Mark of the Fool
Chapter 600: Arc of Fire

“What?” Alex’s jaw dropped. “You can’t do that!”

“I need to.” She looked Alex directly in the eye, her gaze not wavering. “Fire is a part of me, just like it’s a part of Khalik’s mom. If I don’t do this now, then I’ll never do it. Please, Alex. Just let me do this.”

Her brother watched her closely for a moment, his expression drifting between concern and fear.

“Selina,” he started. “Maybe we can save this for another time. Maybe we should think about all of this and discuss it then maybe—“

“Please, Alex,” she begged. “You’ll be right here, you can watch me and check to see if I’m doing anything wrong. You can stop me whenever you want, just let me try. I’ve been doing well in school and with all my lessons, right?”

She meant the forceball lessons he was giving her in secret, bringing them up seemed to strike a chord in him. His broad shoulders lifted—as though he was preparing to brace himself against an invisible weight—then he looked at the queen.

“I don’t like this—” he began to say.

Selina took a step toward him. “Alex, please!”

“Now, hold on.” He held up a hand. “Let me finish. Lady Behr-Medr…I don’t like this…but I’d be willing to let her try, if you’re willing to do this with her. If you don’t, I’d understand: you came to see Khalik and relax, you didn’t come here for this. But, um…”

The young man paused, searching for his words. “Look, I’ll speak plain: people with fire affinity aren’t common…and I think you’re the only person with one that I know of among our group of friends and family. And, like—Ugh, I’m rambling.”

He drew up his chest, and hardened his jaw, then lowered his head. “I don’t have a fire affinity: I can teach Selina all the wizardry I know, but I’m never going to really understand fire the way you do and the way she will. It’s not in me. So, I think you’d be a better person to teach her her first fire spell. And…for something as delicate as this, I don’t think I want to trust something so important to a stranger. I trust Khalik, and you raised him, and you raised him with honour, so I trust you. More importantly, Selina trusts you…So…please.”

His head dropped even lower. “If you do this, I’ll make it up to you.”

“Yes, mother.” Prince Khalik rose from his chair, bowing his head to her. “I think you want to do this, but I will still ask that you do it as a favour to me. You taught me many things as I grew up; I can think of no one better to do this. You would be good for her—”

“Stop, stop, by the gods, stop!” The queen’s hands rose to her cheeks. “All this begging is unbecoming of both of you, though I understand the sentiment. I was going to do it from the moment young Selina asked me; guiding fire to its proper place is something that brings me joy. I will be happy to guide her fire.”

She turned to Selina. “But, are you sure you feel ready for this, my child? It is a big step. You can stop at any time…but I tell you this from experience; fire is a part of you and once you begin, you will not want to stop anymore than you would want to stop walking once you’ve tasted the freedom of taking your first steps. So, are you sure?”

And for a moment, Selina was not so sure.

Regret played inside her, dulling the spark in her mana pool. She began wishing she’d never brought any of this up, she considered dropping it, pretending it never happened. She could apologise to everyone she’d dragged into this room and then go back to lunch.

She could force herself to smile and laugh, tears could come later, when she was alone tonight. Then tomorrow, she would make sure her smile and laughter was real.

The thought was tempting, growing in her mind, and as it grew, the spark dulled as she came closer to turning away from the fiery precipice that lay before her.

Then, her eyes fell on Claygon.

The golem’s head was cocked slightly to the side. His hands were raised, and he was staring at his fire-gems. Then, he reached up and touched the gem sitting in his forehead.

And she knew.

If she ran away now, not only would she be running away from a part of herself…but she might be putting her own fears and guilt onto Claygon.

‘I’m not a baby, and I shouldn’t act like one,’ she thought, both hands forming fists. ‘If I do that to me and him, then that makes me as bad as that fire.’ She caught herself, suddenly remembering what Queen Ishtar had said. ‘No, I’d actually be worse. She was right: fire just is. Mom and dad died because that fire was just being fire. Just like wind is wind and water is water. If Generasi had a big flood and people died, I wouldn’t blame water for being water. So, if I run away, it won’t help me or Claygon…it'll be because I’m just being scared. And I’m not going to do that either of us.’

Selina looked up at her brother, her jaw tightening. “Alex, could you go get Theresa? I…should’ve asked her to come. I want her to be here for this.” She turned to Queen Ishtar. “I want to do this,” she said. “I’m ready.”

“I will not teach you the same spell that I started with,” Queen Ishtar said, sitting across the table from Selina. As she spoke, a pair of Wizard’s Hands floated beside her—each burning in a bright orange radiance—each one drawing a spell array onto a piece of parchment. “Let’s begin with the spell that I wish I had started with: Create Flame.”

Nearby, Khalik sat beside Shiani. Alex hadn’t returned with Theresa yet, and Selina fought the urge to keep looking at the closed door.

She couldn’t wait for them to get there; she knew—if she stopped now—she might still lose her nerve.

And she couldn’t let that happen.

“That’s a good spell to start with,” Shiani said with approval, keeping her voice low.

“What does it do?” Selina asked.

“Just what its name says,” the queen explained. “It creates a floating flame in your palm, and you can control it. You can hold it and use it for light, like a torch. You can use it as a weapon and throw it at anyone coming to attack you. Or you can simply use it to start a fire in your fireplace. Which is what we’ll be doing.”

She nodded to the hearth, Claygon was putting kindling and foot-long logs inside.

Selina swallowed, then breathed deeply.

She didn’t know what she was more afraid of: the fact that she was about to literally handle fire…or just how excited that thought made her.

“ShouId I be worried about setting the room on fire?” she asked nervously.”

The queen reached across the table and squeezed her hand, her smile reassuring. “I have already cast Control Fire, it allows me to regulate the intensity or movements of a fire source. I’ll make sure your flame doesn’t get away from us.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Selina said softly, her eyes falling on the parchment.

Queen Ishtar’s Wizard’s Hands finished jotting down the spell array, then put their pens aside and slid the parchment across the table to Selina.

Her hands shook as she examined the spell array and the incantation above it. There were areas of the magic circuitry she recognised from forceball: certain parts responsible for calling and controlling mana were similar.

There was also another section that was familiar to her: it was the part responsible for the spell’s mana manipulation.

“Can I control fire like I could a forceball?” Selina asked.

“Not quite,” the queen said. “But you can control your flame’s intensity with mana manipulation. Are you good at that? It’s a difficult skill that I, even at my age and experience, still struggle with.”

“Me too,” Shiani admitted.

“It is not as easy as Alex makes it look,” Khalik said. “It is alright if you have not developed that skill quite yet, Selina.”

“No, no, I can do some mana manipulation…but, Alex is a lot better at it,” Selina’s eyes were fixed on the sections of the spell array that she didn’t recognise.

Her inner spark flared when she spotted them, letting her know that they had to be related to fire.

Suddenly, fear gripped her, making her flinch, screaming she should give up and do something else. Screaming she should stop.

But, she didn’t stop, instead, she looked back at Queen Ishtar. “Will you teach me the words of the spell?”

“Of course,” the queen said. “That is why we are here together.”

In slow, patient tones, Khalik’s mother sounded out the words, making sure that every syllable was clear. She had Selina repeat each word after her, correcting her pronunciation as they went.

But, there were very few corrections for her to make; the words rolled off Selina’s tongue as smooth as cream, as though she’d been saying them her whole life.

Within seconds, Queen Ishtar was nodding. “Now you know the words of the spell, take your time and review the array.”

“I…” Selina said slowly. “I think I already know it.”

“Oh?” Ishtar raised an eyebrow.

“Her affinity is very strong,” Shiani reminded her.

“Ah, of course, that would make sense then.” the queen nodded. “Perhaps you would learn it so easily since the fire in you is so bright. Well then, are you ready? I’ll be here to help you.”

Selina swallowed, looking at the door.

No sign of Alex or Theresa.

“I…believe you are…ready…Selina,” Claygon said, “you are ready.”

“…thanks, Claygon.” She took a deep breath and picked up the parchment.

She exhaled then took another deep breath, focusing her mind as Alex had taught her over those many nights training in his lab.

And—for the very first time—Selina Roth began speaking the words of a fire spell.

Her inner spark bloomed, seeming to rejoice as it burst into a bright, blazing flame.

Her spirit sang as something missing from her soul finally united, and—before she knew it—the words of the spell were flowing unbroken from her lips as though she’d always known them.

Across the room, the door swung open.

Alex and Theresa rushed in, stopping dead in their tracks mere inches beyond the threshold.

“By the Traveller!” Alex gasped.

Within Selina, her mana sped onward, filling the magic circuit as it assembled itself. Magic blazed, coming to life, eager to do what it was meant to.

And in that moment, all of the young girl's fears were forgotten.

All the trepidation. The reluctance. The shame.

In that one breath, they all burned away as wonder ignited within her.

She almost missed the moment she completed the spell and the magic circuit flared.

Suddenly, in the palm of her hand, a small point of orange light sat.

And—with a triumphant roar—fire erupted, coming to life.

“By the gods!” the queen gasped.

A towering blaze hovered above Selina’s hand, rising into the air to nearly half her height. Yet, this was no unruly, spitting fire.

It was bright and obedient, like a loyal pet simply waiting for her.

And, it was the most beautiful thing the young girl had ever seen. All the wonders of Generasi paled compared to that cheery fire created by her own mana and her own hand.

She felt like she could watch it forever.

But, some of her elation began to crack.

She remembered what this was, it all came rushing back: the thing that killed her parents. That ruined her and her brother’s lives.

Shame rose in her, but the queen’s words silenced it.

‘Fire doesn’t do,’ she thought.‘It just is. I do.’

She carefully rose from her chair, watching the flame closely. “I’m going to the fireplace.”

“I will help you keep control, if you need me,” the queen said, though her words sounded like they were coming from a dozen miles away.

“Are you helping me control it now?” Selina asked, though—deep down—she already knew the answer.

“No, I am not. Your control is extraordinary…I cannot believe this is your first time casting fire. Go. Bring the flame to the hearth.”

“You can do it, Selina,” her brother’s voice came to her. “I’m proud of you.”

“Me too,” Theresa said. “You can do this.”

“You were meant for this, fire-kissed,” Shiani’s voice was filled with pride.

“It’s…beautiful…” Claygon said.

“Wonders upon wonders,” Khalik murmured.

Their words hardened Selina’s resolve.

The young girl strode across the room, her steps measured and even. Standing before the fireplace, she turned her hand toward it, then pressed the flame to the wood.

Instantly, the kindling caught, a dazzling blaze roared to life around the logs. Selina stepped back, watching the fire dance in the once-cold hearth.

There.

Fire created by her.

Not runaway fire that burned and killed.

Her fire.

And in that moment, she knew she had a choice.

She could step away from the flame, and just learn the fire magic she needed to resolve her dream of moving heat. Or…or she could embrace the flame, using it as it was meant to be used.

Selina paused, looking at Alex’s right shoulder.

And she smiled.

Was fear why she hadn't seen it before?

Alex was given the Mark of the Fool, he could’ve run away and lived his own life with his family, or he could have served Thameland’s needs and fought alongside the Heroes to defeat the Ravener.

But, he hadn’t really chosen either, had he?

He’d left Thameland for Generasi, but he’d also gone back, stronger and better prepared.

He’d done both.

And she could do the same.

“I did it, everyone!” she cried.

Tears ran down her face, both happy and sad.

They could be both.

“I did it!”