Deg is small for his age being a slight hundred pounds on his five foot five frame. He lanky and awkward in his movements. He had the misfortune of wanting to become an ash bringer like his father had been before being killed defending king and queen. He hadn’t been told much of the battle, but his mother said that he distinguished himself among those who had served before. A statue had been erected in the hall of heroes, which Deg visited often. Several times just after the funeral his mother found him sleeping at its feet. Now he’s fifteen and all the others who were looking to join where much more muscular, faster and didn’t share his predilection for clumsiness.

After walking along the Rastial lake for a ways he decides to go home. It’s florescent blue water always gives him a sense of calm when he needs to think. Falguard the city in which he and his family lives is one of five city states belonging to the Shal’nar. Each is devoted to a the study of a deferent aspect the powers they’ve developed. If a child is born with a deferent power than his or her parents, they’re given to a family in which ever city is devoted that power. Some may see this as cruel but who better to raise and train a child than those that understand their powers. Most days Deg could avoid confrontation with the other students hoping to get into the academy, but not this day it would seem. They picked on him daily because they see him as frail and the frail do not become ash bringers, they serve them. Or at least that’s what the others have said. Deg’s father always told that to become an ash bringer you had to purge yourself of your weaknesses so maybe they were right.

Deg’s attention comes back to his current situation, Klith and his friends were standing by the fountain of Dathid first king of Falguard. If Deg wanted to get home, he had to pass it or go the long way through the alleyway’s. All he could hear however was his mothers words, “You must face your fear to conquer it.”

With that he breathed deeply and thought his father facing down an army, his rage boiling, hands aflame as they spued fire melting metal, and turning flesh to ash. Deg marched with purpose determined to not be hindered by Klith.

Azea watched from the shadows as her son faced his fear the boys that had been tormenting him for being small. She wanted nothing more than to wrap him in her arms and tell him he was perfect as he is. But codling him would not bring resolution, and interference now would only make things worse. So, she watched and waited. “Hello Deg,” Dathid says with a vicious smirk. “Dathid,” Deg says as he continues past the three boys. He’s ten feet from them before Dathid says, “Are you still planning on applying to the academy then?”

“Yes, but I don’t see how that is any of your concern.”

“It is my concern. I don’t want any weaklings making our proud traditions diluted.”

“The only one diluting those traditions is you Dathid, your need to be superior, be higher than those around you. One day it will prove to be your down fall.” Deg spoke with his chest up with conviction. He was so much like his father in that moment the odds stacked against him, yet he stood his ground. Dathid’s face grew hot with anger and the three boys set upon Deg hitting him, spitting on him, before dragging him over to the fountain and tossing him in. She was about to move in when one of them lifted a rock overhead. But then two city guard shouted from down the street. “You there put down that stone, and stay right where you are!”

They instead run but stupidly they run in her direction. She steps out of the darkness she pushes her cloak to the side and draws her Dirka blade. Resembling what humans call a foil. But it is twisted in a spiral pattern allowing you pierce and tare the wound causing it to bleed more. Hers was a special gift from her husband, as she draws it green electricity arcs lighting her face. “Stop in the name of the law!” she commands.

The other two guards quickly apprehended Dathid and his friends. “Thank your for the assist captain.” She nods and the boys are taken away. Azea walks over to her son who is still trying to get out of the fountain and offers him a hand. “Are you ok?” she asks. “Yes, I think so,” he says with his bottom lip split in two places. “How much did you see?”

“All of it.”

“But you didn’t stop them, why?”

“Because you needed to face your fear.”

“How did I do?”

“Your father would be proud, as I am. You’re going to be a good ash bringer and I’ll wager an even better man. Now come on you need to get changed we have work to do.”

“What do you mean the shops are closed today?”

“I’m going to train you. Now that you understand what it really means to be an ash bringer you need to train. You have tree years to prepare for the academy exams and your going to use every minute to do so.”

10 years later….

It had been an arduous ten years, but Deg now stood in front of the whole kingdom of Falguard in his newly minted ember colored robes. he had a single brass pin on his collar which is in the shape of a flame. This is to indicate that he graduated with honors. His mother beams at him from her seat at the front of the audience as he is awarded his new title ASH BRINGER.