“Get out of here! Go! We don’t want High City noses stuck in our business!”

Mae clutched her bag close to her chest as she ducked beneath the flailing arms of a hard-faced fisherman. She nearly stumbled over the hem of her dress as she made her escape, but steadied herself against the wall of a simple little cottage home before dashing around the corner. Profanities echoed after her as she bounded down a dirt incline and between two little thatched-roof huts. She stopped only when she was certain the fisherman could no longer see her body, and leaned against the crude wall of one of the dwellings. Strands of carmine hair fell from her high bun, strewn about her face from her sudden sprint. It was becoming apparent to her that the people of the Lower City districts were not entirely hospitable to strangers.

For a long moment she remained in the safe shadow of the two huts, chest rising and falling with each sharp breath that passed through her lips. She needed to catch her breath before attempting to wander out into the open again. Her mint-hued eyes turned to the skies and peered through her slender glasses as the pounding of her heart slowed. It had been a lovely day when she had first entered the Lower City; azure skies had blanketed the city of New Keros. Dark clouds now cluttered the heavens, threatening to consume the sun and the waxing moons of Lunai and Mortan.

A soft smile played on her lips as she studied the softly lit purity of lunai and the dark features of Mortan. They were ancient lovers, bound together in an eternal dance. Mae’s thoughts strayed as her eyes remained fixated on the celestial bodies. Where was their son, though? The nameless moon must be waiting until nightfall.

Her thoughts were disrupted as something black wandered into her path of vision. Staring at Mae from its perch on a rooftop was a little blackbird. It tilted its head and met her gaze for a moment, and then cawed loudly before dashing to the roof she was hiding beneath. Again, it tilted its head and cawed.

“Is something of interest to you, my little friend?” she murmured musingly.

The blackbird hopped from the rooftop and perched on Mae’s shoulder. She laughed at the curious little creature and turned her head to study it. The bird’s beady eyes watched Mae carefully, as if weighing her character.

“Since when have blackbirds become so friendly?”

The bird cawed and took off, wings fluttering as it darted around the corner. Mae took off after it, intrigued by the strange little creature. What in the world had caused it to become so friendly? She wondered vaguely if the bird belonged to someone who lived close by.

As soon as she was back in the streets, Mae’s eyes caught sight of the little blackbird again. It was now perched on a barrel resting against a building down the road. It cocked its head and took off. Was the bird taunting her? Mae ran after the bird, and chased it around several corners, ignoring the stares of a few Lower City inhabitants.

Fairly soon, however, the number of inhabitants began to diminish and the bird led her down a deserted alleyway. They followed a short, dirt path, and broke through a hedge together to enter a small, hidden community. Still within the borders of New Keros, the people had destroyed all remnants of the past, and built their own houses. Humble though they were, they made up a thriving neighborhood that looked busy and self-sufficient.

Modestly-dressed peasants went to and fro, carrying loads of grains or fabric. They all had the air about them of determination and pride that comes from being self-made. Mostly, their clothes were shades of brown – nothing spectacular. In fact, nobody visible looked remarkable in any way, as if they had all made quite an effort at being homogeneous.

Despite the threatening clouds, they had been working in full until Mae's appearance had made the ones who saw her take pause. A man and two women nearby watched her with a wary eye, their daily marches stopped, as if they were waiting for her to do something spectacular and terrible. It seemed as if someone would stop her from entering, but no one spoke and the blackbird was leading quickly. It flew ahead, and she would have to move to keep up with it.

Past the first group and just to the side of the main circle, it perched. It found its spot among two other blackbirds and a young man sitting on a branch. He smiled when he saw it returning and called its name. He was a striking young man for two reasons; firstly, because he was blonde, a rare coloring anywhere these days, let alone in this city. And, secondly, he was striking for the smile he gave her when he saw her approaching.

"Hello?" he called down curiously. "Hashan says you've been having a rough day."

Mae halted beneath the tree and turned her eyes up into the branches where the man sat. Was he the bird’s owner? Her lips turned upward in another warm smile, and she waved a greeting to the young man.

“Is that your bird?” she asked, shouldering the bag that had been draped over her arm. “He is very remarkable. I have never seen a bird so… humanlike.”

The blonde young man’s smile grew as she spoke.

“Oh, he is not mine,” he said simply. “But he is my friend. This is Hashan and this is Osha.” He indicated another bird. The third was larger, scruffy, and missing an eye. It cawed angrily, and perched on the boy’s arm. “Oh, and this is their leader, Rashael.” He looked back down to Mae. “Who are you?” He watched her inquisitively, uncertain of such a stranger.

“Mae Takana,” the young woman replied warmly. “You have yet to tell me yours.”

“Oh yeah, I’m Rhys.” He smiled and jumped down from the branch with the birds in tow. “What are you doing here?” he asked, not unkindly.

“I came to study this community.” Mae peered about curiously as she spoke. “To observe the culture and write down myths and legends and whatever historic knowledge anyone may have.” Her eyes fell on Rhys’ face, and her smile brightened. “Do you live here? Maybe you could show me around?”

“Yeah!” he smiled, but then his expression seemed to fall. “Wait… you’re not a User, are you?”

Mae’s brow furrowed a little; she knew what the common people thought of magic. She was a User, and though the law protected the kind of magic she was gifted with, many still viewed her with suspicion. Summoners and Healers were both rarities in that day and age, but they were far more useful and less dangerous than wizards, witches, and mages. Wizardry, witchcraft, and magery were crimes, and dark magic of any kind was punishable by death.

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, you won’t be much welcome around here, if you are,” he murmured, though Rhys himself didn’t seem too bothered. “I know! Why don’t I take you to my hiding spot? I bet you could tell me where it’s from… Nobody here will talk about it.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Mae looked upward. The clouds were gathering fast, but she still had plenty of time. “Where is it?” she wondered aloud.

“Just on the other side of town; come on!”

He took her hand and led her through the streets, ignoring the strange looks they were both getting as the blackbirds trailed behind. He pulled her past the mill on the edge of the community and into a part of the city of New Keros that had lost itself to overgrowth. Following some invisible path, he brought her into a clearing that was littered with old ruins that glowed with an ancient script carved on every surface.

He sat down on a large, mossy stone and smiled at the tingles he got every time he came to this place. The three birds took up places in the trees overhead, and it almost looked like a sparse raven council.

“What do you think?”

“Oh…” Mae’s eyes hungrily consumed the beauty of the forgotten history that surrounded her. “I have never been to this part of the city before. I once studied the old temple in the other abandoned districts, but it was nothing like this.”

The young historian reached out and trailed a slender finger along the script etched in one of the walls. It was the ancient tongue of the city – a language she knew well, and an ancestor of Elvish and contemporary Kerosian. After she studied the script for a long moment, Mae turned her attention to the structure of the ruins. It was circular in shape, and remnants of ancient paintings and carvings ornamented the walls where creeping vines and weather had not destroyed them completely.

A faint glow was concentrated against one of the walls, coming from a softly lit beam of light. Mae followed the path of light with her eyes, and found it was coming from a strange device that hung overhead. The light from Lunai and Mortan was being projected against the wall when they peeked through the clouds overhead. She felt the presence of magic pulse in her veins. This place was a sanctuary for moon magic. Overwhelmed at the discovery, Mae sank to the stone Rhys was sitting on.

“How long have you known of this place?”

“A few years,” was the answer. “It always makes me feel… safe to come here.” He touched a fragment of the words that were carved into the stone. “’The light of the moons shine on you’.”

Mae stared in disbelief. “You can read that?”

Rhys blushed. “W-Well, I know no one else here can, but I thought… loads of people on the outside must be able to. People here won’t talk about anything. They just got suspicious when I told them about this place.”

“No, Rhys. There are not many who live that can still read that script.” She reached over and touched his shoulder. “Where did you learn it?”

“Learn it?” He turned away from the carved words and looked back to her. “I didn’t learn it; I just read it. The birds can read it, too.” He cast his bright blue eyes upwards.

“You… you did? How is that possible?” Mae leaned toward Rhys, fascinated. “I found that it was easy for me to pick up, but it did take me some studying.”

"There's nothing to study here," he said. "People just get suspicious." He paused. "Except work. Speaking of which, I should probably get back to that."

Overhead, a flash lit up the sky, followed by a deep, rolling thunder. Rhys' eyes shot upwards in time to see the lightning shaft splitting the heavens. Rain began pattering down upon the two of them. The clouds had finally opened.

“It is a shame such a place is no longer protected from nature’s wrath.” The historian glanced above to the ceiling that no longer existed. “It is a beautiful place, Rhys. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

Mae reached into the bag she still carried and pulled out her cloak, which she quickly threw over her shoulders and fastened around her neck. She pulled the hood over her head and glanced over to Rhys. Would their ways part for a time? He was so fascinating, and she hardly wanted to leave him just yet. Where was she to go? Her own home was all the way across the city, and along the outskirts.

Rhys watched as she pulled her cloak on. “W--… You’re not leaving because of the rain are you?” His voice dropped into a soft despair. “You haven’t studied anything yet…”

The sincerity of Rhys’ disappointment struck Mae hard. Was he really so sad for her to be leaving? She touched his shoulder, smiling gently from beneath her hood.

“I have nowhere to stay, so I imagine I will have to find the nearest inn.”

“Y-You can stay with me!” he replied with a grin. “Emily won’t mind. You can sleep in the attic!” He stood, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Come on!”

“Oh…?” Mae blushed as she was pulled upward; she lost her balance in the process, and stumbled right into Rhys.

Rhys blushed. “Yes…” Setting her right on her feet, he led her back through the rain to a small cottage near Rhys’ sanctuary. He peeked his head in, pushing Mae through the door to keep her from the dripping water. “Emily?” he called into the empty house.

A few moments later, a woman with red hair appeared from the kitchen, rubbing her hands with a dishcloth. “Rhys!” she said with a smile. “And who is this?”

“Mae Takana.” The historian bowed her head in greeting. “I do hope it isn’t a burden that I am here.”

“Oh, certainly not!” Emily smiled, giving Rhys a knowing look. “Make yourself at home. You’re welcome to stay as long as you wish… unless you’re a User, in which case you might want to be gone by morning, if only for your own safety.”

“I took her to my hiding place,” Rhys piped happily.

Emily shook her head, shooting him a nervous glance. “Rhys, you know you shouldn’t…” She sighed and kissed the young man’s forehead. “Your friend is welcome to stay in the attic for tonight. After this, no more going to that place.”

Mae watched the two with a pleasant smile, quietly taking in the humble interior of the house. It was small and quaint, but it reminded her of the country home of her early childhood. She raised her eyes to Emily’s face again.

“Thank you then. I am much obliged.”

“Of course. Are you hungry? I was just cooking something up… It’s going to be a cold night; why don’t I make up your room for you?” Emily shuffled Mae off, leaving Rhys to himself to ponder his new friend.

~*~

Everything circled her in a blur. Spinning, spinning, spinning. Red and blue and yellow. They all merged together in places, overlapping and consuming each other. Here they made purple, and here they made green. A vivid splash of golden orange joined the palette, and soon had dominated her vision. It was no longer a color, but a blaze of passion. She tried to close her eyes against the blinding light, but they wouldn’t close.

Desperate, she cast her gaze upward, and the light gave way to the deepest of blues. A dusting of countless stars stretched far beyond sight. They were all so beautiful, and each with a unique color or twinkle. Some clustered together while others remained alone. One by one, they began to die. Or were they dying? The Nameless Moon was rising; the majesty of its glow was outshining the stars beyond. Though she missed the stars, the sight of the moon comforted her.
“You may look but not touch.” A familiar voice echoed in her mind.

She turned sharply, frantically searching for the owner. Where was he? She jerked around again, but found suddenly that her limbs were bound to her side, and she could no longer move. Strings now wound around her body, trailing off into nothingness.

“No!” she screamed, struggling against her binds. “Let me go!”

Though the more she struggled, the more tangled she became in her strings. Again and again she thrashed against her bondage, but her freedom never came. Cuts now covered her body; her flesh had been carved by the sharp string. Though cold blood flowed from the wounds, she could feel her flesh on fire.

A scream of agony penetrated the endless nighttime. Was it her? But the night wasn’t endless. The skies lit on fire – fire of every color. Now the world was a blur again… but she was the one spinning, guided by the strings. She was a puppet, spinning, spinning, spinning. And when she looked up, she saw not the beautiful moon lighting her world, but a pair of blue eyes, watching musingly from above.

Mae bolted upright in her bed, gasping for air. She realized that in her sleep she had been hyperventilating, and now her body was shaking violently beneath the blanket she was now tangled in. Her red hair fell in a mess over her shoulders, and perspiration dampened her face. Where was she?

Her eyes darted around as her memory slowly trickled back into her mind. Rhys… she was staying the night at his house. Mae began to untangle herself from the twisted mass of bed coverings, and fell out of the bed in the process. Her body was still trembling, and she felt so weak. Eventually she emerged from the covers and pulled herself to her feet, and immediately staggered toward the door. She was so dizzy… the world seemed to swim around her.

In the darkness she blindly made her way from the attic. A desperate feeling had overcome her. She had to find someone. She had to make sure everything was still real – still tangible. She had to touch someone. Her feet led her to the room that she remembered as Rhys’, but something seemed off… Something dark was seeping from beneath the doorway. Something darker than the shadow that consumed the hallway. Mae reached for the handle and opened the door.

Darkness poured from the doorway like smoke, icy cold, reaching out for Mae. Inside, Rhys was lying on his bed, not asleep but completely unaware. A look of complete bliss was painted on his face, his mouth twisted into an ecstatic smile, with eyes half closed. Outside his moonlit window, a flock of blackbirds had congregated.
Rhys breathed heavily and moaned softly into his blanket as a wind picked up, knocking over his belongings and picking up loose papers. The black vapor was being pulled into a vortex.

What was this magic? Mae stared in disbelief at the strange blackness. She could feel the sheer power of it… the dizziness grew and her legs almost gave way beneath her body. The dark magic was stripping her of her strength.

Rhys gripped his blanket tightly and the whirlwind whipped up towards a height, until, suddenly, it vanished completely. The young blonde man was left gasping for air, his look of pleasure fallen into something pained.

“Rhys?” The name came out as a hoarse whisper. “Rhys, what…? Are you all right?” Mae slipped inside and rushed to Rhys’ bedside, leaning over and gently touching his hair. “What happened?”

Rhys jumped, tearing away from her touch and scrambling backwards across his bed until his back hit the wall. “Mae!” he cried, pale as a ghost and as terrified as the haunted. “Wh-Wh… What are you doing here?”

“I-I…” Mae’s voice trailed off. She had no valid reason. Blushing, she turned her face away and stared sheepishly at the blackbirds out the window. “I am not really certain of why I came here. I had a nightmare. I suppose in my waking the dream still held me, and I needed to be near someone. I came to the first room I found.”

“…You saw me,” he stated simply, sounding guilty and unsure of what else to say.

“Forgive me then, if you had not wanted me to see…” Mae lowered her gaze to the shadows on the floor. Guilt and shame were now burying her sheepish embarrassment. “I was not fully awake.” She lifted her eyes to Rhys again, smiling softly in the darkness. “It was impressive, though. I have not seen anything like it.”

Rhys blushed. “R-Really?” He crawled forward, and grabbed Mae’s arm tightly. “I’ll be in big trouble if you tell; promise me you won’t tell anyone?” he whispered, terrified.

“Of course not. I promise.” Mae glanced back to the door, making sure it was still closed. “May I show you something? You must keep it a secret around here, though.” The young historian crawled into bed beside Rhys, taking care not to pull away from his grasp. Her eyes locked with his. “If you trust me, then I will trust you.”

“What is it you wish to show me?” he wondered.

“Hold your hand out,” she whispered.

Hesitantly, Rhys stretched out his hand and held it before her.

Mae took his hand in hers, keeping the palm outstretched and facing upward. She closed her eyes to the darkness, exhaling as her mind calmed. Soft, strange words began to drift from her lips and in Rhys’ palm a silver orb began to form. It glowed and cast light over their faces, though failed to penetrate the shadow that filled the night.

Shock filled Rhys’ eyes, and he looked up to her with an air of revelation. They were the same. He reached out and clasped their free hands, and over their twisted fingers appeared a fitful black sphere that exhaled not light, but shadow that threatened to consume, and be destroyed by her glowing circle.

A strange sensation washed over Mae’s other hand, and crept up her arm. The darkness that hovered over one hand and the light in her other met somewhere inside, clashing together in a new harmony. Light and dark became warmth and cold, and then fire and ice. She loved the sensation – polar opposites mingling together like oil and water. She felt frail and strong, naïve and wise.

“You… are just like me,” he murmured with a smile. He felt a sudden urge well up inside of him to keep her hand in his and steal her away. Finally, someone who understood him… He never wanted to leave her side. But the thought was quickly suppressed. He’d never been to the outside world, and he was fairly certain he couldn’t last there. “… Thank you,” were the only other words he could manage, knowing in his heart that if anyone from the area saw this scene… they would both be in danger.

“You are welcome,” Mae murmured, entwining her fingers in Rhys’. “I would love to show you more if you will do the same.”

“I… I dare not,” he breathed, with a shake of his head. “I cannot control more than this.” He nodded to the magic dancing over their hands, already flickering and attempting to grow. It was like a living being, yearning to be loosed from a bottle.

“I understand.” Mae pressed her lips to Rhys’ cheek in a kiss and then slipped off of his bed. “I will see you in the morning, then. Good night, Rhys, and sweet dreams.”

At the kiss, the magic in his hand flared, the little ball of darkness leaping into a sudden flame, and then returning to its shape again. He blushed in the shadows. “G-… Good night, Mae.”

Mae left Rhys in his bedroom and quietly crept back to the attic, where she collapsed into her makeshift bed and sighed deeply – her nightmare was completely forgotten. She turned and pulled the sheets over her body and buried her face into her pillow, welcoming sleep.

~*~

Mae left the next morn, soon after the sun rose. Day and night passed eight times before she returned to humble district – an eagerly anticipated event. She had fondly thought on Rhys every day since her meeting, and hoped deeply to see his face again. When the opportunity came for another visit, she made no hesitation and seized her chance. Soon enough, she was racing through the city towards her new discovery, forgetting herself along the way and stumbling into quite a few people.

It was just past midday when Mae collapsed in front of the ancient tree she had first found Rhys in. She rested against the trunk of the tree, face flushed and hair askew. Though she wanted to waste no time in seeing her new friend again, she did want to look decent, and the thought of passing out on Rhys’ doorstep was not appealing.

But, the chanting of a nearby crowd was enough to draw anyone’s attention. A mob of the villagers was forming outside of Rhys’ house, all of them looking angry – or just terrified. They were all shouting furiously and one, an enormous woman, threw herself through the door.

The locals all waited, their cries just barely subsiding as a tension seemed to strain their voices. There was a woman’s scream from inside, much to shrill to be from the burly invader. A moment later, the large woman returned, dragging Rhys out by the collar as he fought in vain for freedom. At the sight of him, the crowd heaved a great cry of something between triumph and outrage. Behind him, Emily, his mother, could still be seen, clutching at his clothes in desperation.

The group pushed Rhys past Mae, no one glancing in her direction, and they took their victim to the edge of their secluded section of the city. There, they dropped him to the ground. He scrambled away, looking about frantically, like he wanted to run away – run home. They blocked his path. Emily was still near, choking sobs behind the mass.

“Rhys Farthing,” the seeming leader woman announced, “you are a wizard and a demon.” The crowd gave another loud cry of mixed intentions, all agreeing with her statement. “All these years you have disguised yourself as one of us, but no longer. Your black magickery has been found out and you will be cast out from among us, never to be heard from again.”

Rhys was helpless, still on the ground. He spoke: “I-I didn’t mean to—“ His bright blue gaze flicked reflexively to a smoldering lot, not far from his own home.

“Go back to the filth you come from!” the woman shouted. “Ever since your mother brought you here from the outside, you’ve done nothing but pollute our beautiful community with your black devilry.”

Rhys was struck dumb by her words, but his mind was suddenly racing. Brought here from the outside?

At this, his mother gave a cry, flinging herself before the other woman, clutching her apron with an iron grasp. “Please!” she wailed, “please, this is my only son!”

The woman looked at her with revulsion, and kicked her away. “If you love the darkness so much, you can join him in the outside!” At this, Emily paled, shaking in terror. The words drove her away, and she sobbed where she was kicked, unhearing of her son’s further cries.

The woman fixed her eyes on Rhys again, and she watched him like someone might watch a cornered wolf. “Be gone from us, User… darkness wielder… son of the shadow.”

By now, Mae had caught up with the crowd and was watching with horror-filled eyes. How could they treat Rhys so terribly? She pushed past several people and fell to her knees beside Rhys’ weeping mother. Her hand gently touched the woman’s shoulder, and she leaned over with a sad smile on her lips.

“I will take care of him for you, Emily.”

The older woman looked up with tear-filled eyes. “I can’t… I can’t go out there again.” She put her arms around Mae in a tight hug. “Please… go to him.” She looked at Mae for a moment that seemed to stretch for days, dark green eyes meeting light mint in a quiet judging and trust. I give him to you, was her wordless charge. She nodded towards Rhys, who was crawling to his feet, and stumbling across the border into Keros proper.

Mae returned the embrace and pulled away from Emily after kissing her forehead. Rhys would be safe from those people, as long as she watched over him. Mae wouldn’t let them hurt him again. She left Emily with an encouraging smile, and hurried after Rhys to help him up and away from the crowd.

“Come with me,” she whispered, holding Rhys’ arm close against her. “I have a home across the city. It will be a long walk.”

Rhys gave a frightened look both before and ahead before turning his eyes to Mae, as she took his arm. He looked surprised to see her there. “You don’t hate me, too?” was all he could seem to manage.

“Of course not.” Mae turned her head up to catch Rhys’ eyes with her own. “You and I are more alike than most would assume.” She smiled warmly, and began leading Rhys through the streets.

Rhys followed her hesitantly, a terrible fear creeping up on him. This was just what he had wanted the last time he had seen her… to run away with her, and find a place where all the magicians lived in peace. But the reality was less glamorous and a lot more painful. He continued to glance back until his home had disappeared from sight. And, when it did, the hand in his own was not enough to stop the feeling of utter solitude. He knew no one else in the world. The thought released his tears and he began to cry, slowly at first, and then with increasing passion.

Mae felt her heart tear at Rhys’ tears. The poor man… she led him away until she found a safe haven from the prying eyes of strangers – a small, empty inn on the fringe of the Upper City. The innkeeper kept his eyes and ears to himself as Mae took Rhys to a quiet corner and consumed him in an embrace. She felt so helpless. Rhys had only just met her, and now he was being whisked away by her hand. What else could she do?

“Mae… I’m sorry…” Rhys smeared wet salt across his cheeks. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Rhys, you will see Emily again.” Mae pulled his head down and kissed his cheek. She could taste the saline tears on his skin. “I will stay with you. I promise.” How could she abandon such a poor soul? She enjoyed his smile; she had become addicted so easily to the innocence in his eyes. “When the time is right, you will see her again.” Mae’s fingers found and caressed his cheek. He needed her.

“No, but… as long as… I have you…” As much as he adored Mae, the situation still was grim. He had gone through the horrible truth on the way. He knew no one outside of the village but the woman he was with… He was young and inexperienced. And who would give him a job, now that he was marked thus? Once Mae put him back on his feet… Who would hire a wizard demon? And if he took sick, what then? He would die. At this, his tears burst forth again, and he wept into Mae’s hair, unable to see and desperately afraid.

Mae reached around and began stroking her hand along his hair. “I am so sorry.”

~*~

Mae sat quietly in her rocking chair by the fireplace that lit her room. Rhys had collapsed on her bed hours earlier, and was now sleeping quietly, tucked beneath layers of warm blankets. Every so often, she would peek over her book to catch a glimpse of Rhys’ sleeping form—an action that she was already becoming very addicted to. She loved watching the rise and fall of his chest and the slight part of his lips with every breath he took. His body was sprawled out over her bed like a little boy who had played very hard and fallen asleep so fast he hadn’t time to position himself.

After stealing another look at the wizard, Mae focused her eyes on the words in her book. It was strange, having someone like Rhys so close. The thought of caring for him simply made her heart soar, and it had been so long since she had felt that way.

As she leaned into her seat, the chair creaked and rocked backward. The creak echoed strangely in the room. Mae set her feet firmly on the floor and furrowed her red brow. The room didn’t usually echo like that… Something seemed off.

The flames in the fireplace suddenly leapt to life after hours of hardly burning the wood. Mae gasped and jerked away from the roaring fire, dropping her book on the ground by the rocking chair. It couldn’t have been Rhys, could it? She turned her head toward Rhys, and he was sleeping soundly. Could pleasant dreams breed cleaner magic?

Curious, she leaned toward the dancing flames, and found a strange sort of satisfaction in watching the languid movements of the fire. Her eyes followed the motion, suddenly entranced and unable to look away. The glowing dance seduced her mind, which fell into a sleepy haze. The fire seemed to be urging her closer—it was so beautiful, so bright.

“Come closer…”

Her body left the chair and she knelt in front of the fire to watch, but the call was becoming more urgent—desperate, almost.

“Come closer…”

The voice whispered in her ear, and she felt breathless; she had to obey the voice, so she reached out and stretched her fingers over the flames. It was so warm, so inviting. The trance had left her blind to the way the flames had formed the shape of a boy. A fiery hand was extended to her, beckoning her forward.

Something scratched at Rhys until he woke. Some familiar feeling… something he knew well was all around him. He opened his eyes. It took him a long moment to remember where he was… He was outside of his village; he was in Mae’s house. He sat up with a strange sense that something was wrong.

He looked around and his adjusting sight found the red-haired woman kneeling before the fire, reaching out for it.

“Mae?” he called, wondering what she was doing. He stood, and stepped closer. What he saw made him freeze. The fire was reaching out for her. Magic fire. He didn’t want anything to do with that. “Mae!” he called again.

Mae jerked away from the fire as the haze lifted from her mind. She turned to Rhys and stared for a moment with a quizzical look in her eyes, as if just woken from a dream. The fire flared, and Mae gasped as she stumbled away from the scorching flames. She reached for her staff and clutched it tightly to her chest, watching in horror as the fire began to creep out of the hearth and turn a deep shade of violet.

“Rhys!” she cried out, desperately searching Rhys’ face for an explanation. “Are you doing this? Is this your magic, or…?”

“I-I don’t know!” he cried, terrified. He didn’t feel like he usually did when he used magic, but, at the same time, he didn’t know enough to say it wasn’t him. It could be, in some way he’d never experienced before. He pulled her to her feet and close to him. “I don’t think so.”

Mae nodded and latched onto Rhys’ arm, staring in terror at the moving fire; it looked like a creature, crawling towards Mae across the floor, eating away at the rug that lay between them and the hearth. It wasn’t a spirit—for that she was certain. Magic exuded from the form, but she could not find the source. Who was controlling it?

“We must go,” she whispered, and began to pull Rhys out the bedroom door.

The very moment they rushed away, the fiery form launched at them. Mae slammed the door and stumbled down the hallways as fast as she could manage with Rhys in tow. Her heart was racing, and a strange sensation was beginning to trickle from her shoulder and downward. Behind them the hallway began to light up with violet light.

Rhys was terrified, being pulled from sleep into a magical attack like he’d never seen before. His feet moved more quickly than any time he could remember. He didn’t know where they were going, but he was going to run until they got there.

Mae sped down the hallways as the light began to glow brighter and brighter. The sound of crackling could be heard around the corner they had only just turned. Her grip on Rhys’ hand tightened; somehow, his closeness made her determination stronger.

Suddenly, another hand was gripping her arm, pulling her (and Rhys, by extension) into another hallway. They were shoved into a dark room and the door was shut against the fire, leaving only the sound of three pairs of lungs breathing in the dark.

Mae wrapped an arm around Rhys’, and tapped the end of her staff against the ground. A light glowed from the end of her staff, illuminating not only the faces of her and Rhys, but a strange man…