Song: "Just Like Fire" by P!nk. Represents Brant's feelings after Jolie's death and how he starts to think like Fintan does.

Sidenote: The weird text styling is purposeful (since Brant's mind is technically broken).

"Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned."

*

Fire is powerful.

It's beautiful. It's deadly. It kills.

I know, because I've seen it all.

It was an accident, I swear.

I loved Jolie.

She was one of the few people who saw me past my ability.

Neither of us cared that we were a Bad Match.

We were in love.

Every time I see the flames roll in my hands, I'm reminded of Jolie. Suddenly, Balefire is her eyes, the brightest flames are her blonde hair. The twirling flames are Jolie dancing. Jolie.

Jolie.

Jolie.

Jolie.

Jolie.

I first met Jolie when we were in a pet store in Atlantis.

I had wanted that gremlin.

"Sir, I'd like to buy that gremlin," I said, just like a grown-up,  just as a girl said, "Mommy, that one!"

We both stared at that thing, desperately wanting it as a pet.

We talked and introduced ourselves and we agreed we would share the gremlin.

We were the best of friends since.

When Jolie manifested as a Conjurer, we were all so happy for her. Me, Grady, Edaline.

And then I manifested a few months later.

The Ruewens wanted to keep their daughter away from me. They thought I would hurt Jolie.

I didn't mean it, I swear.

But Jolie defended me, saying I was still the same Brant, Pyro or not. We were twelve when I first had a crush on her.

I can still see her dancing around our house, a grin on her face, hair flying.

We started dating when we were sixteen.

We were in love.

I am in love with her.

I remember sitting on her bed as she read her matchmaking scrolls excitedly, wanting to see what I'd rank there.

But I wasn't on there.

By that time. Pyrokinetics were banned because of Fintan. All registered Pyrokinetics were labeled Talentless.

They said Jolie and I were a Bad Match.

She grabbed my hand, spinning me with her. I was laughing with her, twirling her around. She bumped something.

A scroll fell to the ground. I picked it up, ready to put it back, when I seen a little symbol on the bottom.

A Black Swan.

Suddenly, I wasn't laughing anymore.

"What is this?!" I could feel the sparks coming off my hands.

"Brant--" she warned.

"Shut up!"

The fire shot from my hands. It hit a picture on the wall. A picture of Grady, Edaline, and Jolie.

Jolie turned to look at the picture, then back at me. She held her hands in front of herself in surrender.

"Calm down."

"No!"

"Brant, you don't understand--"

I truly didn't.

But I understood rage.

I shot another ball of fire, this time it hit one of our big stuffed couches.

She snapped her fingers, and this thing appeared in her hands.

What was it?

A monocle?

What?

Jolie snapped her fingers again, and this time, a cloak appeared. She threw it on and wrapped it around herself.

It made me angry for some reason.

"Brant, control yourself."

"I-- I can't!"

"Just calm yourself, Brant. You can do it."

"Jolie--"

She stared at me with those bright eyes. "You can do it."

I tried.

I placed my hand on our counter to steady myself, and suddenly, it was on fire. I saw Jolie's eyes widen as the flames quickly rushed at her. I reached my hands out to her.

Jolie frantically put the monocle to her mouth, shouting into it.

"Swan song."

"Swan song."

"Swan song!"

"SWAN SONG!"

I grabbed my leaping crystal from my pocket and held it up to the light. Jolie stared at me, eyes pleading and reflecting those bright flames. But the fire was burning me. I was in pain.

I was selfish.

"BRANT!" she shrieked. Her voice sounded hoarse, tired of yelling.

As the flames engulfed her, I watched her sink to her knees, shrieking and screaming. I'll never forget the last thing I heard her say as I leaped away from her.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?!"

As soon as I leaped outside, I fell to my knees and sobbed. I pulled out my Imparter and hailed the emergency line, then let a gnome take over when I couldn't bring myself to say what happened.

Everything was blurred after that. Grady and Edaline showed up, crying harder than anyone, probably even me. 

I haven't been the same since.

Those scars on me are a reminder to what I've done.

From that moment on, I dedicated myself to the Neverseen even more.

I become Fintan's favorite.

Until that Sencen boy came to join us.

Suddenly, Fintan's all "Keefe this" and "Keefe that."

What about me?!

You trained me.

You trusted me.

And suddenly I'm pushed to the side when you get your hands on that boy?

It's.

Not.

FAIR!

I can do so much more than Keefe Sencen can.

Just watch me.

JUST. WATCH.

ME.

*

This was very interesting to write.

Enjoy, ~Kirs.