• The circle around the mage grew with immense power. Glen roared as memories exploded into his head. His cry sliced through the night’s still air. Glen clutched his head and fell to his knees in agony. Tears rolled down his face as his past came back to haunt him.

    Glen was in the forest hunting for food to place on his family’s table. The forest was being oddly quite Glen had been hunting for hours and had found nothing. The smell of smoke had begun to fill the air around him. Glen stood still and listened to the wind as he had been taught. He soon after began to hear the screams of pain and anger coming from the village. Glen quickly threw aside his traps and ran back to the village. As he ran towards the village the air become hotter and darker as the smoke filled the air like a giant cloud. When he reached the edge of the forest he scanned the village through tears and smoke.

    Huge pillars of flames erupted from the houses and splinters of wood flew through the air. Glen’s stomach knotted up as he saw bodies strewn throughout the village. Glen retched at the sight which only made him sicker. Glen couldn’t stand the sight anymore he ran back deep into the forest. He stopped in the middle of a clearing and shouted to the sky “WHY!?”. Crows flew from the branches of nearby trees heading towards the village. Glen collapsed onto the ground and fell asleep.

    All through the night Glen’s dreams tormented him. He dreamt of being young again and of how he was the odd ball in his family. Everyone in his family had blond hair and were short and hefty. He was nothing like them he had fiery red hair and was tall and thin. As time passed he grew more distant from his family. His family grew wider with the years. As years passed for Glen he grew taller and more muscular. His family sat down for dinner one night. Glen had decided he was going to ask why they were so different. Glen opened his mouth to ask and the house burst into flames and his family disappeared. A pillar of flame burst from the center of the table. In the center of the flame was a face full of malice intent.

    Glen woke with a start cold sweat pouring down his face. A growl rose from the bush to his left. Glen turned his head to the left to stare at the bush and perked his ears to listen. A branch snapped as a massive paw stepped on it. A dog like creature stepped out into the clearing. The creature’s fur stood on end, and it wore what seemed to be an evil grin. Blood from its last kill dripped from its fangs. Its eyes were a piercing yellow that seemed to bore into Glen’s soul. An arrow whizzed by Glen’s head and struck the beast in between the eyes.

    The beast fell with a thump giving off a small twitch as it died. Something landed lightly beside Glen and he quickly turned to find out. An Elf stood before Glen with bow in hand. The Elf gave a small but noticeable bow and spoke “Livan trin azels nar?”. Glen looked dumbfounded with his mouth hanging open “Ze……what?”. The elf became irritated “Do you not understand Elven?” Glen closed his mouth and spoke through clenched teeth “Am I supposed to you pointy eared freak?”. Glen was surprised by the Elf’s quick reflexes. The bow that was just beside her now had an arrow nocked and was aimed directly at him.

    Glen backed against a tree “There’s no need to do that is there?”. The Elf allowed her bow to speak for her. She loosed the arrow and it struck the tree behind him. In the time it had took Glen to sigh she had another arrow nocked. She released the second arrow and Glen saw it heading directly for him. Time slowed and Glen could feel his heart beating inside his chest. He could hear the sweet sound the birds made and could feel the cool breeze on his skin. The light seemed to be more vibrant and the world around him seemed full of life. There was a sharp pain in his chest as the world reverted back to normal.

    When Glen woke he found no wound on him or Elf around him. Glen sat up and examined his surroundings “There’s the beast that would have attacked me and…...”. Glen picked up his hand and looked at it “She apparently took her sweet a** time healing me.”. A large pool of blood surrounded him. Glen tried to stand only to fall back onto the ground. He moaned “I feel so lightheaded…” He tried to stand again and retched as he felt the dry blood on him move. Glen walked to river that ran through the forest and mumbled to himself “Damn Elf, this is all her fault...”. He reached the river and stripped off his clothes “Everything is soaked with blood if I see that Elf again I’ll kill her!”. Glen pulled some moss off a nearby tree and took his clothes and waded into the river. Glen used the moss as sponge and wiped the blood off his body and clothes. After he washed he placed his clothes on a nearby rock and went to sleep under a nearby tree.

    When Glen woke he got dressed and headed back towards the village. The forest had dramatically changed over night. Creatures moved happily through the forest without a care in the world. Glen’s stomach growled and he watched helplessly as animals ran around him. Though Glen had traveled this forest time and again he found himself lost traveling back. Glen stood still and smelled the air he used the smell of charred remains to lead him back to the village. Glen reached the edge of the forest when a voice came to him “Glen…come ‘ere lad.” The voice sounded faintly familiar so he dashed in the direction it was coming from.

    The voice grew louder as he came closer and it became more familiar. In front of him lay the old man that had lived next door to him. "Herald, are you okay?" Glen began to lift the old man but he said "Nay lad I'm not okay I can't feel my legs and I can't breathe well." Glen looked down at the old man and was surprised to see that the old man's bottom half was missing.

    "What the hell there's no way! What the hell is going on here?!"

    “Calm done lad I am still your neighbor but it is time you knew.”

    “Knew what? What’s going on?”

    “I am known as the Red Mage there are five other mages you may one day need to seek out.”

    “Why? What’s going on?!”

    “As you are the last person left in this village you most carry a message.”

    “A message? To who?”

    Before the Mage could speak he exploded. Bloody chunks of the old man flew everywhere and Glen retched when a piece landed on his lips. The collapsed remains of houses began to explode around Glen.

    Glen ran for his life unsure of what was going on or what he was going to do. Glen was almost to the forest when his foot caught a root and he tripped. Glen fell flat on his face and heard a horrendous crack as his nose broke. Glen quickly grabbed his nose in order to stop the bleeding but also sent a bolt pain through his body. Tears filled his vision and a shadow began to descend upon him. He quickly turned to see who or what was nearing him.

    A tall and slender hooded black figure drew nearer to Glen as he sat there. Glen's voice trembled as he spoke, "St..stay ba....back I'm a man of high p..p...power." The hooded figure reached up and pulled back its hood. Below the hood was a gentle face. Her hair was golden and shone in the light and her eyes were lightning blue. She walked elegantly towards Glen. Glen steadied his voice and asked, "Who are you?". The women extended her hand and Glen backed away applying more pressure to his nose which sent another bolt of pain through his body, "Bho far ou?" The women giggled "I am Noichi, Oh man of great power." She quickly strode over to Glen and helped him up. "Who are you and why do you wear those robes and how old are you?" Noichi giggled "I am here to do some trading but it seems misfortune has befallen this village." Glen dusted himself off while maintaining pressure on his nose "And the robes?" Noichi looked down at herself "Oh, these robes are to keep my hidden from danger." Glen looked her up and down "You look....safe but how old are you?' Noichi began to take off her black robes. The dress below was a form fitting white dress.

    Glen's jaw dropped and he began to drool like a starving dog smelling a finely cooked steak. Noichi laughed "You're and interesting man but why do you ask my age?' Glen stammered "It's....I...That is to say..." Noichi laughed again "I see, well I am 17 and by the looks of you I would say you are the same.” Glen picked up his jaw and stood taller "I am." Glen suddenly looked around and remembered what had happened "Well as there is nothing left here I think it would be wise to leave." Noichi frowned "I have no where to go do you mind if I go with you?" Glen's face lit up "I would be happy if you joined me, though I have no idea of where to go." Noichi brightened "Do not worry my handsome friend we can go to Reeves."

    Noichi began to walk away from the forest, and what used to be a village. Glen stood there debating for a second then ran after Noichi, "So what is Reeves like?" Noichi finally realized Glen's nose "Oh my! your nose is bruised and bleeding." Glen touched just above his lip and felt warm blood "s**t, I had completely forgotten." Glen ripped his shirt and tore a piece off and then that piece into two and placed them in his nose, "That will hold me till Reeves." Noichi watched as tears fell from his face "Reeves is a beautiful place filled lush trees and lovely gardens." Glen wiped the tears from his face "Is there no need to worry of bandits and such?" Noichi stopped and seemed to think the question over "We should not have to worry so long as He has not touched Reeves." Glen looked stunned "He who?" Noichi sighed, "Garenz the Flame Conqueror." Glen laughed “What an idiotic name!” Noichi looked at him sternly “You shouldn’t laugh the Flame Conqueror raids villages and cities and burns them to the ground.”

    "Was it Garenz that destroyed my home?" Noichi sighed, "It is the very same.” Glen stopped "Then we must destroy him before he does anymore harm." Noichi looked directly at him "You are a man without shield and sword and you have problems keeping your food down." Glen sighed, "You are right, I suppose we best continue to Reeves." They began to walk towards Reeves again both quite with their own thoughts. Night quickly fell as they journeyed onward.

    "I think it's best.....What's wrong Noichi?" Noichi's face seemed troubled "I.....I'm.....lost!" Noichi dropped to her knees and began to cry. Glen went towards her unsure of what to do or say "I....it's alright we will find our way." Glen helped her to her feet and turned her towards him. He gently lifted her chin till their eyes locked, "I promise you we will find our way." and at that moment they kissed below the starry night sky. It was a long and passionate kiss "Noichi I am in love with you." Tears fell down Noichi's face as she spoke "And I am in love with you." They kissed again unaware of their surroundings.

    A figure stalked closer to them and neither heard. The figure jumped behind Noichi and with one hand he grabbed her hair and with the other he held a dagger to her throat. "You man of high 'power' give me all of your money or I slit her throat!” As if to make an example he pulled the dagger slightly, slicing skin. Glen's mind went into total lock he was unsure of what to do and was afraid.

    Glen saw blood trickling from Noichi's neck and regained control of himself "First release....." The man interrupted "You are in no position to bargain with me boy, either I get....." The man's grip on his dagger and Noichi's hair released as he crumpled to the ground. A man walked forward and wiped his blade off on his clothes "Looks like we got here just in time." Noichi responded before Glen could open his mouth "Who are you and who is we?" The man stepped forward "I am Roger and we are a band of mercenaries." Five more guys walked up to Roger "Sir if you are ready we must leave." They began to turn and leave but Glen blurted out "Wait! Are you going to just leave us?!" Roger and his band stopped "Well I suppose you could always come with us.”