Flame

Teine stood before the class, eyes firm, body strong. The Fire Clan Initiates now stood in their casting room. A massive courtyard of ebony stone. Charred scars graced the floors and walls, reminders of the hours of training Firespinners had spent training within its walls, the smell of soot and ash permanently burned into the stone itself. “Fire, A double edged sword. Those who can control it have a mighty weapon, but a single slip can leave even the most adept Spinner burned badly. While other Clans need not guard their Initiates as the begin their casting for the Fire Clan we must always use the utmost caution.”

Aaron stood at the front of the Initiates gathered behind him. The sigil mark on his forearm still seared with pain and resonated with the caution Teine had been given the class.

“Each of you must attend your casting classes in your Fire garb. This garb has been expertly crafted by the head of Earth Clan to protect you as you learn to manipulate the flame and guard the lives of you and your classmates from incident.” The class all were adorned in a charcoal black suit from head to toe and black lens visors guarding their vision. “In front of you are several Sparkstarters. These tools are strictly for beginner use and will only permitted for use in the first week of classes. All Firespinners learn to draw flame from their source and manipulate it at will. Until you have learned this connection however it proves easier to commune with the flame through a fire already burning.” As Teine spoke he demonstrated his ability to cast flame from the palm of his and extinguish it just as easily. “Take a moment and divide yourselves 4 to a starter. Aaron, you as head will select your group. Get to it.”

Aaron scanned the crowd, his relationship with his fellow Initiates was one of peculiar emotion. His title as Head Initiate demanded the respect of those around him however Iosgadh had made it quite clear that the position was not permanent, and he could very well find himself challenged and replaced at the first sign of weakness. As Aaron gazed at the faces staring his way he decided the only decision to make was to pull strength around himself and hope to survive. Aaron thought to the air and demeanor of his father back home when he spoke in authority and decided to take a similar tone. “Iosgadh said these lessons were meant to refine us. Iron sharpens iron so only the strongest should train with the Head Initiate. Saighdear, Aodach and Eibhinn will be my training partners.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth then looks of surprise shot from the class of Initiates most of all the 3 whose names had been announced. Teine nodded with approval “Excellent. Exactly as it should be.” he said. The rest of the Initiates grouped around their starters and the head group took their place at the starter toward the head of the courtyard.

“Silence.” Teine said. “Light your Sparks!” Within an instant dozens of pits lit with flame and the glow of the fires caused the room to take on an eerie shine. “Reach out your hands and place them above the flame. Feel the warmth of the fire resonate through your body.” Aaron gazed at his group and led by example, forcing a strong fist out over the fire as a show of strength. “Soak in the heat from the flame and concentrate it into your hand.” Teine continued. As Aaron made the effort to focus he found he could merely feel the heat but had no sense of how to move the heat into his hand and create it. He gazed around and found none had been able to conjure the flame into their hands. This was proving far more difficult then he first imagined. He thought back to Iosgadh and how the powerful Magi had been swift in his casting over the Initiate battle.

“Follow my lead Aaron told his group.” Seemingly breaking the other’s concentration, they watch him as he shifted his pose. He took a calm stance and swiftly opened his hand waved it into an upward stroke, to the surprise of those around him…and partially himself, the flames rose from the starter into the palm of his hand.

“I’ll be damned!” Aodach exclaimed. The rest of Aaron’s part followed his lead and within moments the quartet were standing in unison holding orbs of intense heat in the palm of their hands. The other groups looked to their leader and mimicked his actions. After only a few minutes every Initiate stood proudly holding a flame of their own for the instructor to see.

Teine gazed on the group with pride. “A powerful display Initiates! The fastest I have ever seen a group grasp the subtlety of the flame…faster even then Iosgadh’s or my own.” At this last comment Aaron started to smile a boyish grin. “Since you have accomplished this so quickly we will move on to the next lesson. You have managed to call the flame, but will it obey your command?” Aaron looked to the flame and pondered the question before him. “As a group I want you to start to pass your flames from one to another in a circle, create a ring of fire. This will require not only great concentration but focus as well.”

Aaron’s group nodded as thought to tell his group ‘let’s do this!’. Eibhinn whispered “Okay Head, show us how it’s done!” Aaron again thought back to how his leader had controlled his movements in swift precise movements. Aaron flicked his wrist hoping to pass his orb over to Eibhinn. Immediately Aaron’s orb shot like a meteor past Eibhinn’s ear singing her hair as it passed and struck another Initiate standing behind her in the back, knocking him to the ground. “You absolutely idiot! You nearly killed me.” She exclaimed grasping the ashy hair on the side of her head.

Teine smirked from on high “Remember, each Spinner must find his own way to control the flame it is not enough to mimic those around you, you must build a relationship between you and the fire or it will consume you.”

Eibhinn relit her flame from the Spark and this time it was not Aaron but Saighdear who made the first move. The Shieldbearer shifted his hand into a seemingly familiar pose. He proceeded to make a circular motion with his hand and after a moment had managed to move his flame to his left and had it rotating around Eibhinn’s in a circle. “How is this done?” Aodach inquired. “My shield,” Saighdear said “I merely pictured the flame as my shield. As soon as I had that sensation I was able to feel a connection with the orb after that it was though I could control it at whim.” Immediately Eibhinn’s flame sprang forth and stopped right next to Aaron’s face singing his left eyebrow from existence. She giggled an approving laugh.

“I suppose this makes us even” she said. Aaron still shocked at what seemed his imminent death smiled back at her. “I suppose it does.” He said sheepishly. Now that the group had begun to get a feel for the mechanic of the flame Aodach, Saighdear and Eibhinn were controlling their flame by their every whim. Aaron was the only one still having issue. While he had used a spear in the battle the night prior he was not a fighter by any stretch of the imagination, he had spent more time partying and playing in his privileged lifestyle back home then training or learning.

“Too much for you Head?” Aodach shot at him. Aaron realized he could not now show weakness in front of his greatest competitors. He puzzled for a moment and suddenly realized it was not the experience of the weapons that was allowing his fellows to manipulate their orbs it was their familiarity with that sensation. Aaron though hard… what was he familiar with. All he had known back home was parties and celebrations, then it dawned on him. In a moment, Aaron had taken the stance of a dance that had been one of his favorites back home. He imagined the flame to be the hand of a young lady and gracefully attempted to pass the flame to Eibhinn. It worked! The group now had an odd appearance as the 3 warriors each was controlling their flames in a variety of thrusts, swings and twists of their hands…perhaps the oddest of all was Aaron fluttering his hand almost whimsically. The appearance didn’t matter within several minutes the group had succeeded and not only had they managed to create a ring of Fire they were manipulating its movement as a group.

“Enough.” Teine called out. As their concentration broke the flames disappeared from sight. No other group had an air of accomplishment, so Aaron assumed again his had been the first to master the skill. “This class is over Initiates; however, this practice hall is always open to you. Be cautious in your use of it and ensure to always wear the garb. Dismissed.” As the class dispersed at the end of their first lesson Aaron’s group was still standing over their Sparkstarter grinning lack a pack of hyenas. “You make quite a team.” Teine whispered as he walked past them. Aaron considered the eyes of those around him and announced. “We do indeed.” The other three nodded their approval and then went their separate ways. <