“The people of Mt. Vetrock were once renowned for their craftsmanship in pottery and metalworking. But after the rule of the first lord of Brimstone and the creation of the noble houses of Ignis… Let’s just say the whole lot of them ain’t worth one of their pots or swords from back in the day.” - Rolf, Head captain of the south wind skytrader caravan

  The clay jug soared past her head, hit the wall behind her, and shattered. Clay shards flew in all directions with one cutting her cheek and honey wine splashing over the warm stone floor. Fay Yun barely blinked as she sat on her knees straight backed and proper. Her father’s drunken ravings had been a constant of meals for as long as she could remember. Since her brother’s death, her mother had grown more detached, and her father’s outbursts more violent.

  “You useless little worm!” Her father was beating a Cold servant who had curled into a ball cowering from his blows. “You can't even serve drinks right, what use are you?” Heat rose from his shoulders and arms making the air around him wavey and leaving nasty burn marks on the poor fellow. He was always worse at controlling his heating spirit when he was drunk and Fay winced as she heard the sizzle of burning flesh. Those blows had left burns on her more times than once.

  “Don't you know I should have been a chancellor?” The spit flying out of his mouth was evaporating before it could hit the unmoving servant. “If that sickly bastard had not died on me before he could bond a spirit damn him!” His anger didn't even seem to be directed at the servant anymore despite what his fists may tell you. Fay cringed internally at the mention of her brother in such an accusatory manner. Father always acted like it was her brother's fault his constitution was weak and the acrid air poisoned. The mention of him as simply a missed possibility for the family's promotion? That was an insult to his memory.

  She looked back to see blood beginning to pool on the stone from the back of the servant's head. She started to call out for him to stop before catching herself. Becoming the target of his outburst wasn’t worth a dying Cold servant.

  Her mother suddenly stood her silk robes fluttering as she walked slowly towards her father “Come now dear stop beating that dead thing already.” Her father stopped and looked down at the now dead servant. A look of bewilderment flitted across his face before he turned angrily to his wife.

  “So what? Am I no longer allowed to beat the Cold in my own home, woman?” He looked like he wanted to hit her but Fay knew he would never dare. Mother was far more powerful than Fathers meager heat spirit, and she was the only reason he had any noble status at all.

  “Of course you are…” she whispered in his ear “But let's move this away from the table mhm? The smell of burning flesh has thoroughly ruined my appetite.” As she ushered her husband out the door past another Cold servant who was standing with a mop and looking at the blood pooling on the floor, her mother turned back to Fay. “You can go girl, and be prepared for tomorrow” A threatening glint flashed in her mothers eyes. “I can assure you failure isn't an option for you.” She swept through the door robes fluttering behind her as she followed her drunk husband out of the room. Fay waited a few seconds to be sure they were gone. Before quietly sliding open the fusuma and slipping out the villa.

  Fay was often described as strikingly beautiful. Her jet-black hair cascaded to the middle of her back, framing almond-shaped eyes, their sharpness enhanced by the precise cat-eye liner crafted by one of her mother’s contacts. Her skin was well tanned and her eyes were a gleaming ruby color she had gotten from her father. She strode down the smooth paved road. Passing the multistoried villas, whose innate stonework was lost in the grey and black of the igneous rock and the thick soot that covered everything. Cold slaves swept the street and scurried about like firenewts. Shuffling out of the way and bowing as she passed before retreating toward whatever menial tasks they had been assigned. Fay worked her way up the mountain. Her family's villa was near the bottom of the mountain peak, on one of the lowest terraces that made up the stages for the grand palaces of the nobles of Ignis. As filthy and grey as they were. She finally reached the final and grandest dwelling of them all. The royal palace of the Lord of Brimstone was carved directly into the side of the Volcano. flowing lava streams that had been redirected to flow around the palace in a mote and unlike the surrounding hovels the stone of the palace was kept clean of ash. From the sinister black metal gates to the spiraling towers it was kept clean by a team of specially trained bonded servants. Fay ignored the magnificent structure and instead walked around the outside edge of the lava river, eyes watering a bit from the smell of sulphur that burned at her nostrils. She approached her destination, a large boulder that sat next to the river.

  She wondered as she got closer to the stone. As she neared the large rock a telltale sound came from behind it

  “Hehehehe…” The sound of boyish giggling was coming from the decidedly un-boyish rock. “Can you take nothing serious Chen?” She sighed as she perched herself atop the boulder. “You of all people should know the seriousness of tomorrow.”

  “Oh come on Fay.” A red haired head poked from behind where she was sitting and looked up at her disapprovingly. “You could at least have humored me for a second.” He climbed up to sit next to her, both of them staring silently at the bubbling lava, the dull glow illuminating their faces against the growing twilight. “You aren't really going to go through with it… right?” He turned his head to look at her, his orange eyes seeming to plead with her, making her feel like she was telling off a young child. “Really think about it for a second, are you really gonna leave everything you've ever known behind?”

  “In a heartbeat.” She said with what she hoped sounded like resolution. “I've been thinking about this for years.”

  “But to leave the mountain? To up and run away? That seems drastic don't you think?”

  This made Fay hesitate while there was no love lost between her and her parents; they were still her parents. And she had never even seen what the world was like away from the lip of the caldera. But the longer she thought about it the more confident she became in her answer. What did she have to stay for? To become a piece in her parents' game of ascension? To be discarded if she was found useless and forgotten like her brother? No, she was sure she was meant for much greater things.

  “No, it’s not drastic. It’s the only choice that makes sense.” She locked eyes with Chen, holding his gaze as long as she could—until the doubt started to creep in. She turned away first, sweeping her hand toward the sprawling terraces of soot-streaked mansions and the hovels of the Cold people below.

  “Look at it, Chen,” she murmured. “This place isn’t a home. It’s a grave with the heat still trapped inside. I know it” She then pointed an accusatory finger at Chen. “And you know it too, Mr third prince. This place isn't worth trying to fix.”

  Chen's eye took on a hard quality at that and his tone was no longer as friendly. “While I agree with the sentiment. I have a duty to this smoldering pit and I'm going to do it by the spirits.” His tone was resolute and the set of his jaw brokered no argument.

  “Even if I can't do anything I at least have to try. If not for them.” He pointed at the villas and the royal palace. “Then for them.” He gestured toward the slums of Colds before crossing his arms with a huff. Fay looked down at him pouting and sat down next to him bringing her knees to her chest.

  As she sat, Chen's words awoke a memory hidden in the recess of her mind. Suddenly, she was a little girl again, clinging to her brother’s hand, his fingers like brittle twigs between hers.

  His voice had been so steady back then—so sure. And she had believed him. But now, years later, she could see what she had been too young to recognize: the way his breath rattled with every word, the way his veins had turned dark beneath his pale skin.

  The memory slipped away almost as quickly as it had come, leaving behind the weight of his words like a chain wrapped around her chest. Fay exhaled and met Chen’s gaze.

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  “I don't really get why you would stay just for the Cold ones.” She tilted her head back and looked at the sky, the stars blotted out by the heaving smoke and ash from the caldera. “But if you're going to stay and help I guess it's up to me to make it bearable huh?” She tilted her head toward him grinning. Chen smiled back the tension that had built between them during their conversation melted away as if it never was, leaving them sitting there enjoying eachothers company.

  The day after was Radan, a day when the hours of morning and dusk were in perfect balance. Old legends spoke of how the first spirits were bonded on Radan. And the people of Mt Vetrock believed that you were more likely to bond with powerful spirits if it was done on this day. A small group of young nobles stood on the edge of the caldera. The air shimmered with heat and they would have choked on the smoke were it not for the thick scarves that they wore. There was little pomp or ceremony as that was for those who returned bonded. A feast would be thrown in the royal palace for all the families with newly spirited members. Their group numbered only five with the guard who had escorted them to this point saluting before returning down to the city riding his bonded spirit down the side of the mountain. The other three nobles spoke not a word to either Chen nor Fay as they split off in separate directions dodging pools of lava and sulphur. Leaving Chen and Fay alone on the edge.

  “Well shall we?” While she couldn't see his face Fay could hear the smile in his voice and his eyes shone over the scarf.She wandered behind Chen who was practically skipping through the acrid air. He seemed to be taking a straight shot right to the middle, directly to the mouth of the volcano.

  “Are you sure we should go directly to the center?” It was generally standard practice to spiral your way toward the center. Mainly to scout for animal spirits that lived in vents and caves. But also as the heat at the heart of the caldera rose it became unbearable for long periods of time. You would start to get third degree burns simply from staying next to the mouth too long.

  “Well that's where the strongest spirits are right?” He called to her over his shoulder. His voice was muffled by the scarf. “Unless we are lucky and a flare happens I doubt we will find anything outside the very center.” He turned walking backwards to meet her eyes. “After all you have high standards in the company you keep no? I'm certainly proof of your good taste.” While his self image seemed a bit inflated… he was right. Neither of them could afford an average spirit bonding with them. The caldera itself was about thirty five miles across and their progress was slow as they had to avoid pools of acid, streams of lava and vents that belted plumes of acrid smog that would burn away their skin something terrible. They were walking around the edge of a pool of water, the water a sickly yellow and the temperature well past boiling, when the ground began to rise and heave beneath their feet. Chen and Fay dived clear as to not be thrown into the sulphuric hot spring. What emerged from the ground resembled a large patch of igneous rock that had grown six legs and four sets of nasty pincers. Rock crabs were ambush predators and this one had successfully surprised its prey. Unfortunately for it, its current quarry was not as helpless as the usual prey that fell for its surprise attack.

  Fay unsheathed her saber, pulling it free from the silk sash around her waist. While Chen unwound the chain of his meteor hammer that had been wrapped around his shoulders and began to swing it in slow circles.

  Chen was the one who made the first move. Launching the six pound ball of steel directly into the head of the crab. Its carapace gave way with a crunch as the hammer impacted between its eye stalks. Chen brought the chain taunt, the hammer snapping back toward him. Using the hammer's momentum and the chain swinging around his waist it made a large arcing circle around him. His second blow landed before it could recover, hitting its rock shell with booming force, staggering the beast and leaving hairline fractures spreading from the point of impact.

  Fay saw her opening and took the opportunity to close distance. The crab raised its smaller claw in front of its face fearing another crushing hit from the hammer. While simultaneously snapping out at Fay with its larger foreclaws, seeking to bisect the girl. Fay smoothing flipped over its attack hair and loose garments fluttering in the air. Her saber struck down in a flash of cold steel and hit directly on target. The masterfully made blade cut through the joint where the carapace met like hot knife through butter, severing the claw that was formerly attached to the end of it. Fay landed lightly in front of the crab as it shrieked in pain. Dark blood leaking from its crushed face and severed claw. It withdrew into its shell until only its eyes peered out of the stony exterior from the gaping hole left by its missing front claw. Fay turned and strode back to Chen as the thing was no longer a threat and a rumbling behind her signalled the stone crabs rapid burrowing. Looking back at where it had been was nothing but a patch of stone indistinguishable from the surrounding rock.

  “Damn you didn't need to bully the poor thing you know?” Chen was wrapping the chain of his hammer around his shoulder and wiping the dark blood from the blunt instrument. “It was already gonna run after I hit it. Judging by its size it was just an adolescent. Did you really have to cut one of its claws off?”

  She didn't really like the lecturing tone he had said it with and brushed past him to continue walking toward the heart of the caldera.

  “I was going to compliment you on how cool you looked fighting it.” She smiled at him sadistically. “But in light of my barbaric action i've decided i need some self reflection instead.”

  “Aw come on dont be like that…” He went from admonishing to crestfallen in the blink of an eye. “Just tell me I looked cool… I did, right?” He followed behind her now begging for her to acknowledge his coolness as she ignored him. Filling her with feelings of righteous vindication, as one does when conquering the enemy.

  They approached the heart of the caldera as the sun set. The soft glow of the half hardened lava and the flashes of flame from the ground provide them with illumination. Before them sat the heart of Mt Vetrock itself. She could feel her skin turning red from the heat even beneath the protective clothing they wore. Chen spoke to her as they both looked down into the bubbling maw of the volcano.

  “Hey Fay? You remember what people believe attracts fire spirits right?” She was about to answer but a geyser of lava erupted from the mouth. They had to back up as the lava splashed onto the stone they had been standing on. Fay shivered slightly as she watched the fresh lava melt effortlessly through the warm stone where they had been.

  “It’s a flight of passion right?” She tilted her head at him wondering why he was asking about such. “Fire spirits love watching someone fall to their inner emotions.”

  “Well, how powerful of a spirit would take notice if you jumped into the mouth of the volcano?” Before she could even respond to such an inane thought Chen was already sprinting toward the edge. Her legs began carrying her forward before she could think. She reached for his back trying to grab him as he ran whooping and hollering toward the hole in front of them. She failed to reach him as he launched himself over the edge.

  “Woooooooooooooooo….” She heard his whoops fade to nothing after he disappeared over the edge. Tears streamed down her face as she kneeled at the edge where he had disappeared over the side. Looking over she could see anything but the bubbling orange with no sign of Chen anywhere. She didn't know what she expected to see… what she wanted to see. Did she want to see him emerge from the magma, smiling and victorious? Did she want to see his melting skeleton on the surface of the lava, providing at least some closure? She knew either of those were unrealistic and as her tears sizzled on the rock below her she felt an emotion welling up in her heart. Rage. How could he do this to her? Throw himself to his death without a second thought. Leaving behind all the responsibility that he had convinced her of last night. Leaving her behind! She stood her tears drying from the heat and looked down at the softly bubbling molten rock below.

  “Fuck responsibility.” She took a half step forward, her toes at the lip of certain death. “Fuck my parents.” She took a step out into the open air, tears welling once again at the corners of her eyes but evaporating before they had a chance to fall. “And Fuck you Cheeeeeeennnnnnn.” She fell into the open air plummeting like a stone to the hot death that awaited her. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the inevitable flash of heat and then nothingness.

  But instead she felt herself rising? She opened her eyes to see the maw of Mt Vetrock retreating beneath her as she was dragged into the air. She tried to scream but the air was dragged out of her lungs as she was tossed through the air. Whipping around in circles she was unable to see the lava in the mouth of the volcano roil and thrash before erupting into motion dragged into the air by the hurricane force winds. The small droplets of magma impacted each other in the air, sparking and igniting until the whole tornado seemed alight with flames. Fay was unable to see anything past the flashing of sparks and the bright flames that surrounded her. But strangely she felt cool in the burning vortex that surrounded her. Before she knew it she was experiencing a moment of stillness. She was in the eye of the now one and a half mile wide tornado that tore at the sky above the caldera. Ash and flames were drawn into the sky swirling in a beautiful dance as they ascended toward the sky.

  Fay didn't know any of this however as she was now withdrawn into a small corner of her mind. There she felt a small presence, it knocked softly on the door of her mind as if asking politely if it can be let in. She decided to let it in and opened her eyes. She could now see that before her floated a small marble. The spirit of this vortex inferno. It seemed so small, so timid as it bobbed softly in her direction. She reached out to it and was pleasantly surprised to find it cold to the touch. It pulsed softly and she felt a wave of cold move from her fingertips across her entire body. Her skin tingled as it passed and turned an ashen gray in its wake. Other than the change to her skin she felt no change as she stared in wonder at the pulsing spirit that floated in front of her. An outside observer thought would notice that her already red eyes now glowed and flickered with captured flames. The tornado's spirit floated above her palm and as she closed her fist around it she felt the winds begin to die down around her.

  She lowered softly to the ground landing at the ledge of the volcano's mouth once again. She stared down at the lava expectantly. Suspecting what should not have been possible. And exactly according to her expectations. A hand burst through the surface of the magma, glowing veins forming a lattice across it, as if the same magma it emerged from pumped through it. It proceeded to flash a thumbs up and Fay legs finally gave way underneath her. She was laughing and crying as she rolled to her back and looked up at the sky. The sky had been cleared momentarily leaving a perfect view of the stars above. High above streaking across the sky was a beautiful rain of meteors. Trails of multicolored light seemed like a sign. That maybe… just maybe… everything would be alright.