Dread Mage

“Have you wrapped up your business?” Sonder asked Vell as they walked back to her home.

“Not quite. I’ve done some preliminary work today, and then I’ll finish it later,” Vell replied.

“For you, that sounds a bit... lazy,” she teased.

Oh, Sonder, you wound me!” Vell exclaimed, dramatically placing a hand to his forehead. “It’s just that the fire turned out to be stronger and spread faster than I expected. I may have made a mistake burning the forest.”

“How much did it burn?”

Vell raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Just a small area. It was contained—or it was supposed to be. I underestimated the wind, but I managed to keep it under control. No lasting damage, I promise.”

Sonder was glad to hear that. “That’s a relief.”

Still, something weighed on her mind, and she struggled to express it. “I know you mean well, but your methods can sometimes be... reckless.”

“Reckless?” Vell chuckled, a glint in his eye. “I prefer to think of myself as experimental. There’s a fine line, you know.”

“A fine line that could lead to disaster,” Sonder replied, her tone softening. “What if the fire had spread beyond control?”

“Beyond my control?” Vell regarded her curiously. “Why are you saying this? You don’t usually question me like this; you usually trust my judgment.”

“I don’t know. I just have this feeling.”

Raising an eyebrow, Vell was intrigued. “A feeling, you say? Well, perhaps you’re becoming more perceptive. That’s not a bad thing.” He paused, contemplating her words. “Maybe it’s time I teach you something practical—like how to handle fire magic yourself.”

“You want to teach me fire magic?”

VVell grinned. “You’ll learn to control it, understand it, and—most importantly—extinguish it when necessary. Think of it as fire safety with a twist.”

As they reached her home, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the yard. Vell surveyed the area and nodded. “Perfect. We’ll start with the basics. Fire magic is all about intent and focus. It’s not just about creating flames—that part is easy; it’s about controlling them, which I kind of failed at.”

Sonder nodded. “What do I need to do?”

“Elemental magic isn’t about ‘closing your eyes and breathing.’ It’s about overpowering the spirit of the element.”

“Overpowering the spirit? Isn’t that a bit... dangerous?” Sonder asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

Vell waved his hand dismissively. “Only if you’re careless. Fire, like all elements, is alive; it has a will of its own. There are many ways to gain control. If you don’t want to overpower it, you can persuade or charm it—those are valid methods. But if you understand its nature, you can learn to bend it to your will.” He gestured to the open space in her yard. “Now, sit.”

Sonder complied, crossing her legs on the grass. She offered a quiet apology to the ground beneath her.

Vell joined her, sitting opposite, his expression serious.

“Now what?” she asked.

“Now, you must call to it. Reach out, both spiritually and with your own innate energy—your mana. It’s fortunate you’ve practiced this with Limerence; otherwise, you’d need to start there. Offer the fire your energy along with something else—your intent. What do you want from it?”

“I want to learn to control it,” she said.

“Yes, but how? Do you want it as a servant, a companion, a tool, or something else?”

Sonder pondered for a moment, the weight of his question settling on her. “I want it to be a friend—something I can work with, not against.”

“Good answer,” Vell said, nodding in approval.