Ember slowly woke up in her bed to the sounds of the birds chirping, her open window letting a cool breeze in. She took a deep breath and hugged her blanket tighter, keeping her eyes closed. She enjoyed her slow and peaceful mornings, taking her time before getting up. Although today, she had somewhere she needed to be, she still allowed herself a few moments before she got out of bed. After getting ready and dressed she ventured out towards the town, pulling her red scarf further over her face, covering her features.
It made her feel safer to have most of her face hidden away as not everyone treated people like her well. Normally you could only distinguish people with abilities when they used them and their eyes flashed, but hers were different. Her eyes exuded a dim golden glow at all times, not that she knew why. Mother had explained that her power was extremely rare and she was the only currently known carrier, so it made sense that hers didn’t act quite like the others. Although this didn’t stop her from going out with Lea and Ethen as normally people don’t really notice in crowded spaces, especially if alcohol was involved. At least Mother lets me live on the outskirts of town. Ember thought to herself as she walked, her thoughts almost drowned out by the sound of the gravel path crunching under her. Living further out allowed her privacy and she didn’t mind the long walk into town.
Her surroundings slowly changed as the open fields and vibrant nature started filling with more and more houses. Eventually, she found herself in town, the nature far behind her replaced by the densely packed stone buildings and the colourful scenery replaced by shades of grey. She felt on edge from the many people in town and the constant feeling of all their energies, being acutely aware of everybody's position and even being able to recognise the ones she’d already met. It made her feel overwhelmed, but she pushed through it.
She came to a halt as she reached a larger building. This was their current base, but she mostly knew it as her old home where she had spent her early years. Seeing it always filled her with nostalgia, reminding her of her childhood, a time she looked back on with fondness. She went inside and pulled her scarf down. The interior was mostly wooden, the floor was covered in scrapes and mostly worn down from its many years of use. She passed through the empty entryway and went downstairs, the stairs creaking loudly with each step. The stone basement was colder, illuminated only by small windows. Mother sat in her usual spot on a chair by a table at the end of the room. She smiles as she spots Ember.
“It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too.”
Ember’s voice was somewhat smaller, quieter as she spoke, but she didn’t notice herself. Mother on the other hand was louder, assertive in her tone.
“How have you been holding up? Still enjoying that little cottage I gave you?”
Ember gently smiles as she answers.
“Yes, thank you. I really appreciate the quiet it gives me, and-”
“We do need to discuss your next mission, your last work was okay, satisfying.”
Mother shifts her gaze to the documents on her desk, as she continues.
“But we need more from you this time, the break you took in winter was long. The quicker we move the better.”
Ember’s breath mildly trembles as she inhales. She takes a second before she speaks.
“You told me I couldn’t do anything during winter and I thought you… I thought you said I did well on the last mission?”
Mother pauses for a moment then returns her focus to Ember, slowly rising from her seat. She walks up to her and holds Ember's face in her hands.
“As I just said, you did. But, that doesn’t change that our- my expectations of you keep growing as you do. And I’m sure you’ll do just as well on this one.”
Mother was taller, she looked down on Ember, her face expressionless. Ember looked almost childlike under her touch. After a moment, Ember gives her a small nod after which Mother releases her face and her smile returns once more, her voice filling the room, mildly echoing in the space.
“Wonderful. I’m sure you won’t disappoint me.”
She returns to her desk and looks back at the papers. Ember stands still, keeping her attention fully on Mother. Some time passes before Mother speaks again.
“Why are you still here?”
“I thought we needed to discuss the next mission?”
Despite her best efforts, there was a mild shakiness to her tone as she answered. Mother pays it no mind as she responds.
“Sweetheart, we already did. Your exact instructions are in the briefing by the stairs like usual. Now go, you need to be ready by tonight.”
With that, Ember gives her a careful nod and walks to the small table by the stairs, taking the envelope with her name on it. While walking she reads the letter inside meticulously. On her journey back home, she went over the plan in her mind over and over, making sure she had the location memorised. A small area where the trees are less dense, a bit into the forest itself, entering from the east side, got it.
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As soon as she got inside her house she started preparing, making sure she would be ready by nightfall.
Ember snuck through the forest carefully, making sure to stay quiet. She hadn’t felt anyone yet, but she stayed alert as Mother had explained the elves had different abilities, more powerful ones. She was unsure if they would have someone whose energy she couldn’t feel, but wasn’t taking any risks. Although there hadn’t been anyone there yet on previous missions, she couldn’t shake the anxiety she had around it. She was skilled, but hadn’t ever had an actual fight outside of training. She knew it would be different and could only hope she could remain focused when it did eventually happen.
As she gently moves a branch out of her way, she feels it. Her body tenses, someone was nearby. It’s okay, you’ve trained for this remember? Trying to reassure herself didn’t shake her doubt. She couldn’t underestimate her opponent, she would need to be smart about this. Pausing her movements she focused on the energy she felt, locating their position. Something about their energy stood out to her, it felt different and it intrigued her. It felt soft and subtle yet bold and intense. It felt comforting, alluring to her. She shook off the feeling, refocusing herself. Carefully considering her options, she decided to try and avoid fighting if possible. She wasn’t confident what fighting an elf would entail exactly and although curiosity filled her mind, doubt kept it at bay.
Slowly and more cautiously than earlier, she moves closer in the direction of the energy. She had a specific point she needed to get to and she wasn’t quite far enough into the forest yet. I can manage this, I need to manage this. With her newfound conviction, she pressed onward. As she continued moving, the space between the trees grew. This was it, this is where she needed to reach, just a bit further and she could finish off her mission. All she had to do was get there, use her power and then get out. She paid close attention to the energy, making sure to track any sudden movements.
Kiiro was sitting in the watchtower, intently watching the forest below. It had been quiet the last few nights, but he didn’t let his guard down. During the days he’d been resting, saving his energy for the night. Although he felt uneasy, he remained calm, not moving a single muscle as he observed every little sound and movement. He had made sure to stay hidden and not knowing his opponent, he wanted to draw as little attention to himself as possible.
His eyes open wider as he notices the unusual movement in the foliage, something was here. Unsure if it was just an animal roaming through he peered closer and then he saw it. A subtle glow, almost impossibly dim, peeking through between the trees. It was only visible for a second, but there was no doubting it. In one swift movement he stands, draws his weapons and his eyes flash silver as a shadow envelopes him.
Ember felt the energy disappear and reappear only a few feet from her. Panic filled her, she didn’t understand how they moved instantaneously, but she didn’t have much time to wonder. Her eyes flash gold as she moves at impossible speeds away from her assailant, getting herself into a better position keeping them in line of sight, quickly drawing her rapier and parrying dagger preparing herself for an attack.
She assesses her opponent, he was tall, his dark hair barely touching his shoulders. A black mask covering his mouth and nose, blending into the rest of his outfit. His black leather armour made him harder to spot in the subtle moonlight barely illuminating them, but his blades reflected more clearly. He was holding a dagger in one hand and a shortsword in the other. They both stare at each other with their weapons at the ready, prepared for even the slightest movement.
Kiiro took this chance to assess the Wildfire Spirit he’d been waiting for. They weren’t what he expected, a smaller woman, a few strands of cobalt blue hair visible from under her hood, most of her face hidden away by a red scarf, but most noticeably her eyes. Even if it was dim, they had a golden glow. He was stunned, unsure how to react. He had not been prepared for her to carry the golden glow, it was something he’d never seen in person. It made him nervous not knowing how adept or powerful she was. He knew he needed to get rid of her sooner rather than later as he was painfully aware of the destruction she could bring.
Ember keeps her focus on his figure nervously trying to work out her next move. Her attention quickly shifts as he mildly tilts his longer blade. In that same instant her eyes move, he vanishes into a shadow before her eyes. She feels the energy behind her followed by the feeling of something pressing against her throat and a searing pain in her lower back.
Immediately her eyes flash gold, feeling the energy surge through her as she lifts her parrying dagger to the blade on her throat, locking it in the daggers guard and in one swift movement she flings the sword away from her throat and slams her other arms elbow into his stomach with full force, shooting her body away from him. The speed and force of her blow leaves him winded, although he quickly regains his composure.
Before he has a chance to react, she spins herself around maintaining her current speed and swings her rapier towards him. The tip of the weapon grazing over his stomach, leaving the leather slashed, a thick red slowly spilling out. He flinched at the sudden sharp pain.
Trying to ignore the pain and feeling of hot liquid pooling against her lower back she repositions herself. She knew she needed to move quickly and didn’t waste any time before her eyes flash again as she lunges towards him, pointing the rapier towards his chest. The second he sees the flash in her eyes, his own flash silver leaving her stabbing towards a quickly dissipating shadow. He emerges at her side, his dagger piercing through her forearm, slipping between the bones as he quickly slaps the parrying dagger out of her now loosened grip. A scream escapes her lips, the agony causing her to stumble.
She tries to turn around back towards him, his dagger stuck in her arm, but in her movement she is met with his shortsword scraping against her collarbone, the feeling of warm blood trickling down her chest. Using all the force she can muster, she swings the rapier into his arm, the blade only stopping as it collides with bone. As she senses his arm swinging the sword back towards her, she uses her free hand to grab onto his arm, her body crying out as the movement causes the embedded dagger slice further.
Her eyes burn bright gold as the part of his armour she’s holding onto catches fire, the burning hot flames diverting his attention, his eyes widening. She takes this chance to let go of the rapier and rips the dagger out of her arm, swiftly stabbing it into the open part of leather on his stomach. He lets out a groan as his eyes flashes silver and he teleports further away from her, patting out the fire on his arm.
Realising she now had no weapons and feeling dizzy from the blood loss, her eyes flash one last time as she darts out of the woods. She is gone before he has a chance to react.