The mysterious fire mage left the City Masters office and within mere hours the high mage turned the small infestation of Alpine wolves into an even smaller pile of ash. Just a single wolf was lucky enough to survive the initial slaughter and had run away while the mage was busy killing the little packs which had spread out after they they left the pine forest.
This surviving wolf was a peak first tier beast that had just broken through when its pack leader was killed back in the mountains. It was a mighty beast which had killed most of the bronze adventures sent previously to hunt him. By consuming the adventurers the wolf had broken through and had become a second tier beast even advancing two minor stages on top of that becoming a middle tier.
The average Alpine wolf in a pack was usually peak first tier. The first major limiter of strength for these beasts, as for most beasts was to advance to the next tier. Whenever an Alpine wolf did break through however, it could quickly advance all the way until it encountered another bottle neck at the peak of second tier.
Second tier beasts were usually not kept track of in cities, unless it was of particular value or interest to alchemists, nobles or other parties.
If allowed to roam freely a beast at the peak of second tier could exterminate many adventurer parties, slaughter farmers' livestock and influence a minor noble's territory to some degree. Any settlement larger then an average town would usually not be bothered by one however as beasts normally preferred to stay in their habitat and 'rule' over it until they either died by being hunted humans or other beasts challenging it when it grows old.
~
An Alpine wolf, with its reddish brown fur heavily charred, had a coat of fur black as night and a heavy odor of burnt flesh, was roaming grassy plains. It was slowly heading towards the forest, back west, where it had come from, when it smelled blood. Intrigued by the scent of blood, the wolf was compelled to investigate the potential spoils and changed its course.
It climbed the small hill in front of it and spotted something amazing. Just barely visible in the light of the moon and the stars a perfect snack was laying there at the bottom of hill some distance away.
Lucky for the second tier beast its snack was not moving, almost begging to be eaten by it.
Nikolai was laying at the bottom of a small hill. He woke up with a brutal headache and immediately reached for his head. Nikolai heard some rustling grass and tried opening his eyes, but he failed to do so and groaned instead.
Until, suddenly a large splatter of drool fell on him. Nikolai's eyes shut open, but what greeted them was not the sky.
A large beast stood behind Nikolai.
Two big cold eyes were locked into his own. They reflected a madness and hunger.
Even bigger teeth were slowly revealed. They were foul smelling, yellow and numerous.
With that came an overwhelming surge of unimaginable dread, akin to a consuming wildfire that raced through Nikolai's entire being, leaving him paralyzed and consumed by searing agony.
Soundless screaming and tightened muscles, tears of desperation and rage.
For the second time in his young life, death stared Nikolai into his eyes. Unfair, so fucking unfair! It was unfair!
A small snicker left his throat as his shoulders shook "Whhyyyy".
Unlucky for the giant beast, about to get a little snack, the fire mage never had been far behind and was able to easily follow the tracks the large beast left.
A single flick of the hand triggered a towering pillar of radiant white flames that engulfed the beast. Within mere seconds, the shadowy figure within the fiery column dissolved, accompanied by a disgusting smell of burnt flesh and the loud howling of the wolf driven mad by the flames.
After the wolf had been turned into ashes, what remained was a boy frozen to his spot. The flames had not hurt Nikolai, he had not even felt its heat. The bright color hurt his eyes and he could still see afterimages of the pillar on his retinas.
The red flames signified the end of Nikolai's life in his village. These white flames heralded the end another phase of his life, but Nikolai did not know it yet.
The white flames had bewitched Nikolai. Lying on the cold ground, he gazed backward, straining to see as far as his eyes would allow.
The wolf had vanished, as if it had never existed and with it the dreadful grip on the boy's heart also went up in smoke.
The sheer power exhibited to transform such a ferocious beast into something that could be dismissed as an illusion; it couldn't have been real, could it? Such a phenomenon couldn't simply vanish into thin air.
Nikolai's body trembled with sweat-soaked anxiety. A maddening obsession gripped his mind. He couldn't bear the uncertainty any longer. He had an insatiable need to unravel the truth. The thought of not knowing haunted him to his core. He had to know.
What were those flames?
A pair of boots appeared in Nikolai's field of vision. "You ok, kid?"
With much effort Nikolai turned onto his stomach and stood up, immediately throwing up.
"Guess not." a loud sigh followed.
The mage donned vibrant red robes, but had taken off his hood. Beneath it was a face that exuded experience and wisdom, a short salt and pepper beard with long dark red hair flowing to his shoulders.
Nikolai wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked straight into the mans eyes, which seemed to be shining on their own.
He yelled at the top of his lungs and bowed.
"Thank you for saving me, sir!"
The mage was just waving his hand. "Its nothing much, kiddo."
"Please teach me, sir! I beg of you!" Nikolai was bowing at nearly a ninety degree angle and kept yelling until he heard turned bright red like the mages robes.
"Sure, now stop screaming kid."
Nikolai was shocked. He held his head down for a few more seconds, unsure if it was just a cruel joke or he head misheard the man. He then looked up as fast he could.
Nikolai looked at the glowing eyes of the mage and as he did the fireworks from the alchemists lit up the sky behind the man.
"Thank you, master! I wont let you down, I promise!"
The fireworks died down and it was dark once again.
"Kid, I just told u too shut up, didn't I? Also, I have not decided to take you as student, yet. For now, lets talk."
The mage pointed at the scorch marks left by the pillar and a small yellow campfire started floating above it. He then signalled Nikolai to sit by the fire to keep himself warm and the mage sat down beside him.
Nikolai felt slightly panicked by the sudden appearance of flames and even more so by the light they cast. It felt different from the white flames moments prior. These yellow flames felt more vulnerable, weaker and did not give him the calming sensation of overwhelming strength and extreme confidence in his safety.
Nikolai could not think about the difference between the flames too much however as the mage had started speaking to him.
"You know its dangerous to wander late at night, kid. Tell me where are your parents and what are you doing here."
"I wanted to go the firework show, sir. I work at the local stable, sir." Nikolai only answered one of his questions with words, silence was enough to answer the other.
"Hmm, life has not been merciful to you it seems. How old are you, kid. Tell me your name as well"
"Nikolai, sir. My age is around eleven or so I'm told. Please tell me your name."
"Speak casually, Nikolai. A kid your age should not have to speak like a servant. My name however is irrelevant. Do well and u might find out eventually."
"Yes, sir! Please tell me, why is this flame yellow and why is it so.." Nikolai realised that calling the flame weak might be offensive. Even though he had been told to speak casually he did not dare to and was rightfully still wary of the mage.
"So what? Finish your sentences and do not swallow what you have to say."
"Weak, sir. It does not feel like the white flames. They felt more.. safe, natural? I can't really explain."
'If he is not making it up, he has good feel for magic. I should test his conductivity now' the mage thought to himself.
"Give me your wrist, Nikolai."
The boy obliged and extended his arm towards the mage. The mage then proceeded to turn the inside of the wrist towards himself and put his index finger on a vein in the boys arm.
Instantly Nikolai felt a soft tingling which soon turned into a numbing sensation. This sensation stayed for a few seconds until the numbness was taken over by sharp stings in his arm. Nikolai gritted his teeth and persevered a little more, until the mage took his finger off.
"I will be honest, your magical affinity is mediocre."
Nikolai kept looking at the man with bright eyes, "It doesn't matter, I will become strong."
"What if you can not."
"I will become strong.", Nikolai stubbornly repeated.
"Tell me your reasons for wanting to become strong."
"I was really scared. I am weak. That wolf scared me and I could not do anything about it. This is the second time in my life where I felt so pathetic and helpless. I want to become strong so I can be free. Free from my weakness and my fears. I want strength to be free like the flames. Free to do whatever I want."
"At least an honest answer," the thought echoed in his mind. "Not bad for someone his age." The realization struck him deeply. The mage acknowledged the truth in the young one's words—talent alone should not define worth.
Reflecting upon his own actions, he recognized the hypocrisy that had seeped into his own beliefs, mirroring the obsession of the old men and noble families who valued heritage and innate abilities above all else. However, a newfound resolve emerged. "I am a hypocrite no longer," he declared silently. "I want to witness the potential this child holds, to witness the greatness he can achieve."
"You greedy child, I will give you a chance."
Nikolai was confused, "You already said you would teach me, right? Was that true?"
"It was and I did teach you, but you never asked to be taught magic."
This left Nikolai even more confused as he was not sure what the mage supposedly taught him, but he did not think about it too much as soon the excitement. He would learn magic!
"Tell me, what do you know about mages, Nikolai."
"I know that mages are really strong and helped a lot people. My mom used to tell me stories about legendary mages and I know that mages can make really strong fire." Nikolai responded enthusiastically.
The mage's face which was quite stern softened and he chuckled a little, "you are not wrong, but not very right either. Come, stand. You should be warm by now. You did miss the firework show, kid."
"I saw something much more amazing, sir."
This time the mage had a hearty laugh, "Glad u enjoyed the show kid. Now go back to your stable, Nikolai. I will let you know what to do later.
The mage watched Nikolai climb up the hill and go back towards Asphodel, while the sun was slowly rising. He then stomped his feet and launched himself in the air. Propelling himself by shooting fire out of his hands and feet. Within minutes the mage arrived at Green Fields to go collect his money.
~
In a Red Tower branch, the furthest south in the Kingdom of Lumivera, a small request was commissioned. A letter was to be delivered to the Stable Master of an insignificant town. Such a meaningless request would usually be denied, but it had apparently come from further up the command chain, all the way from the main tower.
The Tower Master, a second circle research mage, had been nervous to get the request personally from an unknown third circle mage of a different branch. The Tower Master would have doubted the identity of the unknown mage it if wasn't for the identity plaque, signifying he represented the main tower. So the old and grey Tower Master decided to put on his robes and personally deliver the letter.