Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tommy always adored magic. It was the prettiest thing ever, but no one in his family ever used it. Or well never used what he used.

Tommy always knew he was special from a young age. mostly because he used mage magic like he was made of it.

Phil never used it or spoke about it. It made Tommy feel ashamed for having the ability of it. So Tommy kept that part of himself hidden for years in the early l'manburg era.

In the election, pogtopia even exile. He never, and Tommy means never used magic openly until a day came when he had to leave.

After revival, Tommy realized he couldn't control his magic as well, or more correctly, couldn't hide them.

Tommy held his wrist as he stared into a mirror in his home. His nails now a dark, fiery red and orange. His eyes had sparks of the beautiful flame orange.

Fire magic, ironic right. Tommy was always called a very loud and brave teen, like a fire still burning, even after being doused with water.

He felt the growing burning sensation in his fingertips. Tommy‘s emotions weren't in check, and sparks flew around him.

Tommy couldn‘t breathe right as fear and panic consumed him. He couldn‘t do this. He couldn‘t let them know. Tommy looked down at his wrist.

Charcoal dots left behind from the sparks. Tommy was too scared to call for help. He was too dangerous to let anyone know, not now, not ever.

Tommy was human in the smp eyes, but a mage is far from being a true mortal of human flesh.

The blond took a deep breath and grabbed his bag, stuffing it with emeralds, food, water, and clothing, maybe even some keepsakes.

The night was young but still dark, perfect enough to keep him hidden. Tommy took a step through the doorway before looking back at the home where a chest of tnt stood.

The purple tint of the compass caught Tommy's eyes, whose other half is lost to time, just like Tommy felt. 

Future Tommy might be frustrated with current Tommy but fuck it, he grabbed the compass, a few blocks of tnt and flint and steel.

Tommy dropped the explosives and lit them. He soon booked it for the closet path out of this hell hole without realizing he left his communicator.

When a communicator is destroyed, it automatically sends out a death message across the server. Tommy didn‘t realize what chaos he might have just created.

Tommy heard the destructive sounds even as he was rushing through the fields. He can't turn back, not if he can't hide his magic.

the blond knew the others would wake up from the noise so he hurried. Everything was a blur, he knew he crossed the nether, that's all.

He was rushing his breath labored and his body sore as he ran, sparks of fire flew around him. In angry flickers and crackling.

A copy of Tommy's panic of his power. He wasn't human, that is one truth Tommy knew. He was not human, he was never human.

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A hot breeze rushed past, Tommy opened his eyes to see hot lava was pouring all around him. He gasped and scattered up to his feet.

He couldn't Focus his eyes for a second, he felt his hair was very dirty from dust and he felt like he was barely alive at the moment. How many days has he been out?

The nether continued to blow the usually uncomfortable scolding breeze, but it felt more like a warm embrace now. It made the uncomfortable feeling of barely living so much more anxiety inducing. Why was he here? Why was he in the nether-

Tommy stiffened when he remembered why he was here, right his magic was going haywire. He looked around to the lava lake, the heat was practically visible in the thin air with how it was slightly deformed. 

Tommy took a small breath and he felt a few sparks starting to react again. He took short steps to the edge of the lake. Not too close but close enough to reach the lava if he really tried.

His own magic had calmed down, but it was still rapidly getting active with Tommy being awake. The blond started to feel sore from having to smutter his own magic, so he reached for the lava. He didn't touch it, but his hand hovered over it.

A small spark flickered out of Tommy's palm. It grew in a warm flame that made Tommy less tense. Letting his power consume him is a bad decision, but he had to at least release some of it, or else it would make him way too tired and in discomfort to move.

The fire spread to his shoulder, and it started to get uncomfortable. It started to hurt, but for some reason, the fire didn't listen and continued to stay on his shoulder.

A small prick of tears appeared in Tommy's eyes that instantly evaporated because of the nether's heat.

“I'm not human, aren't I.”

Tommy's voice was below a whisper. It wasn't a question, more like a statement. At least to Tommy, it wasn't a question. The pain in his voice was evident, but Tommy remained still and quiet. Not hiding how vulnerable he was in that moment, ‘cause he didn't notice how vulnerable he was. 

He noticed the fire in his hand as it started to lessen. Slowly dissolving into angry sparks that flew back to the hot magma lake. it gave a sense of relief to Tommy to have that energy out and not be consumed by the flame.

Tommy noticed soft footsteps walking closer to him, making him tense. But he noticed something, the main thing he noticed about those footsteps was that it was from a pair of heels. Not the thin ones but the sturdy ones for harsh terrain, such as the nether or cliffs. 

It was weird. Nobody In the smp wore heels cause they were too much of a hassle to fight in or maintain them. Why was there someone with heels? Tommy questioned in his mind as the noise got closer and closer.

Soon, the person was next to him, and Tommy definitely noticed he didn't know them from the way they stood and the aura they gave off. Before the blond could say anything or even acknowledge them, he heard the person next to him speak.

“Hello there, I've never seen you around this part of the nether, who must you be?”

Tommy noticed the voice was feminine, but in a foxy tone of a mischievous but mature way.

Tommy stayed quiet before he looked up at the person. It was a woman who looked to be in her 30s with a foxy kind grin.

She had long, wavy black hair that matched deep, dark fire ash. Her eyes were dark orange that resembled a forest fire or an amber.

She wore a dark black cloak with gold detailing that almost covered her shoes and she was grinning at Tommy, waiting for him to answer.

Tommy hesitantly spoke up “i- I'm nobody important” Tommy curled into himself slightly, a wave of discomfort washed over him. He was no one of importance, everyone he knew replaced him for another, so he was a nobody.

The woman chuckled “That‘s just so silly, everyone has some importance, and from the little stunt you pulled with your magic, you're definitely important in some way”

Tommy almost wanted to scowl for being called silly. The cheeky tone in the woman's didn't help Tommy one bit. Or maybe it distracted Tommy from his own self-deprecating thoughts.

“I'm not silly” he murmured under his nose, and the woman grinned even more. “You're quite amusing, little firefly”

Chapter Text

“You're quite amusing, little firefly” Tommy blinked in surprise at hearing that, not noticing the little part. He tilted his head, firefly? What the fuck is a firefly? He looked at the woman with confusion in his eyes.

“W-what's a firefly?” He asked, the question was genuine as he truly never heard of such a thing, there wasn't something that was called a firefly in the smp so he didn't know what it was.

The woman blinked in shock before a small giggle escaped her lips. The woman sat down next to Tommy, her cloak barely missing the lava lake. She gave Tommy a genuine smile as she spoke with amusement.

“Well it's a type of insect that glows when it's night time basically” Tommy's eyes lit up, he knew he shouldn‘t be trusting a random stranger but a firefly sounded a lot like a star. For a moment, Tommy remembered when he and tubbo were little, they used to watch floating stars. Were those fireflies?

“So like a shity bug version of a star?” the woman nodded, her smile now softer “you could say that, yes” Tommy hummed before he turned back to the lake of lava. The striders and magma cubes were further away from him and this weird lady.

Tommy looked back at the woman “Soo, um why are you here?” The woman hummed in content “could ask you the same question, child” 

Tommy furrowed his eyebrows and frowned “OI, I'm no fucking kid?!” The lady only chuckled “I'm just messing with ya…I don't think I've gotten your name”

Tommy froze up, oh yeah, he forgot give the woman his name “Tommy”

“Clara, or ruby.” Tommy raised an eyebrow at that “why two names?” The woman shrugged “ruby is just a codename I use in case of certain events”

Tommy gave Clara a skeptical look before he just accepted that explanation “kay” the two sat there for quite some time, not speaking a word. Not for any specific reason, they just didn't know what to say to each other. 

After what felt like hours, Clara spoke “...you know, I don‘t see many young mages out here in the nether, usually they're with their caretaker or mentor. Why are you here?” Tommy just shrugged “i ran away because I didn't want anyone knowing of the magic I possessed”

It was truly just that, wasn't it. At least to Tommy, maybe there was some anger and disappointment at his power that he was so fucking ashamed of them to run away. But what can he do, go back after destroying most of his shity belongings? No, he will out wait anything, he has to, he can't let them find him, not until his stupid magic is stable again to hide it for long periods of time.

Tommy sat there in his thoughts, not even noticing that Clara raised her hand to the lava lake, just like Tommy had not that long ago. Her hands were able to manipulate some of the fire that burned on the lava surface to become small fire breezes. The fire twisted and twirled with itself to start forming a vaguely shaped flower flame. 

The blond teen next to her snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed what Clara was doing. Tommy stared in awe. He had never known you could do that. He was only able to make giant destructive flames or angry sparks that were stronger when amplified with emotions.

Tommy didn‘t realize Clara was a mage as well, but now that he thinks about it, it explains why she knew that much about mages or not being afraid that the lava would burn the cloak. It's probably fire proof for prime sake!

Tommy's eyes widened in awe when the flower became a deep red flower just from the flames. Clara smiled at him and handed him the flower. Tommy held the flower gently, as if it was made out of glass. It smelled vaguely like a warm summer morning and the slight sour but sweet smell of nether warts. 

He looked at the woman as she started to leave. He scrambled to his feet and followed after. Clara knew that Tommy would follow, most young mages followed close by older mages for guidance, especially if the young mage is abandoned, it was the nature of their lives. Tommy was curious, he didn't trust Clara, but it wouldn't hurt to follow behind her, maybe ask for tips? Yeah it's probably fine.

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When tubbo awoke to the ping of his communicator to see the one message that made his tiredness go away ‘tommyinnit exploded' (canon lifes:0), he honestly thought he was having more of those nightmares of losing Tommy, but then he looked over at Ranboo to see they as well awoke to the same ping. It sent a shiver down Tubbo's spine because this has to be incorrect. 

Tubbo just got Tommy back. He can‘t just die so soon, or maybe even at all. But the message made him go see Tommy's home. Tubbo was nervous as he walked on the prime path with ranboo, but he stopped as soon as he saw that Tommy's dirt shack was just a hole in the ground. Dust and debris floated in the air, and the smell of gunpowder was obvious. It was hauntingly obvious. 

The scene would for sure be engraved in tubbo‘s head. Even ranboo was frozen to see such a horrific site. Tommy had told them how horrific limbo was for him, how he felt cold just from thinking about it. Tommy couldn‘t have done that on purpose, right? Tubbo couldn‘t believe Tommy did it on purpose. He wouldn't kill himself, right? Someone had to plant the explosive to kill Tommy. Tubbo didn't believe one second that Tommy killed himself after telling tubbo about how much he hated limbo.

soon ranboo noticed a few others gather round the destroyed home of the blond. Puffy gasped at seeing how everything was just ruble, basically, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Tommy was like a son to her. Sam was right behind her. He held his trident impossibly tight as his eyes landed on the destroyed home. Smoke was spewing from his gas mask, possibly from anger or shock.

further into the server, a group of four got the ping as well. Techno, niki, Phil, and Jack were just having tea when they all got the ping. But Phil was the first to pick up his own communicator to see what was happening. The communicator was dropped to the ground as Phil's hands shook, techno's concern sky rocketed, and he went to comfort Phil and told Jack to read the message out loud. 

When Jack muttered the words “tommyinnit exploded, zero cannon lives left” everything almost froze, niki spat out her tea as she started to choke from shock. Techno froze while Phil still shook from confusion, shock? Jack was just as stunned as the others. After all, Tommy couldn't have just fucking died, not so simply since it was practically impossible to kill him these days from how protective he was of himself. 

The silence was almost deafening, techno stood up indicating that the meeting was over, and went to his forging room. Both niki and Jack left, leaving Phil to sit in his chair alone. The first time Phil and techno were informed about how Tommy died in the prison, but there was no confirmation in chat because he died without his communicator on him so his pulse was not caught when he lost his life. So Phil didn't believe it. He just laughed it off as a joke. But now, everything was recorded, calculated, and put in the chat, almost like a disgusting combination of emotions and proof of the blond's death.

Techno sat in his forge, looking at the hot lava where he made his weapons as the heat radiated in the room, a cold feeling trickled into his chest. Tommy was dead. The chat was proof of it. But why didn‘t techno feel happy that little bastard died? He betrayed him after all. He used techno like everyone else did, but he didn't feel happy. He felt confused first of all. How did Tommy die? And from an explosion of all things. 

And second, it made him feel hurt. Why did it hurt to know that the damned brat died? Maybe because he still considered Tommy part of his hoard, his sounder? Maybe.

Both niki and Jack walked back to the main smp as the feeling of shock settled into their chest, slowly fading into a calm and maybe even relief, but there was anger, or maybe grief. The two weren't sure what it was, but there was something with the relief that mixed it, and it rubbed in the wrong way.

niki was mostly dumbfounded because she wasn't expecting Tommy to just die, especially in such a simple way after she had tried so many times to kill him in such elaborate ways. Then, she felt guilty. Why did Tommy die just a few weeks after his comeback from the prison. Who else could have been after Tommy?

Jack just kinda blankly followed niki, a cold numbing washed over Jack's mind as he tried to comprehend that this time, everything was confirmed. Tommy died, and now there was truly no way for him to come back. And from the stories he overheard, that the only way from death is revival, and it needed a body or a ghost for such a thing. It still shook Jack in the wrong way. Even after blaming Tommy for everything bad, because that fucking wretch ruined everything, but even now after so much, jack felt guilt.

The next morning, everyone gathered where Tommy's home once stood to inspect the situation. It took hours, but nobody could find any evidence to who could have placed the bomb. Though they didn't notice that there wasn't even blood anywhere, or the communicator being the only thing that was at the scene, broken and in pieces. Nobody noticed how the only proof of Tommy's death wasn't his body being in pieces, or that no blood was there, but a communicator, cracked and beaten up. Leaving them to believe Tommy had truly died.

And nobody knew that far into the nether, the same supposed dead blond was following a black haired stranger, because who would think Tommy was still alive with the chat confirmation, nobody. Tommy didn‘t even know that his communicator exploded in the explosion as he had forgotten about it.

Chapter Text

In the nether time works differently, what sometimes seem like hours are actually probably almost a week. Tommy knew this fact because he had experienced it before when he'd gone out for nether only materials that took only 5 hours or so and come back 5 days later in the overworld.

He remembers niki and Jack explaining to young Tommy how the nether's time is like the distance there to the overworld.

Tommy was following after Clara, trying his best to keep up. Clara walked way faster than Tommy ever did, so it was kinda of a damn struggle to keep up with Clara at a normal pace. But the woman did slow down after seeing how Tommy was basically run-walking after her to keep up. It amused the woman beyond belief how Tommy acted so much like most types of young mage. 

Tommy was curious, Clara wasn't pushing him away or telling him not to follow her. She actually seemed quite pleased with Tommy following her. He kinda forgot people aren't normally upset if he followed them. It made Tommy slightly relieved. It was nice not to be pushed away, even if it was this strange mage he met only a few hours ago, it was probably a few days ago in the overworked, but still, he doesn't know anything about her.

Tommy was looking at the scenery, he guessed that they long crossed the smp overworld entryway since he had never seen such a pretty nether there. The plants were taller and even seemed to radiate light. Some piglin-like mobs that weren't hoglins were there as well. They seemed just as conscious as the piglins, but they weren't the same in appearance. They were a lot shorter but seemed to be much stronger than piglins.

Even the lava seemed to be so much different as Clara and Tommy walked. It almost seemed less angry, like a calm wave of warmth wifeweress sparks. Tommy naturally was a curious person. New things and experiences always excited him even in the worst of times. So this new look to what he used to call hell was interesting. But he wasn't going to show his vulnerable curiosity in front of a fucking stranger. He didn't know if she could be trusted.

Clara calmly walked in front, humming a quiet tune. It sounded like a lullaby of some sort. Tommy never heard such a lullaby, but Phil or one of his brothers weren't really involved with him when he was at that age that lullabies would have been sung to him. So he wasn't surprised in his mind not knowing that lullaby. It sounded nice, though. 

Tommy's mind wandered off since he was getting bored, but a voice brought him “Tommy, we'll be crossing a dangerous portal. If you want to continue following me, I recommend holding onto me” Tommy looked at Clara, who stood beside him now, Tommy hesitantly nodded “I'm no pussy!” Clara only smiled with a tilt of her head. “If you're so sure” then she started walking to what seemed to be two red warped trees, intertwined with each other.

Then he saw the particles. Purple and magenta balls of fluff that were barely visible, almost like ranboos's own particles. Though they were certainly not living ones, it made Tommy kinda sad. He liked ranboos' chat. They were funny. Tommy quickly started to go into the portal right after Clara had stepped in.

Clara only continued to smile. Tommy tried to stay still as the magic coursed through the two. It slowly started transporting the duo out of the nether. The nether's hot breeze slowly transformed into a cool wind, and when Tommy blinked, he saw they were already out. He felt a warm and soft hand gently holding his fingers with gentle but slim fingers secure in his own palm. Like hooking your own fingers together.

Tommy followed after Clara, the biome they were in was a breezy flower forest. Not the safest area for two fire control mages. With all the flammable wood, it made Tommy nervous as shit. What if he goes out of control? Then, a squeeze on his fingers snapped him out of his slight anxiety. He looked up at Clara, who was grinning. Her smile reminded him how quackity always grinned at him when he was proud.

It made Tommy's heart pound, but he couldn't dampen the grin that infected his face as the two rushed through the forest. A wave of excitement rushed through Tommy's heart. His eyes seemed just a little bluer than before. The gray almost faded back to the baby sapphire blue. He was truly free from his past for now. Even if the stranger leading him is, well, a stranger. It excited the blonde beyond belief how he's free of worry.

Tommy didn‘t stop the soft giggle leaving his face as he ran. He didn't notice the forest animals watching him. He didn't even know why he's laughing, why he was so happy, excited. But he didn't question it. Didn't question the soft look that Clara gave with a glance, or how the magic flew right off of Tommy as his emotions channeled peaceful sparks, which only danced around the two magic users. 

The forest slowly turned into a wide field of sunflowers, thick with the plant. In the middle sat a home out of gray concrete, and what seemed wood, but not wood. Tommy honestly couldn't figure out what the house was as it almost shifted right in front of Tommy's eyes. Like one second, its door had no small circular window, and then it did. Or that the roof was a bright red a blink of an eye ago and now it was a soft but dark magenta. 

Tommy, though, could tell the stone tower, which looked pogchamp as it's from cobblestone, was pretty much regular. No weird eye tricks or weird shit. Maybe the weird green vines that kept moving on it gave off weird vibes. But Clara was a mage as he was, though she probably grew up with such abnormalities. 

He felt soft tugging on his hand. He looked up and smiled brightly at Clara, who gave off an almost motherly or mentor-like aura. “Come on, Tommy, I have some tea and snacks for you as we talk. I really like to know more about you” Tommy didn‘t know why he smiled like he felt safe, and he didn't notice how his eyes shined now.

He rushed inside right after Clara. He didn't see the red eyes of many in the forest he was just in with Clara, or how sharp claws drew on the trees with growls escaping the eyes. Clara noticed and gave a smug smile through the window of the door as she mouthed ‘you're not eating this one, buds’ then walked deeper inside back Tommy. The sky was almost bluer now, almost like Tommy's eyes full of shine now. Just more soft.

Chapter Text

A plate of sweet treats was placed in front of Tommy and a hot mug of tea was right next to it. Clara smiled whilst she sat down right in front of tommy. “Well Tommy, dig in. All of these sweet treats are for you”

Tommy almost instantly reached to grab a muffin. Eyes practically shining as he hadn't eaten in a bit. Which was weird that he was hungry, limbo practically eliminated any appetite for the blonde, but he won't be complaining about free food. 

The older mage just watched happily. Glad that Tommy is now actually eaten since the kid, even if he seemed fine, was practically a skeleton “you know, you seem less distressed than when we first met, such an interesting thing, is it not?”

Tommy looked up with a tilt of his head, realizing that it was true. Something about this place weirdly grounded him to the ground, he munched on his muffin

“Well it's true, for some reason this place calms me enough that I seem to be fine being near a stranger”

Clara hummed “interesting, but besides that how old are ya? You look about 17 or so in years so you're probably around 100 since mage-” Tommy dropped the muffin on the plate from surprise “I'M SORRY WHAT?! I'm not that old and I am 17”

Clara looked at Tommy, her face showed true bewilderment at what Tommy said, thinking over everything “what do you mean 17. You're a mage right?”

Tommy nodded “Yeah? What about it?” 

“Mages age differently than regular humans, we age slower, if you look around 17 that means you're probably 100 or older by a bit.

Unless you go through a strenuous amount of pressure or stress then you'll age similar to a mere mortal for a while.”

Tommy thought about it as a small mix of understanding poured into his mind. The wars, exiles, abuse, and the very feeling of worry and weird growing pains that were painfully horrid. Was this the explanation?

“But wouldn't that mean I would be like a baby?” Clara shook her head with a light snicker “Oh gods no. The baby stages for mages are similar to human baby stages until about 8 years old, but if you're truly 17 that means you should be much younger than how you look.”

Clara exhaled a breath “but it's nothing to be worried, you'll be able to age like the other mages here”

Tommy hummed, eyes looking down at his lap. He didn't know what to think of this anymore. This stranger who for some reason made Tommy calm, basically explained that Tommy was too mature, but people in the smp always said he was a childish brat. Maybe he should have just stayed at the smp, he wouldn't have found out about this.

Clara looked at Tommy, trying to read what Tommy was thinking from just his face. “I wouldn't worry that much, you know. The more stress and anxiety you have, the worse it'll get,i can even see it” 

That was probably true “Well, then what should I do to stop the whole faster growing thing, you made it seem like it's a problem” Clara still acted calm, like there's no real worry, which it probably wasn't a big worry to the woman 

“Well, there's nothing that we can do, as long as your mind and body are able to stay in a safe spot where less stress is inflicted, you'll stay looking like a 17 year old until you hit 100”

Tommy nodded, so he just needed to relax? That should be easier said than done with his paranoia “and then after I hit 100 years?”

“Well” Clara took a sip of her tea before continuing “You're gonna age like any other mage until you hit the equivalent of a 20 year old to a mage, so about 200 or 300 years. Then, like any other mage, you'll stop aging or worrying about illness, old age, generally all the mortal nonsense”

“What do you mean by mortal nonsense?” Clara took a look at Tommy's confused face “you don't know? Hmm, it seems I'll need to teach you some things about your own culture and being. Well, to answer your questions in simple terms, mages are immortal, not only we age slowly but we are able to live forever in theory”

She set her cup down whilst Tommy had just left his half eaten muffin on his plate “mages are immortal beings gifted the ability of wielding the world around us by the beings that once graced this earth.”

“But mages are also beings that barely worry. Having the power we have, we never worry over mortality because as soon as the gift of magic graces our bodies, we are more than mortal. And we are considered as beings with no true worry.”

Immortality, Tommy once asked Phil why he and techno say they will outlive him. They only said they were vessels and chosens of their gods.

They said that was the only way to be blessed or cursed with Immortality, to speak with gods, they spoke like they were high and mighty sometimes just because they got Immortality as a gift. 

They never ever said that mages were immortal. Actually, whenever Tommy asked them about mages, they looked at him and said they were nothing but mortals obsessed with power.

Weakling mortals with no true control over the world just the thought of power.

Now, as Tommy looked at the mage before him, this woman who was calm and spoke gently, this woman who took him from the nether where Tommy was pretty sure he would have died. His mind was conflicted. It's not like phil or techno knew that their youngest family member was a mage.

Tommy took a breath as he looked straight into Clara's calm orange eyes “ma'am, could you please become my teacher, please, I want to be able to know more of my origin and how to control the magic I have” Tommy was sure his eyes looked quite pleading, to be honest he was trying to use his puppy eyes incase Clara was against it.

But then Clara grinned “why do you think I brought you here? I'm a mage of true power and knowledge, but I am also someone who can see potential just from a glance. I brought you here with the intention of you becoming my student.”

Clara continued to smile brightly “being a teacher is one of great honors for every mage, I'm glad you don't mind me being your teacher.”

Tommy smiled widely, maybe just maybe he'll be able to do more with his weird ass magic, maybe control it better. Especially with Clara by his side, who seemed to have knowledge beyond the blonde's wildest imagination. “Thank you so much, ma'am!”

For some reason Tommy couldn‘t help but feel a spark of a feeling as bright as the sun in his heart.

He truthfully didn't have any idea what this certain feeling was or what it meant. But to Tommy, it wasn't unpleasant. Actually, it almost struck like a different genre of hope. 

Clara took a sip of her tea, analyzing Tommy's expression as his eyes lit up briefly. She knew something had happened to this mage that radiated potential. She truthfully couldn't believe that the people he was born to grow up let this much damage be done to the young mage.

But she felt a small sense of pride echo in her mind. Mostly because she listened to her gut to go on that path of the nether rather than her usual hidden path way.

She quickly cleared her throat whilst she uttered her words again “though I don't think it would be a safe idea to just start teaching now. A week or so, and then we can start these classes, if you don't mind”

She took a sip again, waiting for Tommy's response to her side of the deal “alright, as long as I get those lessons, I can wait even a whole ass year if asked!” The huge grin of excitement was in full view, even that one missing canine tooth was in full view. 

Seeing Tommy be all cheerful and determined was a much better thing to see than the kid moping in the nether with no true goal in his mind besides trying to hide that beautiful flame he possessed, at least in Clara's humble opinion it was beautiful but she's a mage so every mage’s magic was beautiful to her. 

Though now that she thinks about it she really needs to get the house ready for another person to inhabit it. Get the kid a comfortable room to work in and to rest like every young mage wanted and had. 

She was pretty sure that not even Tommy realized that the house was practically alive, which will definitely be an interesting interaction later on when he finds that fact out. She noticed that Tommy had gone back to eating the snacks she prepared for him, which was good, Clara never liked to waste food.

A week from now, she'll have to have prepared the field for rapid uncontrolled magic usage.

Especially if Tommy's magic is as unpredictable as it was in the nether and for every young mage who barely knew anything about the cards they possessed at their fingertips.

Clara couldn't help but feel herself grow much more excited. She always liked to test out potential when she started teaching a new ward. But this time, unlike most of her other older wards who left to become apprentices to another more around their area mage.

Tommy practically radiated a very strong potential of becoming a powerful fire and magma mage, and what better way to strengthen this potential if not being taught by Clara who was her generation's strongest fire and magma mage.

“I can't wait to see what surprises you bring, I believe this will be a great way for you to become a great mage” Tommy looked up and smiled discreetly.

Honestly, he wasn't expecting much, but with Clara having such thoughts about Tommy, he believed what Clara had said to the blonde.

“I hope so, and I hope I can meet your expectations ma'am” Clara was clearly a woman of knowledge and intelligence and she couldn't wait for Tommy to learn as her. Maybe he'll become even greater than the woman in front of him. Clara hoped so, most of her past students barely scratched her up with their stronger spells during dual classes. 

She hopes Tommy will be able to out do her, she's pretty sure he will or probably has already, especially after not even suffering any burns from the nether where his hand was quite literally on fire.

Most young mage would suffer burns from that kind of magic, Clara's expectations were probably already been exceeded by Tommy “don't worry, I'm sure you will able to do as you wish”

Chapter Text

Tommy stood in a very cozy room. He's pretty sure the house or as Clara calls it, Edgar ’Tommy's just gonna call him big e’, made the room to his liking.

It was full of all sorts of nicknacks and other trinkets. There was even a corner for a work desk and a giant bookshelf that seemed to shift like the books were being moved and changed.

His new bed was full of soft things. Pillows and blankets sprawled on it like they were put there recently. Which wouldn't be surprising.

After all, Clara said that only today the room was made. He liked soft things better than rough edges, edges similar to the rough obsidian of the prison.

Even though Tommy's ribs hurt from sleeping on the ground in the living room area for 4 days straight, he's glad he had a place to sleep whilst the room was being prepared for him.

Tommy jumped onto the bed, the mattress was soft, shifting around Tommy like it was barely swallowing the blond. He sighed as his muscles relaxed.

The pillows were clearly the ones that were full but weren't too hard. That's good, Tommy rather not have fucking neck pain mixed with the discomfort of sleeping on the couch. 

The window in the room made the sunlight hit everything in a way that wasn't too harsh but lit the room in a nice way.

Edgar made a small screeching sound that seemed to question Tommy if he was comfortable with the room.

Tommy smiled in this lazy, relaxed way that he hadn't in many years. "Yeah, I am, thanks, big e. This room is poggers” He closed his eyes whilst the house seemed to let out air almost in a sighing motion.

Truthfully, Tommy was quite happy in an almost sluggish way.

When he blinked open his eyes, he noticed the wild angry sparks that usually floated around him weren't there anymore. 

Now, slow thin waves of fire danced around him in the same sluggish manner that he was currently feeling.

Tommy was feeling just moments ago. “oh shit…” he muttered under his nose in awe, and bewilderment flooded his heart.

He reached his right hand to brush his fingers against the flames. It didn't burn. A soft, gentle warmth graced Tommy's fingers. He smiled.

He guessed this was normal for a mage, especially after he had seen Clara when she was calm.

She had similar flames around her, though usually they were much bigger and more graceful than Tommy's.

Edgar didn't seem to be awake anymore, or his presence wasn't in Tommy's room anymore.

He knew that Clara was brewing something on the first floor of the home that shifted and turned like one of those weird mirrors he had seen in Las Nevadas.

Tommy would bet a good diamond block that if he opened the door of the room, the stairs would have shifted in a different position or style. 

Maybe the other rooms would have become bigger, or maybe he was on another floor in this home that outside seemed almost cottage like, but inside was like an infinity house, shifting and moving.

For a moment, a calm quiet washed over him in a way that seemed so nice. Tommy never liked the quiet.

It was so dreadful, quiet always made Tommy go back to his fucked up thoughts that always made the teen want to vomit so so much. 

This quiet was nice. Maybe Clara was right. This place brought a nice warm feeling that made almost anyone feel at home.

Home not the wars he grew up in, a home where there was a nice warmth and the smell of herbs around.

Tommy wasn't sure when he started to see this place as a better home than what he had.

Maybe staying here for almost over a week shifted his mind to this kind of point of thought.

Soon, a knock echoed through his room, and a gentle voice could be heard from behind the dark oak door. “kid, you in there?” Clara's voice was as cheerful as it always has been.

Tommy frowned at being called a kid. But if he wasn't so relaxed, he would have definitely fought with Clara about him not being a kid. Though it wouldn't be a fight, it would be more like a debate.

“Yeah, I am. Do you need anything, Clara?” Clara opened the door.

Her hair fell on her shoulders like a waterfall made out of raven black. Tommy sat up when Clara stepped in further into the room.

“Is the room to your liking? I can always make Edgar change it more to your liking.” she spoke as it wasn't a big deal with a teasing tone in her voice while Edgar's presence was back in the room. 

The house made a huffing noise, almost like he was voicing his malcontent about having to change the room yet again. Though Edgar didn't seem too upset.

Clara sat down on the bed. She smiled brightly at him, the flames that used to be around Tommy disappeared in a way like fog sometimes did. Tommy smiled back at the woman.

“No, it's fine. I like it here. And I don‘t think big e would like to fix up this fucking room yet again”

Edgar made a creak in agreement whilst Clara just laughed “alright, alright. I won't say that again, sorry Edgar, for my teasing.” 

Tommy was pretty sure that the small movement of the room showed a small, none visible pout from the house. Tommy couldn't help but quietly huff at the house in amusement.”

A few months passed, and Tommy was panting as he held his left arm out. Fire spitting out of his palm, circling around Clara as she held her staff, her calm smile was intimidating in this weird mix of softness and calculation.

The young mage could feel his fire becoming strong enough to capture or burn even the strongest of people.

Clara soon enough spinned her staff as her hands let out fire that spinned around the stem of the staff to its very tippy top.

The fire that Tommy had in control soon started to fade away, but before it did, Tommy pushed his fire to burn again. Clara's eyes widened, and she smirked.

Tommy rushed around Clara, using the fire to boost himself to speed up, basically teleporting from the speed he was using. Even though Clara is yet to teach Tommy teleportation magic.

Clara followed suit. Quickly throwing attacks, hot and fast, but in an elegant and somewhat graceful way.

Hot magma rushed from the staff, which Tommy barely dodged.

He sucked in a breath whilst he swiftly moved his arms to shift the fire into something similar to arrows.

Fire resistance was amazing, especially after Clara taught him how to activate it.

Another spin of the staff and stronger flames and magma rushed around them.

The fire was basically hot vines wrapping themselves loosely around the staff. 

Tommy slammed into the nearest wall whilst he used his fire to boost himself up.

He raised his other hand, getting a small control over the fire and magma to turn it against Clara. 

It clearly caught her off guard whilst she stumbled back.

Her smirk fell for just a blink of the eye, but it returned as fast as it fell. Fire burned in her eyes as a new plan was formulated when she saw Tommy push himself down.

Clara rushed forward whilst Tommy was distracted and bonked Tommy with her staff, signifying her victory.

She won yet again. The hot magma and fire dissipated whilst Tommy frowned “Oh god fucking dammit” he hissed. 

Fortunately, Edgar's ability to shift allowed both Clara and Tommy to have a very good fireproof training room.

Though Edgar seemed a bit fussy from having to keep the scorching heat away from the rest of the house.

Tommy huffed in a rigid way. He never liked to lose against Clara, but it wasn't so unknown.

The taste of defeat had become less horrible and more of a promise of Clara getting something for Tommy for the teen getting better at what he could do, usually a sweet treat. 

Clara pulled Tommy in a gentle side hug. He leaned his head against Clara's shoulders. She smiled in her iconic, cheerful, but calm smile that Tommy never saw slip off from her face.

“You did well, kid, caught me off guard a few times more than the last time. It gave me a good surprise. Tommy rolled his eyes before pushing Clara playfully away.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Tommy couldn't help but laugh at Edgar squeaking in an almost duck manner of protest when he noticed the sparks flickering between his fingertips.

Clara looked at Tommy before letting out a loose laugh “ha. Don't start burning Edgar down. It wouldn't be so good, would it?” The teen let out a huff.

It almost seemed childish, Tommy would have been yelling at him internally at acting like a child.

But for some reason, he didn't see a reason to do so. Clara might have noticed how Tommy's shoulders relaxed in an odd way, but she didn't mention.

Instead, she was more focused on getting Tommy back to the living room “Come on, I made some cinnamon rolls before the training.”

Tommy's smile widened quickly when he rushed to the other room, leaving Clara chuckling as she followed behind him.

Chapter Text

Tommy sat quietly outside. His eyes were closed whilst he focused on his magic.

The sun shined high in the sky. It gave this warm glow to the yellow sunflowers in the field Tommy was in currently.

The house was weird, like Tommy had noted beforehand, and even after a year of living in it, new things popped up from time to time.

It was bigger than Tommy previously thought.

He used to think Edgar was only the house, but Clara had told that the sunflower field that reached the first circle of forest trees was under Edgar's control. From the deepslate to the sky.

His hair was a bit longer than Tommy last remembered having, mostly because Puffy had trimmed it before he got stuck in the prison.

But Clara never trimmed it. She looked heavily confused when Tommy asked her if she had any rules with hair.

Clara clearly explained that she didn't and that if Tommy wanted to trim it, she could help, though Tommy said he liked to grow it out to braid it like he did to his brother before.

Tommy remembered her looking out of the loop. Honestly, he wasn't surprised she reacted that way.

He was even surprised that he remembered this specific exile rule even though it was a less important one.

Dream used to like to control everything, specifically hair.

Whenever Tommy's hair was longer than his shoulders, even by just a few centimeters, he would pull Tommy over to cut it.

The worst part was that Dream was horrible with doing anything with hair.

He cut Tommy's hair in such a  messy and bad manner that it looked like someone did it blindfolded.

Tommy was never sure if he did it by accident or with actual purpose to make Tommy look at his pathetic reflection in the water.

Tommy took a deep breath. He had to focus on this exercise that Clara recommended not on this part of the past, not now, at least.

This specific practice was for breath control, to feel the magic, and to be able to grasp it to have a more specific control. 

This should help Tommy control his magic like Clara does, in the way to concentrate the magic into one thing rather than the body.

He didn't have a staff currently, but he held in his palm a pendant to help him concentrate the magic into it to bring it out without any worry about too much magic flowing out of his body.

His eyes were closed, but he could feel the fire slowly flowing out of hands into the pendant.

That's when he felt a hand patting his head.

Tommy looked up to see Clara standing with a bright smile. "Finally! I've been calling your name for the past 2 minutes."

Tommy matched Clara's smile. "Sorry, Clara." The woman flopped next to Tommy, but Tommy saw a box neatly wrapped in this yellow raping paper as she held in her right arm.

Tommy ignored it, more interested in something else. "Didn't you tell me you're going to be in the house all day?"

Clara snickered. She nudged Tommy's shoulder with her own.

"Come on, kid, I can walk around my own home whenever I wish no matter what I have to do that day." Tommy rolled his eyes.

This was the usual response from Clara whenever either Edgar or tommy called her out for avoiding work. 

"But I'm here to see how you've been doing and give you something." Tommy perked up, curiosity lingered in his heart. 

Gifts weren't uncommon from Clara. The woman adored showering Tommy with all kinds of affection and things.

Especially after hearing he didn't have most of his things because of an incident. 

She still doesn't know that it was because of Tommy quite literally exploding his own house with most of his things being destroyed.

The woman placed the box in her hands on Tommy's lap.

He carefully started opening, mindful of anything inside from the habit of being afraid of things given to him in the smp.

Clara couldn't but remark. "Oh my, you're really like a skittish little kitty!" Tommy threw a half-hearted glare. Annoyed at her teasing him by both calling him a cat or little.

"Shush." he opened the box carefully to see black fabric. He picked it up and held it up to see it was a cloak.

The cloak resembled the cloak Clara wears whenever she leaves to get things done.

It's the same thin but fluffy fabric that doesn't overheat in the warm weather but keeps you warm during the cold.

The golden details made almost like spark flashes in the sunlight, the hood was practically the same on Clara's cloak.

Shock hit Tommy like a tsunami. He wasn't sure what this meant.

Tommy glanced at Clara, who still wore that iconic smile of pride and fondness.

"You see, after a year of taking in someone, the elder mage can officially call the younger mage their heir or disciple."

She continued now that Tommy looked more curious than surprised.

"It's a common practice that after a year, the teacher gives their student something similar to what the elder carries in every outing to show who's student the younger is."

"The gifts can differ from bracelets to shoes, sometimes even a staff or a pocket watch. From me, your gift is a matching cloak to mine, enchanted to keep its temperature perfectly for the owner of the cloak."

She looked up into the further field. "You mentioned you missed the cloak you were able to keep from your estranged brother that you also lost in an incident."

"I know what I gave you might not be as treasured as that cloak, but I hope it will bring you some comfort."

Clara looked at Tommy to see that the blond was looking down into his lap where the cloak rested, tears dropping down his eyes. Clara Instinctually worried.

"If you don't like it, I can always get you something else! Don't cry. Please don't cry -"

Clara let out an oof when she saw Tommy slam into her to hug her.

He was still crying. "Thank you." he whispered. Clara sighed, hugging him back. "No problem, Firefly. You know I like to spoil you."

Tommy held a wooden staff. It was light to hold, but it clearly was for him by the green ribbon matching his bandana that he liked to carry around his left shoe.

Thought the ribbon had stitched on a pattern of fireflies. Tommy was pretty sure it was a gift from Clara for his birthday.

Since Clara never leaves dangerous ancient magical artifacts in Tommy's room, and it was April 9th, Tommy's birthday.

The staff felt natural,practically made for him. The main gem was an orange or red spinel.

Tommy couldn‘t possibly tell because of how the light kept hitting it, and its almost color shifted like fire dancing.

Edgar was swinging the window shutters like he was excited that Tommy found the gift.

Now that Tommy thinks about him, he can just ask Edgar if the staff truly was a gift, so his mind wouldn't worry.

"Hey, big e? Is this a gift from Clara?" Edgar closed the shutters, then opened it. Tommy will take it as a yes.

He held the staff carefully, last time when he tried to hold Clara's staff it was unbelievable heavy, he still could lift it up, but not for too long.

Tommy thought Clara was just really strong. Maybe a staff made for a mage could be carried by the mage only.

He concentrated some energy to make the gem glow softly.

It was pretty dark as the evening was already there, so it was quite a good light for Tommy to go around the home.

He smiled at the staff, a warm feeling of happiness wrapped around his heart. He felt when tears pricked his eyes.

He was starting to become such a crybaby these days. Probably from having some emotional stability with Clara around. 

He went out to the sunflower through his window with Edgar's help so the blond could pick some flowers to give to Clara when she's back.

He didn't notice that Clara was already watching him from the kitchen, quietly watching the woods as well so nothing could come after Tommy.

Edgar made a window squeak so Clara could hear the being ask her why she was back so early. She gave him a smile.

"As much as I trust your judgment on you being able to keep the firefly safe, I don‘t want the shadows to get him."

Edgar made the walls shuffle like he was rolling his eyes. Clara laughed.

"I trust your loyalty and strength, but my disciple is still young. He might be promising, but the shadows will try to consume him into their ranks even with the protection of your blessing. Currently, only my fire gets them to back down."

A door upstairs slammed, clearly showing that Edgar was annoyed.

"Oh, don't be such a big baby. You're the one who decided to possess the land. If you stayed as your physical body, you might have been able to keep a better leash on your creations!"

Another grumble, Clara sighed. "I know you can still return, but even if you did, you'd be too weak to even walk, let me protect Tommy until then, besides you can distract those stupid pets of yours by raising the land."

There was a quiet before a few windows opened to show air being let out from resignation.

"Good, now go back to sleep, I'll call you when you're needed." Clara took the silence as a confirmation of Edgar doing as Clara had told him.

She watched through the window whilst Tommy collected the flowers he wanted. She wasn't sure why he's collecting the flowers at 11 pm, but she could watch if needed.

The shadows were also watching Tommy, but they realized the little mage wasn't going to be a good snack when they caught sight of obsidian hair and bright orange eyes shining in the dark through the window. 

She was glad she did not want someone she was fond of to fall into the shadows again.

Especially not Tommy who reminded Clara so much of her little one that lived many centuries ago.

Soon, she saw Tommy look over with an arm full of sunflowers. He froze like a child who was caught doing something bad.

Clara couldn't help but burst out laughing. She was glad to see he was able to use the staff.

it seems the breathing exercises did work quite well to be able to use a staff so early.

"Get inside firefly, we have to put those flowers in the water." Tommy snapped back and grinned."Yes, Clara!" He rushed inside.

He was so happy that he wasn't so in trouble with Clara for sneaking off that he didn't realize that Clara wasn't supposed to be back so early.

Clara closed the door behind Tommy, which locked immediately after being closed, seemingly showing that Edgar was still awake enough to make sure the house was safe from anything truly harmful.

When she looked back in front of the kitchen, she saw Tommy already putting the flowers in a vase.

When he looked back with that bright smile and eyes, Clara's eyes softened, not by much, but they did she knew as so.

She realized those flowers were a gift from Tommy to her, to thank her for the staff.

She knew he knew that she knew now, mostly because of how sheepish Tommy looked.

She walked closer to him, manifesting a flower similar to the one she had made when she first met Tommy and put it in his hair.

She truly couldn't help but see someone she was so fond and protective of in the past in Tommy that she grew too soft.

"Thank you for the sunflowers, kid." That sheepish smile turned almost in a golden grin."Of course, Clara!"

Chapter Text

Childish, Tommy was truly childish. He lived most of his life believing that being childish was a thing he could never be.

After all, who needs a childish puppet? It is better to have an obedient one, right?

But was it truly Tommy's fault for being the way he was supposed to be.

No one in Tommy's past could have ever thought that Tommy was a mage. A mage forced to grow far faster than he should have.

Clara doesn't know much about Tommy's past. She isn't going to force the kid to tell her if he doesn't want to open up his heart and mind to her.

But from what her knowledge brought her was that Tommy was doing far better with her than before.

Listen! If Tommy now looks 16 and far more carefree than a year or so ago, then what else does Clara have to say?

Even if Tommy won't be able to revert to his true age for a mage, he's still able to take one slow step back.

Clara was focused on fixing Tommy's hair.

The kid loved having braids, twin braids, and just a loose singular one were his favorite styles.

The thing about keeping hair healthy is that you have to let it be loose some days just so it doesn't strain.

Clara brushed out a few knots of hair, mindful enough not to pull on Tommy‘s hair.

Looking at Tommy's hair, Clara couldn't help but see the difference between how gray and dull it looked when they first met.

Now it shined like the gold in stone near a lava lake. The tips were like charcoal, similar to Clara's dark hair.

But Tommy's hair looked oddly similar to a match or a fuse burning hot.

It was quite the lovely color in Clara's opinion, far more fitting than that ugly dull blond.

She smiled when she saw the thread of fire dancing around Tommy's fingers like a dangerous yet elegant game.

The calm peacefulness couldn't have been ruined in this perfect moment between a teacher and her student.

A child and his parent figure.

Well, unless a man just randomly formed from the ceiling and fell onto the floor right in front of them.

Tommy screamed at the suddenty of a male human being just laying there like a corpse. Clara froze, not in fear like tommy had but she was dumbfounded.

The fire in Tommy's hand instantly extinguished, almost like all oxygen to it had dispersed.

Then Clara picked up her staff to push the man over to see his face. She frowned and raised an eyebrow. 

"Everything's fine, Tommy. Go to your room whilst I fix this."

The other mage was hesitant before running off to his room.

Clara sighed and looked at the man poking his forehead so he would wake up.

"Edgar, you bastard wake up. You scared the kid." The man on the floor opened his eyes that shined a bright venom green and frowned.

For Clara, it's been a few decades since Edgar wasn't fused with the land.

Edgar's short brown hair looked oak wood colored and it matched his green outfit.

"Been a bit old man. Why are you even out."

Clara went on to question the man who just grinned like he was innocent and shrugged.

"Well, I thought maybe I should help you with protecting your student. So I left the grounds."

Clara rolled her eyes. "Sure, scaring the kid with just randomly falling from the ceiling will protect the kid."

Edgar rolled his eyes. "He'll be fine, probably." Then he stood up, or at least tried to do as such, but quickly tumbled almost face first if it weren't for Clara's fast reflexes. 

"Oh my prime. Old man, you're too weak to be trying to walk! I'm still baffled. You even wanted to reform into a person if you're this weak."

She scolded the man. He gave her a death glare, clearly annoyed at her.

"I'd say I'm fine, but you wouldn't believe me, would you." The other shuffled the man onto the couch and laughed.

"I've been helping Tommy with his problems, and I ain't that stupid to have believed such an obvious lie. Now sit here, I'll go explain everything to Tommy so he doesn't think a random intruder entered our home."

And with that, the woman just straight up left, Edgar sighed and leaned against the armrest.

 He did kinda miss being human, but the headaches were something he definitely didn't miss.

He really hopes that he recovers soon so he'll be able to teach Tommy the magic Clara isn't able to.

Maybe he and the kid will bond better if he just wasn't a stupid piece of territory for a bit.

Clara knocked on Tommy's door and locked in to see Tommy seemingly waiting for her.

He was clearly worried since he truly didn't know the identity of that 'random' man that just randomly dropped onto the main living area's floor.

He looked up with bright eyes and hugged her. Clara was a bit surprised but didn't mind and patted Tommy's head.

"I'm fine, everything is fine, kid." 

"Not a kid." Tommy murmured. He pulled back now, clearly seeking answers.

Most mages goals in life were to reach the peak of ultimate knowledge, that was their entire reason to exist.

To question the world and try finding new things.

It isn't exactly shocking that Tommy is curious, but to be fair, who wouldn't be curious when a random stranger to you just drops randomly onto the floor with no trace of where they came from.

"So, um. What was that whole fucking situation about." Clara just grinned.

"You know Edgar, the house, right?" Tommy nodded, now crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, Edgar wasn't always a house. The man who just dropped from the ceiling was the physical version of Edgar."

Tommy froze for a second before everything was processed in his head, and his body tensed up.

"He's WHAT!?-"

Tommy sat across the man. Edgar was quietly drinking his tea, though his body was clearly a bit weaker.

The awkward silence between them two stretched out like a landline.

Tommy was a bit nervous seeing the man that honestly thought was only like a supernatural house.

"So..." Tommy tried, but he didn't know what to say. Edgar just laughed and smiled.

"Don't worry, kid, I'm still the Edgar, you know. Just with the ability to speak now." Tommy thought about before smiling. 

"So you know all of the stupid shit Clara had done awhile ago?" Edgar stopped for a moment before grinning.

"Of course I do, I wouldn't be her friend without knowing."

Somewhere deep in the house, Clara felt a cold feeling on her spine as she cleaned an old room. Clearly, someone was talking crap about her.

Chapter Text

Tommy wasn't sure when something had changed in him. Maybe it was when he was able to physically speak to Edgar.

Maybe when he learned how to actively teleport with the magic in his veins. Maybe it was when he first defeated Clara in a duel.

Maybe it was when he met Clara in that hot and miserable spot in the nether.

When he left his old home because everything was too much, especially with his magic finally manifesting.

Maybe when he decided that erasing the last part of himself on that horrible island that the essempii resided.

But something did change. It was his humanity, or well, what was left of it.

Very little of it can survive after being brought back from the afterlife.

Tommy knew a lot about mages now and his own capabilities as a spell caster with immortality, protecting him from dying of old age or diseases.

It was thanks to Clara for all of those lessons, especially since she's still teaching him more even if he's now almost 19 and helping get Edgar back to his prime.

But Tommy does tease Edgar about the fact that he's apparently old as balls.  

He knew that his kind was created not by the sheer will of gods or by nature deciding to be a bit silly

They were created by the desperate pleads of knowledge the mortals begged for and couldn't get from their supposed gods.

The desperate cry to discover and solve was granted when one of the starving mortals felt magic enter their veins, and slowly, so many others have felt this. 

They all stuck together, knowing that they are now boundless as mages could change their realm of existence by just a flick of a hand.

They were practically comparable to gods. Children of the mages kept being born even if there was ever only one mage in the bloodline.

Yet even with such facts about mages. Beings who search for every impossible mystery to solve, for every truth to be questioned, there was a price to pay for acquiring such power.

The price was humanity. Mages functioned differently.

They felt emotions, love, anger, sadness, joy, but they couldn't tell much of human standards and their emotions were a lot stronger, yet more controlled for magic usage. 

They didn't see much use for worrying about things like war and time ending.

They have already gone through those scenario many, many times. 

Mages like Tommy who were raised with humans and without much knowledge on how to unlock themselves fully usually when they find other mages to teach them, their memories as humans start to become murky.

He doesn't mind for some reason. Maybe his instincts have become far more of a mage's to care.

He doesn't quite remember on which side tubbo's scar sat. Or if ranboo's eyes were yellow, purple, or something else.

He doesn't remember his way back to the smp anymore.

And yet, as he realized he wasn't panicked. Mages are made to break the limits over and over again. Forgetting a few little things about people is fine.

He remembers everything from when his power finally unlocks like a perfect picture.

So he isn't completely without memories, and without his past morals, they just adapted to his body accepting the progress of him.

His new goal in life wasn't to survive, to run away from his torturer or the screaming guilt in his chest.

It was to find the infinite knowledge and how to break every time and space boundary given to him whilst protecting his own kind. 

Tommy wasn't sure what kind of training this was that Edgar had told him would help him in some way.

Though this did let him get off some of the ich and want for a true fight.

The forest outside the sunflower field was dark.

Clara had said that only people that still had their humanity would see the forest as a bright floral place, yet truly it hid shadowy monsters waiting for the next snack to join their ranks.

Tommy raised his staff, and a strong burst of magic swiped across the forest, avoiding the trees and leaves by just a hair.

A few of those monsters were obliterated with such a simple attack on Tommy‘s side.

It was weird for him to know that truly nobody could control him.

He was a free man, free to breathe the air around him with no strings.

He spinned the staff and tossed it to his other hand, quietly yet quickly getting rid of the shadows that were getting a bit too close to him.

The shadows didn't make noise even though they were apparently corrupted human souls.

Only those with human memories could get flashes of those memories for the shadows to manipulate and trick the person.

Even if Tommy still possessed some bits and pieces of his last, they were faint, and he rarely tried to remember. 

Another flame shot from Tommy's left side behind some trees, it wasn't Tommy who did it though.

Clara stepped out from there with Edgar next to her. It was weird to realize that even without the heels, Clara was definitely tall even compared to Edgar, who was almost techno’s size. Clara was probably comparable to ranboo. Both incredibly tall.

The woman smiled at her mentee. "Firefly! It seems you already cleared the perimeter quite well." She grinned with her usual foxy and soft look. 

Edgar nodded as he stared at his book that floated with the help of some green magic flowing from Edgar's blood that came from the cut in his palm.

Tommy still isn't sure how Edgar was both a land mage and a blood mage, but he won't question the dual method of magic.

"The student did very well. Got rid of the shadows much faster and at a wider scale than any other student you have had before." Clara just rolled her eyes.

"Most of my students weren't fire mages. They were escapists, not fighters."

Edgar just shrugged and patted Tommy's shoulder with his free hand. A flash of Sam's nuke yellow eyes appeared in Tommy's mind as he looked at Edgar's proud hidden smile and the same eyes that were filled with pride.

"You cleared enough for the grounds without causing much damage. I think we're done for today."

Tommy brightly smiles. "Of course, big e!" Clara grabbed Tommy's free hand without much force, and she quickly put her staff in her inventory to grab Edgar's hand.

"Come on, kid, we gotta make sure you still are capable of teleporting yourself away."

Edgar sighed, with a snap of his fingers from his bloodied hand his book disappeared into dust.

"Using your student as a transportation device isn't very wise fire witch of you, Clara."

Clara turned to face Edgar with an annoyed look.

"Oh, Shush, you used to try to throw me into lava when you were still teaching me the basics of fire magic, I can ask Tommy to use simple teleportation."

Edgar rolled his eyes again. "It is not my fault that it was appropriate to do that back 2000 thousand years ago."

Clara just glared at the man, Tommy laughed at those idiots.

They were both dicks in their own way, but not in the bad way. Clara can be a bit too teasing or clever for people.

Edgar has a problem of him sounding a bit too egotistical and mocking even though he was either giving asked and valid criticism or saying anything truly.

But in any case, they were Tommy's family. Maybe the closest thing to one after the disaster was Tommy's life back at the smp.

With a smile, he flicked his staff quickly, and fire surrounded them, making them flash across the forest like a ball of light.

Fire was so close to light magic that it could be confusing.

And yet, they were still so different when learning. Tommy loves how his magic is the burning blaze of hope, passion, and stubbornness. 

He also adores that he can just image a few words and flick his staff he could be anywhere and everywhere.

Great trick for whenever he needs to travel out. 

And just as soon as the flames engulfed them, they disappeared to let them see the lovely and familiar scenery of the flower field that they call their home.

Clara smiled at Tommy before hugging him tightly whilst Edgar nodded, and unlike Clara, he just showed Tommy a calm but genuine look that he always had when he was particularly pleased.

Tommy couldn‘t help but feel an explosion of pride and happiness fill up his heart.

He hugged Clara back since the woman was still happily exclaiming how happy she is that Tommy is so proficient in magic.

Tommy had already done this spell, with a bit more difficulty back then, but no matter what, Clara always cheered the boy on.

She spoke of how proud she was of her student succeeding spells so well even though in mage standers he's very young.

His life is nice here. The house that changes, the sunflowers keeping the shadows away, weren't originally meant to include him, but now, this is home, and even with his humanity getting sold for this family he has been able to get, he doesn't regret enjoying this and letting everything happen as it had happened. 

He didn't know that after two years that his old home still were grieving his departure that to them was his death, to Tommy it would have

Just been him finding his true home amongst other mages to teach him things he needs to know as a magic user to survive in this world.

Chapter Text

Tommy was running across the forest again. He's now 22, and he hasn't felt more alive.

Tommy still looked 16, yet he didn't mind it all too much about such a stupid detail.

He is tommyinnit extraordinaire. The next heir of the fire mage title when Clara retires, with a family of the grumpy but cool uncle and the guardian who's very foxy.

His life is wonderful, it's weird, really. There have been so many shitty things that have happened to him through his entire life, yet now as he wields magic his body created free from scrutiny and war he hasn't had anything bad happen to him.

It is great. Tommy can't be thankful to his past self for being sad at that spot near the lava where Clara had found him and taken him in with zero hesitation on her own behalf.

He ran with a wild laugh escaping his lips. With a swing of his staff, he was floating over the forest in minutes, but then he heard the faint sound of wings beating.

They weren't bird wings. No, they were far stronger.

Tommy forced his body to teleport back into the house, eyes wind from panic.

Edgar and Clara were there on the couch, discussing which chocolate dessert is better when they noticed Tommy's panicked expression. 

He didn't say anything, but Tommy knew that rhythmic sound of wings of philza Minecraft.

They sounded exactly whenever he carried someone with him, and now Tommy has to pray to whatever ultimate knowledge holder that Phil hadn't spotted the young mage.

Clara rushed to Tommy. "Tom's?! You're crying. What's happening?"

She asked hurriedly, and Tommy just now realized that tears have leaked onto his face whilst leaving stains on his cheeks.

Edgar was standing there as well, looking just as concerned as Clara is. Tommy gulped a breath of air and spoke.

"I.... I think someone I used to know is nearby, back before Clara had found me." He felt his hand shake.

He didn't want this life to get ripped away from him, and if Phil is around, then techno is too, and if they realize Tommy's is here, they would tell everyone back in the essempii and there is definitely people who would force him to go back to extinguishing his magic to his core.

Clara looked at Edgar, then back at Tommy before pulling Tommy's hood of his cloak over his head and getting her black scarf around him.

"Well then, we already know the safety plan. Right?" She asked, her smile reassuring Tommy in a way no other smile has ever been.

Okay, maybe Puffy's smile was similar, but Clara's calming nature let him catch his spiraling mind, and he could nod to her question.

"Keep quiet and only answer to my mage name." Edgar made sure to give Tommy a subtle thumbs up at Tommy remembering the code.

"Yes, correct, so now Shush." Clara grinned, and Tommy made sure his cloak was fully hiding his face away. The scarf did help with that task, too.

Now, they just need to either wait for Tommy's old family to pass or inevitably answer the door when they get curious about such a bright sunny field with a house that seemed to move every time someone blinks in the forest.

To be fair, Edgar still makes sure that the house moves, something about helping him keep his magic from overflowing.

They waited.

1 minute

10 minutes

Footsteps could be faintly heard. They were careful, but there were clearly two people out there.

12 minutes hit, and the knock rings through the home that provided shelter to the three mages. The knock rang three times.

1, 2, and 3. It was clearly made by someone particularly strong. Tommy's pretty sure it was techno.

All three took a deep breath, and Clara put on her cheerful smile and went to open the door.

Tommy hadn't been wrong to worry because there stood Phil and techno in their full glory, but they looked different.

Techno's hair was now to his shoulders, probably because he cut it from stress.

He had some pulled into a small braid with a gold clip of a wing.

He had a cape that hanged from his right shoulder like a waterfall of blood and gold, which covered his ruffled shirt with high waisted hourglass black pants. 

Techno had his netherite axe out, but it didn‘t look like he was ready to fight it felt more like he was just carrying it for the weight.

And then there was Phil, who looked pretty similar to how Tommy remembered.

The dark green kimono with his black wings extruding from his back. The white and green bucket hat that was giant, almost like a sun hat, also had a black veil with wither roses on it.

Also, the black mesh fabric hides his eyes.

Yet there was clearly the part that they looked slightly older even as immortals.

Tommy decided not to dig too deep,but he stood close to Edgar, who was behind Clara. She was greeting the two newcomers as warmly as she does with anyone.

"Oh my! Hello, travelers! What makes you stumble upon my humble abode?" She grinned, asking the two.

Phil smiled warmly. "Well, mate. My name is Phil, and my companion here is techno. We are truly sorry for disturbing you, but we just got curious. It's not every day we see a random house in the middle of a forest with strong magical protection runes."

Clara just shrugged. "Well, one of my own companions is very proficient in being a worry wart, so it is a given."

Techno analyzed the woman in front of him. The dark black hair, the deep orange eyes that seemed to like the blaze fires.

The black cloak that was reeking of fire.

"You're a mage, aren't you." He stated. Phil looked at techno, a bit surprised at him catching  this apparent fact before the older man could.

"Huh, seems I'm really going old." Phil murmured before turning back at Clara. 

"Is it true, though?"

Clara nodded. She didn't seem bothered by the fact that she had been figured out.

"It is. Oh, now that I think about you two must be far from home why don't you rest up for an hour or two and we can talk over tea?" She was genuine about her offer.

Techno and Phil looked at each other, Tommy was silently panicking, though Tommy knew that Clara was just making sure that those two left before they realized that there was something suspicious happening.

Phil made eye contact with Clara and grinned. "Thanks, mate."

Clara warmly welcomed the two in, Tommy and Edgar quickly hid themselves in the kitchen, even though they knew Clara would call them soon.

The mage, the angel, and the warrior sat down. It was quiet for a second before Clara called out. "Spinel, Edgar, get over here and meet some of our guests." 

Techno and Phil were both quite curious about who else was in this weird home. Then they saw the two that seemed to be these mysterious companions of this lady.

Techno and Phil already knew the spinel name wasn't someone's real mage. Mages only use gemstones as code names, never birth names.

The man that walked out first was clearly really old, maybe older than Phil. Dark brown hair cascaded down to his shoulders, and neon green eyes stared into his soul.

He wore the same black cloak that the lady wore.

Then there was the more intriguing one. Someone shorter than those two, but taller than Phil.

They wore the same black cloak with a scarf hiding their face. The only visible parts of them were the hands who were tightly gripping their wand with a bright spinel in it.

And their bright sky blue eyes with the sprinkles of the harsh fire sparks.

They felt oddly and terrifying familiar but the two decided to ignore this fact rather than question it.

"Ma'am, could we perhaps get your name, and I assume the one hiding their face is named spinel?"

Techno questioned, staring directly at Tommy whilst not knowing who was behind this disguise.

Clara just laughed at how observant they were. "Well, my name is Clara, and I unfortunately can not give spinel's name since he's still a young mage and is far more susceptible to name stealing magic!" Phil hummed.

Honestly, he did agree. Young mages were far more susceptible to such magic, so he didn't mind. "Of course then."

Techno noticed the lack of snacks or tea, but as soon as he blinked, they were there with little to no mention of their sudden appearance from either his father or the other three in the room.

Both Phil and techno remember what mages are and what they thought they were before they were educated by a random healer mage in a village that gave techno a necklace that helped block out the voices.

They once thought that mages were just power fueled mortals with a gift from the gods that were being wasted on them.

It was really stupid to think that.

Now they knew that mages were beings comparable to gods but not the same.

They were created from the curiosity and desires of humanity. Also, their curse are really hard to break, even for actual gods because of how different their magic is from the standard and how little the beings interact because of mutual respect of their privacy and space.

Both Phil and techno really didn't want to get cursed by some mages, and they both have to pray that these three never knew the fact of their old opinions because even if there seems to be a lot of mages, there is not that many of them and most of them stick together enough to know everything from one mage.

Phil took a sip of tea, and it was safe, so he let techno drink the tea.

Both didn't notice that Clara had given a signal to Tommy and Edgar, who went to do their everyday business, or Edgar went to study more magic whilst Tommy went outside to practice with his magic and staff on a tree.

Two hours passed since when techno and Phil had arrived at Clara's estate.

They spoke a bit, not too much. Then Phil noticed outside how strong fire flew from spinel, and his eyes practically popped out of his head.

"Oh my, he's quite talented, isn't he." Clara proudly grinned. "He is, my student is a wonder to this world, and I'm glad I've taken him in.

Phil smiled, but something sad creeped in. "He reminds me of one of my dead sons. My youngest, actually."

"Oh really?" Clara had a curious tone on her voice now. Techno sighed, knowing full well that Phil meant Tommy. They both were still dealing with the fact that Tommy died with no trace of him.

"Yeah, he was a spitfire -" a ping rang from techno's communicator, and he opened it to see a message from ranboo asking them to be back soon. Phil read it, too,now knowing that he has to leave.

"It seems it's mine and my companion's time to go. Thanks, Miss Clara, for letting us rest up." The duo stood up, and so did Clara and the trio walked outside. "Of course. If you must hurry, you must. Goodbye."

She waved at them, and they soon left into the sky and flew off with Phil carrying techno.

Tommy sneaked over to stand next to Clara, and so did Edgar. They stood there for a few minutes whilst tommy took off his disguise, and then Clara turned to Tommy with a soft smile playing on her face.

"Hey, Tommy." Tommy looked at her. "Yeah?"

"If I ever die, don't blame yourself, alright." It was quiet for a moment. Then Tommy just rolled his eyes with an amused huff.

"You're being fucking stupid, you won't die, I'll make sure of it." And then he just ran off. He always did that for some odd reason.

Edgar was huffed and looked at Clara. "You've been acting weird since you started looking into your future. I hope you're not planning to die."

Clara gave him a happy smile. "I'm always weird." Edgar tried not to raise an eyebrow, but he couldn't stop himself as Clara continued. 

"Besides, what kind of a guardian would I be to die so soon. I'm just making sure Tommy's brain doesn't fault him for the far future if I'm not able to retire." Edgar waited for a second to disprove Clara's words.

Yet he couldn't because it was true. Most mages did get to retire, but some do die from their vital organs being irreversibly damaged.

He sighed when he noticed Clara was already back to bothering Tommy again. 

Clara looked at Tommy, who looked at her with his head tilted to the side. They both knew what Tommy wanted to do something.

"Want to go on an adventure, my firefly?" Tommy grinned happily. "Only if I can choose the place where we'll be going."

They both know that it's time for Tommy to confront the past even if he was nervous, but having Clara with him makes him calm.