"A long time ago, when the first of us roamed the dark woods of Europa," spoke a short armored knight with a long beard. He had an axe on his back. "Four brothers had a disagreement when a spirit would not allow them to enter its woods."

Lines of young men and women around their 13s listened to him while standing on a dirt field. The tiny warrior continued:

"The first of the brothers cowered as soon as he saw the spirit. He ran to hide in the mountains to the west and founded the Kingdom of Badajoz. The second brother tried to negotiate with the spirit and failed. He ran to the east with a tail between the legs and founded the Tessalocracy of Helika. It's not surprising both societies are now being taken over by the Caliph's Kamaretans. But there was a third brother, our ancestor," the man smirked. "He dreamed of a world where he did not have to beg the spirits for anything. He laughed at the glowy thing, burned the forest down and built the feud of Aachen with his sons. Yet he was only happy when the same spirit came knocking at his door 40 years after to beg to pass through his lands. That's what Fire is about, children: the triumph of the desire that fuels our element--"

"What about the fourth brother, Uncle Mario?" Asked Arnaud Jr, who had grown older and taller. "You did not mention him."

Marzia stared at him with an angry scowl.

"Sorry," said Arnaud Jr as he scratched his head. "Just wanna preserve the continuity."

"He tried to befriend the spirit, Prince Arnaud." Answered Mario. "And he died a horrible death. So, as I was saying..." The man faltered. "Wait, what was I saying again? Porca miseria, my throat is dry from all these legends."

Duke Arnaud de Sforza watched the training from the balcony of his castle. He rose his voice:

"Verano, bring Mario some water."

Verano walked out of the shadows with a bucket embraced between the arms. His father's fire had left a painful scar on his right hand that ached whenever the man rose his voice. 

"Here it is, Uncle." Said Verano with a morose hoarse voice.

"Thank you, kid." Whispered Mario leaning towards Verano's ears to whisper. "I know he's harsh on you," he glanced at the Duke watching from the balcony. "But he was a dad's favorite just like you" Said Mario with a brief blink.

"Thank you, uncle." Chuckled Verano as he pulled away for the training to continue.

"So, as I was saying," Mario rose the water bowl and drained even the most concealed drop of water. The apprentices were aghast. The man shoved the water stains off his mouth and continued: "In the Wild Lands there are the savages that bend the Water, the savages that bend the Earth, the mystics who bend the Air; and the champions who bend the Fire, just like us. Difference is: you see a lot of air, earth and water around. Where's the fire?" He asked the students and they stared at him. "The fire is here," the man rested his right hand on his heart. "Beating strong."

"D-Doesn't it hurt?" Asked an apprentice.  

"No, you idiota!" Replied Mario pummeling a cloud of fire over the boy's head. "It's a metaphor! The fire is inside us. It does not matter neither who you are, nor where you are - if you're in the heat of the battlefield or in a hopeless pit - all you need is air in your lungs and desire. A powerful desire to achieve great things. Do you believe that? Do you have that in you?"

Verano sat on the edge of the dirt field. He listened to him as if Mario spoke to no one else. The image of the map in his father's basement did not leave his mind. He felt as if Mario's speech fueled his dream. Yet the other apprentices only stared at the man, skeptical.

"Man, when does this dwarf will start with the fire stuff?" Rustled a member of the crowd.

"Yeah, this is really boring--"

Verano threw a rock at his face.

"Ouch!" The apprentice turned towards his aggressor. "What was that for-"

"Pay attention, Enzo." Verano frowned and talked to himself. "You have no idea what I'd give to be where you are right now.”

Mario continued his speech:

"You children are young and I've been your age too. Your only desire is the one of a monkey. You're basic creatures and I don't expect anyone here is willing to die in the name of the Grey Guardian or anything. So," he unsealed a container and a terrible stench escaped. "We'll use disgust and rage to fuel your fire. This is buffalo-bear's fresh dung."

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Verano pulled back.

"Never mind," he rustled to himself. "I'm glad I can't bend. Dodged that arrow."

Mario laughed loud as the students struggled not to vomit with the smell.

"Yes, yes, be disgusted! Desire this thing burnt to ashes!" He rallied the students as six spider-monkeys surrounded him. "Do this," he breathed deep and freed the air as he punched the air. A blaze escaped his fist and dispersed into the air. "Or this!" He rose his tiny leg and a huge blade of flames thrusted into the clouds. "It doesn't matter! What we're training here is breathing and desire. Air in the lungs, goal in mind, go!"

His monkeys surrounded the container of dung.

"Cutie-cute little monkey, what you gonna do, huh?" Asked Arnaud Jr crossing his arms. 

The animals replied with a smelly salvo.

"Argh!" The boy threw himself at the ground and the dung headed towards Marzia.

"Not me! Not me! Not me--" Marzia rose her arms. Two tiny blazes sprouted off her arms and melted the manure into ashes.

"That's a Sforza, that's what I'm talking about, hahaha!" Laughed Mario raising his axe towards the Duke and walking towards his niece. "Bravo, Marzia, now get outta there and go to the target practice field in the courtyard." His smile fell as he noticed she did not answer. "Marzia?"

She had her eyes closed and her heart had ceased to beat. She was cold like ice.

"Verano," Mario shoved the sweat off his forehead. "Take your sister there. She'll recover."

Verano nodded and walked her away as the training ensued.

"You did great," he told her as they walked to the courtyard. "I'm proud."

"Not me, not me, not..." She remained in shock.

"Marzia?"

"Oh, Verano?" She sighed in relief. "Did I survive?"

"Did you survive? You were amazing. Everyone was surprised. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, you are so sweet." She smiled. Yet a thought weighed in her head. "It must be hard for you, right?"

"What?"

"Everyone in the court is bending. Soon they'll go as squires far away from here and return with plenty of stories. That's what you've always wanted to do, right?"

"Yes..." He frowned. "But I'm happy being the water boy."

"I've known you all my life, Verano de Sforza, I know you are not."

They walked into a yard where dummies stood. An armored guard allowed Marzia in and blocked Verano's pessage.

"I'm sorry, Prince," explained the guard. "You might hurt yourself there. Only benders allowed in the field."

"We'll talk later." Murmured Marzia as she disappeared in the training field.

Verano returned to the dirt to watch the students succeed at bending the flames one after the other. Those who did not discover their power through disgust became enraged with the stench and drew the fire from anger. They left the field with smiles that could have brightened even the most dung-covered body. Yet one apprentice remained on the field as the Sun laid on the water:

"Arnaud, what the hell! Come on!" Yelled Mario as he noticed the container had emptied. "At this rate even Verano there is gonna be bending fire before you."

Even the monkeys laughed.

"Maybe I don't have that in me, you know? Some people don't." Arnaud Jr frowned as he rose himself from the dung. He grew accustomed to the smell. "Maybe I should just go bath and give up."

"You won't." Interrupted the Duke de Sforza. "It doesn't shame me that you've failed so far, but I'll disown you the moment you walk out of this dirt field."

"This is too rough, brother! He's just a boy--"

"He's fat and lazy," remarked the Duke. "Look at him! He's gasping just for lifting his legs. How will he bend fire like this--"

"Enough!" Shouted Mario. "I know what you're trying to do but it won't work. Maybe he's right, Arnaud," he spoke his brother's real name. "Maybe your heir doesn't have it in him. You'll have to accept that."

"Walk away from the field, Mario. I'll do this."

The man frowned and complied. The Duke rose his right hand an intense flame sprung off his arm. 

"D-D-Dad?" Recoiled Arnaud Jr, trembling.

"The unstoppable will of achieving one's goals is what fuels the Fire of the Fire Knight. It is the desire that keep the raiders off our shores, the Kamaretans off our borders and the Spirits out of our sights..."

"Stop!" Shouted Verano. He knew that the fire that burned on his father's hand was much more intense than the one that left a mark on his right hand. "Leave him alone!"

The Duke ignored him and continued:

"If it is not for desire to do not embarrass me and yourself," he glanced at the multitudes of guards who gathered around the field. "I'll scare the fire out of you. Tre!"

He rose his voice and tears sprung off Arnaud's eyes. He mauled his fists in the air yet nothing happened.

"Due..." Counted the Duke.

Arnaud gritted his teeth and trembled. His body lost motion as the fire burned on the Duke's hand. He panicked.

"Un!"

A massive bolt of fire crossed the air and burned the Duke Arnaud's back. The man turned around and saw Verano gasping with his fist raised at the man and tears drizzling down his cheek.

"You won't..." He gasped. "Touch my family."

"D-Did Verano just bend fire?" Gossiped the observers. "Is that even possible? He looks eastern. Like a Kamaretan."

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," remarked Mario. "Is this a miracle? Should we call the bishop?" 

A crowd amassed of soldiers, peasants and nobles around the dirt field. 

"V-Verano?" Asked Marzia with a hand covering her mouth.

The crowd gossiped:

"This boy is a firebender! Verano's a firebender!"

Verano and Duke Arnaud narrowed their eyes at each other in disregard to the masses. Arnaud Jr faced his brother from beneath their father's shoulder. 

"Thank you." Sobbed Arnaud Jr.

The Duke blocked the sight of a grate Arnaud Jr. He walked towards Verano without uttering a word.

"Brother, stop!" Yelled Mario. "He wanted to protect his sibling. That blaze was sincere and powerful. He did not mean to harm you, only save Arnaud!"

The Duke approached Verano and the boy fell on his backs. All his energy was gone. The man directed his fists towards the boy.

"Stand up," the Duke opened his hand. "You're my son."

The crowd moved in enthusiasm. They ran towards Verano and rose him from the ground for his feat. Questions rained upon the boy as the mob dragged him towards the town. Mario, Marzia and the Duke followed the crowd

Arnaud Jr watched as all the eyes of the Duchy of Sforza turned away from him and guided themselves towards Verano. Yet he did not feel envy, not relief. He felt shame.