Spirit Fire - Amos

Chapter 18 - Decisions

I sat on the ground near the fire and sipped stew from my bowl, flavours of herbs and seasoning combining with the meat. I packed venison earlier and used it to make our lunch. My uncle sat across from me on the other side of the fire draining the last of his stew.

     Vitalli walked over to the stream and cleaned out the wooden bowl. As he did, he turned to look at me and said, "Good idea."

     I looked over at Eldon and watched him eat the rest of the meat, gobbling down a piece whole.

     Chew your food! I said mentally as I watched the dragon down another piece and lick his lips. More like watched the pig eat its food.

     I stood up, washed my bowl out, packed it and hoisted my pack on to my shoulder.

     My uncle stood for a moment and waited until I was ready. "Before we go, I want to teach you one more thing. Close your eyes."

     I closed my eyes and calmed my mind, waiting for the next instruction.

     "What do you feel?"

     I opened my mind to everything around me, heightening my senses. There was a static in the air, but then I started to feel a small spot of warmth and saw a faint light. More of these specks started to appear but were limited.

     "I can feel small bits of warmth and see faint light, but it is fading."

     "Sit and focus."

     I sat down and tried again. This time, the whole forest started to present itself as heat and light. Trees all around me glowed dull green and little animals in the treetops were bright yellow. I could see my uncle's energy as an outline of his body, red and yellow, but in the center, I saw a small, bright white and green flicker. Then I saw Eldon, a bouncing blur of red and purple with white in the center of his chest.

     My uncle must have noticed that I saw something for he said, "Life sources will be a little weak to you until you get stronger with magic and . . ." he paused for a moment, as if remembering something. "Speaking of energy sources, yours is much different since you have a spirit fire. The small ever-lasting flame entwined with your soul that never burns out. A spirit fire – even after death – does not die out; it leaves one person's body and enters another from the next generation."

     I looked down at myself, my eyes still shut. My form was similar to Vitalli's, but in my chest was white and blue. This must be the spirit fire. "Am I the only one?" I asked.

     "No, there are others, but not all spirit flames are in humans, some are in animals, like Scarr. He has lived for many years, longer than any other bear and is twice the size."

     "Will I live longer and be stronger?"

     "You already are! That's why you have such a strong connection with magic. Also, be careful, spirit fires may be powerful, but can also be taken."

As we walked through the woods, we talked more about magic and what it can do.

     "Why does magic take so much energy?" I asked.

     "Magic needs not just the energy around you but it takes energy from you to make the spell succeed. If it just used the energy in the air, it would most likely run out. That's why you need to . . ." He stopped short and froze in place looking forward. He slightly kneeled down and grabbed his bow.

     I surveyed the area and saw a buck standing not far from us, about ten yards away. Eldon ducked down and watched as well. I knocked an arrow myself and got ready to shoot. As I released the arrow I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.

     Luckily, my aim didn't fail, the arrow struck the animal in the side. Shortly after, the buck finally gave into its injury and fell to the ground. I walked over, collected the arrow, and kneeled over the buck.

     "Go on in peace," I whispered with my head down. I closed my eyes and felt the life and soul of the animal leave the body and spread out into the air.

     "You saw it, didn't you?" Vitalli asked.

     "Saw what?" I slightly inclined my head.

     "It's life. When someone or something dies, its soul releases its energy."

      I nodded and grabbed the buck and we started our journey back to the house. Vitalli said he knew the way by focusing on Icarus' energy to guide him home.

     When we got back, Icarus was waiting patiently out front of the house, eyes like an owl's.

     "What did you learn?" Icarus asked while curling his neck around as I walked by.

     "Lots!" I responded. I concentrated and told Icarus what I learned through our minds. When I was done, I walked inside and repacked my stuff.

     "Uncle . . ." I said.

     "Yes Aaron?"

     "My family will be waiting for me. I need to go." I looked down and sighed. "But I don't want to leave you or Eldon."

     "That is fine, you can always come back, just remember your final decision. Icarus and I can take care of Eldon while you're away. Take your stuff and I'll show you the way," he explained.

     I got up and went over to Eldon and gave him a hug.

     "I'll come back. Don't worry!" A tear rolled down my cheek. His sadness intensified mine. Eldon responded with a whimper and tried to come with me until Icarus called him to stay.

     I grabbed my stuff and headed outside with Vitalli. After we got to the bottom of the mountain I looked back up at the house and saw the two dragons watching my departure.

     My uncle showed me the way to the road and then I continued home by myself. When I reached the farm, I took a deep breath and went inside the house. 

     I will be back.

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