A Summon

The letter arrived on an unassuming morning, carried by a guild courier whose stern expression and hurried footsteps set the tone before a single word was spoken. Fren opened it and read the contents. “A monster subjugation,” he said quietly, his tone heavier than usual.

Roseline peered over his shoulder, her silver eyes scanning the letter quickly. “Two weeks, most likely,” she murmured. “If they’re calling both of us, this isn’t an ordinary request.”

The word subjugation sent a chill down my spine. “You’re leaving?” I asked, trying to sound indifferent but failing miserably.

Fren crouched in front of me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “It’s just for a little while, Raizen. We’ll be back before you know it.”

I didn’t have a chance to respond before a familiar voice interrupted. “And in the meantime, I’ll make sure you stay out of trouble.”

Something in my stomach twisted. Celine had been a constant figure in my life for as long as I could remember, but something about her always left me uneasy. Maybe it was the way she teased without knowing when to stop, or the way her sharp eyes seemed to see too much. Either way, I wasn’t thrilled about being left in her care.

Roseline shot Celine a pointed look. “He’s not trouble. Just… curious. Keep an eye on him, but don’t smother him. He’s capable of more than you think.”

Celine smirked, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll treat him with the utmost care. Happy?” I crossed my arms, unconvinced.

The next morning, Fren and Roseline set out, their goodbyes brief but filled with quiet reassurance. I watched them disappear in the faded glow of the teleportation circle.

Celine wasted no time making herself comfortable, sprawled out on the couch with her boots propped up on the armrest. “Alright, kid,” she said, her tone casual. “What’s the plan?”

I stared at her warily. “The plan is to do what I usually do.”

“Which is?” she pressed, raising an eyebrow.

“Training,” I replied shortly, grabbing my wooden sword and heading outside without waiting for her response.

After a morning of sword practice, I found her cleaning her blade at the kitchen table, her posture relaxed but her attention sharp.

“Do flames have different colors?” I asked abruptly, the words tumbling out before I could stop myself.

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Different colors? Sure. Most flames are red or orange. The purple flames your mother casts are dark magic, so I’m not sure they’re original. But there are exceptions.”

“Like what?” I asked, leaning in slightly despite myself.

“Well,” she began, resting her sword against the table, “there are blue flames. They’re rare—only elder dragons are known to produce them. Blue flames are hotter, stronger, and almost impossible to extinguish.”

My eyes widened. “Only elder dragons?”

Celine nodded. “Even among dragons, it’s not common. Why? Thinking of becoming a dragon?”

“Just curious,” I muttered, backing away before she could ask more questions.

That evening, I sat on the patch of grass where Roseline usually taught me. Closing my eyes, I reached for the silver threads, focusing on the flames they so easily manifested. But this time, I didn’t visualize red—I pictured blue, vibrant and intense, just as Celine had described.

The threads responded, weaving together and forming the familiar black eye in my mind. The energy surged, rushing to my hand, and when I opened my eyes, the golden flame flickered on my eyepatch as usual.

But in my palm, it was the same red flame as always, steady and unchanging. I tried again, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as the threads stubbornly refused to shift. Time and time again, my efforts yielded nothing but the familiar red flame.

Celine’s words about elder dragons echoed in my mind, and for the first time, I wondered if I was chasing something impossible.

By the time the stars appeared overhead, I was no closer to understanding my abilities. The golden flame flickered and vanished as my magic dissipated, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Still, something about the challenge stirred a quiet determination within me. If flames could take on different forms, different colors, then there had to be a way to unlock that potential.

And with Fren and Roseline gone, I had nothing but time to try.