Chapter Two

In the midst of the blackness, a warm sensation was forcing its way into my nerves. The pleasant numbness and absence of everything was replaced with a pleasant warmth that I hadn't felt in ages. My mind was pleasantly blank, empty of all thoughts. Pa would be wanting me to wake up soon, to help with the chores. Still, I remained in my blissful warmth and cuddled closer to my sister, Anna. She was growing at an alarming rate, I was realizing. It almost seemed like she'd grown a foot since yesterday. On my other side, Louise was also cuddling closer to me. It was warm, it was soft, and I was in no rush. Once again, I let sleep overtake me.

I didn't know how long I'd slept, but I realized that my sisters were gone. They'd probably been hungry and woken up to get some breakfast. My own stomach was rumbling, but I didn't want to get up. It was too hot, now. Too hot and sticky. I rolled onto my other side, lazily calling for Anna and Louise. No answer.

"Anna? Louise?" I called out again. "Are you two awake?" Still no response. I sighed, and rolled over. Food could wait a little longer, and I was still sleepy. Once again, I let sleep overtake me and cuddled deeper into the blankets.

Something was wrong, I realized as I woke up for the third time. Something was really, deeply wrong. I was not at home, on my straw mattress. My blankets were not as soft at home.

Anna and Louise were dead. I sat bolt upright, repressing memories. Shoving them back and locking them away. I was already becoming better at it. My mind was still hazy, and finding memories was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. I remembered my Pa, out in the mountains. I remembered my mother smiling in her motherly way, assuring me everything was okay, even with her wounds. I remember finding my father's body, crushed under debris, lifeless and staring into the sky. I remember Anna and Louise trying to run out of the burning building, but not making it in time. I remember fleeing with my Pa, the last of my family, and getting lost in the mountains. I remember how sad he looked, asking to see my eyes one last time.

Tears spilled down my cheeks, even as I tried to blink them back. I wiped at them furiously, trying to push the memory out of my mind, to lock it away forever. I wanted to forget. I wanted to forget about everything. I wanted to turn back time and help my parents escape with my sisters. Then, my whole family could be alive. I stood, and looked at myself in a mirror on the wall. My long, violet hair hung to my waist. Dead straight. I had always gotten compliments on it. My shockingly blue eyes stared back at me, disinterested, judging. A new chapter was beginning in my life. I had to adapt. Quickly, as my father had shown me years ago, I made a tiny knife out of bluebell flames. In one smooth motion, the job was done. My hair, once down to my waist, was cut smoothly to my chin. The bluebell flames burned up the rest, leaving not even ashes behind.

It was then that I realized short hair really did make me look fierce. For a six year old, of course. I was thin and very athletic for my age, and my cheekbones were high. I had a small and pointed nose. The bright blue eyes, however, were my favourite part of myself. They shone in the dim light of the room, almost creating a light of their own.

In the midst of my concentration, I did not notice the woman walk in. I did, however, hear her clear her throat to get my attention. I spun around, and was face-to-torso with a very tall, very busty woman, most likely in her mid-twenties. She smiled warmly at me.

"I can sense you've got some magic power in you." She said kindly. "I am Ul. My two disciples, who found you in the snow, are Lyon and Gray." I smiled back at her.

"I am Beth." I responded. "And yes, I do have magic power. I'm from a long line of fire mages." Ul chuckled grimly.

"I won't ask you why you're alone in the mountains, because I have a feeling I won't want to know. You can stay with us, if you're interested in honing your magic skills. I know a thing or two about creation magic, myself. I use ice, though." Ul sighed. "The cold mountains is no place for a fire mage."

"Then I'll have to be an ice mage, too." I said. "I want to learn. I want to be strong." Ul smiled again.

"You're a lot like Gray, Beth. I think you two will get along fine." I grinned even wider. "We're eating now, if you'd like something. You've been asleep for days. Almost a whole week. We weren't sure if you'd make it through that fever, but you did." She grinned reassuringly. "I've made some soup. Should get all the cold out of your bones." I nodded, remembering the dull ache in my stomach. How long since I had last eaten? Probably at least a week. Soup sounded delightful.

Ul led me to an adjacent room with a large table, already set. A steaming pot of soup was in the middle of the table, where the two boys were dishing out generous helpings for themselves. The dark haired one waved at me, and the light haired one smiled.

"I'm Gray!" The dark haired one said with a friendly smile.

"Beth." I responded. The light haired one spoke next,

"I'm Lyon. Nice to meet you, Beth." I grinned and sat across from the dark haired one, who handed me a soup ladle. I filled up my bowl, and grabbed a biscuit from a plate. Ul was dishing herself up, now, and the boys tucked in.

I followed suit, happy to finally have some food in my stomach after so long. Perhaps this would be a nice place to stay, until I could get to the cities. Find a guild. Make a name for myself.

There was absolutely no need to think that far ahead yet.