A Dragon's Bond

A Feeling

     One Month Earlier....   

     The night was cold, a slurry of snow coming down onto the roof of the blacksmiths hut. The landscape blanketed with white crystals of frozen water, my breath would spew clouds of fog spiraling a few inches from my face before disappearing, their existence so short and sweet.

     I was standing in front of the fire at the forge watching and feeling as the flames jumped around and consumed the coal, the fire dancing while the coals glowed a bright red, sparks dancing to the heat. The fire warming my skin and lighting my eyes as I stared into the flames, a trance building as my mind was carried away.

     If I stood still and focused I could feel as the snow outside come down, combine, then slowly melt before hitting the ice already covering the earth around our hut. Each form of the water from ice to liquid was something I could feel happening, it was like I had a window into the nature of the element. I closed my eyes and could see as the crystal of a snowflake melted then hit the snow, combining to make a layer of ice. Why had I suddenly become so attuned to the elements, it was like a dormant power deep within me awakening for the first time. I liked it, it felt natural.

     Jack came out from inside the blacksmith hut and peered over at me, my mind entranced by the flames and absent.

"Your letting the coals get too cool again Adam. Adam. Hey!"

     I snapped out of my trance and looked over at him. He walked towards me and stopped within a few feet. He turned his eyes to the coals, pulling power from himself and adding to the strength of the flames. The flames gradually increasing until they were roaring once again, heating my metal back to its red glow, pops and crackles groaning in protest.

     Jack was a Mage with the ability to control Fire, which led to him becoming a Blacksmith. He could only control flames already present, making them hotter or cooler to help his metal shaping. He had a low level of skill in the Fire Element but he wielded it brilliantly, allowing him to create magnificent works of metal.

     He was not fortunate enough to be trained formally at The College, as is true with most common people.

     He was originally from a small town and learned his mage abilities alone, through many years of forge work, his need to perfect his craft to survive being the only motivation needed, life here was difficult. He was the toughest man I had met in my life. He was well built, from his heavy legs to his arms, thick from pounding metal all day, creating the forms he was envisioning. He had a thick beard that ran to his midsection, just to the length that the fire would singe it, stopping its further growth.

      Jack took me in before I was even old enough to know I didn't have a family. He raised me absolutely as his own, without me ever having to question his love for me. When Jack spoke, I listened. He was silent, always observing, thinking carefully before he spoke, and always acting rationally.

     Most days I spent my time learning the trade of becoming a Blacksmith from him, pounding the metal into simple forms. The skills of a blacksmith took years to perfect.

     Since I was young Jack has taught me how to wield a weapon properly, the importance of knowing how to defend yourself from others. I am only slightly above average when it comes to hand to hand combat, but I at least know that thanks to the training. He taught me well enough that I could hold my own in war and make it out alive, I probably wouldn't win against a well-trained knight in some fancy tournament. We focused primarily on making the weapons, I don't think we will ever need to wield them but preparation never hurt.