Flame Trailer

"Fate is not something that is written for us. Fate is what we carve as a path."

The stars fell upon the dark void of the night sky, piercing their way through with their needle-like light. Finding a clear way through the air, they burrowed themselves through the window, curiously seeking what secrets lie within the basement of this home.

There was no rest to be found here, even at this late hour, the loud cracking noise made sure of that, but these beams of light gave no quarter, as they spread across the surface. A red crystal was on the table, one of many, surrounded by tools of science, none of which gave any usage. The crystal shifted around, struggling to resist this unnatural force, however, the battle was lost, and soon it rose up from its resting ground. Spinning around endlessly; these fingers were ordering the crystal without even touching it. Gentle, careful moves this hand had made, and swift like a river, though this was but a polite courtesy, as it were those chestnut eyes themselves, that gave the Dust its orders, not the fingertips.

The playful image of a smile has broken through the shadows. The red crystal then separated, shattered into two, then four, eight, sixteen, until there was nothing but powder in its once great place. The Dust, true its newfound form, then coiled around the body of its master, swimming through the dry air with snake-like movements. But that was enough of the playtime already. The eyes shone up in a distinct golden colour, and the fingers calmly guided the Dust snake back to the table, where it has reformed into a crystal once again, taking up an entirely new shape, a new construct. New properties.

"Mom?"

A loud clinking noise tore into the night, as the crystal fell down onto the metal plate below. The woman at the table gasped in her honest surprise, as she did not expect visitors.

"Ah! Dear, please refrain from sneaking up on me like that," she said, chastising the small girl with her warm voice.

As she stood in the doorway, the girl yawned, rubbing her tired eyes to scare away some of the sleepiness.

"What are you doing awake...?" she asked of the self-indulged scientist, half-asleep.

"That is a question I have to ask of you, young lady," the woman replied, smiling. She took a quick glance at the clock, midnight had passed. How quietly does time run under the guise of darkness... "I was just finishing some tests."

Another yawn. Eyes hardly open.

"You sure you weren't playing around again...?"

Embarrassed giggle followed, the woman was caught red-handed.

"I guess did get carried away a bit. Maybe. Now, come 'ere, girl!"

With whatever energy she could muster, the girl toddled towards her mother's inviting voice. Getting within arm's reach, the woman ruffled her daughter's short, brown hair, then picked her up into her lap, holding her in a tight embrace.

"Why did you wake up?"

"Cracking... lots of..." Yawn. "Cracking."

She must have been referring to all that noise the crystal made while she kept dissembling and reassembling it. Oops.

"Ah, sorry!" she apologized. At least her husband did not wake. Thankfully, her daughter was much more forgiving of these late night trips. "Didn't mean to."

"Honest heart?"

"Honest heart!" the woman smiled again.

A few moments have passed in silence, as the two of them stared at the open skies through the small window. They were sitting in a shower of white light, which has illuminated the darkness that surrounds. Quiet, lost in thought.

The girl then reached for the crystal. Curious. Unable to lay a finger on it from this distance, the effort was deemed lost, but the Dust unexpectedly rose up from its resting place and gently hovered over into the grasp of her hands.

"When will I be able to do that?" the girl asked, not satisfied with the many answers she was already given.

"Red Affinity is a power that runs deep in our family's bloodline. From mother to daughter, for many generations. You won't be the one who is exempt, trust me, you too will awaken to it." An ability to control the nature of Chaos itself. To tame the unpredictable. To reach the unobtainable. "To control and manipulate the volatile Red Dust with perfect safety, this is what makes our blood special. And you too are special! Patience," she winked.

The girl was taken by her newly risen thoughts. She was too tired to show emotions, and every time she had closed her eyes she found herself in her bed, among the many pillows she was granted. Noticing that bobbing head of hers, heavy of dreams that lurk, her mother sent the crystal back onto the table, then picked up the girl into her arms. Research and knowledge be damned, it was her one little princess, who was the most valued treasure she has ever had.

"Time for both of us to get back in bed."

The sweet sensation of the warm and fluffy sheets. This charming feeling of invitation to the land of colors... As soon as she was set down in the decorated confinement of her room, accompanied by her ever-so loyal plushies, the little girl immediately began to feel the pull in her mind, calling her to rest. A kiss-goodbye, a gentle tuck, these were her mother's parting gifts to her.

"How was it when you got it?" the tired voice has asked of her, intercepting the woman before she left through the door. The question not need further explanations, she knew what her daughter meant.

"Honestly? Amazing." There was no point in lying about the feelings she has had. She walked back beside the bed and knelt down next to the girl, to look deeply in those brown eyes of her. "The idea that I can tame the most unpredictable substance known to mankind, it felt exhilarating. Still does to some extent. The ability to change what can not be changed. To have a power that allows me to dissect and reshape Red Dust at the drop of a hat, something that even laboratories have a hard time containing... I honestly feel blessed."

"And... What if I do not get it?"

"What's with all the sudden questions?" The woman had giggled, but then ceased it when she saw the serious doubts taking root in the eyes of her child. "Listen, you will become a fine Red Affinity master yourself. But only if that is what you want. Do not seek a power you only want out of fame, because in the end you will not be happy with it. Whether you inherit our bloodline's power or develop your own, you will still be you, the most special and unique person who will ever be." She smiled, and this warm radiation of kindness had enveloped the heart of the young girl. "You will make great changes in this world, but only if you follow your own dreams, instead of copying what you think is expected."

Another kiss-goodbye.

"Sleep well, flame angel. See you in the morning."

Wide-open eyes. Lingering words in one's mind. The mind... What secrets lie within the deepest reaches of the brain? What pushes the soul to get out of bed, anxious of a future? To throw away the blanket of security and step out into the dark hallways? Down the stairs, like every other night. Small steps leading their way down into the basement. Like every other night. Just like every single night. Just how she tried tonight too, only to find that she was not there alone.

Coast is clear. Finally, everyone is asleep. Except one. Her. Why? Why can she not sleep at night? Why must she come, why must she reject the world of dreams for this? She stepped into the dark room, bare soles. Every night. Ever since she had turned six. Crates and boxes everywhere, filled to the brim with those mesmerizing red crystals. Used for research, they are stable. The air is cold; kept cold to avoid the heating up of the material. Not even electricity runs through here, to avoid a possible ignition. This is where she trains, this is where she practices. Every night. Every single night, ever since that nightmare.

"The ability to change." Her mother's words coursed through her synapses.

Red Affinity, this elusive power she was trying to achieve... She must become strong enough to ward away the harm. She stepped to the table, barely reaching up. That large crystal was still sitting there on the metal plate. If she could just move it with her mind, this powerful tool in her little head... if she could just do that... that alone would be enough proof that she is capable! Every night. No result. Every night. The crystals disobeys. She's too young to have her commands heeded.

"The ability to change," the words had echoed again. To brake this stalemate. To progress! To stop being a little girl and become a huntress! "We lead our own lives, flame angel. The choice is ours to become who we want to become. A choice to change who we are."

Change.

Change.

She put all of her concentration on the crystal, all of her focus. Imagined it reshaping and separate in many various forms, hoping that one would come true. Wishing for. She won't forget that day. She will fight back that day!

Change.

Her mother's words guided her thoughts. "Gaining that power... it felt exhilarating." These words were the fuel which she had required for so long. These words were what got her to be able to push forward.

Change!

Change who she is, change that day, change everything!

"CHANGE!"

*Crack*

Who knows... In this still frame of time, many possible combinations could have occurred. Do you gain the bloodline's power, and be able to manipulate red Dust? Or do you end up developing your own ability, in accordance to your own wish and heart? However... it seems that no one ever thought of the scenario, no one was prepared for, in which both of these choices could simultaneously occur.

When the sun at last rose above the horizon, the flames were still raging on, hell bent on devouring everything in this material world. The first rays of light shot right through the rising smoke, painting the sky of Vacuo crimson red. A fitting setting for a fitting end.

The fire-fighters tirelessly fought this dragon of flames, not hindered an inch by the molten hot sand below their feet. There was nothing left to save. No value to keep. Nothing worth to even steal from the ruins. Protect the neighborhood, this was what remained a priority. A sole girl was rescued from the rubble, during the first hour, conscious but unresponsive. Even against this intense heat she was frozen from shock, with glazed eyes trying to take in and comprehend the sight.

Bruises, burns, but nothing too serious. This was from the outside. Injuries within the soul are much more harder to identify. Her lips then at last arched, voicelessly trying to call for dad, mom, but no one has heard her. No one came with an answer. No one responded to the girl, who has looked directly into the eye of entropy. No one was there for the girl, who was just about to scream, coming to the realization. No one was there to congratulate her finally being able to change. Change her life, and ignite the spark of a new future. A kinship with fire. A Fire Affinity.