Growing Up Around Fire

Over the next five years Marcus didn't perform any magic but he was drawn to his father's sword and to the forge. Though Lilly didn't approve of it she knew James wouldn't allow anything to happen to their baby boy. In fact James was amazed how quickly Marcus had caught on to the ways of the forge and smithing. He even knew more about metal than anything else which made school hard for him since his brain only worked in the terms of magic, which was being blocked, and metal molding and mending.

One day as he walked through the village Marcus bumped into a little red wolf boy and the two tumbled to the ground laughing at each other's clumsiness. The two just laid there laughing and and looking up at the stars and smiling. Slowly their paws slide together and the two became friends at first tumble. Now some might even think they were more then friends but then again they were only six.

Then one day as the duo where playing around the forge and Marcus was explaining all of the complex processes and methods to the forge when it happened.

"So Marcus buddy how come you can ramble of this kind of information but you can never remember anything the teacher mentions in class?" teased the wolf cub.

"Well Judah that's because school is boring and this stuff is fun. Don't you just love the look of the flickering flames as they dance in the wind?" asked Marcus with a smile at his friend.

"Still if you put this much focus effort into your school work you wouldn't be teased so much." replied the wolf as he put an arm around Marcus and dragged him away from the forge only to stop right in front of of his dad, the captain of the village guard and he wasn't too happy.

"Judah I thought I told you I didn't want to see you around this freak again!" snapped the captain of the guard.

"But father he's my friend." pleaded Judah looking up at his father.

"No buts about it so now go home and we'll discuss this more." ordered the captain which though sad made Marcus take Judah's arm from around him and look him in his eyes.

"Its okay Judah listen to your father if he doesn't want us to hang out then we need to honor and respect that." sighed Marcus turning to head back towards the forge only to feel a large paw on his shoulder. This made him gulp and worry.

"Not so fast I want a word with you freak." growled the captain and at the name calling almost made Judah attack his father that is until Marcus shot him pleading glare and instead Judah just walked off towards his home at which point the captain added, "Now you listen here freak I don't want you near my son again."

"Sir did my son do something wrong?" asked a not to happy James at the sight of the captain of the guard grabbing onto Marcus.

"Mr. Krystar I want you to keep your freak of a son away from my boy." ordered the captain of the guard.

"Well Guard Captain Nun that might be hard since they're in the same class in school as well as the fact we live next door to each other." snapped James getting up in the captains face before adding, "And furthermore he's not a freak and the boys aren't doing any harm."

"I might not be able to change where you and that thing live but I can alter the school arrangements." huffed Captain Nun as he poked James in the chest with his strong index finger he added, "So just have your wife keep him indoors away from the rest of the kids."

"How can you alter the school arrangements we're a very small village and only have one teacher?" snapped James, "She hardly has time to teach the few classes she already does let alone a new one"

"Then I guess he'll just have to stay home with you or your wife." chuckled Captain Nun before turning to leave.

Sadly he had more pull then James and thus him and Lilly where forced to teach little Marcus themselves thus he learned a great deal about molding metal and crafting leather armors and clothes this is also where he learned about the legend of the Paladin for after the third visit to the city and seeking school books for Marcus from Old Ben the elderly squirrel send his grand daughter, Joy who was a lot nicer then his grandson to go teach Marcus for James and Lilly so instead of only one teacher like the rest of the village Marcus would have three.

Thus in the end because of the judgmental views of the captain of the village guard Marcus will end up the most educated kid in the village as well as have learned two very useful traits before he was eighteen years old. Now he would also suffer not having any friends other then the little squirrel girl that was the daughter of one of his teachers. Like her mom she was a black squirrel and a very pretty one at that. Her name was Rebekah Uni Tali Huff but she went by either Rebekah or Bekers to Marcus.

This would be the beginning of a great and wonderful future for them as together at the age of six they vowed to find the prophesied refounders of the Paladins and bring peace to the world. They wanted to b a beacon of hope in these dark times not because they desired power and attention no because they were tired of the mistreatment of those not considered perfect. Those like him who were different and required a little more attention and love. Thus began the new age of the Paladin order unknown to them that one of the four had already been found and recruited into the order.