Eternal Flame, Guide Our Bond

The forge and hearth of the fortress glowed like a small sun against the cold stone walls. Akari hovered near the rafters, feeling the heat wash over her, the hammering of metal striking a rhythm that almost matched her flickering flame. Apprentices darted between anvils, the air heavy with the scent of molten metal and smoke. Even for her, a spirit of fire, the warmth here was dazzling and alive, a stark contrast to the fortress’s cold and dead stone.

Mira was waiting beside a low workbench, wiping soot from her forearms. Shorter than the average woman, lean yet strong, she bore the sharp gray-green eyes of an elf and the sturdiness of her dwarf lineage. Her half-elf, half-dwarf features made her stand out even among the fortress’s uncommon non-human residents. The young flame was going to ask her heritage, but Noel had already addressed it a couple days ago. Akari noticed the way she moved with quiet authority, commanding the artisans around the hearth with a calm practicality. Her arms, though not bulky, flexed with controlled strength, and each movement was precise and purposeful.

“About time you showed up,” Mira said bluntly, her voice carrying a mix of impatience and practicality. “Noel, you’re late. And don’t think I’m going to go easy on you just because our little flame is here.”

Mira’s gaze softened as she looked at Akari. “You,” she said, gesturing at the flame. “Not a council toy, huh? Smart dream. Stay out of trouble, and don’t burn anything important for now here.”

Akari glowed with amusement. “I promise.”

Mira gestured for them to come closer. “Let me show you what we’ve been working on. And maybe remind you why your mother brought you here years ago.”

Akari watched as Noel’s expression darkened, memories surfacing. Mira’s voice softened. “Your mother brought you to my master to craft a new magical focus for herself. That was years ago. What you did not know is that she also asked Master to create yours as well.

The head artisan opened a small, decorated casket to reveal two focuses. "A wand and staff. For my practical test to become a true artisan, I finished your wand. Master... never got to finish the staff."

Noel’s eyes fell on the table where the wand lay. Its slim, elegant form seemed to hum with quiet potential. Akari floated closer, sensing its latent magic.

“Touch it, test it. It was made for you,” Mira replied. “Since you ended up here, the staff will be finished when the time comes. It’s a promise from me to you both.”

Noel picked up the wand, feeling its weight in his hand. It fit naturally, as though it had been waiting for him. Mira instructed him to repeat the standard chant all mages knew. He went through the motions:

"From Elarai’s essence flows the Twelve, from the Twelve flows all."

At first, nothing remarkable happened, until Akari drifted close, her flame brushing gently against his arm. A steady jet of light burst from the wand, and Noel staggered back, astonished.

Akari glimmered proudly. “See? It works perfectly!”

Mira’s eyes narrowed in approval. “It fits you. Now, do it again. With the spirit in mind.”

Noel hesitated, then with a small smile and a glance at Akari, muttered the words of his own making:

“Eternal flame, guide our bond!”

The wand flared brightly, alive and brimming with fire. Akari felt warmth deepen within her, a gentle assurance that their bond was unbreakable.

Mira gave a sharp nod. “That's your chant. Simple and nice.”

Akari floated closer. If she could pout in front of Noel she would. “We should make more chants!” she said suddenly. “I asked before, remember? But we never got around to it.”

Noel glanced at her, a small grin tugging at his lips. “All right,” he agreed. “We will use one that you make. Consider it official.”

Akari’s glow brightened. “Because we were so busy settling in, I didn’t want to annoy you about it,” she admitted, her perfect memory recalling the moment. She thought of possible words, syllables that could match her spark and Noel’s steadiness. Together, they started brainstorming, small bursts of playful experimentation echoing in the forge.

Mira interjected, returning to her work. “Don’t take too long. There’s a religious event at the end of the week. You two will probably patrol, so get to training!”

Akari blinked, curious. “A festival?” She chose to ignore the word training.

“Yes,” Mira said. “Noel probably knows which one I'm referring to. You can ask him later. First of all, we need to test the magical focus more!"

The pair spent the afternoon testing various maneuvers and magic flows. Akari experimented with minor flickers and arcs of fire, struggling to maintain control, while Noel grew more confident with the wand, the bond chant reinforcing their connection. Laughter and occasional sparks echoed through the hearth as Akari suggested new chants, each one more whimsical than the last, and Noel patiently humored her. Some were silly, some were practical, but all reinforced the trust and synergy between them.

As the day waned, Akari paused to look at Noel, realizing how far he had come in controlling magic with her nearby in just one day. The forge’s warmth and the steady hammering of metal seemed to embrace them, a quiet blessing. The artisans who took a break and always bowed to them until Mira would bark at them to treat them normally. The two got to know the rowdy craftsman until nightfall.

Noel’s gaze lingered on the wand in his hand, Akari glowing beside him. Together, they felt the spark of something more - not just magic, but a growing partnership, a bond, a promise. The first of many chants was now theirs, and many more would follow, each marking another step on their shared path.

The forge’s heat lingered even as they prepared to leave, carrying them forward into a world where cold was inseparable to skin. Akari finally learned how to warm Noel up so he wasn't shivering his way to his bed.

For the first time, Akari looked forward to tomorrow. Creating more chants, more shared magic, and to the festival where ice and fire would converge.