Before we delve too far into stories of times long past, let's continue with a more familiar topic. Remember when the Great Forest started on fire last week? Not many know the exact circumstances that caused this, even fewer how it was put out. In fact... Well, by the time this book is shared with the world this story will have made its rounds, possibly in greater detail than I am able to put to paper at the moment. This being said, that doesn't make it any less interesting...

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A certain Catorian couple was making their way to their favorite picnic spot. The sun was shining, the clouds kept it in check, the breeze from the lake was smooth and warm, the grass was at the perfect length to cushion your steps without attracting too many bugs, the day was perfect.

How could a child resist such an opportunity?

They did this routine like clockwork. The man pulls out a blanket, they sit down, the man serenades while the woman sets the plates out, yada yada. The boy in the tree didn't need to think past that point. What was important was the fact that his tree of current residence was the tree they dined under in the exact same place every time without fail.

And today was no different, it seemed. Each corner of the blanket was placed precisely in the same place it always was. Perfect. He gave the signal to his mate to begin phase two. Operation Soggy Kiss was a go.

Near the lake, a Thealian covered in muck saw four fingers go in the air, signaling that everything was in place. He held up a pale fist which only two individuals could see. Two individuals of equal age who predictably got the same gift for their birthday. The same gift these twins had been hinting at all year: fishing poles.

The plan was simple, and everything was in place. On the count of three, these soon-to-be-engaged lovebirds would meet with the most hilarious fate this gang of miscreants had ever seen.

How could they ruin such a special moment? Look at it this way, these innocent children had no more knowledge of this being the big day than they knew what a "big day" was in the first place. Today was just another date night in their eyes. A very, very special date night, for very different reasons than the Catorians'. It was time to put their weeks of planning into practice.

Three... The man set his lute case to the side and the woman her picnic basket.

Two... They sat on the blanket and gave it a cursory pat, unknowingly pressing the fabric into a pair of steel hooks, arming the trap.

One... They glanced at each other's eyes, their bodies locking in place. After a moment of tense silence, she moved in for the kill.

Four lips interlocked. One finger dropped.

Go time.

The eldest and thus strongest pairs of arms in the neighborhood posse started pulling like they'd never pulled before. At the same moment, a certain pair of cat people found themselves tumbling head over tail down a hill, wrapped in the blanket that had brought them so many pleasant memories. The bundle of fur and smooches rolled and tumbled harder than a sentient boulder with acrophobia as the set of twins ran as hard as they could into the lake, the wires connecting their rods to the lovers' nest as taut as a fishing line ever will be.

A moment later, the most satisfying splash you could imagine.

Don't worry, these miscreants were no fools. The Catorians were in no fear of drowning. They just wanted to get the couple wet for a good laugh. A laugh that would have to wait, because as expected, the blanket bunch began writhing like mad.

Two heads dipped in the water as another slammed into the mud. No trace of these three were found when the seething cat man burst from his bonds. They were hidden for good, and quite safe from his rage.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

There were only two things this group hadn't accounted for. First was the man's incredibly sharp eye, trained for years to spot ambushes from yards away should he put it to use. The second?

He was a pyromancer, and he had just caught sight of a Seiguen boy in a tree. His tree.

It is worth noting to those new to our land one ancient truth. The Seiguenorians always have been and always will be superior to all other Malderian races. While some as I try to abstain, the rest of our kind has a habit of lording this over the disgraced of Dargoth. Thealians, Catorians, Resenders, even rarely Chowpeds, none are excepted so long as the blessing of Dargoth lies upon us and our society breeds arrogance.

The Catorian in the lake is no exception to this rule. He had been berated and ridiculed by the Seiguens his entire life simply for being born with fur and a tail. To him, this instance was no different. He was feeling ashamed and humiliated, and apparently a Seiguen was to blame, yet again. Today he was having no more of it. He began to chant.

The woman tried to calm her man down, but it was too late. The damage of years past couldn't be undone with a few simple words in the heat of the moment. The pin had been pulled, the chant was complete, the volcano had already burst, and there was only one way this wrath could go. If only he had noticed the ripples left by the Resenders in the lake or the muddy mound signifying a sneaky Thealian, the actual perpetrators of this crime. But it was not to be, as discrimination worked both ways. In his mind, none but that filthy two-nose could be responsible.

The Seiguen in the tree, on the other hand, was quite surprised to be picked out so quickly. He thought his hiding spot was pretty good, until he realized his spot was specifically chosen to be visible to the lake. How else was he supposed to signal his friends? However, such questions of hindsight had no place in his mind at the moment. What truly mattered in the present was, how come the tree was on... fire...

THE TREE WAS ON FIRE!

Think quick, think quick, think quick, he thought to himself. But he couldn't think. He was too young for this, and in his mind he was doomed.

Thankfully the man's girlfriend had more compassion than he did, and she rushed to the boy's aid. He didn't stop her as he finally saw through the tunnel his vision had entered. He snapped out of his trance just as his lady caught the sobbing child and ran back towards the lake. But it was too late, the damage had been done.

The trees were on fire.

All of them.

And there was nothing a pyromancer could do to stop them.

The man, woman, and child were so enraptured by the sight of the Great Forest being set aflame, wondering how they would explain this to the authorities, they hardly noticed the other three children fleeing the scene. The young gang had no idea how or why this happened, being blinded by mud and pond muck when it occurred, but their buddy was safe and they wanted no part in the consequences, so they saw no reason to stick around.

It's a shame really, because they would never believe what happened next, no matter how many times their youngest friend told them. I mean, it's not every day you see someone successfully fight fire with fire in the most literal sense.

None present had any clue how or why it happened, but it did. The largest fireball anyone alive had seen in decades crashed down into the middle of the flaming portion of the forest. The resulting heat wave would have knocked the viewing party to their knees had they not been standing knee-deep in the serene waters of Oracle Lake. The fireball landed on the ground moments later, instantly vaporizing all trees in a very wide radius.

Had said trees not already been weakened by fire, this monument of magical energy would have surely set the forest ablaze on its own. As it was, the charcoal remains of the forest border could not stand long, and instead collapsed in a pile of ember and ash, averting a disaster that would have taken days to stop otherwise.

Needless to say, this did not help them decide how to explain this to the authorities.

But in the end, all was well. Nobody was harmed, the forest was saved, and during the investigation a certain enchanted ring was found in the charred remains of a lute case. Coincidentally, due to certain recent circumstances, the couple had found themselves with a newfound appreciation for the fleeting nature of life, and both of them decided to make the most of it while it lasts. Their wedding is scheduled to happen three months from now.

The children also learned much from this endeavor. Namely, don't hide in a tree when you're pranking a pyromancer.

Meanwhile, several hundred miles away, a wizard was cursing under his nonexistent breath. His foe was a tricky one, using her pawns like that. After nearly a millennia of this back-and-forth, she still surprised him with her resourcefulness. Still, that wasn't quite what made him angry. What really got to him was the fact that he didn't have much wiggle room to use trickery of his own against her. All he could do was one direct strategy, over and over again, and he hated it.

But he had to do it. Not for some measily trinket of an item, or a misguided sense of justice, but out of principle. He wanted what was rightfully his. After so long, he needed it.

He wanted her.

He made her, after all.