Chapter Text
T’was the season of newleaf, where the village folk would hold festivals in celebration of new crops and cattle, wearing their finest silks and feathered masks as they did. The people of the village were quite a gay folk, holding a-many festivals a year just like this one today. Aimlessly they chattered and drank as the children would dance and sing. Drunk on joy, no one paid any mind to the child behind a tree, hidden, as she listened to the gleeful bustle of the village.
Our nameless protagonist stared down at the fawn mask in their hands, a mask not too unlike the ones folks that swayed along to the melancholy music that filled the air. Each mask was a nearly ethereal mockery of a cattle animal, its wooden face painted bright with faux feathers and dyes alike. Who cared if the one they were holding now was chipped and dull among those oh-so-brightly dressed people? She’d blend right in.
Hesitantly they put it on, and joined the swarming crowd. The crowd was well…crowded, and she was paid no mind as the locals- Fjerdians they called themselves- eagerily chatted amongst themselves. Up ahead, stalls and merchants alike lined the road. Gems, jewelry, fancy china and even crystals were placed prominently on display as the good men and women of the village- quite loudly mind you- proudly boasted about their wares. Eagerly, they walked on.
She had been weaving in and out of stalls and trees as she perused, observing the rather ridiculous way they bartered for a “fair trade”. In what world would sacrificing good food amount to a silly gold rock?? In her mind these people were simply mad. Stopping just a few feet away she observed a man handing the stall vendor a silver disk and received a steaming bun in return. ‘Maybe I should indulge myself in this odd trade of theirs’ . The thought had only crossed her mind for a moment,one that she immediately cursed herself for even thinking of indulging and yet it lingered still. ‘no harm no foul?’
Grabbing the coin from a drunken passerby they slowly approached the street vendor, the disk clutched nervously in their hand. Without a word she placed the coin on the counter and looked up, expectant. With a puzzled expression the man took the silver coin and handed her the small pastry in return. She bowed in gratitude and carried on, blending into the crowd as they went.
She barely had time to consume the damned thing before a small twinkle at the corner of her eye caught her attention. she stopped midbite to glance up and gasped.
For at the end of the pathway was a truly dazzling wonder that left her feeling like she had been glued down to the floor, her eyes wide in what could only be described as unbridled awe. Brilliant arms of orange red and yellow stretched high into the night sky, twinkling like the brightest star. At its hearth were a brilliant blue, one that danced gracefully with the wind and yet showered the cobblestone in sparks as it did. The scent of burning wood filled the air as the sight climbed higher still, threatening to engulf its every surroundings in its beauty.
The half eaten bun left forgotten in her hand was discarded as she moved closer to the marvel, her eyes never leaving the sight. At its base were a stack of wood logs, stacked so high that it was perfectly level with her waist. No matter if she attempted to even glance away The spell-binding marvel seemed to beckon her closer, and closer still, until she was level with the logs of the burning flames' hearth.
Dancers surrounded the wooden marvel as music swelled in the air, moving with such grace as pairs interlocked arms and spun like dolls, their every movement filled with endless grace.
But they were paid no mind from our preoccupied protagonist.
She moved without a thought as she plunged her hand straight into the heart of the fire.
It didn't hurt to touch, to her growing delight.
Instead it left her chest swelling with endless warmth like she was standing in the midst of the warmest summer day. that she may never experience the harsh cold of the changing seasons again. If only she would just stand there forever. She flexed her fingers, turning it over as the flames climbed onto the sleeve of her robe.
Obliging, she plunged her arm deeper into its midst.
Standing like this she felt rather content, ignoring everything else that happened around them.
That peaceful tranquility quickly faded as the flames dancing atop her arm began to BURN.
The pain was unbearable as it scorched her skin, shaking her violently out of her thoughts.
She ripped her hand away, her head swimming. A wave of nausea hit her so badly it forced her to her knees. Tears filled her vision as she shut her eyes tight.
The dancers had begun to stop.
As abruptly as it started, the pain passed. Slowly, her head still swimming, she began to open her eyes. It had gone unnervingly quiet now, she noticed. A chorus of gasps filled the air before going silent for a heartbeat, replaced with something much much worse.
The people were screaming.
During her haze the fire had spread from her, lapping across the cobblestone and hungrily ravaging the stalls and cottage walls that surrounded the crowd. Parents ran with their kid in tow as the children wailed for safety. Unsteadily she rose to her feet, horror spreading across her features at the realization and nearly lost her footing once more as something grabbed her arm.
She looked up in terror to see the Fjerdian baker from earlier digging his nails into her flesh as
he angrily spat at her. “¡Oi pyrin!”
His grip on her tightened, nearly threatening to break her wrist.
Gritting her teeth in pain she began to think.
Pyrin…didn't that mean fire child in the village folk’s language?
Slowly a dreadful realization dawned on her.
They think SHE had started this?!
She opened her mouth to say something. Anything to defend herself or explain but nothing escaped her throat but a low keening sound.
A lump grew in her throat as she shoved the man off of her, to his dismay, bolting under his arm as he failed to grab for them. Her mind racing she ran out of the square and in between the cottages lining it.
This couldn’t possibly be happening. Surely this wasn't their fault. It just couldn't be.
..Right?