Town's Woman: Have you heard of that village north of the kingdom..?
Town's Man: You mean the village that was destroyed by dragons?
Town's Woman: Yes, rumor has it a boy survived the attack, and hunted down the person who provoked the dragons. He brought his fists to a sword fight and beat the man in battle somehow.
Town's Man: I knew it was a person who brought those dragons there, but are you sure he was defeated by a survivor?
Town's Woman: Well it is just a rumor but.. His name was Crimson.
Now Homeless, exiled, and feared by many, Crimson walks the soil of the earth with restless feet, looking for something.. Anything. And eventually he finds himself at a mysterious house in the woods, at sunrise.
Crimson: Who's there? I can sense you..
With a look of caution written on her face, a woman steps out from behind the tree. She has long golden hair with a braid atop her head almost like she's wearing a crown. She pulls out a small dagger from the pocket of her white dress and points it at Crimson.
Lady: Who are you and what do you want with me!? I won't be afraid to attack!
Crimson: (A girl.. Judging by the way she's wielding that knife so unprofessionally, and her stance with her knees positioned slightly inward, I'd say she's a mage of some sort who's used to fighting with a more defensive style. Water most likely..) My name is Crimson and my village was brutally attacked by dragons. Please allow me to stay with you for a small while.
Lady: D-dragons..? You didn't bring them here did you?
Crimson: No I did not, don't worry about them, they're gone for good.
Lady: W-well.. My name is Marigold, and I'm a water mage.. I'm fairly skilled with magic so don't try anything funny you hear!?
Crimson: Yes I know I know.. Just please allow me to stay.
Marigold: ..Fine... Just don't cause me any trouble okay?
Crimson: I won't..
Marigold takes him in and tends to his wounds while he's there, and the candles in the room sitting upon the wooden table flicker as the wind picks up outside along with the sun rising.
Crimson: I would like your help Marigold..
Marigold: What is it?
Crimson: As you know I have nowhere to live now, and I'm sure you don't want me taking over your peaceful home here. I have a plan to get a home back, but it's not exactly conventional, and it will require a lot of dedication from myself and you.
Marigold: What do you plan on doing Crimson..?
She finishes up helping him as he explains his crazy idea to her, and eventually they head outside to walk.
Marigold: Crimson... You know your plan is a death wish.. You can't possibly do it. He's too strong.. And if I help you, I'll make an enemy out of the most powerful man on earth.. We can't beat him can we?
Crimson: We will, and he'll willingly allow us to. I can't do this without your help Marigold.
Marigold: B-but.. What do you mean by he'll allow us--
Crimson: Sh..
They stop dead in their tracks to see a wild fey deer, eating grass that has a faint blue glow to it. Crimson slowly taps Marigold's shoulder, and whispers into her ear.
Crimson: Water..
Nervously Marigold places her hands together creating a large spike made of water, and she sends it flying as hard as she can at the deer, hitting it on the side causing it to fall.
Marigold: I.. Did it..?
Crimson: Not quite.
He walks up to it and grabs it's horns before pulling them off, putting the strange creature out of it's misery.
Crimson: This can make some good food if you know how to cook it right.. Good job Marigold..
Marigold: Thanks.. I certainly didn't expect to go hunting out here..
Crimson: We eat for strength, and then head for the kingdom of golds.
Marigold: Wha-what!? You mean so soon!? I never even agreed to help you, you know!
Crimson: Yes I know, but you'd benefit quite a bit from it you know..
Marigold: ..I have to think about it okay? I just met you today...
Crimson: That's perfectly fine, I'll cook the food.
Marigold: You know how to cook fey deer?
Crimson: Yes it's not that hard actually.. You just need boiled water and a few spices.
They eat the food after Crimson teaches her how to cook it, and halfway through the day, they trek through the magical forest, passing fairies, and other critters on their way to the kingdom of golds. After a while they are finally at the kingdom gates, where the two guards let them in without saying a single word.
Crimson: (They just stepped to the side so easily? Something isn't right..)
Marigold: H-hey Crimson, I sense a powerful presence heading our way, but it's fine right? We haven't committed any crimes yet have we?
Crimson: Correct, we haven't..
Crimson's eyes scan over the crowd, noticing every little detail from the few staring at them, to the strange army of civilians in front of them. And finally a man steps through the crowed and stops them in their path.
Crimson: A mage..
Mage: You come from the north do you not?
Civilian: Mage Fallore, what are you doing out of the royal palace?
Marigold: Yes we live in a house north of here! Please allow us to speak with your king!
Fallore: Now now.. I'm not stupid, I know of your little scheme...
Crimson: (How could he know..? He's bluffing..)
Fallore: I'm the king's mage, the strongest mage in all the land! And I have the ability to see the thoughts of anyone who steps foot into our kingdom, displayed above their head.. Or it's more like I can see your intentions! Now come closer and indulge in a battle with me!
Crimson: You'll lose!
Fallore: Tsk tsk tsk, don't forget about my title as the strongest mage in the land, Crimson!
He raises his arms, controlling the earth around them and lifting it into a large arena in the middle of the kingdom.
Fallore: This is to keep innocent people from harm, now show me what you got!
Crimson: (Judging by his stance and the speed of his earth magic, he probably knows how to throw attacks five times stronger than Marigold's water magic..) Marigold, I want you to follow my lead and use your magic to defend us from harm at all costs. I will do the rest..
Marigold: O-okay!
He grabs her hand and she closes her eyes before starting to run alongside Crimson, who has his eyes set ahead at his opponent with determination. Fallore creates flaming boulders and begins throwing them at Crimson and Marigold, who gets protected by streaks of water that flow around them.
Crimson: (He's holding back so he can evaluate our strength, that's his downfall..)
Fallore smirks and Marigold clutches her cross necklace while still holding her eyes closed. Eventually the distance closes quite a bit between them and finally a shower of boulders fly at once crashing into each other and splitting into small shards, and time feels as if it slows down for a moment.
Crimson: (If we keep going, Marigold will get hurt! Come on, calculate your way out of this Crimson! What would mom and dad do..?)
He lets go of her hand and leaps into the air, flipping Marigold's knife up with him and catching it.
Crimson: (I'm sorry Marigold, but you have to survive..)
He kicks off of her, pushing her back to safety and flipping over the onslaught of rocks. Once he lands on his feet, he begins dodging the rocks narrowly, still getting hit by small pieces every now and then.
Marigold: ..!! (That hurt so bad, but if I don't do something Crimson might die!!)
Still clutching the necklace to her chest, Marigold reaches her hand out and water swirls around, leaving her side and shielding Crimson once more.
Marigold: I'll be useful, even if it means putting my own life on the line!!!
Crimson's eyes widen for a second as he hears this and realizes what it might mean, but the battle strategist inside him wouldn't let him stop. He skates through with the water that suddenly vanishes from around him, and Fallore tries jumping back as he realizes the distance between him and Crimson, but it's too late. The boy flies through the air with one final leap and swipes across, barely hitting the mage and causing the arena to collapse...
*End Of Chapter 1*