Nine-year-old Alice, eight-year-old Allistair, and four-year-old Arthur were having fun.
By dangling a laughing Justin Night from the first-floor balcony of their house.
"This is awesome!", the half-elf yelled as he waved his small arms in excitement and hung upside down. Who knew the world would look different if everything were inverted?
The only one worried was Allistair of all people, "You sure we should be doing this? What if Uncle John sees us? What if mum sees us hanging our cousin upside down from the first floor?"
"Relax Al. The adults are probably talking near the fireplace, and we are nowhere near the windows of that side of the house. Plus, all of us are pretty tough so I doubt Justin will be hurt. Worst case scenario it will be a small bump.", Alice reassured him.
"Oh? So should I test how durable you guys are?", a scary voice asked behind them. The kids froze and turned around to see a beautiful woman with shoulder-length black hair, a tall and slim figure, and bright purple eyes.
Arthur smiled and waved, "Hey mum. We're having fun."
Jean Night smiled at his innocent look, "I see. You guys are having huge fun dangling little Justin from the balcony."
"How are you, Justin?", she called out to him. "I feel awesome Aunt Jean!", he replied with a whoop.
"Oho. Unfortunately, it seems like the fun has to be cut short.", Jean cracked her knuckles, still smiling.
All of them could feel the danger approaching, "Mum. Please don't be mad.", Arthur said, showing her his big purple eyes. Jean didn't waver.
"You guys can act as cute as you can. It'll make no difference."
Allistair glanced at his siblings, "Told you so."
***
Half an hour later...
"Well, that sucked.", Allistair said as he rubbed the receding bump on his head.
"Mum packs quite a punch.", Arthur whimpered as the three of them sat underneath a tree in the backyard of their house.
"I know right? Poor Justin is still knocked out cold.", Alice said. She had already healed herself but that has exhausted her Reserve. So she is resting and waiting for it to fill up again.
Their unfortunate cousin is resting in Allistair's room while they are supposed to 'reflect' on their actions.
They noticed someone approaching them. It was their father, Rex Night. He is a tall, athletic handsome man with long golden hair tied in a ponytail, greyish-blue eyes, and a mischievous smile. Like Jean, he is a powerful warlock and also a dragon slayer.
He was all smiles when he reached the kids, "I presume dangling Justin from the balcony was successful?"
"You are so mean Dad. We only asked you for an activity to cure our boredom.", Alice grumbled. Dangling Justin from the first floor was Rex's idea.
"I told you not to let your mother catch you guys."
Allistair narrowed his eyes, "I wonder if we should tell Mum that it was you who told us to do this."
"You surely wouldn't do that to your dad. Right guys?", Rex suddenly smiled nervously and looked at his children who stared back at him without any expression.
Rex can already see a glimpse of his wife's rage on the horizon. He gulped, "What will ensure your silence?"
The three siblings looked at each other and agreed, "Take us to Ascalon to see the dragons.", Alice spoke with a smile.
"That's all? Why of course! Let's go to Ascalon tomorrow!", he said with a laugh. The three of them were elated, "Pinky promise?", Arthur asked as he held out his little finger.
"Sure.", Rex sealed the deal. His youngest was still smiling, "Mum. You can come out."
"Thanks, dear.", Jean rose from the shadow of the tree right behind her husband. Rex immediately turned around to face her.
She had a scary smile on her face, "Rex. How many times must I tell you not to give weird ideas of fun to the kids?"
"Oh hey, there love! What can I say? The kids were incredibly bored so I just helped them.", Rex laughed nervously and looked back at Arthur.
The four-year-old just smiled and gave a thumbs up, "You can do this Dad. And also keep your pinky promise.", he whispered cutely.
'You little trickster.', he thought after seeing those bright purple eyes.
"Now now Rex. I asked the kids to bring you here because the only one who can tell them to do something like that is you. Now please bear with me. Okay love?", Jean said with a bright smile and cracked her knuckles as she approached him.
"Ah shit.", Rex thought as her fist filled his vision.
***
"Come on Alice. We don't want the Winter Market to close!", John Night called out from the entrance.
"Coming uncle!", She yelled back as she walked down the stairs. She was more fashionably dressed than Allistair, Justin, Uncle John, Aunt Sylvia, and two-year-old Stella.
Allistair narrowed his eyes, "You are well dressed. Is it because Jack is joining us?"
The head of the Raven Family had asked if her eldest son can join them on their shopping trip to the Winter Market, a massive bazaar that only opens during the winter.
Various things are sold in the Market and it is also a fun place to hang out.
Alice put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Hard.
"What did you say? I didn't quite hear it.", she asked with the same scary smile as her mother's.
"Nothing.", Allistair winced. She got their mother's scary side.
"You sure you don't want to come? Today is the last day the Winter Market will be open. After this, you will have to wait another year.", Sylvia asked Jean and a rather bruised Rex who stood before the door.
Jean shook her head with a smile, "We have already done our shopping from the Market and we are sending George with you guys to get anything we missed. We will stay here and cook up a delicious feast for when you guys return."
"What about Arthur?"
Jean looked at little Arthur holding onto her dress, "He said he wants to stay and help us."
"I'll make the best dessert you guys have ever eaten.", the little boy declared with a raised fist.
They all laughed wholeheartedly. "I'll look forward to it.", John ruffled his hair.
"I hope you will not go crazy with the dark chocolate.", Alice crossed her arms and gave her brother a meaningful look. Arthur pouted, "I know what I am doing. You will not get dessert if you complain."
"Alright, you two. Don't fight.", Jean told them off. "Fine.", Alice and Arthur huffed.
"Bye, Mom. Bye Dad.", Allistair waved and looked at Alice, "You coming?"
She sighed, "Yeah yeah. I'm coming.", she turned to her parents and brother, "See you guys later."
As the group reached the gate of their house, suddenly a cold wind blew her hair away and she shivered, despite the warm clothes she wore. She looked back and saw Jean and Rex waving at them.
They were soon joined by Jack Raven and his younger sister Minerva. She is a quiet kid of the same age as Arthur. Alice hopes that the two will become good friends.
And Jack. She feels excited and comfortable whenever she's with him. Compared to her, he is funny, caring, and mature for his age.
She shook her head. What the heck is it with her?
They spent the evening in the Winter Market, marveling at the many amazing creations of the Callen Family, the many enchanted items by Ascalon Academy, and the beautiful ice sculptures of the Aeva Family, especially the ones made by the rising star, Juniper Aeva.
It was a fun experience with Justin being his excited self and Allistair making fun of Alice whenever she finishes a conversation with Jack.
It was safe to say that he got a lot of smacks that evening.
It was almost dinner time by the time they were nearing the house. Unlike the huge Night Manor near Solaris City, the house they are currently living in is modest. Two-storeyed like any other house in the city but a bit bigger.
Jack had agreed to have dinner with them, partly because he loves to eat the food prepared by Jean and partly to introduce Minerva to Arthur.
They were talking elatedly when the scent of smoke filled the air. "Is something burning?", Sylvia asked, her elven ears twitching.
It was John who first realized something was wrong. He squinted in the direction of the house, enhancing his senses with magia.
His eyes widened and his face turned to horror, "No no no NO! JEAN!"
Unleashing a magia pulse he dashed away at a tremendous speed. Sylvia also felt nervous and when she also used magia on her sight she covered her mouth in horror.
"George. Take care of the children.", she instructed and like John, dashed towards the house.
Now that Alice is also looking in that direction, she saw a glow from the direction of their house. She has a bad feeling.
Something is seriously wrong.
She looked at Allistair and the two of them nodded. Although not as good as John and Sylvia, the two of them can easily enhance their bodies with magia, after all, they were geniuses.
Before George could stop them the two siblings dashed faster than the fastest horse. While she ran, Alice couldn't help but notice a sinking feeling in her stomach.
She glanced at Allistair and saw that he too had that same feeling.
As she came closer, Alice noticed the glow has increased. When she reached about 500 meters from her home she stopped in her tracks.
What she saw would forever haunt her.
Their home was ablaze and the flames could be seen from where she stood.
Blue flames lit up the night sky and roared like a primordial beast.
She could see people running around the burning house, some trying to douse the flames with water. She saw warlocks scrambling around, using their codes to shoot water to the fire.
But the flames burned fiercer than before. Their efforts were useless.
Alice and Allistair just stood there, frozen on the spot. Unable to take in what is happening.
It was Alice who took the first step, then the second, then the third. Soon she was running madly at the burning house, followed by Allistair and screaming, "MUM! DAD! ARTHUR!"
The people around the house noticed the two of them and tried to stop them but the siblings evaded them all and continued towards the house when they were suddenly stopped by John.
"Uncle John!", she yelled, "Mum, Dad, and Arthur. Where are they? They have escaped right?", she asked, grasping onto a sliver of hope. She expected her dad to appear behind her and hug her.
But John's face remained grim. He couldn't meet her eyes.
"They survived. Right?", she started sounding hysterical.
John Night placed his hands on her shoulders, "Alice, Allistair. Please listen to what I am about to say."
"No no no. This can't be happening. ARTHUR!", she pushed her uncle away and the two of them ran to the burning house.
The heat was intense. It was hotter than any fire and she was blinded by the blue flames. She and Allistair quickly covered themselves in magia and went to the ruined house, clawing at the burning debris and burning their hands despite the magia protection.
But the pain didn't matter to them. Allistair was panicking and breathing heavily. Alice screamed the names of her father, mother, and brother.
She screamed until she lost her voice and tears streamed down her face.
"Please please, please. Let them be safe.", she said hoarsely as she pulled out a hot stone.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was John and Sylvia. Even though they looked like they have lost hope, the former nodded his head and they too started moving the burning rubble. They were soon joined by George and Jack.
Together they managed to create a hole big enough for Alice.
It was still burning when she entered the hole, the flames burning her as she crawled and entered the inside of the house. The flames are intense but it appears they have died down a little. The whole interior of the house was ruined and it appears the structure will soon collapse.
Her hair was singed, her clothes were tattered and covered with soot, and her skin burned. It was painful but she didn't have time for pain. She had to find her family.
"Alice! Please wait!", the voice of her uncle fell on deaf ears as she called out to her family in the burning inferno, her voice now a hoarse whisper.
"Mum, Dad, Arthur."
The smoke stung her eyes and when she came to the burning fireplace which now looked like a burning eye socket of a skull, she saw them and dropped to her knees. Her shoulders slumped as her world collapsed.
Jean and Rex were slumped on both sides of Arthur, lifeless and with two gaping holes visible on their backs. Their bodies were unaffected by the flames.
Arthur was kneeling in a pool of blood, hugging the lifeless bodies of their parents, whispering to them, "We are going to be fine. Please mum, please dad. Open your eyes."
Blue flames licked at his body and he was covered in blood. She doesn't know how he and her parents weren't affected by the flames but whatever it was won't last long. Arthur was burned and the flames are starting to affect their deceased parents too.
"Arthur?", she called out hoarsely to him. He looked at her, utter shock on his face, rendering him immovable and unable to feel the flames burning him.
"Alice.", he held out a burning hand to her, his voice barely a whisper.
"Help us."