowledge as only women carrying new life are prone to sickness. As for that woman, that's Ameera... her husband broke one of the forbidden laws and was stripped of his titles and rank in the flame guard, he was also banished from having access to the blue flame forever.

"Oh shit." I mumbled to myself.

"Watch your mouth! Or ill strike it off your face!."

I bury my expression and outbursts deep into my head and correct my posture. "Well what happened then mother?"