Fire is Blazing

Answers? Or more questions?

"So..." He started to say something but stop himself we were both struggling with what to say next now that we were being honest. I have a lot of things to ask as well, I didn't know what to say first or if I should ask the questions that has been running through my head like where he's been the whole time? What has he been doing? What did he go through that would make him feel so much pain in his chest? I take a glance his way his hands were clenching and unclenching so much that he puts them in his pockets. His face was a little pale his eyes meet mine for moment, but he looks away opening his mouth and shuts it once more. I look at him for so long I get a glance of an ice statue breaking into pieces and the feeling of fear and anger rises in my chest. I take his hand out of his pocket and hold it in both of mine and squeeze it gently,

"Hm." I look forward guilt hit me realizing that I just entered his mind without permission. "Sorry." I mutter,

"It's a lot harder than you thought huh." I nod a flush of embarrassment sneaks it away up my spine.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I wasn't trying too." He laces his fingers with mine.

"It's hard to keep to yourself in the beginning due to our proximity the link has its own need to connect together. When I had to keep it a secret that first year, I had to recite the gods' names to keep myself from entering your thoughts. Though when I was dealing with everything the council wanted me to work on it was easier to keep to myself being further from you, but I still could feel the more intense emotions from time to time." He pauses then looks down at me, "What did you see? Or was it more of a feeling?" I bite my lip not sure if I should say anything the pain he was feeling was from a ball of fear resting on his chest. 'He's been honest with me so I should do the same.'

"It was a broken Ice statue of someone with completely black eyes." Angelo's eyes go red with rage.

"That was the ice spy that had put the curse on my family we caught him after hours of interrogation we were able to fine the spell he used this was about half a year ago what you saw was me use my curse one last time before I got purified." The reason for the fear and anger I understood it,

"At least you were able to find the one responsible." I say halfhearted he sighs,

"Yeah, but the one that paid him do to it is still out there. We were never able to get the name, one day he had said something he should about you and I just lost it." He pauses and a look of guilt crosses his face I felt the disappointment in himself he didn't like hurting people it stuck with him everyone that had died by his hands. This anger starts to form in the bottom of my gut.

"I'm starting to see why Jason isn't fond of the council." I mutter. The look at his face softens and he smiles.

"Hey now I'm fine I never did anything I didn't want to, there are just some people that are bad people I helped stop them." His tone was dry as if that was something he recite to himself often. The grip on my hand tightens slightly so I give him a squeeze back.

"Still, you were too young to go and deal with those type of people. I can't believe they would put you in danger like that." He laughs,

"I was never in danger whenever I would go on missions, I was with the top guardians including my grandmother every time, I also got great experience so that when we are transferred to become the protector, I will be able to be one step ahead of the enemy." I sigh,

"How optimistic of you Angelo." Shaking my head I ask.

"What else did you have to do besides the on-the-job training?" I laugh a little it was a bit forced but if I didn't laugh, I'll get mad and if I get mad, I will want to tear the council members in half for putting him in harm's way.

"Well, I had learned to read the ancient language I know what kind of the technology was created to keep the barrier up and the different types of weapons we use in battle no surprise we have almost gone complete tech-weapons. I have increased my fire power thanks to the lessons I got with Adam Sigsson the head guard at the west gates, he is defiantly someone to meet a bit old school but quite useful. I spent all of fall and winter there last year."

"Why were you there?" He scrunches his face I take a deep breath doing my best to recite my potions herbs list, Cocille, Dacyn, Fageth, Firhusk, Larchgrowl,

"I was there for a mission and training the elders thought that it would be best to test some of the things we had found on the boarder. Mr. Siggmon had kindly taken me under his wing and had showed me the older type of magic that he learned, and it had really opened my eyes to the older ways that we have been forgetting the more we developed the magic into tech." His look hardens and I can tell he was leaving out some details, I tried to think of the potion's herbs names, so I didn't invade his thoughts there are things that he doesn't want to share, and I didn't want to find anything out about our time apart unless he tells me himself.

"Here I thought most if not all of the guards used the new Tech guns. Did you get to use one?" I ask to change topic he nods,

"Once it was just practice but Mr. Siggmon figured I should have the opportunity to fire one at least once in case I found myself in a position that I needed to use a weapon while at the border. Thankfully I didn't the one I used had a kick to it if I hadn't been in the stance, I was told to my ass would have been in the wall. Oh, I did start to read the weird books in my grandmother's library this summer, I only read a two so far." He sighs. "The are giant books. I don't know how your friend reads them." I give him a quizzical glance but there were only two people I think of as friends so he must have meant Clay,

"Yeah, Clay got his love for the old ways from his family they all think we are losing the true connection to our powers. He's planning to study ancient magic and history when we go to college. I think the two of you would be good friends." I wrap my arms around his and hug him close,

"Well, he is an interesting person I can say that for sure, he's also a smart ass." He chuckles a bit. "You mention that he isn't keen on council, don't mention this to anyone else but I've been thrilled to be working for them either. The elder of the council I don't mind but the newer members aren't the best. They are too relaxed they don't know how to keep things in order and don't grasp the urgency in to keeping the borders safe."

"I thought we didn't have any contact with anyone from the ice kingdom since..." I hesitate not wanting to mention his parents. "I heard we've been in an accord for a while what's the point of breaking it now?" I bit my lip becoming deep in thought the fire, the spy, was there only one spy? There were probably more, shouldn't I be informed about all this,

"We should probably have this conversation with your parents and the council, as much as I want to tell you everything there are a few things I haven't been informed on, Mr. Siggmon had his theory's but without proof he couldn't make a case for the council."

"What's his theory?" I ask when he didn't continue. He seems to take a long pause, "Do you not want to tell me?"

"Of course, I want to tell you but it's just a bit strange and the thing is after coming here I think he might actual be right." I look at him waiting for him to continued but, his eyes were focused on something off in the distances. After a few moments he looks at me and ask.

"What is up with the teacher?" He looks around doing a quick scan of the area something has him on high alert whatever it is, I start to look around, but I don't spot anything out of the ordinary.

"What?" I almost laugh. "I know you mean Mr. Gabriel, right?" No able to keep the thought of the young teacher from being sent to me. I am hearing his thoughts so clear in my mind this time it's a bit unnerving, but I could feel that they are being sent to me willingly, he was cautions of him, Mr. Gabriel doesn't fit with the rest of the people in the school, and he can't figure out why. I also felt as there was something special with the way the two of us were so in sync with one another. He nods as if he is answering a question and agreeing to my thoughts about us.

"I am just curious about him, I'm new what's the deal?" I hum giving it a real thought for once.

"Oh," I place my heads behind me and kick at some leaves, "He's a prodigy, only had four years of study and then became a teacher, he even skipped first year after taking the placements test. He surprised everyone."

"Where did he come from? Is he one of the main families? I don't know his last name everyone just calls him Gabriel." His list of questions started to come out all at once so waiting for him to finish I shrug becoming a bit uneasy thinking about it.

"He's never said." I said slowly.

"And everyone is okay with that?" He questions. I nod then blink that is weird,

"I... I never thought about that." I could feel the confusion twice as much since we were practically one mind at the moment, "No one has ever asked him."

"I have a really off feeling about that guy, he has such a different aura about him. Something about him doesn't add up and I don't get why no one has mentioned it, there's many holes in his story."

"Now you sound weird." I laugh dryly, the more I think about it though the more my head starts to throb. I wince and the sharp pain in my forehead.

"Hey, are you okay?" He felt my pain as well he rubs his right eye, and it twitches.

"No, I'm trying to make since of the facts but it's like my brain won't focus on those details." I sigh as the heat he was placing on his temple was being transferred to relive my pain as well.

"That guy it's as if he is eternally grey there has to be a spell around his or something. It's not normal how he fades into the background expect when he is around you then he has a red glowing aura as if he is doing magic when he is with you. Plus, the air around him is foggy." He folds his arms. "There is defiantly something wrong with him."

"What do you mean about aura?" I ask, he blinks and looks down at me,

"Right, so when I was training with some of the guards my eyes had experience fire up close, I wasn't hurt however my eye seem to be able to use the heatwaves that are coming off of your body and read the different color depicting what a person is really it's as if their personality can be read in the waves." He rubs the back of his head and was think about how to describe something most people don't notice.

"He's always been so nice to though." I mumble think back on the times I've spoken to him.

"I bet a lot of people have been nice to you over the years you were the first in over several decades to get their powers at fourteen being able to harness the amount of endowment you did at such a young age is unheard of. There can be a lot of reason for someone to get on your good side. It's a good thing you have friends like Raven and Clay they who are honest to a fault and really care about you. That teacher however he seems like he's plotting something the way he is able to walk around without people asking him the important questions, how did enter into the school without the proper screening." I roll my eyes he must have gone through the right paperwork,

"He really doesn't seem like that type of person, plus how else would he have gotten in. Let just ask him tomorrow, I'm sure he'll answer." I glance over he shakes his head clearly not convinced.

"Just be careful and don't let him touch you." I nod, his concern is real the feeling was washing over me that my stomach starts to become a ball of knots. "We're almost there." He says as we walk out of the forest then walked a couple houses down from the wooded area and we were at his grandmother's house. He knocks on the door twice and we waited a few seconds. When the door opened I did not expect to see someone completely different than what a normal grandmother looked like I should have known even without ever meeting her that she was not going to be a normal grandparent, the stories I've been told should have been the biggest indicator but there she stood putting myth to reality with her sharp gray eyes that were narrow and focus like she could stare into my soul, her mouth was a straight line but there are laugh lines, her hair was a dark brown like Angelos' but with white hairs here and there she had it pulled back in a ponytail, she wore a white tank top with a jacket zipped up halfway it had lots of pockets her pants were cameo and tucked into combat boots. She looks like she was ready to go hunting. No that's how she dresses. She is a Guardian. I look back at the tall woman who is now smiling at her grandson making her look a few years younger. She is about a foot taller than me and a few inches taller than Angelo. She hugs him in a tight embarrass and squeals,

“What are you doing here nepot?" She asked in a heavy accent. He was going to say something but stop when she looked at me, "Apheina???" My eyebrows scrunched together as I nod,

"Yes ma'am, nice to meet you." She was clearly surprised that I was here which makes since, it is school hours, and we didn't a pass for myself. Everyone who was a high-ranking guardian knew my situation.

"Grandmother, there's something I want to talk to you about." She looks back at him then me as she blinks and finally says,

"Come inside." She turns and walks deeper into her home we follow, and Angelo shuts the door. She motioned for us to take a seat on a couch across from her plush armchair. First, she glares at her grandson,

"I don't remember a pass receiving a noticed of your arrival. You will be in serious trouble." I scrunch my eyebrow.

"Why? I've been granted a normal life before I had to become a protector. If anything, I'll be the one in trouble for skipping classes along without getting permission." She sighs looking at me with eye full of worry spoke in a soft tone,

"Myod, you are a very important you know that so we can't take your safety lightly, there is still dangerous being out there that want to harm you. School is the safest place for you right now." I nod understand the situation I have been in for four years.

"I understand that, but the council told me that I am able to live like a normal magi while I am still in school, I know the rules but there are a few things we were hoping to get answers too and I could wait for the." She nods,

"Yes, however that is only if you follow the rules. What kind of questions were so important you left in the beginning of day?" She shifts in her seat sighing,

"Well, there are a few things that are on my mind but right now it's the bond, I was hoping one of your books had anything useful in them"

"Well tell me what happened first, did you lost it? or get weak? That's happened a few times when there was a trust problem between the two." Angelo shakes his head,

"No, actually she is starting to hear my thoughts." She was stoned faced as he began to tell her about the strange strong bond we share. "This morning, we were in class when she hears what I thinking it was like when I use to focus on her when I was on missions but vis versa. She hadn't known until this morning that was even a bond between us so after the bell rang, we went outside away from people to have the conversation. Once I explained everything, I asked her to try some of the things I use to do when I was testing our bond and see how strong her end was, she was able to feel what I felt, along with looking into my mind and see what I was thinking. I thought about the books you had and figured you might have something in your collection to help us get a good start on what is happening and wondering if you've heard of this accruing before." She doesn't speak as she takes in the news. I watched her as her face get intensely focus in thought a minute later, she gets up.

"Hold on I think I have a book to help share some information." She moved up and out of her chair on her thoughts as she responds walks out the room, I look at Angelo and he just shrugs one shoulder. A few minutes later she comes back with a giant grayish green book with the character sign for the number four. She sets it on the coffee table between us and flips it open to a random page then rotates it to me and Angelo,

"Place your hand on the left page and you place your hand on the right, now I need you to think warm thoughts such as a sunny summer day or a warm spa bath things that sooth you with warmth, then what is the question you want answer if it is in the book, it will get it for you." We did what she said and thought together about the bond between magi's and what is common when connected the pages started to flutter under our hands we quickly move them and they start to flip back and forth as it looked for the answer, it stops on a page after a moment and an little ball of purple fire comes from the book floats out of the spine I gasp as it forms into a girl in a long simple gown hidden under a cloak so her face was covered she was wielding fire three fire orbs were circling her until she shoots all three behind her as she spun around while crouching just barely dodging the ice spar the flew passed her a scream can be heard in the distances the flames themselves bounce off the back of the empty chair next to his grandmother, we stare as we watch her fight then a voice comes from a new flame that has appear the flame slowly turns into a man fire was all around him as if it was one with the person,

"Athena," The man calls the women's name. They were the two strongest fire wielding magi's; each element had gotten two people to get unimaginable strength their magic was enhanced thanks to the goddess Gratphy, she came in our most desperate time the Ice kingdom had us in a corner the great Ospen was losing the war the world was almost completely overtaken by ice. We were only a few villages left that surrounded the capital all the people that believed in unity and independent of oneself had been overcome by the lust for power from the Ice king poisoning the lands as he rode from town to village and by taking pity on us the Goddess had come to save us. She came down from the heavens with a large glow but soft landing the grass barely move as she landed in front of the high elder. That was the first day she granted Athena and Alzir their enhanced powers became stronger than ten men. Alzir came into view his cloak covering his face he was dressed in white the cuff links glistens in the fire they were the type that was almost bracelets on each arm the insignia flashing catching my eyes, the middle was a corset like belt that's held several knives and daggers underneath that was a red sash tied to hold his robe closed. We couldn't see his face clearly until Athena pushed his hood back the fire slowly dissipated as she reveals the slightly tan man's face and short brown hair his eyes were almost completely red as he looks at her, they were conversing telepathically the book was unable to give us the context of what was unspoken between the two since I assume it was never recorded. Once they were together their appearance was clearer, Athena was in a similar outfit, but she had a shorter cloak hers went just passed her knees were Alzir almost touch the ground. Her hair a fiery red tied in a ponytail it was a strong contrast to her red eyes as they switched to their normal color, she looked like a goddess they were a magnificent vibrant mossy green. 'He was her protector, her guardian they weren't supposed to fall in love, it was time of war they knew their focus should have only be on the war, but they knew everything about one another, no one knew that they were given the power of teleo until this moment in the war. It wasn't only to them that was given this incredible power six other the very same that were granted the magnification of their powers over the course of four-day one new powerful pair for each element, the one with stronger will power would become the protector who could hear, see, even feel what the other could to protect in this case Alzir was given the teleo doorway. Athena had prayed to the goddess to give her the same ability so she can protect him, but the goddess refused to grate her wish, it was impossible. They got married and started a family with two children one girl and a boy they were happy but one night the moon never showed it face as the sunset leaving them all in engulfing darkness, so worried about her partner Athena reaches out to him breaking the door down allowing herself to see where he was and had rushed over to him. That night the chosen guardians were in a race against the Ice kingdom who was forcing their way in starting from the south, each team took their post and created our boarders that protects the lands as we know it now. Water in the north, wind in the west, Earth in the east and the finally barrior the hot flames of fire. Once up the Capital and the few surrounding buildings were safe, and the Ice King wasn't able to continue forward pass the fire wall. The god Yhenar strips the ability from Athena she was no longer able to see into Alzir's mind however that didn't matter to her anymore since her and her family were safe and that was all that matter to her. The purple flame dies, I sat there in silence looking at the book that has gone back to its original form as words on paper,

"I'm sorry I'm still a little confused what does this all mean?" I asked straightening my back. I look at his grandmother hoping for an answer to see something I wasn't,

"It one of two things the first explanation would be that you two are the reincarnation of the two strongest fire benders to ever live or you have been granted by the gods to have this strong bond to finish bring peace to this nation." She said closing the book. "Can you go but this book away, second door on your right up the stairs, feel free to look around while you're at it. I am going to make a few calls then we should get you two back to school before you miss the rest of your school day. I trust that you two will head straight back without needing escorts." She hands me the book and gets up from her chair, Angelo follows his grandma into the kitchen while I get up and head upstairs looking at all the happy family photo's she has on her wall, mantels and tables. I smile noticing a photo of Angelo when he was ten, he was fishing. I finally get to her library and see the massive collection I heard about in stories when Angelo would come back during vacation. I look over the many first addition copies of all types off books. I spot the place for the book and out it back I look over the rest of the books in that collection noticing a few were missing.

"Apparently there are some books are not allowed to be out of the main hall and can't even have copies." I feel arms wrapped around my waist it seems the talk with his grandmother was over. I lean back into his warm embrace,

"She has a lot of books, I get why it would take so long to read them all but if they came out like a movie why would you only be on book three," He sighs resting his head on top of mine.

"I wasn't luck to have that cool magic trick with me when I was reading that only happened when I was with you." He hugs me tighter and hmm,

"We should start heading back to the school." I mutters I wish the school day was already over I didn't want to go back and get yelled at by god knows how many people. Then my stomach rumbles I turn to Angelo and pout,

"Do we have to go back right away I'm kind of hungry." I hug his arm knowing I will get my way if I did I always did even when we were little. I pout my lower lip and give him a sad look mixed with a plied tone. Finally, he sighs and mumbles,

"Fine." He pulls me down the stairs.