The Wandering Mage

"I can still remember how my life use to be. Life… I remember that beautifully crafted stone carved citadel in the side of that lone frost fallen mountain forgotten to time. I… I can still see it burning everytime I close my eyes. I can still smell the blood and the charred flesh of those I once called brothers. I still remember. How could I not?"

Year 800 of the 3rd Era, 100 years before the birth of the old Gods

Eyevea court yard

Shirou, a young aspiring mage of twenty years stood firm against the onslaught of fire and destruction spells being hurled at him and his companions as the great stone carved citadel called Eyevea crumbled all around them. His hand stretched out firm towards the onslaught, casting a protective ward. The flame spells hurled at him shattering upon contact of Shirou's ward spreading over its surface. The flame licking at his dirtied dark blue robe singing it. His his dark brown hair and white side burns drenched in sweat and sticking to his weathered and grimy face.

"Shirou!" a Mage behind him called. Shirou aware of his presence turned slightly to see him out of the corner of his eye while maintaining the protective ward. Shirou's blue eyes caught the other mage's brown ones.

"What is it Duncan?" Shiro yelled over the destruction of the battlefield.

Duncan had a grim look upon his face as he addressed his old friend. " The Hall of Elements has fallen."

Shirou Turned his face back to the battlefield as a fire ball hit his magical ward finally shattering it. "Dam." Shirou muttered to himself before he threw his other hand out casting another ward." We need to regroup and reassess the attack where is the Grand Master?"

The battle worn face of his friend became even more grim." Shirou…" Shirou's face turned to look at Duncan his eyes wide.

"What Duncan? What!" Shirou's Heart was racing

"The Grand Master...he's dead." Duncan didn't dare look Shirou in the face." You were his apprentice the order now answers to you…. What are our orders?"

Rage filled Shirou uncontrollable rage. "Who?" The word dripped with venom as he said it. Rage is a dangerous emotion for those who practice the arcane.

"It...it was him your brother."

'Roku?' Shiou thought. With those simple words Shirou's world shattered like glass. The man who had trained him since childhood the man who was like his father killed by his own brother. Hatred filled him he wanted his brother to pay. 'Hatred and rage will only lead you down a path that will destroy those you hold dear just like it did to your brother.' The words of the Grand Master echoed in Shirou's head. 'Master?' Shirou was brought back to reality by Duncan yelling his name.

"Grand Master Shirou! What are our orders!?" Duncan's face was red from screaming his brown eyes full of fear and worry.

" Take a team to the Hall of Records. Take as much of our knowledge as you can." Shirou's said as his ward broke with a shatter. Duncan and Shirou dove for cover behind some rubble as fireballs flew over head."Take the wounded and escape Duncan." Shirou said with heavy eyes.

"No you need to come with us." Duncan protested as tears filled his eyes. "You need to lead us."

"Look around you Duncan. The order has fallen thanks to my brother and his rogue mages." Shirou steeled his gaze. I must face my brother I must know why he has done this."

"I'll come back for you." Duncan tried to hold back his tears but couldn't. How could he leave his best friend he trained alongside with since the beginning.

Shirou looked at him with a sad smile "We both know I do not intend to live past today." Duncan gave Shirou a long look then a sad nod as he left him behind. Shirou watched and with a knowing smile. He knew Duncan would continue as the Grand Master of the Order of Magnus.

Pulling himself up from the rubble Shirou looked at the enemy in front of him. He counted about fifteen rouge magi all in various color robes standing before him. Curious as to what Shirou was doing they stopped their spells. Shirou lowered his head obscuring his face to those in front of him. In a hollowed yet commanding voice Shirou lifted his head and spoke. " I'm sorry my friends. But I cannot allow you past this point. I will hold steadfast against you." Shirou took a deep breath and time seemed to slow.

The rogue magi dashed towards Shirou. The intent to kill in their eyes. Shirou simply spoke.

"I see it on the horizon." The words heavy with magic.

"I see the lightning in the distance." Each word carrying fear into the rogue they remained frozen unable to move unable to breath.

"I will not seek shelter from this storm." The rogue magi could feel the magic swirl around Shirou.

"For I AM the oncoming storm."

In that moment the magi surrounding Shirou could only look on in awe and fear as Shirou's body became almost ethereal in a blue glow, his body encased in a brilliant and radiant blue lightning. It was flowing through him almost as if he were one with it. He looked at the fifteen magi in front of him. " I am sorry. May you find your way to Akasha in the afterlife." Shirou said to them. It was then that Shirou let loose his anger and hate for what they had done. In an instant lightning branched of from Shirou running along the stone floor like a snake racing towards each of the rogue magi that stood in front of him. The lighting raced up their bodies leaving web like burns as they raced across their bodies. Their screams filling the air wishing for death but unable to die. They writhed in agony until death finally claimed them from their pain.

Shirou looked on as his lightning form slowly dissipated. He felt sick for causing them so much pain but at the same time he enjoyed it and that is what really scared him the most. Shirou panted heavily that form always took too much magic from him. Shirou heard clapping and looked up to see a figure that apparently had seen the entire thing.

" I see your mastery over lightning magic has improved ever since the Grand Master decided to take you as his apprentice instead of me." the last part of the figures words were laced with hate.

Hate boiled back up in Shirou. A voice inside his head begging him to kill his brother. "Why?" Shirou glared at his older brothers from. His black hair combed back his green piercing eyes looking at Shirou.

"Why?" Roku's face holding an amused almost happy look. " Isn't it obvious?" Rokus faced turned serious as he glared at his little brother. " I hated him for not training me. Instead he chose you. He should have chosen ME!"

"He didn't choose you because you are fueled by your emotions by your arrogance and hate!" Shirou Spat back. "Why couldn't you see that?"

"My hate makes me powerful!." Roku snarled at his younger brother. "I was weak when I left but now I'm stronger than even your lightning."

Shirou readied himself for an attack. Roku spoke. His words heavy and laced with hate. "I will burn all till you are not but ash and glass." Roku's arms were encased in a black flame as he shot forward to his brother.

Barely having time to register his brothers new spell Shirou threw himself out of the way of his brothers slash. Looking down Shirou noticed he didn't quite avoid the attack. A shallow gash across his gut was proof. "Who taught you that spell?"

Roku chuckled. " I Serve a new master. I do its bidding and I get power. And it wishes for me to purge all magi from this world." Roku gave shirou a spine chilling grin.

'What in all the heavens?' Shirou's mind was racing.' A new Master?' he said he served ITS wishes?' Shirou wondered what happened to his brother after he walked out on the order. "Why? Why would your master wish to purge those who study the arcane.?"

"Can't you see magi are not natural if they were every human would have the ability." Roku galred.

"Then what are you? Are you not a mage?" Shirou was puzzled at his older brother if he could still call Roku a brother.

"I was but now I have ascended I am its tool." Roku looked on Shirou with a smile.

"I don't understand we have a gift. Its our duty to protect others with our magic. Magi are not evil!" Shirou spat.

Roku charged at Shirou again leaving behind a trail of char and black flames. Shirou called his remaining magic to his hands and feet. His hands glowed a soft dull green while lightning encased his legs. Using his lightning magic he dodged his brothers attack quickly. His brother quickly countered by kicking Shirou in the gut forcing him back staggering. Roku aimed a flamed punch at Shirou's face but Shirou caught it with his green glowing hands making the flames dissipate. Shirou Pushed himself away from his brother.

Roku touched the stoney ground and black fire swept across it caching Shirou's legs before he had a chance to jump. Shirou let out a scream in pain as his legs were burnt. Struggling to stand Shirou looked at his brother. Wishing he hadn't used most of his magic up with the attack on the rogue magi.

Suddenly Roku dashed forward piercing Shirou through the heart with his black flames. "I am sorry Shirou but from my point of view the Magi are evil." Roku whispered in Shirou's ear as he laid his brother head down.

In Shirou's last moments he looked Roku in the eyes. "Then you have truly been lost." With that Shirou conjured an ethereal dagger in one hand and stabbed Roku in the gut. Then he reached up with his other hand and sent a wave of lightning through Roku, burning his flesh and nerves. He could smell the burnt flesh of his brother As he slowly gave into the black void taking him.

…

….

…

Shirou awoke with a gasp into a white void.

"Hello Shirou BloodRaven." a calming woman's voice spoke out to Shirou.

"Where am I? I thought I...I" Shirou was confused.

"Died?" came the woman's voice almost amused.

"Yeah." Came Shirou's reply.

"Poor little mage you died so young." The woman's voice almost held a teasing tone to it. " You never got to live fully. You never got to touch a woman..or man I don't judge." Ok she was teasing him.

"Hey!" Shirou had to fight down a blush and was failing." You didn't answer my question where am I?"

Her reply came with a giggle. "You are here silly mage."

"Alright." Shirou dragged out. "Then why am I here and why can't I see you?"

"Now that young mage is the right question." A glowing silhouette of a woman appeared before Shirou.

" You fought so bravely but Roku still lives." her tone never changing

"I see" Shirou frowned. "Then I died and failed now my brother will destroy the magi for reasons I know not."

"You don't have to die. Shirou." The woman's voice sounded sincere. "You could make... a contract with me." Though her voice carried a kind tone Shirou felt something sinister in those words.

"What kind of contract?" Shirou was skeptical.

"I will give you life once more in order to stop your brother and restore your order." She looked upon Shirou like a mother would a child. "But once your task is complete your payment will be your soul and your service to me."

"I… I understand. And I accept."

"Then Shirou BloodRaven the contract is sealed. When you wake it will have been four thousand years since that day. Your brother has all but wiped out the magi. But he is still recovering from the ethereal blade you drove into him. Such a wound never truly heals."

"Wait before I go who are you?" Shirou asked.

"My name Alaya."