A/N- Hey guys, just updating the latest chapter. Won't talk too much, so enjoy!

P.s- Currently listening to The Fray ….

Chapter 14

"You were all implying that Master Blaze had failed the first time he challenged this cave, hence all the commotion. However, that isn't true. The truth of the matter is that Master Blaze is the only mage ever to have succeeded all challenges, having done this several hours after his birth."

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Eleven years before…

The Choir Forest. Where extreme was taken to a new level and where only the bravest, and most foolish, would even think of venturing. Covering an area of 100 kilometres and possessing trees that reached the stars, the inhabitants of Choir lived in pure darkness. Silence would greet travellers and silence would swallow them whole, with no guarantee of surviving, let alone returning. The most feared place in the whole of Fiore, and also the place where legends began.

However, it was a place that was never forgotten. Myths of heroes and stories of ancient mages who endured all to witness the eternal choir. A small patch of land believed to be the closest to heaven on earth; the only place where the sun shone brightly and the beauty was defined in the everlasting choir of the wind.

In such a forest, a young woman could be seen, running from a large number of royal soldiers. Arms curved protectively around her bulging centre, she kept up her pace. All that she could think of was escape; escape from her prison, from her child's father. She prayed in good faith for a miracle to happen, in the forest of miracles. Her pants were growing heavier, contractions becoming stronger; if she did not find shelter soon, she would die from exhaustion alone. She thanked the lord for small favours. The darkness allowed for easier escape, while the silence consumed her echoes. Unable to conceal her pain, she screamed before dropping to her knees. In desperation, she felt around feebly for a steady hold before falling into darkness.

….

River dropped to his knees, instant fatigue overcoming his body. Was this the sensation of defeat? The instant this strange couple had entered the cave; a strong force had overcome the magical components that controlled the events of the cave. All elements were defeated and the final door swung open, without further ado.

To think that the five representatives had stood guard to such a door for decades, just to be bested by a baby. A baby, still connected to a seriously injured mother.

The challengers did not the energy enough, even to help the woman. Dead off their feet, the defeat did not come empty handed; the physical and emotional pain was unbearable, having to be endured all together. Having never experienced such sensations, it felt all the more worse.

Despite their training in hospitality, it was apparent that the first victor was not to receive the welcome he deserved. No celebrations, no sparkles; River could not do much but depend on the child's cries to call for immediate help.

…

It was the sound of a wailing baby that woke him up. Residing in the unknown parts of his family domain, he knew that it was impossible for any fully grown human to appear past the security, forget a baby. After the dark, such cries were like explosions, a wake up call in this dead environment.

With slow moving fingers and hesitance, he opened the door to discover an unbelievable miracle before him.

…

Upon opening her eyes, she found herself in a blanket of familiarity. The warmth of an unseen fire and the quiet whispers of comfort greeted her. She looked up into the eyes of her long lost best friend.

"Tony." She whispered gratefully "Tony!"

She wept silently, hugging the young man beside her tightly. The man returned the gesture, hiding clenched fists at her condition.

"Shh, Carina. It's ok now, you're doing fine."

"My baby, Tony." Her voice was barely a whisper anymore, the strain too much. "They…they tried to…"

Tony silenced her mouth with a gentle kiss. Another word and he might lose control, in anger and in anguish at the way his best friend was treated.

"He's doing fine." He smiled, "He must be, or he wouldn't have transported you so easily to this place, right?"

He gestured her towards a corner of the room, where a baby boy could be seen sleeping peacefully.

…

Carina Natsume held her baby for the first time, feeling the tears start afresh. Only one week old and she could already sense his strength. After all, he did save them both from certain death.

Upon sensing his mother's distress, the child had instinctively summoned enough magic to teleport himself and Carina to a place of deep feelings. A cave within which 5 elemental challengers were ready for battle and guarded by, no other than her dear friend, Tony Marcell. A cave that, no matter what the circumstance, only allowed strangers to pass through after victory over all stages.

Blaze Natsume laid quietly in her lap, taking in the surroundings for the first time. He held the finger of his mother tightly, content with her idle rocking. To think that such a child could be placed victorious was miraculous, to say the least; completing this together with watching over an unconscious lady was unthinkable. However, it happened and Carina was placed at the front of Tony's house at the end of it all, to be tended to a few moments later.

The only side effects of such an event was the paralysis from waist down; the intensity of the event added to her dangerous pregnancy did not allow her to survive without a scar. The low measures of magical energy in her body could not cater to the unborn child and her body at the same time, so one had to be found lacking. The healing process became so slow after birth, to a point that magic stopped flowing below a certain point; but Carina preferred the lost of her legs rather than the loss of her son. The added fact that she could not step out of the cavern did not put her down, but instead gave hope to the idea of her son growing up safely.

Even if killed her, Carina was not going to allow Blaze to live the same life she did.

…

Tony watched the two for a while, before placing the dinner tray on a table for Carina later. To think that such a thing happened in his absence was not unbelievable; after all, they did come from a village of strong traditions. An opinion from one of the higher positions was all it took for villagers to kill an innocent person, whether it was right or wrong. On this occasion, it was Carina who became the scapegoat. Not even the most understanding elder would favour a slave against the village, meaning that this was a battle that she had fight all alone.

The mage walked away quietly. Being a mage of no known background, he had always been the outsider; always looking into the lives of the villagers. It didn't matter that he was raised together with their children, or that he contributed greatly to the economy; he was never welcomed. His great relief was the day of his escape, the day he finally found a piece of his family. A letter entailing his life and story, written by a living grandfather. In his excitement of such a fact, he had run to tell his best friend, Carina, a lone slave girl with differing eyes. Never once thinking to look back, he left the village to train with Marcelo, his relative and renowned magician. In later years, he lived to regret that fact.

That same guilt and regret came back tenfold, crushing him slowly. To think that he stayed close by and could not help; to think that his friend, his unrequited love, Carina had suffered under the hands of her own village and that he was not there to protect her was horrifying. What had happened that made the villagers so angry? Did it have any relation to the child in her arms?

Was this all related to the father of this child?

To Be Continued…

A/N – Hey guys! short chapter, but the next is coming up soon. Sorry if the name is not the same as before, as I have typed up many names for Blaze's mother within my drafts. So just tell me if I had typed up something different earlier.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

P.S- it may sound a little weird, but everything is gonna become clear, soon enough.