Kelek took a deep breath as he secured the latch on his traveling pack. His parents had gone into the village center to trade crops with the other farmers, giving him free reign of the house. He knew they had done so to allow him to pack his things without the constant air of disapproval, and was thankful for their tactfulness. He had hoped to say goodbye in person, but was sure that he would at least be able to visit often once emotions had calmed. After slinging his pack over his shoulder, Kelek stepped into the kitchen. He took a last look at the cozy surroundings, the small window overlooking the dining table and the countertops adorned with bottles of seasonings. A sad smile spread across his face, realizing the road ahead of him would afford him little comfort compared to what he had grown accustomed to. Groping through the pantry, he seized a crust of bread and tossed it back and forth between his hands before breaking it open in the middle. A thought occurred to him. Pressing his finger into the center of the loaf and concentrating his thoughts, he whispered “Heat.” With a rush of warmth, a small cinder ignited at the tip of Kelek’s forefinger. The heat quickly transferred into the bread, treating the crust with a light singe. As he smiled, satisfied, the cinder vanished from his finger. He grabbed a pat of butter and spread it across the toast as he made his way out of the house.

Kelek had never left the village alone. He had taken trips to Tynemouth with other villagers in the past when they were sent by their parents to trade supplies. Tynemouth was another farming village, though much larger than Barkroot. It sat near the end of the Yulei river as it poured into the Argentum Sea that surrounded the continent of Panpatriam. Despite being a small town compared to the nearby Vencollis, Tynemouth was a popular spot for travelers due to the spectacular view. From the coast, the glimmering Argentum Sea stretched far over the horizon. Facing eastward, the sunrise was a treasured sight for residents and travelers alike. The primary exports of Tynemouth were rice and sugarcane, something that was unique to the area thanks to the blessing of the Yulei river’s proximity. Drought was not often a threat in Barkroot, but the river was just far enough away to make irrigation an impractical chore, so the chief crops of Kelek’s hometown were corn and beans. The difference in the specialities of the two villages helped bolster their modest economies, and relations were good between them. However, this trip saw Kelek’s pack laden with clothes, enough food to sustain him for a week, and a few keepsakes from home, instead of the usual cartload of vegetables. He had planned to make this a one-way trip and wanted to pack lightly for expediency. As he trotted along the beaten dirt road that winded away from the village, he took one last look at the modest skyline the scant few houses painted against the rising sun. Kelek took in a sharp breath and turned back to the road before any reticence could take root, then started his journey.

It didn’t take long for Kelek to become aware of his lack of preparation.. He was used to having a wagon, oxen, and three or four other strapping men to help usher the caravan along. It occurred to him that when his legs tired he would often rest on the wagon with the goods as it still trudged along the path; now he was bereft of that luxury. He would walk along for thirty minutes at a time before stopping to rest, and found his pack quickly emptying of the small bits of food he intended to survive on if any misfortune befell him on the trip. Kelek took solace in the fact that despite his frequent stops, his pace was similar to when he would travel with a caravan, being that he could walk alone faster than oxen pulling a wagon. After a few hours the sun had climbed to its apex in the sky. It was the beginning of summer, and the heat began to make Kelek uncomfortable. The path between Barkroot and Tynemouth was well traveled and he had already passed a few other people on the road making their way south, likely passing through Barkroot on their way to Ardor. However, trees and other forms of shade were scarce along the established road. Kelek had neglected to bring a hood or hat to shield his scalp from the harsh rays. He cursed his foolishness as he emptied the last of his waterskin. The forest that connected all the way to Barkroot was only a half mile from the road, and Kelek knew it continued to grow north almost to the edge of Tynemouth. He thought on it for a moment, before being accosted by a gust of hot wind that interrupted his deliberation and cemented his decision. He broke from the road and made for the cover of the dense forest. He had a good sense of direction and was confident he wouldn’t get lost; after all, he was only heading north. His ability to mend wounds would come in handy if he encountered thorny bushes or other untamed wilderness nuisances.

Kelek was thankful for the shade provided by the thick treetops of the forest. His eyes were able to rest in the more muted light that made its way through the canopy onto the forest floor. It was the perfect atmosphere for him to play around in his imagination. He trekked forth automatically as thoughts of his coming adventures teased his mind. Hours passed. Eventually the sun began to dwindle, and a chill air worked its way around Kelek’s body.

Shit.

He didn’t want to admit it, but Kelek must have gotten turned around. He should have exited the forest and been within sight of Tynemouth by now. A small panic began to worm its way into Kelek’s thoughts, but it was interrupted by an unexpected sensation- the smell of roasting pork. He sniffed around, attempting to locate the source of the odor, and saw an orange glow a few yards in the distance twisting around some trees. He let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly made his way toward what he guessed had to be a campfire. His presumptions proved correct as he made his way to a small clearing within the forest that housed three single-person sleeping tents and an equal number of upturned logs enclosing a campfire. Atop the campfire was a wild hog on a spit, being tended to by a rough looking man dressed in travel leather. It was clear to Kelek that this man was far more prepared for the road than he was. The hog-roasting man was accompanied by a man and woman of similar stature and clothing. Kelek noticed that they all openly wore daggers at their waists, and the man that wasn’t roasting the hog even had a bow strapped across his back. Figuring they were hunters, and with hunger beginning to gnaw at his stomach, Kelek stepped forward from the cover of the trees and cleared his throat to make his presence known.

“Hello there, fellow travelers. My name is Kelek, son of Boris. I’m making my way from Barkroot to Tynemouth and I regrettably seem to have stumbled off the path.” Kelek let out a small embarrassed laugh.

“I don’t suppose I could trouble you lot to share a bit of your pig? I’ve been walking all day and haven’t had a proper warm meal. Also, if it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle, do you think you could point me to the road? I’m sure Tynemouth must be close enough to reach before too long.”

There was a thick silence broken up by the crackling of the campfire as the three strangers looked at each other and back to Kelek. After a moment the woman spoke.

“Hello Kelek.” She spoke with a sweet tone, like a mother consoling a lost child. “It took us a while to hunt down this boar and it is very valuable to us. Do you have anything you can trade for some?” She smiled and gave him a pleading look.

“Well, I could give you some gold to pay for the food; I suppose that’d be fair.”

“How much’ve you got?” Said the bow wielding man suddenly, in a gruff voice.

“Uh…” Kelek began to waiver, realizing his mistake. “W-well I don’t have all that much, just a-”

“You’re going into Tynemouth, yeah?” The roasting man stood up from his log stool. Kelek realized that he was much taller than he had appeared sitting, and even from the ten-foot distance between them, seemed to tower over Kelek.

“Your pack is awfully light, you must have some money to get yourself food and shelter when you get there. Sounds like you’ve got a decent amount on you.” The man frowned and stared directly at Kelek.

“Oh no no, I’m just visiting my uncle. I’ll be staying with him in town, I didn’t bring much other than some snacks to sate my hunger on the road.” Kelek was proud that he was able to think up a convincing lie so quickly.

“If you had family in Tynemouth,” The woman spoke up again, also rising from her seat. “Then you should know the path well, and wouldn’t have gotten lost.” All the sweetness in her voice had disappeared.

Kelek swallowed hard.

“Aye, you’ve made a grave mistake, little lamb.” The last seated stranger now rose and reached for his dagger.

Kelek panicked. In a rush of adrenaline he threw his arms out in front of him and let out a shout. Though he was carrying nothing and too far from the bandits to make contact, his instincts led him to focus on the campfire. With a surge of erratic energy pulsing through his body, a bolt of iridescent light flew from his palms and snaked toward the fire. Just as the magical essence reached its destination, the campfire exploded into a brilliant conflagration of flames that sent the bandits, and Kelek, flying away from the center of the blast. Kelek landed hard on his back, and banged his head on a boulder embedded in the ground. His skin was hot, and face burned. His senses were overwhelmed and he could not think clearly. Kelek scrambled to his feet and blinked repeatedly to clear his blurred vision. His ears rang with a dull screeching noise that slowly abated as he gained clarity on his surroundings. He could hear the muted scream of the woman as his partial deafness painfully adjusted itself back to normal. Looking around, he spotted the man that was roasting the hog, and standing the closest to the fire. Kelek could feel the color drain from his face as he beheld the charred black skin that nearly peeled off the stranger’s face. His eyes looked as though they had melted in their sockets, and his nose was entirely missing amidst the burnt flesh. Kelek was sure he was dead, he had murdered him.

“He killed Gorral!” The bow-wielding man shouted over to the woman. “He is a wizard, take care!”

Kelek stood, petrified in horror, as the man drew his bow and loosed an arrow toward him. Thankfully he was still unsteady from the explosion, as the arrow landed short and pierced the earth not six inches from Kelek’s foot. The realization of his imminent danger snapped Kelek out of his stupor. He turned and bolted into the woods behind him. It didn’t appear that any treetops were ablaze, so Kelek reasoned that the clearing must have been large enough to avoid starting a forest fire. That small blessing gave Kelek heart as he sprinted away, fearing for his life. He could hear the angry yells and curses of the man and woman as they chased after him.

“Fuck his gold, Greith’ll love to have a wizard!” He could hear the bowman shout to his companion as they gave chase.

“Aye, I’ll be sure not to break him.” The woman responded with a sadistic glee.

Kelek’s breathing grew labored quickly. Arrows would whizz past his shoulders and frighten him into another burst of speed, but the adrenaline could only carry him so far. His pursuers were far more athletic than him, and kept pace easily. He now lamented all the time he had spent lazing in the fields. Had he actually toiled, his body might not fail him as it was now. His sprint lasted only a minute before sluggishness took hold of his body. He struggled desperately to continue running, but his side stung with pain and his vision was growing hazy from exertion. His legs clumsily strode forward until it caught a void in the ground and caused him to tumble forward and land roughly on his face, cutting his forehead on a rock.. He turned around on his back and sobbed in anguish.

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“Please! Please, I’m so sorry, don’t kill me!” He pleaded between large gasps for breath. Blood and tears mingled and slid down his cheeks. The woman stood over him with a dagger in her hands. He saw that her forearms had been badly burned in the blast, and the right side of her face now carried a deep red scorch mark.

“Careful, we don’t know what he can do.” Said the man as he joined her, bow drawn and trained on Kelek

The woman chuckled “Seems like he doesn’t either. Best to have him unconscious though anyway.”

She flipped the dagger around in her hand and raised her arm back to bludgeon Kelek with the hilt. Kelek raised his arms to shield himself, and out of the corner of his eye he saw a blur of movement. Looking back at the woman he saw her topple over as an unknown man had planted a fist square in her face. Before either he or the bowman could process what happened, the unknown man lifted his left leg with uncanny alacrity and whirled it around to strike the bowman directly in the nose with his heel. The blow hit with such force Kelek couldn’t help but wince as he saw the man’s nose eject blood while he also toppled to the ground. Kelek crawled backwards away from the violent stranger. As he was about to rise to his feet he let out a shriek as the pugilist reached down with both hands and grabbed the woman by the head. With a sickening snap, he turned her neck in a near full circle. Her tongue shot out of her mouth as her eyes went dull. The man shot Kelek a look of what seemed like disgust before performing the same gruesome act on the bowman. Kelek sat with his mouth agape. He could not process everything that had happened so quickly. He had never witnessed the death of a person firsthand, and now in the span of five minutes he had not only observed three, but was the direct cause of one. He began to retch.

“If you’re going to do that, please aim the other way.” The stranger said in a monotone and disinterested manner as he cleaned the blood from his knuckles.

Kelek was taken aback by his cadence. He then studied the stranger more closely and realized that he was not human. He was an elf. The man was tall and thin, belying his unusual strength. Kelek had guessed that his frame couldn’t weigh more than a hundred and fifty pounds. His skin was much lighter than he was used to seeing in the village. He wore dark brown leather pants that fit tight to his legs, and a leather vest that left his chest exposed. His arms appeared thin, but the definition of the muscles was clear. Sleeves of tattoos snaked around his biceps and ended at his wrists. Kelek puzzled them out to see that they prominently featured some kind of snake. Along his brow the man wore a thin wire circlet adorned with three ruby colored spheres, the middle of which was larger than the other two. His hair was jet black, and rose from his head like small rocky outcroppings, and his ears sharpened into points, as his race was known for. The most striking feature, Kelek thought, was his face. His eyes seemed to be perpetually half lidded, and his features were long as if he was wearing a permanent scowl. His face alone was enough to unnerve Kelek, and he felt like his mere existence was being judged and looked down upon by a superior being.

“Are you going to lay in the dirt all day?” The man spoke. “Never seen an elf before or something?”

It was true, Kelek had only read about them in books. He had hoped to see one traveling through Barkroot with the other traders, but never had the luck. He knew most elves on Panpatriam lived far in the north in the forests of Thorompa, and had never dared hope he might see one in Tynemouth, much less on the road there.

“I, uh, no I just… A lot…” Kelek struggled to find the words to describe his feelings and the events that had transpired.

“You don’t travel much, do you?” The stranger said. “You’re lucky I saw you getting mugged by those bandits. They worked for Greith. Probably would’ve sold you into slavery if they caught you. You’re some kind of magic user aren’t you?”

Kelek was still wary of the man and unsure how to respond. He looked at the elf with cautious eyes as he rose to his feet.

“I’m not going to hurt you, I’m just a passerby that happened to save your hide. That explosion caught my attention and I had to see what could’ve caused that in this backwater countryside.”

Kelek’s face brightened. “You saw that? You saw how I burned that man’s face off and still decided to help me?” Kelek bit his tongue after speaking.

The elf raised an eyebrow in an amused expression. “Oh? Now that is interesting. You strike me as some greenhorn traveler, considering that you didn’t have the common sense to leave three heavily armed strangers in the woods at nightfall alone. You ever kill someone?”

A grim expression spread across Kelek’s face. “No. Not before now.”

“Well, congratulations on your first blood. Sounds like quite the kill too, burned his face off you say? Must’ve been a sight to behold.”

“I don’t want to dwell on it.” Kelek said quickly after the elf finished. “Look, the light is almost gone, do you know any way out of the woods?”

“You humans really are terrible pathfinders aren’t you?” The elf said with a twinge of disgust. “Come on, north is that way, Tynemouth is less than two hours from here. I’m heading there anyway, you'll be safe at an inn.”

Kelek thanked the stranger and followed his lead wordlessly. The elf took a brisk pace, such that a jog was necessary just to keep up with him. Not wanting to display more weakness than he already had, Kelek gritted his teeth and strained himself to keep pace for nearly an hour. Eventually his exhaustion claimed its due, forcing him to speak after panting.

“I’m sorry friend, I can’t keep up with an elf, especially after I just exhausted myself running from those rogues. Can I trouble you to slow down please?”

The elf scowled, but obliged. “Why are you out here in the woods anyway? You’re obviously very ill-prepared.”

Kelek thought about lying. His naked honesty is what got him into the mess with the bandits in the first place, but he owed the elf his life and figured if he meant him harm he could do so regardless of the truth. He gulped down a few more breaths of air before replying.

“I’m planning to join the Brandt Adventurer’s Guild.”

The elf spat out a harsh cynical laugh.

“You? You think you have what it takes to trailblaze lands infested with monsters and magical beasts? You do realize you nearly died half a mile from a farm road right?”

“Hey, it was an earnest mistake. I clearly relied too heavily on the kindness of strangers, and I won’t make that misstep again.”

“Ah, and I suppose when a spear-chucking lizardman comes chomping for your skin you’ll, what, outrun him?”

“You said yourself you saw that explosion I made. I may be new to it, but I’ve recently awakened to using magic. I figure I’ll be able to get some training in and use that to defend myself.”

The elf scoffed. “You won’t be able to use magic for everything. You’ll not get far relying solely on that. Do you even have a basic grasp of how magic works?

Kelek admitted that he didn’t. “But that’s precisely why I want to join the guild and get training! I know even being able to harness magic is a rare gift, and I have no plans to squander it. No one in my town has any idea how magic works. In fact they’re terrified of it. My own father practically abandoned me after I revealed what I can already do.”

The elf’s hard face softened into a sad and empathetic expression.

“You’re in luck. The whole reason I’m going to Tynemouth myself is to join the Guild.”

Kelek beamed. “Really? That’s amazing! I didn’t expect to see an elf all the way out here. I have to thank you again for saving me. Hopefully if we’re both going to be joining the Guild I can pay you back sometime. By the way, I never did get your name. Mine is Kelek.”

“Renzen.” The elf said in his usual monotone cadence.

“I’m glad to make your acquaintance Renzen.” Kelek said, laying a hand on the elf’s shoulder. As he did, a surge of warmth flowed from Kelek into him. Renzen shuddered and jumped forward, turning around to face Kelek.

“What was that- what did you do!?” He accused.

“Nothing, I swear! I just wanted to express my gratitude!” Kelek was flabbergasted at the sudden shift in attitude.

Renzen’s face twitched and he shook his shoulders. A chill ran down his spine. He saw Kelek in a different light than an hour ago. Then he was a crying babe about to meet his end, helpless and needy. Now Renzen beheld a man of genuine kindness, with lofty ambitions and an admirable if not foolish optimism. Renzen smiled to himself. He hadn’t expected to become such fast friends with this man when he decided to leap into danger to rescue him from his attackers. It seemed like the right thing to do, and Renzen was eager to see some action after days of uneventful travel. But here he stood, alone with the strange man that was ostentatiously dressed and clearly in over his head. He couldn’t help but feel a bond. They were more alike then he let on. Both of them were outsiders from their people.

But why the sudden introspection? Renzen had never been one for sentiment, or even empathy. He was known for his harsh demeanor and rude countenance. Why did he feel this sudden compulsion of friendship with this man that he only met an hour ago? Try as he might, Renzen’s thoughts would offer him no conclusions.

“Well,” Renzen replied, “Before you learn how to properly control that magic, best to keep it to yourself. You’re lucky you didn’t burn the whole forest down. Wouldn’t want you touching me and turning me into a sheep or something.” he let out a small chuckle.

Kelek nodded in agreement. It wouldn’t be long until they reached Tynemouth, and he was hopeful there would be at least one seasoned practitioner of magic that he could learn from. The pair continued on foot through the forest as the sun fell away and robbed the land of light. Just as the last beams of twilight ebbed, the pair broke the edge of the forest, and saw the faintly glowing lanterns that dotted the streets of Tynemouth. Atop a hill just outside the north edge of the village, stood a large stone building, light from inside spilling through the windows and thick smoke billowing from the chimney. The Brandt Adventurer’s Guild. Kelek and Renzen let out a sigh of relief as their journey through the woods was finally complete. They made their way toward the village, road-weary and longing for rest.

“Come on, we don’t need to stay at an inn. If you’re joining the Guild they provide rooms for us” Renzen instructed Kelek.

They walked up the roads toward the large stone Guild hall. It towered above the humble farming houses that populated the village. Merchants were packing their stalls as the night began to settle in, and Kelek was slightly worried they’d be too late to gain audience with the Guild master. His fears were alleviated when they reached the entrance of the Guild, and Renzen opened the door without resistance. The sight was unlike anything Kelek had observed in Barkroot, or the rest of Tynemouth. Glamourous wooden tables lined the left wall, decorated with golden candelabras and beautiful tablecloths that would look right at home in a king’s dining chambers. A large chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling and cast the entire room in a warm glow that starkly contrasted the dim night lights of the street lanterns. The floor was solid wood with waxed boards that were free of imperfections or holes, unlike the rough timber flooring he was accustomed to. A massive floor rug lay at the center of the hall. It was a vibrant red and displayed the coat of arms of Mercutio Brandt, founder of the guild, in a stunning gold. The symbol depicted a traditional kite shield with four weapons: a scimitar, a halberd, a maul, and a staff all intersecting behind the shield. two draconic creatures flanked the sides of the shield, giving it a fearsome and dignified quality. On the right wall, a long polished bar ran along the length of the room. Every few feet a cushioned stool was placed. A notice board with various bills and pictures was posted at the end of the bar nearest the entrance. Kelek saw two figures, one clad head to toe in full plate armor, and another in much lighter road leathers wearing a trenchcoat and covering his face with a bandana, sitting at one of the tables to his left. But much to his delight, Kelek spotted another person standing behind the bar, poring over a set of scrolls. He was tall and wore vivid cerulean blue robes that loosely flowed from his body. He was elderly, and had a long white beard that tumbled down his robes nearly resting on the bar. On his head he wore an overly large wide brimmed hat that grew into a folder over point. Its cerulean hues matched his robes. Behind the man and leaning against the wall was a long staff of knotted wood, and housed at the end of it was a vibrant blue stone. Kelek was overjoyed. He had clearly found his wizard.