It all started in a village to the east far out in the countryside. The village wasn't big nor rich. In fact, it was one of the smallest and poorest in the kingdom. But even so the villagers were happy. The village consisted of about 20 houses, an inn, a library and a little market where merchants come to sell their products. Most of the villagers works in the fields either as farmers or miners. Of course, there are also a few working in the inn and a few merchants. The village lay close to the border between this kingdom and the Fire kingdom. The kingdom which they lived in was called the Goa kingdom. The Goa kingdom was the second smallest kingdom but even, so it had one of the strongest army's in the world. Most of the kingdom consisted of farmland and villagers, but at the center of the kingdom laid the capital. A big city with everything you could dream of. And also, in the castle within the capital lived the royal family. A family with absolute power within the kingdom and the one ruling it.
It was just a normal sunny day when it all began. A group of soldiers had come to the city. And like most other villages in the countryside, they weren't very fond of them. You see soldiers tends to use up a lot of the villager's supplies. And as the village is already poor, they don't have the supplies to give to the soldiers and certainty not now. That's because it will soon be winter and then there won't be enough food to come through it. Other than using the supplies they also tend to cause trouble and take things without playing - which is considered stealing. But because they are trained and armed soldiers the villagers can't do anything to stop them.
It was afternoon at the marketplace. The air was tense and filled with a mixture of dirt and desperation. The soldiers laughed as they kicked over basket of fruit, their boots crushing it beneath them. The old man - the owner of the stall - pleading the soldiers to stop. His hands shaking as he tried to get what was remaining.
Toya stood a few meters away, arms crossed, his black hair messy as always and his golden eyes sparkling with anger. He had seen scenes like this before. Too many times. Too many times, and no one ever did anything to prevent it. He sighed and walked towards the soldiers, hands in his pockets like he was just passing by.
"Oh, hey kid! You lost of something?" one of them sneered. His voice filled with disgust like he was talking to a stray dog instead of a person. The others laughing. Toya didn't really bother. "No, but it looks like you are. Lost all sense of shame, I mean" he just glanced at the soldiers, his eyes filled with silent, calm anger.
The laughter stopped. The captain - a tall man with light hair and emerald, green eyes - turned his head. He glared at Toya his expression dark.
"What did you just say, brat? I don't think I quite heard you."
Toya just stood there, pretending to think. "I said" he repeated his voice calm but harsh "maybe if you guys actually did your job you would be out fighting and not stealing from some old man. But I guess that's too much to ask a bunch of lowlifes like you." A moment of silence filled the marketplace. Then the captain's fist came flying. Toya dodge, barely, feeling the gust of wind that had been made from the impact. Toya moved fast - faster than any kid his age should. Before they had time to react, Toya drove his elbow into the gut of a soldier, knocking the air inside of his lungs out, then swept away the legs of another soldier making him fall to the ground. But at the third - he was ready. He tried to punch him but the soldier dodged, got besides him and smashed him in the ribs. He was knocked out balance and before he could regain it, a fist collided into his face. The ground rushed up to greet him, dirt and blood mixing in his mouth.
For a moment everything went pinch-black. He could feel the pain in his head as his vision cleared, the captain was kneeling besides him, smiling.
"You've got guts, and a little bit of strength to back it up, but let me tell you something" he whispered his voice mocking. "The weak don't get to talk back."
The hold out his hand in front of Toya, he thought he had gone crazy, but then there out of nothing a flame emerged from his palm. Toya's eyes widened. Magic.
Toya remembered reading about it once. It was a gift bestowed upon few people. It was a power that defied the laws of nature. Although Toya knew a bit about it there were still so many things he didn't know, and this was also the first time he ever saw it in action. He knew that magic was set in 3 groups, the basics, the advanced and the one that didn't fall under any of these. There were 4 basic magic, fire, water, earth and wind. The advanced magic was the rest of the elements that existed in the world like gravity, darkness and light. The ones that didn't were healers and seers - people who could see the future. He also knew that in this world that also existed skills and hidden skills, but he didn't really know anything about them.
And now right in front of him stood one of the people in the world with an attribute for magic. It was amazing, he thought, being able to create a flame from nothing. He couldn't take his glance away from it. It was so beautiful, so pure, so warm but under all this Toya sensed a darkness. A darkness so big he felt like he was being crushed by it. Like a cold hand against your skin. He could do nothing, just looking at the flame with a mix of awe and fear.
"Now let's teach you a lesson, brat" said the captain standing up and beginning to unleash the flame on Toya. The villagers could do nothing but stand there. Fear making them unable to help. But right before he could unleash his flame a man stood between him. The man was probably in his mid-thirties. He had black hair just like Toya and the rest of the villagers. The man between them was the major of the village. Everyone in the village called him that so Toya wasn't actually sure what his name was. As he stood there he began to talk in a calming voice:
"I'm so sorry about the kid. He has always been a troublemaker around here. I can assure you we will teach him a lesson about this, so please let him go."
For a few seconds there were nothing but silence then the captain finally broke it.
"Fine. I will let you off the hook this time, but if it happens again I will be the one to teach him a lesson." When the last words left his mouth the flames in his hand vanished and went to the sword by his belt. He stayed for a few more moments to make sure they understood his thread, then gave a signal for the soldiers to follow him, and left.
When they were finally out of sight the major turned to Toya.
"Good job kid, now the soldiers hate us but at least you caused some trouble for them." He didn't say it in a hateful voice actually he said it in a cheerful one. So Toya figured it wasn't so bad. Toya still on the ground tried to get up, seeing this the major took out his hand and helped him.
"You know kid I think they are still pretty mad at you, so I would lay low for the next couple of days if I were you" he said it in the same calming voice but you could also hear concern in his voice.
"Sure thing major. I also need to get on home if I don't want my parents to get angry." The major nodded in response and said:
"Yes that would be a good idea. I also have some business with your dad so if it isn't too much of a hassle why don't we go together. I would also be much more relaxed if I knew you came home safely." Toya replied grinning:
"Sure. Why not."