A/N: Hello, at some point in the semi-near future I may ink some sketches I've done of the characters. Maybe. My scanner is broken so I'll have to find somewhere else to upload them. All content to their respective owners. Without further ado...

1601, Outside The Village of Branle, Tristain

"Ack!" A ten year old Jean collapses in pain onto the cold dirt. A rugged, disheveled man slams his foot into Jeans side.

"Where's all that talk now boy, hm?" The man leans over the child "Have you had enough?" He asks lamely.

"Stop it, you bastard!" Screamed Esmerelda, tied to a nearby tree root. She struggled violently until another equally rugged man barks "Hey quit squirmin' runt!" Tears are in her eyes as she watches Jean cough up blood. "Jean, are you alright?" She asks in a pained voice.

Jean slowly rises, struggling to stand. "Y-you... give commoners a bad name... Perpetuating the stereotype that we're all -hack- idiotic barbarians just waiting to be ruled" Jean paused to steady himself. Directing all his anger outwards toward the band of thugs.

"YOU BEAR THE SAME SIN AS THE NOBLES!" Jean roared maliciously. He began to radiate magic, small sparks forming around him, body giving off copious amounts of heat.

The four bandits around him all began to laugh "We must've hit 'em harder than we should've if he thinks those chains are gonna do anything this time" The bandits chortled before turning towards Jean. "Give me your all ya bastard noble runt!"

Jean was shaking with anger and the raw magic flowing through him. The sparks around him started to grow into small flames, then all at once they erupted into nine tendrils of fire. The waving flames burned a deep purple.

Jeans thoughts became simple, rapid and sadistic. Consisting of Fire, Fire, Fire, Eradicate the imperfections, Fire, Fire, Fire, Burn the weak minded fools Fire, Fire, Fire...

The bandits had no time to react as the tendrils fluidly met their targets, swallowing them in a burning tornado. Jean smirked at the sound of their sweet, sweet screams of pain.

Esmerelda shut her eyes tightly, as she trained herself to do whenever Jean got like this. In their year of travels the young pair had come across many dangers, most of which had to do with nobles.

You see, after escaping the Dumont territory and splitting up with the others, Jean and Esmerelda wandered Tristain seeking a home. Though they did not escape without alerting Jeans father, Lord Dante. He -thinking the boy had died years ago- called for his personnel guard to hunt Jean down and execute him- quietly. After all, his new marriage into the House of Vienne was in a delicate state and it was crucial he was given their trust. If his bastard son were to enter the picture his new wife, Roscilla, would deem him unworthy of her family's trust.

Jean had pleaded with Esmerelda to leave him and seek safety in her own country but she refused, saying she would not abandon him. And so, the two were on the run. A covert bounty was placed on their heads covertly, within Tristains criminal circle. That was how the bandits had found them, four of them went as the bounty warned the child did not need a wand to cast magic.

The screaming stopped. Esmerelda felt the ropes come loose and a warm hand on her cheek, catching a single tear. She sniffed and looked up at Jean who was smiling weakly at her.

"I'm sorry that I lost control, please do not cry Esmerelda" She sniffed once more and playfully punched his arm. "I wasn't crying fool... It was just the heat making my eyes water..." Jeans tired eyes gazed at her warmly. He always became tired after using vast amounts of uncontrolled magic.

Jean helped her up and they were about to set off again when the pair heard a noise coming from the treeline behind them. It was... a slow applause? The mystery clapping continued for a moment more before stopping. In it's place was a voice, charming and thick.

"That was quite a feat boy" Said the voice.

Jean took a defensive stance. He was weak but he would fight with all he had left, if necessary. "Thank you" Jean replied calmly "If you would be so kind as to tell us who you are".

A hearty chuckle was heard and a man stepped from the shadows. He was rather large man, both in stature and girth. His face was covered by a thick braided beard. His locks tied back out of his face. When he stepped further into the light it became apparent that his hair was a dark green.

Jean inspected him from head to toe, gathering all the information he could. His clover hair and fair skin may point to Gallian origins. He should expect earth magic, but not rule out anything else.

The smile never left the mans face. "I am Ailwen Wulfgeat, and I want you to join a revolution". He stated in a serious tone.

Jean took in what the man had said, wondering if this was the right decision. He had planned to eventually join Tristain's military, clawing his way to a position where he may execute his real plan... It was risky and he wanted more details, but Jean kept his options open.

Esmerelda was startled, a mysterious man in the woods, an unexpected offer. She didn't trust any of it. She scowled and turned to Jean, just as she was about to tell him they should leave he simply said "Go on" looking straight into Ailwen's eyes.

Ailwen's smile got bigger. "My superiors are planning something. Something big. We need young people like you to be there when the time finally comes to overthrow Tristain's government" Jean was intrigued but kept his face impassive.

"We'll train you, house you, feed you. You'll be kept in training camps, each based near Tristain's 'pressure points' " At this Jean smirked. This might just be my chance, much faster than my plan and safer too...

"There's more, but I can only tell you-" Ailwen pulled a piece of parchment from the breast of his armor "If you join up" He held out the parchment to the boy. It read enlist among many things.

Jean walked right up to the bear-like man keeping a stone face he slowly reached his hand out, symbolizing a handshake. "Where do I sign?"

Esmerelda gasped and Ailwen smirked.

...

1608, Tristain, Magic Academy

Jean awoke feeling refreshed Haven't had that dream in a while he thought to himself. Stretching, he got out of bed and donned his light leather armor which he kept in his locked chest at the foot of the bed.

Jean pushed open his window, and inhaled deeply. He sighed enjoying the early morning air. Dawn had not yet broken and class would not begin for many hours. Checking below to see if anyone was around to witness his brief escape.

Seeing it was clear Jean pushed off from his floor powerfully, sending him straight out the window.

Wind, wind Jean chanted quietly, the levitation spell lowered him gracefully to the grass below. Jean pulled his hood over his head and began silently making his way to an area he found on his way to the academy.

Half an hour and two miles away Jean landed in a clearing. The clearing was bare except for an old abandoned shack that looked as if something large had smashed it.

Making his way to the middle of the clearing Jean took a deep breath and began his daily training routine of lifting (conjured boulders), construction (using triangle class magic to construct a small building) and deconstruction ( obliterating said house in a bout of fire).

The process only took about fifteen minutes but it took a lot out of him. He repeated five times until he was exhausted. Jean found a nearby stream and happily quenched his thirst. After a short rest he jogged ran back to the academy, dropped off his armor, bathed and head back to his room to begin getting ready for the day. Everyone else was just waking up.