It’s a warm summer afternoon. The sun beats down on Albritton, your home village. You wish it eased up a little as it’s difficult to lie on the grass in your yard and read your book with the sun glaring straight down into your eyes. Still, it’s better outside than it would be in your room where there is no breeze. You adjust the position of your book to block the sun’s glare
“Hiyah! HAAH!”
The voice belongs to your twin brother Ignis. He is ‘practicing’ his flame magic next to you. You never really understood his obsession with flame magic. It makes far more sense to try and learn all elements as best as you can, rather than just limit yourself to one or two. A more jittery sort would probably be afraid of being so close to his flames. You, however, are more than confident in both your brother’s ability to control his flames and your own ability to dowse him with a torrent of water if he even slightly singes your tunic. Besides, you happen to be reading about a particularly intense conflict faced by the empire’s knights on the battlefield so if anything, your brother is (unknowingly of course) helping with the ambience.
The reason for your brother’s diligent training this afternoon is the local hunting festival of Albritton, a two-day hunt followed by a feast of the spoils brought forth by the hunters. Being 14 years old, you and your brother are a year too young to participate in the hunt. A ruling that your brother fiercely contested. Mother eventually put her foot down and ended his little protest. The elders, however, liked his passion and decreed that he would be the Flame-bearer of this hunt. The Flame-bearer’s role was merely to light the large campfire that would be the centerpiece of the celebrations, but your brother decided that he would use the opportunity to put on a display of his flame magic skills. Since then, he has been dedicated to finding the most spectacular and breath-taking way to light firewood. To his credit, his spells are quite beautiful. You would never admit that out loud though. His ego does not need the nourishment.
