The Spark

He burned them all, every single one.

He hadn’t meant to, of course. They had simply gotten in his way. It wasn’t easy being a Fire Mage; Fire was not an easy thing to control. It was the most unwieldy of the elements, inclined to do what it pleased. Fire could be commanded, but only for so long. Eventually it would break the will of its master and go on a burning spree. Jacob tried to explain this to the villagers guarding the Earth Core, but they had not understood. He also tried to explain that he could not easily be harmed by their crude torches, but they still shoved Fire in his face, yelling insults and trying their best to turn him away.

What else could he do but let the Fire go?

Jacob recalled the stories his Grandpappy had told him when he was just a child. They were terribly intriguing stories about how Magic had come to exist on the planet. Humans were slowly destroying themselves, bit by bit and war by war. Pollution choked the sea and skies; blood sunk into the soil and pushed out seeds of hatred. The Earth could handle no more, and as a beast letting out a dying breath, she released Magic from her Core. This Magic was essentially Good, and served to bring restoration back to a dying planet.

But, as with the presence of Good, there must be the presence of Evil. Creatures that already possessed wickedness in their hearts got corrupted by Magic, and became Dark Beings. Trolls, ogres, goblins, demons, and countless others stood in league with Dark Mages and Necromancers. Jacob knew he was Good, but he couldn’t help but ask more about the Darkness.

Grandpappy had been horribly uncomfortable about this and would not speak of it in much detail. However, he let it slip that the Earth Core now stood unprotected. Whoever could seize it would, in theory, control the world. There were many, many entrances to the Earth Core, yet they were under the protection of dedicated villagers and knights who had the Magic. These were all Good people; they wanted to ensure their home was well-guarded. Who knew what would happen if someone were to seize control?

Jacob didn’t know how that would look, but the idea was too tempting to put down. As he moved into young adulthood, he researched the various Core Points around the country. Many were too well-guarded to bother with (one even had a dragon), but some were hidden within piddly little villages. As time went on, his powers grew, and so did his obsession with the Core. There was plenty of Fire there, and it beckoned to him almost lustily from beneath the soil.  

Cold times were coming; anyone could see that. Dark forces were at play, and soon people would perish. They needed Fire for warmth, light, fuel…Jacob came up with endless reasons why he was doing the right thing. Mankind could not last with his little torches, matchsticks, and lanterns. Jacob would bring them enough Fire to chase the Darkness off for good. If a few people had to be disposed for the greater good, who could blame him?

That was what he told himself now, standing in the smoking remains of the Core Village. Fire was still gleefully skipping from hut to hut, and dancing across the prone forms of villagers. Jacob had half a mind to put a stop to it, but something else had his attention now; the newly unguarded Core Door.

The village had been nestled at the base of a mountain, which hid a pathway down to the Core. The Door was tricky to find, but the Fire had burned away the scruffy foliage hiding it from view. Hewn from the stone of the mountain itself, it stood as tall as a man and twice as wide. Ancient runes snaked across its surface, but it was common knowledge that a Core Door could only be opened by Magic.

Breathlessly Jacob climbed the mountain path, leaving the village behind. The Door gleamed dully in the moonlight, hiding untold treasures within. The Fire had been calling to him more loudly with each step; now it consumed his very being. There was no way for him to turn back now. It was almost as if he were under the control of something bigger than himself. He could sense immense power hanging just behind that Door, and he wanted to see what it held for him.

There were two dials built into the Door, which could only be turned by Magic. Jacob summoned a spark to each finger and pressed his hands to the dials. The Door suddenly glowed with all the light Fire could give, and the handles turned under Jacob’s hands. With an almighty sigh, the Door swung inward, revealing a dark path down to the Earth Core. The Core Fire sang with all the voice it could muster, drawing the Mage inexorably into the mountain. With an ominous thud, the Door shut behind him.

Darkness does not trouble a Fire Mage. Jacob pulled a torch out of the air and began his fevered trek towards the object of his obsession. If there were any fabled dwarves, goblins, or mountain trolls, they steered clear of this place. His only company was the Fire, which never left his side anyway. The only sounds were the beating of his heart and the soft crackling of the flames, down in the belly of the mountain.

After a few hours or perhaps weeks, he saw a growing light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly, slowly, the very thing so many beings had lost their lives for came into view…the Earth Core. It is difficult to describe the Core properly with words, or to capture the feelings one has upon sighting it. If you combine the emotion of tasting ice cream for the first time with running from a rabid dragon, you might come close. It was this emotion that Jacob felt now.

The Earth Core sat at the center of a vast and deadly pool of molten Fire. Despite what the Elders had believed, this was very much a Magical relic. Magic practically oozed off its surface, the light hues competing with the Fire swirling all around. No one but the most skilled Fire Mage could hope to get across the ocean to touch it. Jacob felt an overwhelming sense of despair washing over him. To have come so far, to have spent so many years searching…! And now thwarted by this! He could study Fire his whole life and not have the skill required to control this hellstorm.

Why wait…? Why not try right now? The voice floated out of nowhere and into Jacob’s subconscious. It startled him out of his reverie. Fire spoke to him all the time, but in impressions and visions. It had never raised a voice before. It only seemed natural to answer it aloud.

“I do not possess the necessary skill to cross,” Jacob murmured, jarred by hearing his own voice for the first time in what seemed like ages. The Fire sent a ripple of laughter through him.

Foolish child. You never possessed the skill. I did.

“But I am a Fire Mage…born with the inherent ability to master Fire.”

Ah, see, that is the arrogance of humankind. You do not master Fire. It is we who master you.

“Who are you?”

I am your Master.

“Why have we never spoken before?”

You were not ready to listen. Are you ready now?

“I am more ready than I have ever been in my life.”

Excellent. Step into the pool and join me, and we will speak further.

Jacob felt the pull of command, which filled him with a sudden intense fear. The Fire had always attempted to exert its will on him, but he always had the ability to push back. Now he was fighting to simply stay standing in place. He had never been commanded by his subject before.

I was never your subject. I merely enjoyed playing with you. I have been here the entire time, beckoning you to me. There are no others who can speak to Fire like you can. And no others who will listen. Come.

Sweat was beginning to pour down Jacob’s back now, something that had never happened to him in the presence of the Fire before. He felt helpless as he moved towards the edge of the precipice. “What do you want from me?” he demanded, struggling hard to ignore the siren call of the flames.

I want what every Fire wants…the freedom to burn.

“You are burning now! You are burning this entire mountain!”

I want to burn every rock, every tree, every single thing that creeps under the sun. I want to burn the stars in the sky and the grass on the ground. And you will help me.

“No! Why me? Please, let me go…”

I will show you what you came here for. Together, we will burn this pitiful world. I have been trapped in this miserable Core for far too long. Now, I say, COME!

As if a great beast had him in its jaws, Jacob was yanked off the edge and into the swirling pool of Fire. His world became pain and light and a searing heat and oceans of madness and unendurable knowledge.

And somewhere inside of himself, Jacob laughed.