Flare

o n e

Flare closed her eyes and concentrated one last time. She wasn't sure why it was so difficult on this night in particular; usually summoning fire was a fairly easy task for her. She was one of the best pyromancers back in her hometown, but that life was gone. Bringing her hands closer to the pile of sticks, she tried again and her fingertips spewed a few feeble flames that fell onto the wood. She smiled, satisfied, as the flames leapt higher into the air, stretching into the clouded sky.

Leaning against her backpack, Flare realized the true fatigue of her body for the first time that night. Walking all day will do that to a person. She dug into her backpack and retrieved a handful of berries that she had collected earlier that day. Tattered and worn, the backpack contained everything that Flare owned, which wasn't a lot. She couldn't carry much, as she needed to keep her load light for the convenience of travel. As she nibbled at the berries, she felt a nudge on her knee. She glanced down to see her Eastern Alizarin Crimson Abyssinian purring and rubbing her leg, the cat's conspicuous maroon fur easily seen. Despite the cat's lengthy breed name, her real one was short - Abby, the name given to the abyssinian by her brother when they found Abby in their trash bin a few years ago. Their breed was instantly recognizable, with the crimson fur and lanky frame. It was a fond memory, but Flare didn't like to think about her brother much anymore.

Abby hopped onto Flare's lap and sniffed at the berries. Flare held one out to her and she took it happily, curling up next to the fire. Against Abby's bright fur, the landscape appeared dull. She supposed it was, as all it was was simply Flare's fire in the middle of a grayish field scattered with scraggly trees. The sky was darkening, giving everything that hazy, dusky appearance. In the background, there were mountains, tall, capped with cherry blossom trees, and sculpted by the hands of time himself. Flare had heard the legends of the aeromancers, the air mages, who lived atop the mountains and spent their days there amongst the sublime trees, and the geomancers, earth mages, who dwelled in the breathtaking valleys which would get covered in petals once the trees starting shedding their leaves. Pyromancers, like Flare, often lived near chains of volcanoes in hot, colorful cities. The air was cold here, and it was an abrupt change from the sunny, vibrant places she grew up. Zomancers, animal mages, lived in jungles and rainforests, places rich with wildlife, thriving with flora and fauna. Aquamancers, water mages, lived by the seas or oceans. By the lakes, marshes, and swamps was where the phytomancers, plant mages, resided. Cryomancers lived in icy, snowy, and cold areas. They were the ice mages. The chronomancers, time mages, often lived in abandoned houses and buildings made out of ancient, mossy stone. They kept to themselves a lot, but not as much as the necromancers, the death mages. They lived in damp, dark areas, in caves or crypts. The necromancers weren't seen much, which was why Flare was sure finding one wouldn't be an easy task. Most said there was only one necromancer left, or none at all. But she needed to find one. They were the only people that could help her.

Behind the mountains, dark storm clouds loomed ominously, approaching quickly. Flare closed her eyes and listened to the fire for a moment, to see if it would tell her anything.

Can you sense the rain? Air thick with humidity, ground trembling with thunder. Yes, it's going to rain, and very soon, the fire whispered. Not 30 seconds later water started pouring from the sky, in a heavy, steady downpour. The fire fizzled out, releasing a heavy burst of steam. It vanished quickly, and Flare was left with a pile of charred wood, her backpack, and Abby trying to seek shelter in her shirt.

"Come here, Abby," Flare whispered, gathering the struggling cat in her arms. Flare peeled off her raincoat and set it on the ground, where Abby promptly crawled into it and curled up. The rain went on, and night approached slowly, the darkness swallowing the horizon and the moon made hazy by the dark storm clouds.