The Six Mages, Part 1: Fire

== Notes ==
This is an urban fantasy, set in a world that’s basically ours but with magic, there are no humans, the main, “dominant” species is elves (which in this universe are basically humans with different appearances and powers), although other sentient species exist (probably, i’m an impulse writer mess so i haven’t really figured that out)
The magic types in this universe basically atone to the four elements, with fire being... fire, air being wind, and water being sea. The main notable exceptions are nature, dark, and light. dark and light are basically just extras i added because why not, and nature basically fills earth’s space, but is more animal and plant-focused.
== Story of Ekrei ==
In the beginning, there was only magic, There was no land, nor sea or sky. Only the mystical energies that we harness today.
But finally. . . Something magical happened.
No one is sure what happened that fateful day, some folk say it was the magic itself, banding together to form beings of light, others say it came from somewhere farther, from a universe beyond our own.
But what everyone does know, is that on one day in our universe, six beings came, they harnessed the energies like no one could, each wielding one of the cores of magic, they strung the clouds together, they sculpted the earth, they filled the rivers, they shaped our world. They built Ekrei
And they created us.
Beings with just ounces of their power, six races attuned to the six cores, built in the images of the six goddesses who started it all.
But one day. . . It all fell.
He was one of our own, a mortal, one with magical talent near the level of the Goddesses.
But this man did not use his gift for good, his heart was nothing like the six who brought him to life, for he held only hatred and malice.
He turned himself into something beyond imagination, a beast whose goal was only destruction. He used his strength to turn people against each other, he enslaved millions, he tore the Goddesses’ haven apart.
The Goddesses came for him, they saw what he was doing, they tried their hardest to stop him. They fought bravely for Ekrei and everyone in it.
But this man had learned control over every magic core, with every move those brave six made, he fought back with double the strength, he stole magic from others, he grew more powerful than ever.
But eventually. . . He was defeated.
Sealed away by the power of the goddesses, he was not seen again.
But not all was well, for the six saviours knew that one day, he would wake.
Weakened by their great battle, and desperate to see their enemy never return, they imbued all their power within six necklaces, hiding them deep within the far reaches of the world, in hopes that one day, six worthy ones would arrive to take their place.
To this day, the monstrous man of legend has never awoken, and the heroes have not been found.
Until now.
==Chapter 1==
In the city of Fysio, a young Fire-Elf was training.
Ember growled softly as a spiralling coil of water was summoned in her opponent’s hand, the jet of water lunged toward her like a snake, spiralling in intricate twists as it sped toward Ember.
Ember pressed her arms to her chest in an X shape, “limite flamaya,” she murmured, her clawed hands curled into fists as she closed her eyes.
Almost instantly, a barrier of scorching blueish fire went up around her, moments later, she heard the familiar hiss of steam from beyond the barrier, she opened her bright golden eyes and let the fiery wall drop.
The circular stone training room was now shrouded completely in misty steam, Ember could barely see three inches in front of her.
Dangit! Ember thought, she hadn’t realized just how long and fierce that jet had been, she had a feeling her opponent did that on purpose.
She stepped carefully through the steam-shrouded room, the vapour pressed in around her, moist, humid and horrible against her rough skin.
She was just about to step forward again, when a large, shining shape crashed into her, leaving her with a face full of water.
The next thing that barrelled into Ember was larger, heavier, and wearing an extremely smug expression.
“Impressive,” Said the pale-skinned Sea-Elf on top of her, “but maybe think next time you mix fire and water.”
“Hurricane,” Ember said, “I hate you.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” Hurricane replied, with Ember still pinned to the floor.
Ember hissed under her breath, “We’re done here. I’m done with you.” She grumbled, she flicked one of her clawed-fingers, and a tiny burst of sparks appeared in Hurricane’s hand, he yelped and shook it out, then glared at her.
Ember ignored him, she hauled herself up and headed for the door. she actually liked training. . . With anyone except Hurricane, who was both a Sea-Elf, and extremely smug.
She opened the door and walked outside, brushing her fiery hair aside as the wind fanned the flames, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hurricane follow.
“You know, I don’t know why you hate our training so much,” Hurricane said, catching up to Ember (much to her displeasure), “It’s really quite fun.”
Ember glared at him, “For you, you stupid Sea-Elf.” She growled.
“Oh, seriously? Are you discriminating against me right now?” Hurricane said.
“Plus, you’re annoying.” Ember continued, ignoring him.
“You only think that because I’m a better mage than you.” Hurricane replied smugly.
“Just go away. I’m the better mage. all you can do is find three different, showoff-y ways to chuck a ball of water at someone.” Ember said, looking extremely annoyed.
“Fine, fine,” He said, he shot her a grin, “See you next week.”
Ember sighed, she was not looking forward to magic training with Hurricane again, she wished she had never signed up in that magic training class, Canopy and Windstorm were great, but she hated being paired with the smug, horrible Sea-Elf.
 
I wish I was a real Mage, Ember thought, I just wish my life could change.
== Chapter 2 ==
Darkness.
That was all Ember saw.
Cold, hollow, inescapable darkness, stretching out around her in all directions.
She stumbled back, crying out, but the only reply to her shriek was the hollow echo of her own voice.
It was all just. . . a black void.
And suddenly. . . Warmth. Light. A courtyard full of strangely red fire that never seemed to burn the life around it, a golden temple embellished with rich platinum and silver.
”What in the name of the goddesses is this place?” Ember muttered, beginning to wander around. . . It was paradise, golden creatures chirped from the ground below, the fire never seeming to hurt them, red and gold tapestries hung on beautiful posts that surrounded the courtyard. She noticed that the temple seemed to connect to other courtyard, from what she could see, they were all mostly the same. . . But all atoned to the six different types of magic.
for once, in a place she’d never seen before yet felt like she should, Ember felt. . . At home.
Suddenly, the fiery, warm paradise around her twisted, the world seemed to stretch out of balance, and her surroundings went black again.
New images. A new scene before her, different, yet almost the same.
She was standing in the courtyard, just as before, yet. . . It was all different.
The strange, comforting fires were all out. there wasn’t any trace of little creatures and life scurrying around, The tapestries were all torn, with black marks forcibly stitched onto them that appeared to be the image of a slitted eye and claw marks around it.
And the temple. . . it was ruined. The red marble walls had all been dulled and chipped away at, pillars were knocked down and broken, the golden silk curtains nowhere to be seen.
”What happened here?” Ember murmured, horrified as she gazed at the wreckage around her, face contorted in sorrow and fear.
And then, for the second time, it all went blank.
She sat down and clutched her head with her hands, shaking.
Suddenly, a voice seemed to call to her, “Ember. . .”
She whirled around, “Who are you?!” She hissed, “Where are you!?”
”Listen.” The voice called again, it sounded. . . Desperate.
The voice spoke, ”He’s coming. . . He’s coming. . . The dark one is coming. . . Find the others- don’t let h—“ there was a shriek of dark agony.
”Who-!? What!? WHERE ARE YOU!?” Ember cried.
Silence answered her.
A crooked, horrible laugh broke the silence, she screamed and stumbled backward, “WHAT’S GOING ON!?”
And then, she woke up.
== Chapter 3 ==
It was just a dream. It was just a dream. IT WAS JUST A DREAM. Ember told herself as she walked slowly through the streets, jaw clenched.
It had been just yesterday when she had experienced the strange nightmare, and even now, she had no idea what it meant.
It didn’t mean anything. Ember thought desperately, I’m sure of it. I’m absolutely sure of it, stop getting so worked up!
But something told her that it wasn’t something her mind could have just conjured up. . . That perhaps, it had meant something.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she rammed right into another elf.
The silver-haired Wind-Elf yelped and jumped back, “Ah, sorry about that! I’ve been a bit out of it today.” She said.
”No, no, it’s fine—wait, Windstorm?” It had taken her a moment to recognize her friend and magic-training partner, but it was definitely Windstorm. Ember was sure nobody else had those same trusting platinum eyes or stunning silver mohawk quite like her.
“OH—It’s you. I’ve been looking for you.” She said, then lowered her voice, “Ember. . . I think we need to talk ‘bout something. . . Some weird stuff happened to me and Canopy yesterday. . . Come on.”
Ember nodded uncertainly, “Alright. . .” She said slowly, stepping after Windstorm and going into a quick jog as she saw her friend murmur the words to a spell under her breath, warp herself into a current of air and whisk forward.
Soon, they had reached an off-white house with mahogany-coloured roof shingles and a welcoming chocolate-brown door, trees, flowers, and bushes decorated the front yard, and busy birdhouses hung pleasantly from the balcony as tiny, furry animals scurried around below.
Ember smiled despite herself, this was their friend, Canopy’s house. Canopy lived in a family of gardeners, and she herself was an animal enthusiast, it made their house always a welcoming, pleasant sight to see, even in stressful times.
She was broken out of her thoughts by the sound of a whoosh of air, and Windstorm materialized beside her, startling her.
”Let’s go.” The other elf said, face set strangely grimly.
They walked up to the door, and Ember reached her hand forward and knocked, once, then twice.
There was a short moment of tense silence.
Then the door abruptly swung open, revealing an excited, slightly scared Nature-elf girl with pale green skin and long, forest-green bangs. her eager eyes were wide. This was Canopy.
”Eek! You girls are here!” Canopy said excitedly, although there was a hint of unsureness in her voice, “Come inside!“
Ember gave her a slightly confused look, then obeyed, stepping inside as Canopy parted from the door.
”Let’s take this to my room.” Canopy said as they stepped in.
”Alright. . .?” Ember said, still unsure. She noticed Windstorm nod, knowingly and grimly.
They each walked down the main hall until they reached a staircase, They climbed up until they had gotten to the top, and then entered a small bedroom through a dark brown door.
As she walked in, she saw Windstorm promptly walk over to Canopy‘s window, glance around, and shut it.
”So, guys, what’s with all the secrecy?” Ember tried to joke, though nervousness radiated through every bone in her body.
Windstorm scratched the back of her neck, “Just listen.”
Canopy spoke first, “Now, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but trust us on this. Something’s going on.”
”Something. . . Strange happened to me and Canopy yesterday night, and we thought we should tell you.” Windstorm continued.
”It was a dream.” Canopy said.
”Wait-hold up, a dream?” Ember said, she felt fear prickle along the back of her neck, but she ignored it, Snap out of it, this surely has nothing to do with. . . That. “You brought me over here for a dream!?“
Windstorm groaned, ”I know it sounds weird,” she said, “But I told you, just listen.”
Canopy nodded, “I was in this strange courtyard. . . It was like paradise, and there was this temple behind it. . . I’d never seen the place before, but it felt so familiar.”
Ember froze up, no. . . No. It can’t be connected. But Canopy was already continuing, not picking up on Ember’s paralyzed look.
“And then there was this weird flash of black—oh, the dream started with black, forgot to mention—and I was on the courtyard again—but it was all broken and burning down. And there was this voice, it told me that someone was ”coming”, and that—”
”Hold up, wait, stop.” Ember said, burying her face in her hands, “This is sounding too similar to be real. . . I had a dream like that, too.”
Windstorm, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a dark expression on her face, bolted upright, “So did I.” She said.
Canopy’s face had seemed to cycle through many emotions in a very short time, from what Ember could see, surprise, excitement, worry, and confusion.
”You too?” The nature-elf cried.
”Yeah—I did, and. . It-it was full of fire. . . I don’t know what this means. . .” Ember answered, shaking.
Canopy’s face was suddenly overwhelmed with sympathy, she walked over to Ember, placing her pale green hand on Ember’s shoulder, “Hey,” she said, “We’re here for you. . . Don’t overthink it.”
Ember nodded and closed her eyes, trying to resist her whole body from trembling.
And then she suddenly jumped, “Five.” she said.
Canopy and Windstorm looked at her with confusion.
”Five. There were five other courtyards surrounding the temple. I wasn’t paying much attention, but I saw it.”
Canopy nodded, “You’re right. . .” She murmured, “Looked like one for each type. . Six in total.”
Ember nodded, “My thoughts exactly.”
Windstorm was looking at the floor with a disturbed expression, looking like she was calculating something in her head, “There’s others. There has to be others who saw the same things.” She locked eyes with both of them for a moment. “Three down, three to go.”
== Chapter 4 ==
Ember’s friend group was. . . Disorganized, to say the least. They never really planned for things, they just kind of knew where to go and what to do.
This had never been an issue before, until Canopy and Windstorm broke into her house in the middle of the night.
She‘d been asleep when it happened—She’d woken up to soft hands shaking her shoulders and voices whispering around her.
And then she’d opened her eyes and found none other than Canopy. Standing over her, Windstorm beside her.
”WHAT IN THE GODS IS GOING ON!?” Ember cried, scrambling back as her head banged painfully against the bars on the back of her bed.
”SHH!” Windstorm cried, covering Ember’s mouth with her hand.
”We came to get you! To find the other three. . . whatever we are.” Canopy whispered.
”Wait, what?!” Ember said, though more quietly this time, “Since when did we decide we were doing that the middle of the freaking night?”
“When else would we do it!? We can’t let anyone know what we’re doing!” Canopy whispered.
”But why not?” Ember protested.
”Not my idea,” Windstorm muttered, crossing her arms.
”Because people never take teenagers seriously.“ Canopy answered reasonably, “And honestly, I doubt anyone would believe us on something as crazy and this—and thus, everyone would try to stop us.”
Ember buried her face in her arms, she had to admit, that was a good point—though, she was still grumpy that they’d woken her up.
But there was a much more important question that also needed to be answered.
”How did you even get in here?” She asked, “Did you two literally find a way to break into my house?”
Windstorm shrugged, “Picked the lock, deactivated the alarms using a special magic trick I’ve got.”
Ember stared at her.
”What?” Windstorm said, irritated, “I never told you what I do for a living.”
”I suddenly feel,” Ember said dryly, “like I’d be in a lot of trouble if we weren’t friends.”
“Guys, come on!” Canopy whispered loudly, drawing Ember’s attention again, “We don’t have all night!”
”Fine..” Ember said reluctantly, climbing out of her bed.
And then she realized a very crucial detail about what was happening.
”GAH!” Ember cried, “Go away! Let me get DRESSED!” She said, her cheeks turning a bright red with embarrassment as she turned away from the two of them.
”Ember,” Windstorm whispered impatiently, “We don’t have time for this! We can’t take too long! We gotta be OUT OF HERE before the sun rises.”
”I’ll be quick! I swear! I’ll meet you two outside.” Ember promised hurriedly.
”Fine. Five minutes.” Windstorm said, rolling her eyes. “Come on, Cana. Let’s go.” She then grabbed onto Ember’s bedroom windowsill, climbed up on top of it, opened the window, and left, Canopy following soon after.
(WIP)
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