Chapter one: Little Flame

"Mother, I..." "No, stay quiet"

I started to scream at her to stay, to let me help, but no sound came.

That was the last time that I saw my mother, her green eyes staring into mine. her hand motioned for me to stay quiet, and replaced the stone.

The compartment was dark, and while I could see better than most in the dark, I still couldn't see very well. two flasks were on top of a sack, which sat on a traveling cloak

a couple minutes later the sound came back, the echoing howls shaking dust off the walls. Multiple thumping footfalls sounded out like drums.

after what felt like hours it started to quiet down. then a far away howl sounded, then another; however these didn't shake the walls.

I waited, and waited. the cold locket clutched to my chest. I reached out in front of me "Darkness burn away" and I closed my hand as a flame appeared in my hand, which then spread around me, illuminating the compartment.

the light didn't reveal anything new about the compartment, but showed the color and pattern on the molted green cloak and brown sack.

[Infuse the Locket with your flame] her words echoed in my head as the flame moved towards the locket.

the flames licked the locket at first, a if resistant towards it's heat. I started to concentrate on it more.

Mother had always worn this all the time, often showing it off in front of the guards and other adults. It was just a smooth silver locket, the chain was made of a strong metal. Flipping it over revealed the same smooth surface. There was no visible way to open the locket.

Eventually after concentrating on the locket for what felt like days, the metal warmed up to a less chilled heat. I tried using the flame again "Darkness burn away"

The flame lit the area once more, and traveled up my arm towards the locket. This time they entered. the plain locket started to show ornate symbols

A bow and a sword came into being on the locket, with a leaf hung behind the two. Vines of gold and bronze framed the sides, and the name of my mother appeared within the same vines.

The locket started to glow, and it started to change. The vines burned away, along with mother's name. the bow and sword lifted off of the locket into the air like golden ash, before fading into nonexistent. The leaf's form morphed and twisted in a strange dance.

The grief and sadness from seeing her name faded as the leaf's motion turned and twisted. All other thoughts faded as I watched it's dance.

I don't know when, but eventually the leaf turned into a small flame. Underneath the flame was my name.

Alexander Blaze.