Enthracia - 29 years earlier

Euthelis was on his way to the chapel. It was the first fortnight after the summer solstice, meaning it was time for him to go through the Initiation. He wore his cream colored gown and carried a small, pure white candle, unlit. As he climbed the marble steps to the gothic-style cathedral, he looked back at the nine other initiates. They were different than him. They were all content and ignorant here. They had no idea what lay beyond the city walls. But he did. He didn't want to stay here. He didn't believe in their beliefs, that you were bound by soul to Enthracia. He didn't like it.

The young elf wished he were in the forest, practicing his fire-dance. Nobody knew about it, knew that he was a fire-dancer. One day, eight years ago, he discovered a staff hidden in a hollowed out tree. He took it out and tried swinging it around, and the ends burst into flames. After a few more years of playing with it, he discovered that he could control the fire. He discovered the fire-dance.

But now, he wouldn't be able to ever use the magical tree limb every again.

Haelynn looked at Euthelis softly. He was too tense all the time. She knew he never really wanted to go through with the Initiation, but she didn't understand why. He was in front of the group, but he obviously didn't want to be there.

As the Elder passed down the line, Euthelis seemed to grow more agitated. 'What is the matter, dear?'

Euthelis received Haelynn's message just as the elder began to anoint the boy standing next to him. 'Can you promise me something?' The elder's hand came down.

'Anything.' It slid to the left.

'Don't try to stop me.' It came back up.


'What...? It went to the right.

Euthelis jumped down from the altar and began to run down the stairs of the chapel. Two guards ran out to stop him, but he slid under their extended arms. He stood up in one fluid motion and burst through the surrounding crowd. The houses flew past him as he sprinted down the street. Then he noticed that Haelynn was running next to him.

"I thought you weren't going to stop me?" He tried to pick up speed, but he couldn't outrun her enchanted boots.

"I'm not." She smiled. "I'm trying to help."