Warnings: AU, shounen-ai

Summary: What would you do if you developed magic abilities out of the blue, in a world that fears and hates mages? Kent's life is turned upside down as his abilities lead him to the Speedwings magic school, where he meets several old acquaintances...

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem, nor do I own the first AU magic school fic in the Fire Emblem section. That fic belongs to Amethyst Bubble, and if you haven't read "Something Wicked" yet, go do so!

-=in the past=- in the present

Prologue: Awoken Confusion

-=Screams filled the air, flames licking at the feet of terrified fleeing individuals. Houses fell in, burning timbers landing on and trapping a select unfortunate few.=-

"He was found amongst... burned badly... we think it's his... are you sure?"

"Get Raven... in overwhelming pain."

"Find the... need his power now ...

He could see the fire licking at his skin, eating it away, yet it was painless. He was too numb to feel anything, be it pain, fear, or pity for those others trapped and dying as he was.

"Elimine... poor guy... fire... devastated half the city..."

"Not another one..."

"The Archsage... train him..."

"Where's... slipping away!"

-=Screeches swelled and died as their creators did, a horrible ballad of agony to accompany the burning dawn. The teen was surrounded by a wall of flames that licked at him, but never engulfed his slim frame. Almost as if curious, yet hesitant, and then pulling back with acceptance. The ones who had driven him back there were long dead, incinerated and crushed within the first collapsed home.=-

"Farina, stop... hurting yourself..."

"We need... find out why... out of control... still alive."

"Lady Delphi!"

"I'm here... horrible..."

"Not enough! ... Runes?! We... now!"

-=The boy felt faint, like his last reserves had been drawn and he was using his life force. Flames blended together in a mass of oranges, whites and the occasional blue, and he swayed on his feet. A stone column, having lost its supports, crashed to the ground behind him, creating a shockwave that sent his exhausted body toppling to the ground.=-

"What help... be? Only one... abilities."

"Water... sooth the burns... re-hydrate..."

"The scouts... healed as well."

"Relatively minor... Harken's handling... can wait."

"... Sure?"

"He's... priority. Perhaps... final weapon against..."

"But the other-"

"Still too... this one has control."

"What?!"

"It may seem... his mind... able to focus."

"Look... he's starting... up."

The said redhead groaned hoarsely and opened his right eye, squinting in an attempt to focus. His head swam, preventing him from being able to make everything the others in the room were saying out.

Two girls were on his right, one with short blue hair, and the other with pink pigtails. A dark crimson-haired man wearing a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves sat at his left, hands hovering over his shoulder and glowing slightly. Now that the redhead thought about it, his shoulder was radiating a dull pain, as were several other parts of his body.

Sunlight streamed in from the window behind the girls, partially illuminating the large, pale blue room. From what he could tell, there were other beds behind the man with glowing hands, but bonds restraining his movement prevented him from looking. The pigtailed girl started to speak, her voice increasing his headache. "Harken, get over here."

A blond wearing a brown shirt and bluish-green armor with silver spikes walked into his vision. "What is it, lady Delphi?"

"Go get the Archsage and the Runes. I'm sure they'll want to have a little... talk, with our newest arrival."

"Actually, I could just call him here. The other scouts need Harken's support-" The blue-haired girl winced as the one Harken had called 'Lady Delphi' cut her off.

"Shut up, Farina! I'd, uh, been just about to say that. Don't question your superiors!" She whirled in an overreacting fury, causing Farina to bend over backwards to avoid getting whapped in the face with a pink pigtail.

The yet-unnamed crimson-haired man cleared his throat in annoyance, causing Serra to whirl and berate him instead. Farina snuck out of the room and Harken left the redhead's vision again, rubbing his temples. "Serra, will you please keep in mind that some of our patients are getting headaches from this?"

"Harken, I don't need you to tell me what to do! I'm the Delphi, the head healer of this place!"

"Then act like it already." Serra whacked the one she'd just been berating over the head with a sapphire-tipped staff. He just glared back before standing up and dusting his blue shirt off. "Tend to the patient." He then left the room, slamming the door behind him and causing Serra to wince.

"Ooooooooo, he gets me so mad sometimes!" She stamped the ground, pouting in the door's direction. As if suddenly remembering the red-head was there, she plastered a smile on her face and turned back to him, chirping, "Just hold still for a bit. The great Serra has deigned to heal your wounds!" The girl fluffed her hair and set about healing him, a soft glow emanating from the staff she'd whacked someone over the head with earlier.

During the healing process, she removed several of the bonds preventing the redhead from moving. He took the opportunity to glance to his left, and saw a man with short hair of a tan or goldenrod color in the bed there. Their eyes met, and the tan-haired man mouthed 'she's always like this.' The one being healed agreed silently.

"Mmkay, you're all done! Now then, I believe Farina said your name was... Kent?"

Kent's face must have displayed his surprise, as Serra giggled and said, "Silly, Farina's a telepath. She read your mind. And given some of the things she saw, well, it's a good thing you're here."

"Oy, now can you heal some of the rest of us?" called the one in the bed to Kent's left.

"Matthew, be quiet! I'll be over there in a second! Anyway, Kent, just keep those bandages around your arms and chest for a week or so, change them every day, and you'll be fine."

"Ah...?" Kent sat up, wincing slightly as damaged skin on his back stretched.

"I'll get someone to show you around later, as I have other, more important things to do. Now shoo, shoo!" Serra waved in the direction of the door. "There's a shirt on the bedside table for you, and we could need that bed at any moment. Find something to do until we make arrangements."

Flustered and confused, Kent carefully pulled the rust colored material over his head and headed out the door, where he literally bumped into Farina. She looked a bit annoyed as she straightened the hem of her black tunic, but her expression quickly changed as she realized who it was. "Ah, so you're up already, and likely very confused as to what is going on." She tilted her head to one side. "Am I right?"

Kent sighed. "Admittedly, yes. One minute, I'm in the town square, and next-"

"No need to prattle on, I read everything from your mind already."

A man with purple hair and a manacle poked his head around the corner. "Farina, do you know where- oh, good, here he is." Walking further around the corner, he revealed himself to be wearing a deep purple cloak and slate gray trench coat. Extending a hand to the redhead, he introduced himself. "I'm Canas, one of the two Runes and also the head librarian. I'll explain everything later, but first things first. Welcome to Speedwings, the last magic school left in all of Elibe."

Kent hesitated a moment, then took the Rune's hand, wondering what the hell he'd gotten himself into, and how he'd managed it.

Confused yet? -=devil grin=- This is just a little teaser of what's to come. Planning this took FOREVER, and it's still not done. Chapter one will be up sometime next week, though reviews might speed up the process. -=hint hint=-

Sain: -=whining=- I haven't shown up yet...

Kent: ... I'm confused...

Legault: -=whacks both=- That's the point of a teaser; to get you intrigued.

Heath: -=sighs at their antics=- Review and tell us what you think, mmkay?