CHAPTER 4

It snowed the night Nuri Bachmann's scream pierced through the crisp mountain air. It was the first snow of that winter, but the atmosphere inside the hut was warm and loving, and as they pulled the small boy out of his mother's warm and safe womb, she looked at him once and named him Nuri – my fire – because she'd known he'd be a fire wielder like his father had been. The first time he ignited was when he was four, and his father had told him to light the fire, but didn't provide him with flint nor rock, and he had focused hard on the small set up in front of him and visualised his hands setting on fire, and they did. At first he was scared and immediately called his father back to the campsite. His father simply smiled and pet him on the head as he watched his son light the fire proudly. He hadn't known it then but his destiny was decided that day. From then on, his father trained him diligently in the art of fire wielding, teaching him the peaceful ways of the Aureans, but like all boys, Nuri had wanted to use his power to show off to the other children in the village, and he discovered his cursed ability when he was nine, as an ear-piercing scream wrecked through the crisp mountain air once again, and his useless tears fell upon the charred corpse of his childhood nemesis.

The sky was red as they emerged from the secret garden, and there were shrieks and groans everywhere, like a cacophony of distress, misery, and fear. Nuri gazed around the garden anxiously, the little lights no longer shining ethereally, but almost sinisterly as he heard the tortured wails coming from inside the dance hall, just like he had heard that day, standing over his parents' bodies as he gazed up at the sky, asking Mother Nature why she had forsaken him... He was snapped out of his daze as Ignis swore next to him.

"What's happening?" Nuri managed to ask, despite all the terrible memories that were resurfacing.

Ignis ignored his question, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "you can either stay here, or come with me, but either way I cannot guarantee your safety, Nuri." His name slid off Ignis' tongue easily, while his voice held determination.

Nuri repeated his earlier question as he looked up to the darkening, scarlet sky, almost if asking Mother Nature why she had forsaken him again.

"This ball is launched every year to celebrate the peace treaty between the humans and the Magi Clans," Ignis launched into an explanation, "however, there are a couple of rogue nations who refuse to abide. There was talk of an attack among the Magi Clans, but I didn't think they'd get past the front gate, as it's protected by a spell." Nuri's confused expression remained on his face, "you're not from a Magi Clan, then are you?"

"I'm of Aurean descent." He stated, almost proudly.

"Then your people won't concern themselves with issues between the Magi Clans and the humans. It makes sense you wouldn't know." Ignis replied, then he turned to Nuri with a determined and overconfident smile stuck on his face, "fight or flight?"

Despite Nuri's peaceful upbringing, he couldn't stand by and watch all these people perish, "fight." He said with the same determined smile on his face. Ignis nodded and they went to face their first assailants. Nuri and Ignis fired effortlessly toward the enemies, but it seemed they were unaffected by their magic, and Ignis forced Nuri to retreat. Back inside the castle, they regrouped, and Ignis pitched a theory.

"Have you ever heard of Magi and Aureans joining forces?" Ignis asked.

"No, not really. My mentor isn't too big on Magi History." Nuri admitted.

Despite the dreary backdrop, Ignis clapped his hands together excitedly, "lesson time then! Every mage uses mana embedded in their bloodstream to conjure spells, much like you who draws from nature, or sometimes your own life force. So in theory if our energy is compatible, we'd be able to create a new form of combined magic that would be able to defeat those dark mages out there." He explained, "in a sense, our personalities would compliment each other and in turn so would our energy. Would you be willing to try something like that?"

Nuri pondered for a while, unsure whether it would work, but finally agreed, "alright. As long as there's no blood." He said, rather sheepishly.

"No blood," Ignis said, and his hand lit up with white flames as he urged Nuri to do the same, he complied and suddenly the mage pushed their hands together, their flames enveloping each other to form a new, and possibly more powerful pale gold flame that danced in both boys' hands. Satisfied, Ignis released the spell that was holding the door closed, and they both stepped outside, hurling their now pale gold fire at the insane Magi. They kept at it, until they felt like they had made a difference, and just as they were about to relax, a hellish being emerged from the shadows, drenched in blood, with eyes black as the night, and flames even blacker. Nuri fired a ball of pale gold in its direction, but it was no use, it simply fired at Ignis, like it saw right past Nuri. One of the flames collided with Ignis' solar plexus, and as he prepared to fire back, Nuri saw the tips of his once white flames tint darker. Both of them were forced to retreat once again, out of breath and anxious, they sealed themselves in the dance hall.

"What was that?" Nuri asked, out of breath, looking up to face a grave-looking Ignis, who set his hand on fire, and let the flames rage until they were white once more.

"That thing was Hades. It's a name it earned throughout the years. Have you ever heard of entire villages disappearing?" Ignis asked.

Nuri had heard of entire Aurean villages being wiped out by the Sovereign Knights, but never of entire Magi villages, "I guess." He reasoned.

"Well, that thing is responsible for it. He's dedicated his entire life to perusing the dark arts, essentially he can take any magic and blacken it," Ignis explained, and saw Nuri's confusion, "he hit me, yes. But I got rid of it before it could consume me." He reassured Nuri, who let out a relieved sigh. There was a noise coming from behind them, as Avani emerged from the rubble, bleeding from multiple cuts on her body. The beautiful green gown hung in tattered remains, barely covering the necessary parts, and he could see she had torn off the bottom, in exchange for a shorter, more versatile fit. Then he remembered something, something very important. Meri.

"Avani!" He exclaimed, coming to her aid. She shot him a murderous glare, "where's Meri?" He asked, his voice laced with panic.

"I lost her as soon as..." She paused, "that thing attacked. She vanished into the gardens."

"We have to go back!" He exclaimed, turning around, but before he could exit Ignis collapsed the doorway with a quick flick of his wrist.

"I'm not putting you in danger." Ignis said, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, for crying out loud, move." Avani said, annoyance evident in her voice. Nuri watched her hand light up in an unfamiliar blue light, aiming it at Ignis.

"Nullification spells won't work. At least not the weak calibre one you're attempting." Ignis said, shaking his head, "I was top of the class in Magic Arts."

"Yeah? Well I was top of my combat class, and if you don't move right now I'm going to have to engage." Avani said defiantly.

He shook his head, and stepped in front of Avani, "there's a girl in there, and I promised someone I'd protect her. She's very important to my people, if she dies, then so do I." He said, desperately searching for a way out.

"Have you ever heard of the Lux Clan?" Ignis' eyes darkened and his gaze was stone cold as he faced Nuri for an answer. Nuri shook his head honestly.

"At a time we used to be famous for our warriors, who could wield both fire and distort light. We were unbeatable, we'd never lost a single battle. I was next in line to lead the village, until one day that thing appeared, and wiped us out. It wasn't as if we were sleeping or anything, a warrior clan like ours never really slept, but it was so powerful, it wiped our best warriors out with a swipe of its hands. When it came to me, it simply looked me in the eye, and walked away." Ignis explained grimly.

Nuri almost dismissed the story completely, "I understand why you're hesitant, Ignis," he said, using the mage's name for the first time, "but that girl's father saved me from a similar fate, except I wasn't the victim, I was the one who singlehandedly wiped my village out. I owe the Aro family my life, and if I don't save this girl, I'll never be able to atone for my sins."

"Do you want to know why you won't be able to win? Why you'll never be able to reason with that man?" Ignis' stone cold eyes penetrated through the dark, scarlet night.

"I don't care about victory!" Nuri exclaimed like an unsatisfied child, shaking his head furiously, "I told you before, I don't care if I die! That girl is my entire future, my only chance t retribution, and if she dies, I'll die along with her. Not because I love her, not because I owe her father everything, but because she's the only person who can save my people from sure demise!" He finished, breathing heavily, eyes glossy with pent-up emotions and unshed tears, "without her," he said, almost wearily, the years of bottled up emotions getting to him, "there will be no more filii aurea, without her, none of my kind will exist anymore."

Ignis seemed unaffected by Nuri's sudden burst of emotion, "would you rather die with her and destroy her legacy than avenge her death? You can go if you like, but know that you'd be destroying any chance of retribution that she might have had. You'd be stripping her soul of peace by showing her how she led you to your death."

"I have to try, not just for myself, and not just for her, I just have to. If I don't, then who's going to? I have to try and save her and if I fail, then so be it. But if I don't try, then how will I be able to live with myself?" Nuri replied, again almost weary.

"Before I let you throw your life away," Ignis reasoned, "let me tell you what that monster told me, as I begged for death, he said 'I've had my fun, I'm saving you for later.' That madman kills for fun. Would she be happy seeing you throw your life away over a corpse?" He asked Nuri, who nodded, he lifted a hand toward the wall, and the debris shone with a faint blue glow, "once I open this, they're going to come streaming in and no one will be left to tell what happened here. Your saviour's murderer will never be brought to light. There's no shame in retreating, but the choice is yours." He said calmly, hand poised and ready.

"As a kid I learned justice is feeble. There are too many monsters in this world to think you can liberate anyone," Nuri said darkly, thinking back on that day, that day where his eyes went blank, "I've never been scared of dying. And I never will be. Death is something I've made peace with, and something that I'll continue to bring to those around me," he shrugged, attempting to be nonchalant, but he'd never looked so vulnerable before, it was as if Ignis could see straight through his soul, "besides. I'm a hero, self-sacrifice is part of the job." He said with an unconvincing smile.

"By the Mother," Avani let out an annoyed sigh, "get a room, you two."

"Just remember, there is a difference between sacrifice and slaughter, Nuri," he said as he lifted the rocks and tossed them aside. The cacophony of distress could be heard once again, and Nuri wished he didn't have to hear the screams ricocheting off the back of his head.

"I know," Nuri said, "but this girl is far more important than I am. I don't know if you're going to stick around while I throw myself into the fray, but if you want anyone to save, safe her. She's possibly the only person who could help you defeat this Hades character. Although she's unaware of it, she's going to save my people from certain death."

Ignis bit his lip "I guess you're really hung up on this girl. Who is she? I might be able to help."

"I owe her father everything," Nuri said gratefully, "she's filiiaurea, she can control water, or liquids. She doesn't know anything, her entire life she's been sheltered, her heritage, her religion, it was all kept from her to protect her. I've only known her for about three days."

He pondered for a while, "I've recently been practicing some divination magic, if you have something that's recently been in her possession, and maybe I could help locate her?"

Nuri sheepishly passed him a hair-tie she'd stuffed in his pocket a couple of hours ago when she'd opted for loose hair instead of a braid in the carriage last minute. He said a short incantation and his eyes glowed an ethereal blue. He snapped out of the supposed trance and motioned for Nuri to follow him. They made it unnoticed to a couple of bushes, where a faint blue light was emanating from. All the water from the surrounding water features had been drained. Hiding in an impenetrable ball of ice, lay a cowering Meri Aro, with a scratch across her cheek. Nuri exhaled in relief and stepped closer to her, seeing Ignis' paranoid gaze sweep across the garden. He started to melt the ball of ice, it took him a while, but eventually it was done. Upon melting, Meri's eyes darted around, and she attempted to reform her protective shell, but Nuri stopped her before she could, "we need to go." Nuri said softly, and pulled her up.

She looked up to Ignis, as if to ask whom he was, but couldn't find the words to do so, "he's helping us." Nuri explained quickly. The quartet made their way swiftly back to the secret garden and Ignis twisted the cupid head backward, swinging them around into the safe haven.

"You'll be safe here." He said to Meri, who nodded timidly.

"Thank you." She breathed out, truly grateful. Avani knelt down next to her, and from her knapsack, took out a vile smelling herb, which Ignis recognised from his days at the Academy. He'd thought her to be Aurean, like Nuri was, but he supposed he was wrong.

He nodded with a small smile stuck on his face, "I'll be right back." He said curtly, and went to twist one of the cupid heads, to exit the garden. Nuri sensed something in his aura and immediately rose stealthily, slipping out behind him.

"I have to find Hades." His aura was dark and stormy as he whispered to himself, vigilant eyes darting across the chaotic battlefield.

"Why are you looking for that monster when you yourself said you couldn't defeat it." Nuri spoke up, startling Ignis at first.

"Just get back to the garden. Don't put yourself in any more danger than necessary." He retorted snappily.

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" Nuri replied with disbelief evident in his voice.

"I can handle myself," the mage snapped, but regained his composure soon afterwards, "just go back to the garden. I'll be right behind you."

"What are you going to do out there, anyway?" Nuri stood sturdily, refusing to simply throw Ignis to the wolves.

"I'm planning on hitting Hades with a tracking spell." Ignis said apathetically, "how else will I be able to kill him if he keeps appearing randomly?"

"Head on?" Nuri argued, it seemed reasonable, but Nuri knew that thing out there was anything but, "you must be crazy. He'd kill you if he knew you'd put a spell on him!"

"I know that. Tracking spells are useless if the user is dead. Now before he goes, I'm going!" He said and swiftly spun around, darting toward the battlefield. Nuri sighed, and then set off after the headstrong mage, hiding in some of the wreckage, with a clear view of the anarchic battlefield. The theatre of war was doused in the blood of the innocent and the black, gooey substance that ebbed out of the dark mages' bodies as they were reduced to nothing. Ignis approached Hades head on, and the monstrous being uttered a wicked laugh.

His voice was demonic when he spoke, like someone completely consumed by the impure, "I knew it was no mere coincidence that I saw you here." He said, and chills ran down Nuri's spine, he was absolutely consumed by paralyzing fear. Ignis, however, stood his ground, and his hands lit up with dark flames, as he smirked and aimed at Hades, "let's dance." He whispered, but Hades managed to hear. The two embarked on a treacherous dance of mayhem and destruction, throwing black flames in all directions. Hades' demonic cackle could be heard every now and then, sending another chill down Nuri's spine. Ignis slammed his fist into the ground, and a dark circle appeared around Hades, encapsulating him.

He laughed maniacally, "do you really think you can keep me in?" He broke the seal effortlessly, and appeared before Ignis. A tiny, red wick flickered in front of Ignis, and erupted like an explosion as Hades' manic laughter flared up again, and in an instant the mage was a distant memory being thrown through the walls of the once colossal dance hall. Like a mirage, Hades materialized in front of Nuri, and his demonic voice ricocheted off the back of Nuri's head, "take good care of him. Make sure he trains rigorously. I want him alive and kicking when I stop his heart." With that, Hades vanished and a cloud of mist settled over the once beautiful mansion. Nuri immediately stood up and searched for his friend in the rubble, and found him in a puddle of his own blood, the life seeping out of him pint by pint. Nuri ignored his squeamishness, and carried his friend all the way back to Lapid, where the healers, and Avani worked all night to try and revive the half-dead mage.