Firebrand Read Free Page B

Damn it, how should I know? ... I know the boy is smart, Elianee, but he lacks any sense. I tell you! What do we do? ... Yes, I know, dear....”
    Kaijin managed to tune out the voices and continue reading. After the sun had set, the natural light ebbed from his room. With no other source of light available, Kaijin felt his eyes grow heavy. Eventually, he slumped over his desk and drifted off to sleep.
    “Kaijin ... wake up, dear.”
    The sound of his mother’s voice and the feel of her gentle touch on his shoulder roused him from sleep. Kaijin lifted his head from his desk and stared down at the open page of the thick tome, uncertain of how much time had passed. He scanned the room with sleepy eyes before acknowledging his mother and smiling softly at her. The dim light emanating from the candle she carried outlined the soft features of her face.
    “Mama,” he mumbled, “am I still in trouble?”
    Elianee set the candle on the bedside table. “No, dear.” She gently combed her fingers through his hair. “Your father and I thought it might be ideal to enroll you in a mage school. What do you think? Would you like that?”
    Kaijin relaxed under his mother’s touch and pondered her question. “M–me? A m–mage?” He paused, his eyes drifting to the candle. “I ... I don’t know. Will you and Papa be mad if I don’t learn magic?”
    “Of course, not. We were only thinking of your best interests.”
    Kaijin kept silent, his eyes scanning the complex words in his book.
    “You are a bright boy, Kaijin,” Elianee continued. “You know, much of my family studied magic at a young age, too. It is a common occupation amongst the people of Ankhram.”
    Kaijin peered up from his book. “Really? Are you a mage too, Mama?”
    “No.” Elianee smiled briefly. “Your grandfather, Ashai, was a master of the arcane arts. He tried teaching me when I was your age. Unlike you, I lacked the interest. But that is another story.”
    Kaijin tilted his head to the side, furrowing his brow.
    Elianee chuckled and ruffled his hair. “You don’t need to decide now, Kaijin. Perhaps it may be something to consider when you are a little older, yes?”
    “All right, Mama.”
    After hugging and kissing him goodnight, Elianee picked up the candle and walked out of the dark room, leaving him to his thoughts.

II
     
    Five years and some months later, the night came in which the Sora family shared their final meal together. Kaijin and his younger brother, Rorick, now almost six years old, endured another of their father’s interminable lectures.
    Kaijin pushed his empty plate aside, half-listening to the speech. Propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin atop his hands, he stared at the lit candle next to his plate.
    I hope it won’t be too hard, he thought, his heart pounding. I can’t wait to come home again so I can show Mama and Papa my magic!
    His eyes settled on Rorick, who ate slowly, appearing uninterested in the lecture. A curious boy whose own imagination was larger than his tiny, thin body, Rorick had also shown interest—though, mild—in the arcane arts. His curiosity, however, seemed to mostly stem from imitating Kaijin.
    “... and I certainly expect you boys to behave yourselves.” Ramon directed his hard gaze at Kaijin. “That means leave the damn candles, fireplaces, stoves and anything else that’s hot alone.”
    Kaijin snapped out of his silent musings and regarded his father.
    “Yes, I’m talking to you, Kaijin!” Ramon continued. “You’re the oldest. You need to set a better example.”
    “I do, Papa! I give him all my old books to read once I’m done with them.”
    “Well, those damned books aren’t helping!” Ramon scowled. “I had to stop him the other day from burning himself with the candles.”
    Rorick sat up in his chair, looking at his father with fear-filled eyes. “Papa! The fire hurt bad! I promise I won’t do it no more!”
    Ramon sighed. “Well, it’s good to know