Chapter Text
It was too dark. The only light that illuminated the cavernous room was the candlelight that danced in the careful wind that flowed in from the open skies. It was a cool breeze, fresh and light, that calmed his trembling limbs as he could hear voices approaching from deeper in the cave.
“The talks have been going well with the neighboring kingdom,” a gruff male voice said, his tone dark. “We have no choice.”
“But what if they turn south? We could use him,” another said, his tone far more jolly.
“I don’t see why we must do this,” he heard his mother say. “He’s but a boy. Surely he can learn to control it.”
“That magic is growing far too quickly,” the first man huffed. “And our enemies know of his existence. Let the power grow, and we will be seen as trying to reclaim what we have lost.” He heard the sigh in the man’s voice. “We have no choice, even if we are killed for it.”
The wind kicked up once more, pulling dust into the air. The crystallizations fluttered into the wind bringing about beautiful colors that made his eyes shine. Yellows and blues, greens and oranges. The colors mesmerized him as they danced for his viewing pleasure.
“If we do as you’re insisting then what will become of him?” his mother’s words caught his ear, her voice sounding closer as footsteps started to draw closer. “His future could be lost. He could be the royal court mage, but you are limiting his potential to a cook or a blacksmith by removing the thing that makes him special. You are ripping his future from his very hands. My son can be someone, but those fools in-”
“Calm down, pretty lady,” the second man said. “Don’t want the walls to hear your threats. We are trying to enter a time of peace, after all. Threats only bring trouble.”
“I wish my husband was still around,” his mother said through gritted teeth. “He’d show you how good he is with his steel and change your mind. You want to get my child killed!”
One of the colors whispered to him, filling his ears with promises he knew to be true. Great power awaited him. All he had to do was reach out and touch it. He watched as the colors separated, clearing an open path for him to reach out for the magic if he so chose to. He extended his hand-
A fat, meaty hand wrapped itself around his wrist, jerking his attention to the gruff man who had dragged him to the cave earlier. The coldness of the grip shocked his body, and he tried to free himself of its tight grip.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the man growled.
“It called my name,” he stuttered. He hadn’t expected them back so quickly or perhaps time had passed quicker as the colors had entranced him. He wasn’t sure. He just wanted to be free.
“Let go of him,” his mother cried out, but the gruff man’s companion held her back. “Leave my son be you filthy mage!”
“Dirty? Is that how you see us?” the thin man holding her said. “We only have the kingdom’s best interest at heart.” He smirked. “Although I may not agree with my partner’s wishes, I can’t say no to him.”
“A dark power grows within your son,” the gruff one said, putting those cool fingers on the young boy’s temples. “I will do my duty to see that it must be stopped.”
A hot searing pain was all he felt seeping across his brow as if it was burning the flesh beneath his skin. He wanted to cry out, to scream, to call for his mother, but his mouth wouldn’t form the words. The magic seeped through his body, burning every inch it came in contact with until nothing else remained. The dust scattered. His color disappeared into the wind, and he felt the power fueling his limbs fall apart.