The Depths Of Belonging

ch.1

Flareborn

The Flareborn are an ancient, radiant race said to be born from the heart of the sun itself. Legends tell that in the distant past, when the gods first kindled the celestial fires, the sun erupted with life, birthing the Flareborn from its molten essence. Their skin glows with a warm, golden light, and their eyes shimmer with the intensity of solar flares. Each Flareborn is bound to the sun's power, able to manipulate light and fire, channeling devastating heat or healing warmth depending on their will.

For millennia, the Flareborn lived in their floating citadel, Solathar, which orbited the sun like a second star. Their civilization was built upon principles of light, truth, and unyielding strength. They saw themselves as the guardians of balance, protecting the realms from darkness. Their society thrived on a ritual they called the Ignition Rite, where newborn Flareborn would stand before the Eternal Flame at the heart of Solathar and be blessed by its power, solidifying their bond with the sun.

However, not everything in the light is pure.

In the kingdom of Solathar, every Flareborn child was born with unmistakable traits. Their golden hair shimmered like sunlight, their eyes burned a fiery orange, and they carried the unmistakable power of the sun within them. Born from the sun's very essence, Flareborn could control flames and heat with the ease of breathing, their entire beings tied to the sun’s radiant energy.

But one day, a child was born that defied this legacy. When the newborn girl was placed in her mother’s arms, the first difference was immediately apparent. Instead of the signature golden hair, her hair was a rich brown, streaked with bright orange at the tips like a distant sunset. Her parents exchanged uncertain glances, and the room filled with murmurs as others noticed the strangeness of her appearance.

When the baby opened her eyes, gasps echoed throughout the chamber. Her eyes, unlike the brilliant orange of her peers, were a deep, calm ocean blue. The contrast was shocking, this was not the appearance of a Flareborn. Even so, she carried a faint aura of the sun’s magic, but it was laced with something different, something foreign. Something no one could explain.

Despite the whispers and uncertainty, her parents loved her dearly. They chose to name her Daylight in hopes that the name would anchor her to the legacy of the sun, even if she seemed far removed from it. They raised her as any other Flareborn child, hoping that perhaps, with time, her true connection to the sun would awaken.

But as Daylight grew, it became clear that her connection to the sun was fragile unlike her peers. While other children could summon flames and light with ease, Daylight struggled. Her small hands would tremble as she tried to conjure fire, but the flames never lasted for more than a few seconds before flickering out. Each attempt left her exhausted, a stark contrast to the effortless grace her classmates displayed when handling the same power.

Her parents and the elders offered encouragement, but it was becoming obvious that Daylight was different as whispers began to grow louder. Some questioned whether she was truly a Flareborn or some mistake of the cosmos. Yet, her parents remained steadfast in their love and support, though worry creased their brows as they watched their daughter struggle.

All she ever wanted was to be accepted and play among her peers, but the universe seemed to go against that idea and make everyone ignore her instead.

Daylight did her best to fit in, but her differences were hard to hide. She would watch her peers from the distance with her eyes wide with admiration as they summoned fire effortlessly with the air around them cracking with a soft glow.

She tried to mimic their movement in hope that if she practice hard enough, maybe something would spark within her too but she would end up with a small flicker of flames before she gasp in exhaustion from her attempt.