The humans were amazed and proposed that the two species unite to rebuild their fallen empires which had shattered to the ground all those hundreds of years ago.
The Mage’s disagreed and foresaw with their Power that the earth would surely crumble and die if it were abused again by humans. They declared that technology and harmful toxins were now banned on earth in the effort to preserve life and prevent another global catastrophe. Of course this declaration was also in the human’s best interest.
Overcome with rage and jealousy the humans declared a war upon their evolved counterparts in order to gain control over their rightful land. Naturally the Mages annihilated the humans’ weak attempt at war for they possessed weapons of mass destruction – their own gifts.
The Mages did not murder the humans yet enslaved them to ensure that they could never harm the earth again.
Chapter One
Flight of the Fire Mage
500 years after the war between the Mages and Humans…
AVALON REDDING
Sometimes I wished I could feel the fire as it licked at my fingertips. Sometimes I hoped it would burn my flesh. Yet it didn’t. The warmth would spread from my fingers and up my arms, a lovely calming feeling. Maybe if I knew how painful fire could be, it might prompt me to be a little more careful when I was around others. Yet I couldn’t escape the soothing reaction that engulfed my entire body when I was producing those searing flames.
I think I had always known in my heart how my life would pan out. I had never been as talented as the other children, and I was often viewed as dangerous.
Every child or teenager thinks about running away from home at some point. Usually over silly little things like feeling inferior to a sibling or having to do chores, because as you know every young person feels victimised no matter what their situation is. However, my reason for running away was completely different.
“Stay away from that Fire Starter,” the mothers would say to their little ones, “Nothing but destruction follows her around”.
They were right of course. Often emotions would get the better of you, catch you off guard, and the next thing you know you’ve accidentally ignited someone’s hair.
It was hardly my fault and it wasn’t like I was in control of it. Fire Mages were often regarded as demons, trouble makers and the bringers of destruction. Not to mention I had a very irritable personality. Why couldn’t I be host to a normal Power like healing? Everyone loved a healer especially if a Fire Mage like me were around. It probably didn’t help that I had absolutely no self control either. If I was overly happy or excited about something, whatever was closest to me at the time was bound to catch on fire. Tantrums were a death trap. I learned at a young age that throwing a tantrum was strictly out of the question. The term “Mage” is used in my world to describe those who are gifted with an extra Power. It is very common among my people, and the type of Powers range from elemental forces to brute strength, even to mind control.
My little town of Mortlock wasn’t home to any other Fire Mages, which was probably a good thing, yet it meant that my family and I were outsiders. We were seen as cursed with a horrible gift that brought nothing but pain in its wake.
My mother and father cursed me with their fire starting “gift”. It was inevitable that I too would be a fire starter. Powers were usually determined by breeding. If two Fire Mages bred, their offspring was bound to share that gift. Only on a rare occasion would a new gift spring to life.
The good thing about being in a family of people who are fireproof is you don’t run the risk of accidentally murdering your family while they sleep if you have a particularly frightening dream. Nightmares often trigger a fire starting reflex. I’ve lost several beds due to this fact.
So this was the plus side to having a family of fire starters all under the one roof. That was, until my little sister Helena was born ten years ago.
A child’s Power doesn’t usually become apparent until they start to walk and talk, so we had to be especially careful around little Helena until we figured out that she was indeed a Fire Mage as well. When you’re eight years old like I was, and you’re only just getting used to your Powers, controlling them around an attention-seeking sibling is a particularly hard thing to do. Not that an eight year old has a very strong Power to begin with, yet all it takes is a tiny flame to burn down an entire forest.
Helena started walking and talking on time like any normal kid. We waited for signs that she was a Fire Mage like my mother, father and I. Early symptoms often include a very high body temperature, and hands that could heat up a cold bottle of milk just by holding onto it for a few minutes.