Fragment

Today was a glorious day. The sky was calming and clouds of pure white dotted the baby blue expanse. The nimble white puffs peacefully colliding together as the spring wind settled upon the rolling green hills that encompassed Rain Manor. Milling about the open fields, small critters gawked upwards in awe as a dozen Blue Jays soared overhead.

Closer to the manor, wild grass was trimmed, the huge wooden gates were coated a deep brown, fountains were scrubbed of moss, walkways were swept of dead grass, and the ten foot cobblestone wall was inspected for cracks.

The Manor was in full swing, employees scattered about the many acres that the estate was set upon. Sweat dripping from foreheads and handmade fans cooling off the hard work that was due by noon. On closer inspection however, many of the groundskeepers' faces were stale, no smiles beaming as they focused on making the giant Mansion and it's gardens as presentable as possible.

As they worked, fluorescent butterflies fluttered above flower beds, their ruby wings scattering the rays of the sun. The spectacle was amazing, and a young lady smiled as she saw them, her attention drawn to their beauty. For a moment a wave of calm washed over her, but it was quickly gone as the clattering of hooves appeared in the distance.

The others around the women snapped toward the offbeat sound, anxiety swallowed as they dropped what they were doing and began to move with haste. In a few short minutes, the many yard workers had made themselves scarce, disappearing into small cottages toward each end of the Manor.

The sound of horses grew louder, and puffs of dust edged over the horizon. A crested white egg shaped carriage jolted as a wheel caught snug on a small hole.

Inside, the sole individual lurched forward. Her black silky hair moving ever so slightly. Crimson lips formed into a frown and a gloved hand quickly moved to fix the few locks that fell out of place. Dark ocean eyes glared ahead, a short scoff escaping the woman's mouth as she scooted back against the pink cushions.

"Harold if you would so kindly drive the cart more carefully, I would hate to have to kill another one of your daughters."

The aging man situated outside of the cart heard her words loud and clear. He tensed, unsure if she wanted him to answer or not. The man held his breath, a shaking hand wiping sweat from his cheek.

"Is that understood?"

Harold's spine erected as he nodded despite no one able to see him, "Of course Madam Rain, I apologize for my idiocracy and will refrain from making the mistake again."

The air grew still, Harold heaving for air as he realized he had stopped breathing altogether. He waited patiently, but no words came to grant him a semblance of calm. For an entire minute he was tense, his eyes darting toward the curtain that had been drawn over the cart window.

"Good." Madam Rain finally said, glancing toward the window beside her. Eyes cold as she saw her Manor come into view. She had shown no emotion, instead, simply nodding.

Her Manor was situated atop a hill, a grand building of wood and stone looming above a maze-like garden and a small stream of water that cut directly across the open courtyard. A beautifully constructed bridge cast over it.

The wooden gates swung open, their grand figures moving quickly as the carriage came closer. The white manes sneered as they pushed harder to pull Madam Rain over the last hill. Now, it was a straight shot across a dirt path, and Madam Rain would bless everyone with her presence.

As the cart pulled closer, the noise had made it past the mansion's wall, falling on rounded ears. They perked up, and a younger man sitting at a desk grimaced. He was handsome, his steel gray hair slicked back, and his attire luxurious. Blue eyes scrambled as he stacked the papers in front of him. For a moment he stood as still as a statue, contemplating a plethora of emotions that ran through him. He sighed heavily. The man then glanced around the library, noticing an array of papers and open books scattered about.

"Hella!" He demanded as he stalked over to a long brown desk.

As he waited, he fixed his white suit, a red tie tightening as he mumbled to himself. Within seconds, a young woman in a light grey dress appeared. She pushed up her copper rimmed glasses and bowed, "Yes Lord Sky." Her blonde ponytail bouncing as she spoke.

The man rambled a few more curses as he dusted off his outfit. He glanced toward the woman and started toward the exit, "Clean this place up, it seems my wife is here."

Hella swallowed hard, her entire body shaking as she surveyed the room. Without hesitation she nodded, "I'll begin right away Lord Sky!"

Lord Sky, or better known as simply Aarin, left with haste. He found himself in a long corridor, dozens of rooms to his right and dozens of beautiful arched windows to his left. Aarin took a single gesture to see the open gates outside before continuing forward. Although as he went, he knocked on one of the random doors.

There was a loud bang from the other side, and after a few distasteful noises, it finally opened. The figure that appeared was an older woman that Aarin knew as Anin. She was the caretaker that looked after his son. Glad he had remembered the right door, he spoke firmly, "Go get the practitioner and have her at the vacant room on the second floor immediately. Madam Rain decided to curse us with her presence."

"Oh" was all Anin could manage as she fixed her sloppy bun.

Aarin chuckled to himself, "Oh indeed, I pray for Warren. Most of all though, I pray for his future."

Anin nodded, "We all do Lord Sky. I will get Mrs. Reina as quickly as possible."

Aarin smiled at her and watched as the aging woman fast walked ahead of him. If not for her manners, he could have swore the woman would have sprinted full tilt. Of course though, Anin would never do something so exhausting in front of him, even if he cared little for formalities. Discarding his aimless thoughts, he made his way through several long hallways. The architecture was amazing, and the white wallpaper was vacant of any wear and tear. Aarin could swear that there was not a single spec of dust anywhere, and as he ran his hand along the wall, he inspected his fingers to no avail.

He really did hate his wife.

However, he had no room to voice his opinion further as he made it to the ornate doors that marked the entrance of the manor. There was not a single soul in sight, and the silence had suffocated him as he walked. Aarin grimmly reached for the door, but retracted his hand as he heard a familiar sound. A humming that belonged to a small figure that skipped toward the balcony. Despite his displeasure of seeing his wife, Aarin smiled big as he looked up. Above him, a small boy peered over the railing.

"Hey dad!"

Aarin kept his stupid smile, "Hey son, whatcha doing up there?"

The gray haired boy grinned a tooth filled grin, chubby cheeks squishing his eyes to a squint, "I'm looking for Anin after she ran away. A second ago she came running up the stairs! Oh you should have seen it when I scared her! She was like "Ahh"."

Aarin put his hands on his hips, "I bet! Did she do the thing?"

The boy nodded furiously, "Yeah she did the "Oh heavens!" thing dad!"

Aarin covered his mouth as he stifled a laugh, enjoying the innocent tone of his son. However, he suddenly heard a loud bang on the other side of the heavy set doors. He knew immediately it was the shutting of the carriage. He smirked and waved at his son, "Well Warren, go ahead and head to the last room on the second floor, I'll meet you there."

Warren leaned a little too far over the railing, "Is it a race?"

His Father nodded, "Better hurry, I might use Magic to cheat ya' know."

Warren's small blue eyes bulged as he frowned, "Hey no fair! I'll beat you anyway!" The boy stuck his tongue out and took off full throttle away from the balcony that overlooked the entrance. Aarin loved his son deeply, and the exchanges they had always made his day, and when his wife was around, his son usually made his week. The thought reminded him quickly of an incoming visitor.

The doors slowly swung open, sun rays bouncing off the marble floors. "Oh heavens…" Aarin whispered to himself.

"What was that honey? Oh you look dreadful, white is not your color." Madam Rain stalked forward, her purple dress snug around her seductive figure as she passed Aarin in strides. She came to a stop just in front of the stairs that split two ways and led to the second floor. Her face was the cold familiar gaze he had come to spite. She even wore his least favorite lipstick, although he didn't linger on her appearance long as he cast his gaze elsewhere.

Madam Rain did not smile, instead, she frowned. Most would be glad to be home, but her expression told a different story.

"Where is the boy?"

Aarin answered with his own frown, "You mean Warren, our son. I would love it if you used his name sweetie." The man started toward the stairs, "I'm not sure if you remember, but today is his Affinity Attunement day."

Madam Rain noted his distasteful tone, "I did not ask you what day it was, answer the question Aarin."

Harold walked in with a long sigh, accompanied by a few other workers. They entered the Manor, only for them to freeze in place. Aarin glared at his wife, and she rightfully glared back. A thick silence falling upon them. Stress marinated in the air as Aarin' hands balled into fist.

Then, the silence was cut off by an immature laughter, "Dad I totally beat you there! So I came back to-" his words were cut off. Not by anything someone said, but the sight of his Mother. Her beauty was glorious as usual, and Warren knew better than anything to be behaved in her presence. He snapped both arms down to his side and bowed,

"Hello Mother."

Madam Rain wrenched her eyes off her husband and onto her son. She surveyed every inch of the boy, different expressions crossing over her face.

"It's Madam or Lady Rain, not Mother."

Warren swallowed hard, "Yes Madam Rain."

Aarin was livid, but he kept his face steady as he watched Warren flinch at her words. The boy was only ten years old, so such formality should be avoided, especially in the presence of his own Mother. But of course, Madam Rain had hatred for everyone, her son was no exception. He dug his nails into his palms, mana swelling beneath his skin. If he wanted, one spell and he could put her in her place. Remind her who was the more powerful Mage of the two. For a moment he weighed the idea, but he grabbed his anger and shoved it down. He was not the person to lash out, and he definitely didn't want to do anything in front of Warren. He would hate to scar the child anymore than his imprudent Mother already had.

So instead of any remarks, he simply spoke, "We should get his Affinity Attunement over with. Come on Warren let us go."

Madam Rain held a pale hand up, her purple nails reflecting the chandelier light, "Well Aarin, the reason I came after all was to see our son gain his Affinity."

"Great." Aarin whispered to himself. Usually she came to check on the treasury and pick up mail that she had yet to see. Those being the only reasons she ever came home because she was oftentimes busy up keeping the small cities she governed. The StillWater Region would honestly fare better without the constant taxing and executions that Madam Rain had carried out without hesitation. Of course, Aarin was powerless because of the Marriage Bout that he undoubtedly was defeated in. It was a ceremony every noble husband and wife had to do, a duel that decided who would be the next head of the newest generation. Aarin had been weak on that day, as Madam Rain had been five years older when the engagement had been arranged.

If they had the bout right now, Aarin would win no doubt, but he already knew she did it on purpose. Twenty year old Aarin was naive and looking to get out of the waiting line for his own Father's inheritance. So he found the third daughter of the Rain family. Only to be taken advantage of.

Now, the witch before him owned everything he had built, leaving him with the senile task of hiring the groundskeepers and issuing laws. That was all he did, the last decade of his life spent in the library to bide his time. Now, Warren had reached ten, the year he would be granted his Affinity.

The sole thing that determined the rest of his life.

Another scheme Madam Rain had most likely plotted. Aarin had the Air Affinity, and she had the Water Affinity. Meaning that Warren would take after one of them, or in rare cases have a Shifted Affinity. The shifted affinity most likely being an Ice Affinity or even a Storm one. Aarin hoped he was lucky enough to get the latter, as if he did, he would surpass most in the Kingdom of Iro. He would also undoubtedly surpass his spiteful Mother and no longer answer to her.

Aarin raised an eyebrow, Is that why she is here, to decide if Warren was worth raising anymore? He thought to himself. She wanted to see if her heir had enough potential to take her name. The man flared with anger again, thinking of the vile things her poison tongue might say.

"Well let us go honey."

Aarin broke his aggression the second it appeared, his face stale as he made his way up the stairs. Warren fell in line, following his Father without another word. Madam Rain took her time and pulled her dress up as she scaled the stairs. The trio awkwardly walked in silence. The air was the same stressful silence that usually accompanied the three when they were together.

Aarin threw an assortment of side glances toward his wife, chiding her as she stayed well away. How can someone be this horrid?! He thought. However, a slight nudge to his hand had him looking down. Warren was there, a goofy smile as he walked on his tippy toes. He cupped a hand around his mouth.

"I totally beat you."

Aarin had long decided he would do anything for his only son, and after the small jab at him his heart fluttered. They had conceived the boy after a party when he had gotten drunk on one cup of ale. Later he had put the pieces together to understand Madam Rain had drugged him and took advantage of the situation once again. Now, Aarin would never drink or eat when she was in the house. If she wanted more offspring he would not bat an eye and allow her to cheat. He could care less since he already had Warren.

The ten year old stuck his tongue out as they rounded a corner toward a door that sat amongst the far wall. Aarin smiled, but habit made him quickly wipe it away. Just knowing his wife was behind him had tanked his ability to even smile. The vile woman was a curse herself.

Before long, they had reached the small door, and Aarin gripped the silver handle. He waited in silence as the clack of Madam Rain's heels grew closer.

"You may proceed honey." She said as she stopped and waited. Her eyes were glued to Warren, a look of disgust painted on her face. Aarin ignored it and opened the door.

"Oh! You are here Mr. Sky, I'll go ahead an-" the feminine voice stopped as the trio appeared inside.

The room was empty, white walls and a simple red carpet all that was present. Except, a short young woman in a brown robe was standing in the middle, a single item in her hand. She had long brown hair that licked her shoulders, gold circular glasses that stood above hazel eyes, slightly tan skin, and soft features that screamed she was a little overconfident and immature. Though, those details dissipated as she bowed aggressively,

"I apologize, I did not know the head of the estate was here. I haven't even greeted you Lady Rain."

Madam Rain frowned, per usual, as she noticed the few dust particles in the air, "It is fine as I have just arrived. However, do not grant me such a bashful tone or we will have complications."

The female Mage nodded and bowed again, "I apologize once again Lady Rain."

The witch smirked, "At least you can understand you were at fault, now let us hurry and get this over with."

Aarin and Warren stood idle, watching carefully as the two conversed. The Lord was just glad it did not turn sinister like all the others. Madam Rain had a lot of sway in the Royal Council because of her Father . So much so, it had led to the entire destruction of one Region.

Despite a few distraught memories, Aarin put a hand out, "Hello Earth Mage, it is nice to be in your presence."

The girl placed the clear orb she had been holding on the ground, shaking his hand loosely, "It is nice to be in your presence as well. My name is Reina."

Madam Rain sighed, "Enough of the chatter, Attune the boy."

Reina gave her a side glance, the way she so casually tried to rush an important part of her child's life was off putting. She had heard rumors of how exaggerated Madam Rain was, but of course no one ever had evidence if it were true.

"Of course." Reina squatted down and put both her hands out. "Warren can you come here?"

Warren had been silent the whole time, his face stale as he simply nodded. He glanced at his Father, who threw his thumb up to grant assurance. With the gesture, Warren gathered his courage and sauntered forward.

"Now Warren do you understand what we are going to do?"

The boy smiled, "Of course, we are going to find out what Affinty I have so I can begin Magic prep for the Academies."

Reina smiled and took his hands in hers, although they were almost the same size, "Great answer, but do you know exactly what we are going to do?"

Warren donned a confused look, "No, I was never told what would happen."

Madam Rain didn't like that, her eyes drilling into her husband. Aarin simply smiled back, ���Warren loves surprises so I wanted to keep him in the dark. No fun in knowing where the path leads to."

"There is no fun in wasting my time Aarin." Madam Rain hissed as she scowled at Warren in disappointment.

Actually there is. Aarin said within his head.

Reina fake smiled at the two before going back to their son, "Well that's fine so don't worry too much. What's going to happen is you will place your hands on this orb here. After I release my raw Mana it will connect to your Mana Core inside you. After that you will experience a vision of your element Affinity. If it's water you may see the ocean, or if it's fire it may be a volcano."

Warren really didn't like the sound of that, "A volcano, that sounds scary."

Reina answered with a slight chuckle, "Don't fret, it's all an illusion granted by the Attunement Orb. It will seem real but won't be. Now, can you name me the Affinities?"

Warren blinked a few times in silence before answering , "There um, there is Air-" Aarin smiled at the mention of his Affinity first.

"Air, Fire, Nature, Earth, Light, Darkness, Lightning, and Water."

Reina clapped silently, "Good good, you are a smart boy afterall."

Aarin grinned as Warren mentioned water last. Deep down he was glad his son already had scorn for his Mother. It would help him all the better to become independent from this prison.

Reina's ears perked up as her inner teacher flared for a moment, "Do you know any Shifted Affinies?"

Warren jumped at the question, "Of course! There is Storm, Ice, Rage, Obsidian, Star, Woodwork, and ummm…" he trailed off as he tried to think of the others. He eventually rested in silence, having trouble recalling the last few.

Reina giggled, "It's fine if you don't know all of them, there are four more but you got a lot already."

Warren beamed as he was praised, and Reina reacted with her own. The two went on for a few more questions before there was a slight tapping that broke their bond. It was the glossy ruby heels of Madam Rain, her hands crossed below her chest. The room fell eerily quiet as Reina shuffled to the center of the room, guiding Warren along with one hand and grasping the clear orb with the other. She motioned for him to stand still, and finished placing the orb between his open palms. Warren was only a child, so he held it with both hands, the sphere being surprisingly lightweight.

Aarin grew weary, a sense of anxiety looming over him. Being a Father was hard, especially since he always had to watch Warren carefully enough to ensure he never got into too much danger, but at the same time giving him the freedom to discover it. Right now, hopelessness filled him as he realized he could do very little to aid Warren. He could only stand and watch, his son truly on his own. Aarin bit his lip as Reina gestured to him. Warren's Father nervously nodded to begin the test.

Warren's stomach dropped, as if a pit had formed. He was usually a free spirited kid who loved adventuring and experiencing new things. However this, this felt frightening as he noticed his Mother's glare.

Reina patted him on the head, "Don't worry, it will feel like a small pinch."

"Just a small pinch?" Warren asked with puppy eyes.

The Earth Mage winked at him, "Yeah, only a pi-"

His vision went dark before he could hear her finish. The world around him spun, but it was at the same time eerily still. Scolding heat hit him, but goosebumps formed as a frigid cold grasped his skin. Then everything began to dissolve away like wet paint, the darkness bursting into a bright blue. Warren was taken aback by the sensations that coursed through him. Time seemed like an eternity, but at the same time he had only counted a second.

Then, he was falling, fast. The wind whipped around him wildly as he spun out of control. The boy managed to look upwards, a bright ball of fire beaming sun rays that danced across his translucent body. He tried to scream as he fell, but no air escaped his lungs. Warren could only catch glimpses of the world around him as his body rag dolled through the air. He was high, so high up that the grasslands below him had no distinct features. Through the chaos, he barely was able to register that he had fallen from the sky, and the winds were stealing his breath away.

Did this mean he had an Air Affinity? Warren had a smile grow on his face, the thought of his Father racing across his mind. Warren was still young, but over the years he had managed to pick apart many of the Affinities he wanted. Air and Lightning called to him the most, since his Father and Grandpa had them in that order. However, the thing was he was only going to be granted one Affinity unless he had a Shifted one, but their rarity gave him little hope. Maybe he could conjure a Storm one, which was ranked as one of the most powerful to ever exist. Though in the end, he hoped to never take after his Mother.

More thoughts scattered his attention as he fell, and before he could look at the ground again, he noticed a single detail. Clouds, thousands of small dots all around him began to stick together, growing bigger and bigger. He had ignored it naively, but as they started to form a ring around him, he was forced to hold his non-existent breath.

Could he actually have a Storm Affinity?

Goosebumps of excitement raced up and down his spine as the clouds boomed with power. Their pure white puffs grew dark and sinister with color. Although he didn't feel pain, his eyes bulged at the sight of purple lightning surging out with force that cracked the sky. The view of the clouds drew him aback, and instead of embracing the oncoming storm that was only a mere few feet from him, he tried to guide himself away. He raced downward as a wall of black forms flanked him on both sides.

It was too late, and with another boom of thunder, the clouds collided with his small body. Warren had always pictured clouds to be nice and soft when he lazily watched them as he took an evening nap in the gardens. After the surge of power that hit him, he realized he had been completely wrong. Whirlwinds of frost and lightning grabbed a hold of his frail body. Of course, he had no real sensation to feel it's destructive power, but he had never felt more uncomfortable in his life. More so than anything his Mother had done to him. Even the time she stripped him naked and beat him in front of Anin.

None of it compared to the torture of the storm around him. He was young, and for the first time since he was born he was experiencing true hopelessness.

But.

Deep down he could sense a connection to it all, as if the storm willed for his attention. It wanted Warren to accept it, feed off its power. The storm pleaded with him, trying to get him to cave. Warren would have relaxed and let it take him, but a fierce pain echoed in the back of his head. Instead of letting it control him, Warren glared forward and refused its offer.

His vision exploded with intense white, a stark contrast to the once raging black storm. He waited in silence, the occasional strip of gray edging as his vision stayed milky white. He was blind, and the sensation of falling had disappeared. Finally though, it cleared, and Warren sat up. He was not in the room with his parents and the Earth Mage, no, he was laying softly on a bed of clouds. He blinked as he surveyed the world around him once again.

It was nothing but the gentle sight of rolling white clouds that spanned all the way to the horizon. He smiled, knowing that despite the raging storm, the clouds also harbored a gentler side.

Then he opened his eyes in reality, a warm calm washing over him. His mind had dug itself out of the trance and his short breaths left him feeling accomplished. It was short lived as he glanced down at the orb in his hands. It was…

Broken, pieces of the crystal chipped and other parts cracked. Even a few of them dug into his palm, small trickles of blood dripping onto the already red carpet. Warren pulled his hands away in pain, the rest of the orb falling away and shattering on the floor.

"Ahh!" Warren fell to his knees, glass digging into his shins as he did.

"Warren!" Aarin raced to his son's side, eyes wide as he replayed what had just happened. It had all spanned within a single minute. His eyes went milky white as he stood, and Mana began to swell around him. Then bam, the sphere just broke, and the Mana infused candles in the rooms went out.

Madam Rain was just as confused, her usual cold expression long gone as her mind raced for answers. Of course none came forth, so she glared at the Earth Mage who sat on her rear. She was staring aimlessly at Warren, as if what had happened was new to her as well.

"MAGE! What happened?!" Madam Rain demanded as Warren filled the room with his cries. Reina was jolted from her stupor, looking up at Madam Rain in astonishment.

"He...H-H-He fragmented…"

Madam Rain���s mouth curled in rage, "He what, what does that mean?! I will kill everyone you know if you don't explain!"

Reina winced at her demand, putting her hands up in defense. Aarin scowled back at his wife, "Yuna shut up, your son is hurting and all you can do is yell, you are making it worse!"

The room grew deadly silent at the remark, the use of her first name almost never being spoken, even Warren had stifled his pain as he heard it.

Madam Rain was taken aback, her eyes calming and a long sigh escaping her mouth. Her cold demeanor back, "Mage, tell me what this fragment business means right now."

Aarin also opened his ears as he slowly pulled the glass shards from his son's palm and legs. Reina took a few moments to gather herself, glancing at the broken remnants of the orb and to Warren.

"As a Practitioner I was taught this is Affinity Studies. It was only one day in class but we were forced to remember it. It's uh, its uh…"

She stumbled over her words for a second. Then she stopped her silent struggle, composed herself, and continued, "It means Warren only took a fragment of an Affinity, not the whole thing. I was able to see the vision since it was my Mana that activated it. He was on the verge of getting a Storm Affinity."

Madam Rain smiled wearily, "That's great, but what do you mean he only got a part of it?"

Reina swallowed hard, "Storm Affinity allows someone to control Air, Water, Lightning, and Darkness Magic; it is one of the greatest and only Shifted Affinity that grants access to four elements at once. But, uh, he um… he stopped it before it could fully form."

Madam Rain cast her gaze on Warren, then to Aarin. He was just as confused. Her husband sat biting his lip and decided to break the chain of silence, "So what you are telling me is he just stopped himself from getting a Storm Affinity? So what does that entail, I'm still lost?"

Reina scrambled to her feet and over to Warren. She thrust her hand out, a circle of brown energy forming over her palm. Just like that, the crystal shards pulled away from his skin and fell to the floor. Warren yelped, but he glanced down to see he had been healed. His eyes bulged as for the first time in his life he was seeing Mana. Thankfully the pain subsided, but he had no time to rest as Reina grasped his shoulders,

"Listen to me Warren, whatever you did was not supposed to happen. You were forming a Storm Affinity, but along the way you subconsciously rejected it. It's not your fault at all, since your true self was making decisions while you were in there. Now, I have no idea what the Affinity you have is, there are literally an endless amount of variables that could have taken place. So, the only way to know is for you to conjure your Mana now and show us. It might be hard but I'll guide you."

She grabbed his hands again, and Warren only managed to move his head up and down. Then, he could feel a warm trickle connect where her fingers were touching. He focused, and soon enough he could notice that his entire body was teeming with the same warmth. It was Mana, and as she poured her own into his palms, the warmth inside him was drawn toward her, clawing just underneath his skin. Warren grimaced, as the feeling sent chills down his spine. Finally though, the Mana was released.

Everyone stared at what formed above Warren's head. It was, undoubtedly, a small cloud. Reina had been the Practitioner for many Affinity Attunements, but this, this was her first time seeing anything of the sort. Storm Mages never formed literally clouds, as the conductor for their power was inside them. Never has she even seen a regular Storm Mage mess with clouds. This was rare, so rare Reina had to force herself to stay calm.

Although it was rare, most "Fragment" affinities were weak, very weak. Madam Rain just stared at the cloud, her thoughts aligning with Reina's.

"So, my son is...Broken?" She managed to ask through the lump in her throat. Reina's facial features went dark, and she only managed to nod to answer the question. Then after a long pause she was able to speak,

"I'm afraid that he may never be a strong Mage like you two. Fragment Affinities are rare, so rare that it's an anomaly in itself. But from all that I studied, most Fragment Mages are…"

Aarin finished her sentence for her,

"Weak."

The room fell into darkness as the once bright sun was blocked by rolling black clouds. The once sunny morning was now dreary as rain slowly began to fall. The gardens sullied by overcast.

Warren had remembered that well, so well that he could still feel the power of his Mother's beatings that night. The arguments between his parents as they raged on and on about what had happened. Through it all, Warren had remembered when his Father, one of the few people that truly loved him, had mouthed that single word.

"Weak." Warren repeated to himself as he curled up in a ball under his bed the coming night. "Weak."

The next morning his Mother had left at sunrise, to where she hadn't even told them like usual. However as she stalked out, Warren had been sitting at the balcony atop the entrance when he heard her speak

"My son is broken, a dud, great."

He had cried, so much that the entire day blurred together as the employees of the Manor refused to look at him. Even his Father, the person who he had hoped would grant him any semblance of sanity, had locked himself away in the library, allowing no one in.

For long periods of time each day, Warren had sat atop that balcony, tears streaming down his face as he waited for his Father to come looking for him. He had known his favorite spot was there.

Then weeks passed, and Warren had lost his joy altogether, watching aimlessly as the weather seemed to mock him with thunderstorms day in and day out. He began to swirl with depression, and without warning an entire month had come and gone like the wind. If he was normal, he would have been practicing Magic like any others his age, honing his Affinity and getting ready to start learning spells and attend the Academies. Instead, Warren would mill about the halfways of the Manor, his once teeming eyes cold as he walked without a purpose.

Then one dreadful night Anin, his caretaker, grabbed his shoulder.

"Your Father wants to see you Warren."