When You are Young

The summer heat was unbearable. The humidity did not help at all. I sit down cross-legged readying to teach myself some magic. Now that I sort of know the fundamentals of magic I plan to test somethings.

I close my eyes and imagine a ball of shadow. If I can summon a ball of light why not one of shadow? Maybe it would make the sun’s relentless heat a little more bearable. Not that it will help with the humidity, one can dream though. Before I can set my plan into motion it begins to rain. Perhaps I can try it out in a small room inside. I stand up and head inside in annoyance despite always liking the rain.

-- -- --

The autumn leaves are beautiful. I admire them for a time before I begin training with my perfect stick. I twist my core preparing to swing my practice weapon horizontally.

“Is that what you do with that stick?”, Viola’s grandmotherly voice interjects before I can even begin. I lower the stick to my side as I look over at the elderly woman.

“Yes.”, I answer quickly as I rest the stick upon my shoulder. “Are you going to take it from me?”, I ask with an innocent smile.

“I’m more surprised it hasn’t broke or molded.”, The caretaker responds with a non answer.

“I don’t recall ever seeing you out here.”, I say changing the subject.

“Probably because you always try to be alone in this clearing.”, The old woman retorts with a chuckle. Viola slowly lowers herself onto a nearby stump as she asks, “Mind if I watch you practice?”

“Whatever floats your boat.”, I quickly answer her returning to my practice stance.

-- -- --

The frost on the window really does show how poorly insulated this place is. Snow flurries about outside hiding the view of the scenery. No heading outside anytime soon unfortunately. So instead I head upstairs to an empty room.

I close the door of the room behind me as I sigh. The cold makes my breath visible, wish I had warmer clothes. Well time for thinking of some warm stuff.

I sit down on the cold wooden floor and shiver. I close my eyes and try to think of something warm. The issue is it is so damn cold! I rub my hands together trying to warm them up. Friction creates heat, heat creates fire. Fire, fire is hot. A lighter or match would be nice right now.

I take a deep breath and begin to think about a flame in my hands. I open my eyes to the sight of a warming flame in between my hands. It feels, nice and toasty. I kind of want s’mores now.

-- -- --

The cool refreshing breeze flowing into the kitchen marks the coming of spring. Finally no more snow, I really hate snow. Viola is gathering the ingredients for the biscuits while Dandelion tosses the lit string into the oven as usual.

“Why did you decide to work at an orphanage? Instead of something like a court magician?”, I ask Dandelion as I grab a mixing bowl. The young adult looks at me for a moment before she begins to walk over to the counters in the back of the room.

“Not a whole lot of courts around here.”, Dandelion snidely remarks as she opens a cabinet. “But seriously-”, She continues, “I felt like I could make a difference here.” The caretaker grabs out a bushel of apples before adding, “Not to mention this place saves a lot of supplies.”

Huh? Dandelion is not wrong when I think about it. She knows how to ignite tinder so they do not really need flint or matches. She also knows how to heal at least minor wounds. Wait, does this place even have medical supplies? Is that a thing in this world?

“Lydia.”, Viola’s calling of me brings me back to the kitchen. “Can you help Dandelion dice up and smash the apples?”, The elderly woman asks me. I emphatically nod my head. Finally, I get to use a knife!

-- -- --

I look around the usual clearing as the heat of the summer sun causes my body to be drenched in sweat. Nothing new, but I have a feeling that I am being watched by someone. Shrugging away that feeling, I sit down and begin to try to meditate.

“Well well look who it is!”, Darren’s asinine voice breaks me out of my thoughts. No duh Sherlock, I am almost always here during our outside free time. Dumb ass.

“What do you want?”, I respond to the idiot as I open an eye to the sight of him and his two cronies. Those two will get their own personalities eventually, hopefully. “I’m not really in the mood for playing right now.”, I add as I stand to my feet preparing myself for something to happen.

“What do you even do out here?”, Cosmos inquires as he stands to his full height, towering over the rest of us in the orphanage.

“Something weird probably.”, Quince mutters loud enough so that I hear the insult. The way these three are here and insulting me to my face makes me assume that something is up. A bad thing is going to happen, I can feel it. Darren walks over to me as his two flunkies begin to circle me on both sides. Cosmos has reach to his advantage, while Quince still has not hit a growth spurt he is quite muscular.

“You gonna tell me what you want with me?”, I ask the trio once again as I eye the positioning of them.

“We’ve been wondering what you were up to.”, Darren finally answers as he walks up to me. When did Darren hit a growth spurt? He is the same height as I am now, I remember being taller than him since I got here.

“I’ve been training.”, I bluntly answer the asshole with an annoyed expression. Instead of responding with words, Darren simply pushes me. Unexpected, he has a lot of strength for a ten year old. I am pushed into the waiting arms of Quince as he pushes me to Cosmos before I can get my bearings. This goes on for a time, how long I do not know. That is until-

Everything goes gold...