The lights in the small atrium dimmed, casting a long shadow across the sparse audience while isolating the stage with importance. Soon a humorously dressed man stepped from behind the curtain, along with a trail of various breeds of dogs. Some were big, others small, but they all had one thing in common.
They did not have fur, they were not fluffy. They were radiating bright orange light, along with the heat of a boiler room, much to the displeasure of the wood grain flooring. Their steps left black char, something their owner didn’t give a second glance. These dogs began to jump through hoops and climb each other to form pyramids.
The show was rather boring, when it came down to it. Leland had seen countless similar traveling acts pass through his city, most of which he didn’t care to see anymore. Not since he was a kid, at least. But for some reason, he always felt magnetized to the more magical theatrics. The ones like this show he was currently watching.
The one with the dogs made of flame and the spellcaster that didn’t mind ruining the floors.
There was showmanship in maintaining so many spells, Leland mused. But still, he knew the trick and frankly wasn’t impressed by the caster’s hand. He had seen his parents recreate the same show many times during his nearly nineteen years of life, often with much smaller or more exotic animals.
Still, there was something magical about magic, something that drew Leland into the same rundown rotting atrium time and time again. Magic had been his dream since he could remember, one that sprouted long nights of studying and countless sleepless nights dreaming of his first spell.
The dogs suddenly imploded into countless fireflies before the swarm fluttered through the open air, drifting into dance. Nearby an accompanying flutist began a fast paced rhythmic tone, one that mimicked the highs and lows of the fireflies’ act.
Leland found himself enthralled at the show, the song making his spine sway like wheat against a gentle breeze. It took his mind a moment to catch up, no doubt the flutist’s Legacy ability aiding in his stupor. He looked to the musician to find her giving him a sly wink before her song abruptly cut off and the clapping began.
Clapping along with the other families, Leland suddenly felt naked. The fireflies and song, while impressive, were also quite invasive. Not in the sense that his mind felt like it was slipping into captivation, but because it reminded him of what he was missing.
His family.
They were off saving the world at the Queen’s orders, something Leland understood quite well. But still, it hurt sometimes. Especially when it came to seeing magic like those fireflies, especially when it came to seeing magic that made him feel like a child again.
The dogs were nothing when compared to the fireflies, Leland thought, smiling at a young child and her parents reaching for one of the few remaining sparkles floating in the air.
The flutist made her rounds through the crowd, thrusting a deep hat out to all patrons.
Slipping ten dull and dented silver coins into the hat, Leland quickly found his way out of the atrium and back to his route home. Along the way he stopped to get dinner and to simply enjoy the nightlife of his small town. It potentially was his last, so he made sure to savor it.
Entering the restaurant, Leland was ambushed by a sudden pop and fleeting cheer from a table in the corner. Two rolls of streamers rushed through the air toward him, casting their colorful string in their trajectory’s wake.
Finding himself flushed with embarrassment, Leland quickly pulled the streamers off of his head and rushed over to the table. He sat down with a curse, hiding his face from the gleeful smirks of those not drunk enough to notice the commotion. Almost on cue, a bard began chanting the low syllables of the song “Happy Birthday.”
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Leland sunk into himself even more, despite the loud boisterous laugh and muted chuckle from his two best friends.
Pretty soon the restaurant’s staff and a few customers began to sing along with the bard. As to not be excluded or out done, Jude and Glenny, Leland’s two friends, added their own voices to the mix.
The song went on for what felt like an eternity, one Leland desperately wished he could find some way out of. Still, he found himself smiling despite the attention and embarrassment.
As the song finished, a large slice of cake was placed before his slouching frame, one covered in sugary berries and plenty of whipped cream. A quick round of applause echoed through the small restaurant along with multiple bows from the bard. Leland’s table all gave a nod to the charismatic singer, who responded with a cheeky smile.
Then, cake.
“So, uh, Leals… uh…”
Leland giggled at Jude’s trepidation and pushed the plate to the center of the table.
Jude and Glenny eyed each other, the cake, and Leland… then, like a dam breaking, they launched an assault on the plate.
This made Leland laugh again before his eyes narrowed at the lost ground. He thrust his fork into the cake, taking a heaping chunk and the accompanying sweet sticky berry sauce before the entire slice was gone.
In the end, the waiter had to bring out three more slices to feed the starving boys, along with their entrees of chicken and various cuts of steak. And vegetables, couldn’t forget about those.
“Happy birthday, Leland,” Glenny said, his cheeks puffed like a chipmunk’s.
Jude forced himself to swallow his bite of food. “Right, happy birthday!”
Leland smiled at them. “Thanks guys, but that’s not until tomorrow.”
“We know,” Glenny continued. “We just wanted to say it now in case tomorrow is too hectic.”
Their private seating was abruptly invaded by a crow. It fluttered down to their table, bypassing the open window and perching directly on the spine of an empty chair. Jude tried to shoo it off, but the bird simply hopped out of his reach and cawed at him. Glenny flicked it a stripped chicken leg, but the crow simply ignored it.
Instead, it stared at Leland for a long moment before taking off back to the outside air.
“Birds are cool,” Leland said plainly.
“If you say so,” Glenny mused, cutting into a hunk of meat. “What were we talking about? Oh, right, tomorrow.”
Nodding, Leland whispered in a spooky tone, “The Dream Ceremony.”
Jude frowned at that. “It’s not that ominous. During mine, I was served a huge mug of ale and danced around with the Lord of Berserkers and his entourage. At least, until it came down to accepting his Legacy… At that point I was pretty drunk though…”
Leland and Glenny stared at their friend incredulously. “Mine,” Glenny spoke up, “was calm and collected. Lasted all of five minutes.”
“But you knew that you were going to accept your Lord right away,” Leland said.
“That’s true, but that’s the same with you, right? Lord of Magic? Just like your parent—”
Glenny was cut off at the reappearance of the crow. This time, however, it dive bombed onto their table, snatching a hunk of lamb right from the rack. Jude cursed at the bird, chasing it out with just his hurtful words.
“Yeah,” Leland finally said. “I can’t wait if I’m being honest.”
Jude downed the last few gulps of his drink then slammed his mug down. “Then what are you waiting for!? Get home and get to bed! Can’t have a Dream Ceremony without fallin asleep!”
Glenny nodded in agreement to the statement and suddenly Leland found both his friends waiting for an answer.
He smirked, “And leave this feast to you beasts? Not a chance!”
At that, the three clinked their mugs and ordered another round of food and mead. In the end, the boys each had their fill along with a lengthy bill. A few gold later, they were on the streets passing the nightlife with a sway in their step.
Glenny’s house was first, and the young man bid his friends a farewell. Next was Jude, offering to spend the night at Leland’s to “make sure nightmares didn’t get in the way of the Dream Ceremony.” Leland laughed at the proclamation, pushing his friend into his home. Then it was just Leland and the walk home.
He took it slow, the buzzing in his stomach hindering his steps. This was his dream, right? To finally come of age and accept a Lord and accompanying Legacy. All he needed was to fall asleep, something that he knew wasn’t possible right now. So, he lay awake, staring at his ceiling as a plethora of emotions bubbled through his brain and belly.
At some point, however, the bubbling became real and he found himself puking up dinner. A few minutes and a rainstorm of cold sweat later, Leland finally closed his eyes, allowing the void of sleep to take him.
A ruffling from behind drew Leland’s attention. He turned, suddenly finding an ocean of trees sprouting before his very eyes.