[0:00]Imagine for a moment, flame, a flame, beautiful, glorious flame. You study it, and it completes you every day, every night, its workings are endless, its majesty is unfathomable. How can a magic so beautiful, so enchanting be forbidden? No matter, you think as you study it. They could never understand its beauty, appreciate its glory. Because though they call themselves mages, they're not nearly as gifted, not like you. They are masters of fire, but you are its lover. They can speak the words and heat will come, but you breathe the flame. The flame is everything to you. And one night as you prepare the spell that will shock the world, and finally see you named an Archmage, one of the world's best, you smile. It's ready. You pace the room, fearful but assured. If not in yourself, then in the flame. Trust in the flame, believe in the blaze, begin the spell.
[1:17]You watch, stunned as the house blazes. You made it out, injured, though you are. The same could not be said for your mother and father. You watch as a blaze takes them. As the embers you held so dear betray you, and they burn. What did you do to deserve this? You think as you watch. How did the spell fail? What did you do with the fire turns blue, and a face forms in the flame, and it smiles at you. Hello, dear boy, it says as it consumes them. You do not know me, but I know you, and I have been watching you. The way you practice fire. It's beautiful. And so I thought to reward you. These distractions were not letting you reach your full potential. The face changes its shape to the shape of your mother and father, and your heart turns to ice. I am Agni, God of fire. And you are welcome, dear boy. The flame dances in joy. Stay on the path. And remember, trust in the flame. Your eyes water, and you swear never again. You look up to the sun in the sky, and it shines down on you, mocking you. I will never touch magic again.
[2:44]Later.
[2:48]You dream of calming waves, the stillness, the silence. It brings you peace, it brings you joy, it brings. You wake up and sigh. Another restless night, even after all this time. You take a breath, looking upon the waves outside your seaside cabin, and you stand up. You watch the waves from your usual spot on the cliff's edge, longing, regretting. The sun beams down on you, and you hear a rustling behind you. Elio, look, a girl's voice shouts. You ignore it, and keep your eye on the water. I told you not to come here. Come on, just turn around. You take a deep breath, and turn, to see the young girl, not a day older than 10, with a Lily flower in her hair. She smirks, then concentrates for a moment. And then, a small flame dances in her hand. You flinch involuntarily, but she doesn't notice as she beams with joy, and looks to you. Now, I can finally be your apprentice. I'm not looking for an apprentice. When do we start? Should I burn down the sun? I'm not looking for an apprentice, Nara. I'm not a mage. You know that. Then, she looks to the water. Well, do you want to go swimming? Or are you scared of water as well as fire? You stop and look to her. She smirks. You follow Nara, and as she heads for the waves, that part of you that you thought burned in the ashes of your failure. That small, secluded corner in your mind where hopes and dreams lie, it grows, and you smile as you chase her. And if you're being honest, the only reason you haven't joined mother and father where they have gone, that hole inside. She doesn't fill it, but it does get smaller, and the sun seems to shine brighter for these days, these months, these years. You are truly happy. Clouds block the sun when she tells you the news. Her 20th birthday. She looks to you with a frown. They're calling all capable mages to defend the country from invasion. I'm I'm sorry, Master, but I have to go. You look to her with pity. Nara, I know, she says. You're not my master. There's nothing to be sorry for, girl. She looks up, shocked. Listen close, child. When painting with flame, do not think of it as controlling or guiding. No one can control the flame. It's alive. And all you're doing is making conversation. Befriend it, and it will help you. Nara starts to cry, and you grab her shoulders. I know you, girl. You are strong, stronger than me. You look into her eyes, trusting her. I await your return.
[5:46]Time goes by, and you hear news. The Fire Lily they call her. Your Nara, she's known as a world class threat. Armies cripple at her wrath, and countries heal to her fire. Should one see the Lily, the enemy say flee, and should she see you, they say, pray. It is said the king has granted her the honor of Archmage, and you smile. Because she climbs even higher than you. As you cook your dinner, you are filled with. You drop the pan and turn to the cooking fire. When did that turn on? You stopped cooking with flame long ago. The flame turns blue. The fire grows to the size of a man, and it looks at you with pity. What a shame. You're frozen still, transported to that night. That feeling of hopelessness, worthlessness. You can't move. Oh, I've met your girl. Nara, is it? She's a promising young sprite. You move. Don't ever speak her name, you wretch. There's that fire. The flame ships, and you see your mother's face. I'm so proud of you, she says, and hate forms on your eyes. Your hands trickle with sparks, and the God looks to you with hunger in its eyes. But you take a breath and dull the sparks, and you sit down. You swore. And the God sighs. Here I was, hoping you'd be the first one in a millennia to give me a challenge. Challenge the door on your way out. Hmm, if not you, then perhaps the Lily could answer the call. What? The flame dies out, and you're alone. You look off towards the waves. The Fire Lily, Nara. He's going after Nara. You look across the water, the calmness you've been searching for, the tranquility, the stillness. Then you look down at your hands. It appears they can be still no more. You stand up, take a breath. Mother, Father, if you are listening, I am sorry. You stand and you run, and your hand catches the flame, and you fly. They call you the Fire Lily, but that name has never felt right to you. As you dodge all manner of spell and sword on the battlefield. You think back on your days with Master Elio with a smile. If only he could see you now. You stand up and walk through your army. You stand in front of the enemy and think about what your master said. The fire cannot be controlled, cannot be tamed. It is a friend. And as the runes swirl in your hands, and fire lights in your eyes, you call on an old friend. And the pillar of fire the size of a mountain descends from the heavens to burn them all. Armor, horses, military men and siege cannons, all fall to ash. Your men chant behind you as a colossal funeral pyre burns high in the sky. Lily, Lily, they cry, and you smile. If only Elio could see you now. The fire turns blue, and you turn to see a face in the heavenly pyre. Fire Lily, it says.
[9:02]And the 20-foot tall avatar of blue flame walks out of the fire. The sheer weight, the pressure of the beast. This, this is a God. Your men fall to their knees behind you, and it takes everything in you to stay on your feet. I've heard much about you, the creature says with a grin. How great it is to finally meet you. You freeze. Your heart beats quick. What to do? What to do? How do you save her men? How do you escape this thing? This end. You look back towards your men, and they are wiped from existence. Distractions, how I hate distractions. It was as simple as breathing. The blue flame giant whips his hand, and the men are ash. And then, then a rage consumes you, and fire lights in your hand, wild and uncontrolled. Ready to be unleashed. You. It burns you. You flinch, as the creature laughs. That's never happened to you before. Fire, fire is your friend. How could it betray you like this? The creature grins. You may have befriended fire, but fire is all that I am. Men called me human once. I never was. Men call me God now. I am not. I am the Ember, the pyre, the blaze, the inferno. It is all of me, all I am. When you call upon fire, you call upon me. You flush in anger, run towards this creature, this beast that slew your army. You rush toward your death. The creature smiles. It wasn't you, after all, it says. As it prepares an arrow of fire, and you close your eyes. Master, you whisper. I hope you're proud of me.
[10:49]You wake up to feel warmth. Not the wild heat of a destructive flame, but a cool warmth, like the sun. You open your eyes to your master holding you, and looking down upon you. He sets you on the ground gently, and turns toward the blue flame creature. You smile. Because you know that all will be well. Because after all these years living together, you know more than anyone the power of his heat, of his fury. He's held it back sure, but you felt it in those small moments, he thought no one was watching. You saw his rage, incomparable, his malice, unforgivable. You close your eyes, and in your mind, you swim. You look upon the creature that took your parents. It threatened once again to take your family from you. And you take a breath. Oddly, you're more at peace than you ever were staring at the waves. Water is not your heart. Your heart blazes, and the shackles you placed on your power run free again. The world quakes with intensity, as the God of flame looks down at you. There he is. Finally, a real show. Flame sparks all over your body in a cloak, and it tries to burn you, but you calm it. You and the flame are not mere friends, and its control will not be taken from you. The flame monster grins, and you descend upon it. Fire meets fury as you engage with the murderous God. The mountains tremble as you match blow for blow. The air dries out and land becomes desert. The beast unleashes all manner of Godly power upon you, and you counter with sheer technique. Spell after spell after spell. You've studied the flame longer than anyone. And the God's hands, the flame is to over destruction, and yours, the flame creates. It creates wonder. It creates moments of joy in a world far too cruel. And right now, it creates death. The blue flame giant bellows a laugh, and the flame evaporates. The battlefield that only a moment ago was drenched in fire is dry. And the man emerges where the beast once was. And in his hand, a sword. And as you look down at that sword, you know where all the fire went. Every piece of heat in the world is radiating from that sword. You fall to your knees, as the God of fire laughs at you. He prepares the sword, and you prepare for death. You look up to the sun as the sword comes down on you. The sun, the same sun that's always followed you. From when your parents died, tonight's with Nara, the sun. You come to a realization. The heat is gone, but the sun still reigns. A foreign power at the edge of your mind awakens. Heat, flame, the blaze. The blaze is a mere imitation in the realm of fire. There's only one king. And as you look upon the king, a deeper parts of your mind unlocks. And all the study you've put into fire magic fits into place. The final piece. Your body starts to float in the air, and a crown made of pure liquid heat descends on your head. And as the sword swings down, you whip the hand and catch it. So cold, you think as you incinerate it. The God of fire looks down at you like a madman, and fear settles onto his face. Too little, you think. Too late. You lift your hands, and arms of pure liquid heat hold him up, and lift him into the air. And you rise with him, and you form for yourself a throne of liquid heat. And as the golden hands hold him out in front of you, you lift your own hand, and the blade, larger than the continent, forms directly from the sun. A reckoning. The God of flame opens his mouth, but no words come out. Perhaps you can't hear them. All you see is your mother and father smiling at you. And you look down at the God, and you smile. You bend your hand, and close your eyes.
[15:22]You wake up from the dream of swimming to see a landscape of ashes. Nothing remains, but a figure floating in the sky. A man with a golden crown over his head. And you look up at him, and he smiles. Come, apprentice, he says. Let me show you.
[15:44]By the way, I started a Patreon. Check it out for my scripts or simply to support the channel so I can make more videos more frequently and at a higher quality. Also, join the Discord. We have fun there. This story was loosely based on Agni, the Hindu God of fire, as well as Ifret, the Arabian jin of the flame. These creatures, destructive though they are, never seem to channel power from the best heat source of them all. So I thought, why not write a story about a person who does? For more.
