˚°≈Into The Forest≈°˚

˚°≈Prologue≈°˚

|Toddler|

"Mommy, Daddy! My name is Pariah, and I will destoy all da monsers!" Craig giggled in a funny tone, doing an adorable little stomp with his arms outstretched, his oversized robe hiding his hands. His parents, Elizabeth and Jolan, walked towards the tiny sorcerer, smiling at his innocence. "Oh, where could my little Craiggy be?" Elizabeth teased, looking around. "Hmm, Mr. Pariah, have you seen my little Craiggy?" She smiled, bending down to look at Craig. "N-no. He-he went dat a-way." Craig giggled, the sudden fast gesture he attempted causing him to fall. Elizabeth instinctively caught him, the force flipping Craig's hood back.

"There he is!" Liz playfully gasped, boopping his nose before picking him up, making him giggle again. "I was jus kiddin." He admitted, sticking his tongue out as he held onto his mother's robe. "Where did you get the name 'Pariah' from?" Jolan asked, ruffling Craig's hair. "I was playing 'Kingdom' wit da kids in da town." Craig smiled, exposing his missing tooth. "Honey, maybe you shouldn't play with them." Elizabeth recommended, turning around to head home. "Why not?" Craig asked, furrowing his eyebrows. His father frowned. "Humans don't like sorcerers, Craig."

|Kid|

"Craig, this is Dawn." His mother informed, gesturing to the girl a few feet away from him. "H-hi.." Craig mumbled shyly, bringing a hand up as if to wave, but only dropping it as he second guessed his actions. Dawn giggled, her glossy, clear wings moving with her, leaving several sparks of fairy dust behind. Craig flinched at the sudden movement of the strange objects on the girl's back. "Hi!" She squealed, bouncing up to Craig, causing him to jump and take a step back. He looked back at his mother for a second, receiving a reassuring smile, before returning his gaze to Dawn. "H-hi." He repeated, except with a little more confidence.

The odd, sparkling appendage caught his curiosity again as he leaned to the side, getting a better view over her shoulder. Dawn giggled, fluttering her wings for him. Craig stared in awe at her wings, wondering many things about them. "Hey Craig, do you want to play with me?" Dawn offered, bringing a bright smile into play. Craig didn't know what to do, the girl was so inviting and he couldn't resist her cheery attitude towards him. Was it right to play with girls? Well, the way she's acting he might as well go for it. He looked back at his mom one more time before he and Dawn giggled as they ran off to mess around in the meadow.

|Tween|

"Ultrices." Craig spoke, remembering the words his father taught him mere seconds ago. "Ultrices." He repeated, louder this time. His lip twitched in annoyance, the spell seeming to do nothing. He tried a different pose, standing in the ready position his father taught him. Lean forward, head low, one leg in front, one behind, one arm stretched forward, the other raised by his side, both palms facing the opponent, fingers slightly bent as if to grab something. "Ultrices." He huffed, failing to get anything again. "Ultrices." Craig nearly growled out, his rage making him pull his arm back and forcefully push it outwards when the spell left his lips.

Craig jumped when several sparks flew in a failed attempt to collect, his face lighting up in realization. Now with hope in his hands, he tried once more, receiving the same results. He continued to try, harder and harder, but they'd either just gain or lose the number of sparks. Craig sighed, slumping his shoulders as he gave up on the spell today, most likely trying tomorrow. He nearly stopped practicing spells completely, but then remembered the new words he learned with his mother, and boredom decided to mix the two.