Many lords and philosophers over the span of ages have tried to explain the nature of the four elements of magic. Fire for humans, Water for elves, Air for spirits and Earth for dwarves. While any of the four sapient species can learn any of the four elements, the affinity and ability to master an element lies with its species of origin. I speculate that it is not a mere coincidence for fire and air to be opposed to one another in the great wheel of realms as are water and earth.

* Musings of Thaddeus Stargazer

A great uproar greeted Marcus and Baldrick as they entered. For a moment Marcus had to adjust his eyes to these new, dim surroundings. A gathering of people stood in front of them, and it took him a moment to realise they were cheering for and congratulating the both of them. Behind them, Marcus saw that they were standing in a cave made out of some marble-like rock that was unfamiliar to Marcus. The uneven walls and presence of stalagmites made him suspect that this cave was natural as opposed to man-made. Or person-made in general, because the group of people in front of them looked unlike anything he had seen before. There were a few humans and dwarves. But many of the people in the group were unlike anything that Marcus had seen before. Some seemed to be a combination of animal and human while others reminded him of Mama. Although everyone was saying words of praise and such to Marcus, he could not focus on their voices. Being in an ostensibly safe situation the effect of the events of the past day flowed into him and he could only feel a tightening on his chest and suddenly tears flowing again. Then through the tear-induced blurriness, he saw something he couldn't believe, something that snapped him out of his grief and filled him with anger instead. Among the strangers of the crowd stood one person that Marcus immediately recognized. It was Aldous! Marcus' rage drowned out all the jovial noise and other thoughts. He roared: “Why are you still alive! You bastard! How can you celebrate while the whole town is dead or worse?! You could have saved people!” All eyes now turned to Aldous who didn’t look ashamed whatsoever. The tavern owner spoke in a placating manner: “Calm down Marcus. Someone had to keep an eye on you.” This made Marcus loathe Aldous more. The ugly knot in his chest tightened even more. “You should have died with the rest of that town! I’ll correct this now!” Marcus’ tears were now flowing freely and he started raising his right hand again while holding his father’s emblem with his left hand. He didn’t know what to do, only that he wanted to inflict as much pain as possible. The tears on his face froze and with a motion of his right hand, he ripped the biting cold ice off his face and formed them into sharp icicles floating menacingly in front of him. “I’ll make him PAY!” thoughts clouded Marcus. Marcus ignored the unimportant screams of Baldrick and the other bystanders, purely fixated on the mocking grin on the bastard's - Aldous' - face. Marcus had almost died twice and was full of grief and now this miscreant suddenly showed up and was laughing with the rest as if nothing had happened. He would not let this stand. It was only right Aldous felt the same despair as Marcus. No, he corrected himself, the same despair as those poor townsfolk he had left behind. Before Marcus could do anything with the frozen tears he felt a voice speaking to him, similar to how Wanderer spoke: “Stay thy wrath, boy! This is not your place to settle grievances.” This voice was less whimsical and more commanding. The innate authority of the voice let Marcus know that taking action now would not be tolerated. Suddenly his anger left him. He felt weak, exhausted and sad and not at all like he was doing the right thing. He wanted to be angry! He wanted to feel justified! He stoked the smouldering ashes of his wrath and momentarily the anger returned at least long enough for him to keep out the all-consuming sorrow and curse out Aldous in between tear-induced hiccups: “May you all wander endlessly through the abyss.” But then the anger collapsed under itself again, this time leaving only emptiness. He collapsed, and without the energising flames of anger keeping his exhaustion at bay his consciousness fled him as well.

“Well, that was some entrance you made, young conjurer.” Marcus was lying in a bed but refused to open his eyes. Perhaps it had all just been a bad dream and he would be able to kiss Mama on the forehead again. “You are not dreaming Marcus.” The voice entered Marcus’ mind telepathically and broke the flimsy barrier of denial, letting the realisation of the veracity of the events set in. He had really lost everything. No one from the village survived, save that pompous cretin Aldous. The voice spoke again: “You will have plenty of time to rest and grief but you deserve answers that have gone unanswered.” Marcus slowly opened his eyes and his last, desperate hopes left him, for he really wasn’t in his bed. Next to him was a spirit similar to Wanderer but not entirely. Instead of shimmering and shifting features, this spirit had a more physical appearance. It was still lacking feet and most of its legs but this one had obsidian skin and uncountable tattoos on its skin that were moving. Sporadically they would glow like embers of a dying fire. Marcus then looked up and saw that this spirit had no hair at all. “Wait a second. How did you know what I was thinking?” Marcus sputtered. The spirit looked Marcus straight in the eye and spoke: “That’s why I am here. As you can probably tell already, you won’t get sick from locking eyes with me, as I am not a spirit of air but a spirit of fire. I am destined to be your mentor as you are a demi Archconjurer.” Marcus rolled his eyes and spoke sarcastically: “That’s a lot of words but no explanation.” The spirit laughed and flames burst forth from his head and mouth. “You have been left in the unknown for far too long Marcus. Let us begin with introductions. I am Soren, the teacher. I have been mentoring demi Archconjurers for longer than you probably think this whole world has existed. And now you are my latest apprentice. I must say that you have left a dubious first impression.” Marcus felt insulted and defensively said: “You try almost dying on the way here! Why did I have to lose Mama just to be listening to you? Did Mama know about you?” He had quickly lost his temper thinking about his Mama. He felt ashamed; what would Mama think if she saw him act like this? Soren gently placed his hand on Marcus. Immediately Marcus felt much more at ease. As if the worries were all so small in the grand scheme of things. Soren continued: “You had to be tested. How else would we know if you were ready to become an arch conjurer? Let us not stay here. This small room is not fitting for either of us.” Soren and Marcus both got up. Marcus felt much better after Soren used some form of magic earlier but he didn’t want to put pressure on the spirit.

After exiting through a wooden door they entered a circular hall that was carved out of the rock. The hall was relatively large and Marcus immediately spotted a stone table in the middle with four pillars around it. Looking around Marcus also saw that there were a total of eight doors. Marcus turned to Soren and asked: “Where are we?”

“Here the four demi archconjurers live and are taught together about the elemental realms and how to best harness their gift.”

“You speak of four people but I see eight doors.”

“Those four doors were for archconjurers of a single element but your human king made sure that they would never come back again.”

“You mean King Flametongue? What does he have to do with any of this? He is a tyrant but he doesn’t know a thing about magic.”

“King Flametongue has created that image about himself, just as he has shaped the perception of magic among his subjects. You think that magic is a barbaric practice used only for destruction, don't you?”

“Well, I- Yes. Thus far, I have seen it cause nothing but destruction. Apart from what Baldrick did, I reckon. He gave me the spear. Where is that spear now?”

“We are safeguarding it. Baldrick put a part of his life force into the spear and we first need to extract his foolish enchantment.”

“But why all of this? Why did Wanderer not want to explain what was happening?”

“Most of your kind, those blessed with a duo affinity are stubborn and until we have you safely secured you might destroy everything we and you hold dear. It’s best if I show you.” With those words, Marcus was only left with more questions. Soren floated towards the stone table and started chanting in yet another tongue that Marcus couldn’t understand. It reminded him of his father in a way, only with a dialect that he could not place. The stone table now started to heat up, emanating heat. Soren spoke: “Step on the table and accept your fate.” The words were more than just sounds. Marcus felt compelled to step on the table. So absolute and clear was their meaning that he didn’t second-guess Soren, there was no need to. He instinctively knew these words could only be spoken in truth, in nothing but absolute truth. The moment his second foot touched the stone table, fire burst forth from the edges of the table. In the flames, Marcus could see shapes moving. He saw a great disc with four separate pieces that fused and then broke up again. The voice of Soren filled Marcus’ head: “You are a child of fire and water. The first since the death of harmony.”

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“Who was Harmony?”

“I am speaking of the harmony of the world. In the past the children of all elements, humans, elves, spirits and dwarves lived in one realm with no petty gods but only the warm embrace of the cosmos. Now that cosmos has turned cold and unforgiving since one child of fire saw fit to fan the flames of discord amongst the other children, stretching out the cosmos and leaving only the most powerful of essences to shine.”

“King Flametongue? But he would only be as old as any other elderly human.”

“Humans never comprehended immortality. You were the last of the four great species to arrive and your gift was that of endless ambition. To keep balance humans were like a flame: a short and volatile life.”

“Which species were first then?”

“Not since that sowing of discord have we known. Every single one except humans lay claim to being the first.”

“Wait but a moment, if human life is short and Flametongue is immortal, does that mean the tyrant is not just a human then?”

“He was human, but now is nothing more than an abomination. Your king has lived far longer than a human ought to. He must be removed so that the cosmos can heal again. We, the whisperers, have waited for ages to have a chance against the abomination that rules not just humanity but all of the world.”

“Whisperers?”

“Yes, we were given that name by the tyrant the last time we opposed him. It was meant to mock us but we learned that subtlety is best so now we carry the name with pride.”

“You already tried to dethrone him?”

“Yes, and we were much stronger in those days. In greater numbers too. But humans are masters of deception. You will learn more about that soon enough. First, you must learn the full truth. Your mother was not a child of fire but a child of water. She was an elf, the reason why you saved your town. Children of water have a natural tendency for healing and protection.” Marcus was thunderstruck. She never told Marcus and now pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. That’s why everyone in town - save for Akim and a few others- were wary of Mama. If Marcus could already stop a tidal wave and she could fight a fire beast then they were dangerous folk. Soren interrupted Marcus' thoughts: “No. Don’t let doubts beset you. Your mother has taught you well in the ways of water and its children.” This was another time where Soren was reading his mind and Marcus was getting fed up. “Will you leave me to my thinking Soren?” Soren spoke non-telepathically: “In time, you should open your mind fully to mine as it will become crucial. But I will respect your wishes. However, do not dwell on the matter of your mother. She has taught you well but now it has become time to attune yourself to your other side.”

“Your father was human. That is the reason why you aren’t yet burned to a crisp.”

Marcus stopped listening and took a gander. The fire around him was so close and high that by now he should have died already. Instead, it didn’t even tickle him.

“Is that why this fire does not hurt me?”

“It’s to show you the first lesson that a conjurer of flames should know. If you are to be a master of fire you must first learn to absorb it. Fire absorbs everything but humans have the gift to resist that and use it themselves. I will now stop my spell and you will not let the fire absorb you.”

“Wait, you can-” Searing heat washed over Marcus. He was panicking and his lungs were already filled up with smoke, his eyes watered but then, the fire moved back. Marcus opened his eyes and saw Soren staring at him. “Marcus, you need to let go of what your mother taught you. She has made sure that you are not a novice in the ways of water but you must embrace your father’s path as well as your mother’s.”

“Hold your tongue, Soren! My father did nothing for me. Except, now I am inhaling smoke because he was a human. Wait. If my mother is an elf, that makes me-”

“Half-elf and half human ánd the reason why I am letting my patience be tested. There hasn’t been a true union of species since the birth of the human gods. You are destined to rebalance the cosmos and rid us of the tyrant. For too long has he denied us”

“What does ‘true’ mean here?”

“The child has to be born out of love. I don’t know why but true love is a component.”

“How would you know so sure? Sounds like you’re speaking from experience, Soren.”

The fire spirit swelled up to monstrous size, reaching the ceiling and his flames blackened the stones around him. Soren’s unnerving voice filled Marcus' mind with anger: “Do not insult those who are meant to protect you. We have waited for over a thousand years but if you so much speak against me again we shall wait another thousand years. Understood?” Marcus trembled at the ferocity of Soren’s voice. The spirit would not hesitate to snap Marcus like a little twig. He fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness: “I spoke out of place, Soren. I still grieve.” Soren relaxed and the flames subsided again. “Be as that may, Marcus, you are the pupil here and do not think that you have lost loved ones. Stand up now and we will begin our training. We only need to wait for our second pupil.”

The flames around the stone table went out and a familiar laughter could be heard in the distance. Baldrick entered through one of the eight doors. The one that was across the hall. Marcus looked back at Soren and asked: “You’re also a pupil?” The dwarf grinned and said: “Of course, why else do you think I was tasked to bring you back? ”

“You’re also a half-dwarf?”

“I yearn to possess your distinguished heritage but alas,” Baldrick said sarcastically. I am blessed by Soren to carry an affinity for fire but was not born with it. I am a young earthmaster. Only just have I finished my rite of adulthood by forging this maul.” Marcus was taken aback. Without thinking he said: “I thought you would be older. You’re as old as I am?” Baldrick's laughter was so loud that the stone table shook violently. “I am still a hundred years old but children of fire count that as sixteen or something. Humans grow up so quickly.” Marcus couldn’t believe his ears. He just survived a place where just scavengers could rip them apart and he did it with someone who just became full-grown. “A question, Baldrick,” Marcus said. “When you said that you hadn’t lost a battle, was that your first battle?” Baldrick’s eyes quickly shifted to Soren and then back to Marcus. Then he started to doodle the stone tiles with his feet. With as much patience as Soren could bear for the two youthful pupils he waited for a few seconds before breaking the silence: “Dwarves carry a great love for boasting. Now stop defacing this holy place so we can start the lesson.” Abruptly, Baldrick stopped carving into the stone tiles and when Marcus looked at the footwork of Baldrick he saw that the dwarf had made intricate symbols on the ground without really trying.

“How did you do that with just your feet?”

“Oh, that? It comes naturally to our clan. Also, we have managed to preserve your special spear. If I learn some enchantments then we can take it out of stasis and I can craft something that is not just a hunk of metal.”

“You jest. That spear was the most magnificent piece of weaponry that I have witnessed in my life.”

“And your life has been short, even for a human. If we listen to Soren, I might soon craft a spear worthy of legends. If we live that long. Actually, that-”

Soren zipped Baldrick’s tongue without saying a word. “Young pupils. Let us proceed to the infernal hall.” And with that, the teacher and the pupils left the inner hall.

*

“Calling it the infernal hall is an understatement, Baldrick. I think if you weren’t so stubborn then you would have melted away.” Marcus was exhausted and let himself fall into bed. The first training with Baldrick as a fellow pupil and Soren as the teacher had gone ‘well’. They just spent six hours only doing physical exercise. Baldrick had to run continuously for most of those six hours and Marcus couldn’t feel his muscles anymore, his entire body hurt. He felt every single muscle, and some of them he hadn't even known existed before they made themselves -painfully- known to him. “I wonder if my belt can fix this,” Marcus said out loud to himself. Baldrick got up from his bed and looked at Marcus with a mix of curiosity and fear. “You could, Marcus. You could also trust Soren and your own body.” Although Marcus barely could feel it when his left hand touched the belt, he still tried to concentrate on removing soreness from his muscles. When his hand hovered above the skin, sweat started pouring out and Marcus almost lost consciousness. He looked at Baldrick with a look of disappointment: “I think I will take you up on your advice.”

“No problem. You’re a good pupil Marcus. I think you will be able to match my proficiency within twenty years.” Before Marcus could retort, Soren entered their room. “Pupils, you have rested enough. You shall now learn about the further theories that underpin the cosmos. I will demonstrate to you the ways of the cosmos by showing the old elemental realm. We have managed to open a safe portal to it directly.” And with those words, the respite of the pupils was already interrupted for a journey to the core of the cosmos.