Chapter 1 Fire

Azura watched the light from the red palace explode as the people celebrated the fire's New Year. She had refused to go to the celebrations, yet she couldn't stop herself from watching the brilliant fire explode into the sky. If I was trained I could do that she thought examining her hands now marked with the red dragon of power. Azura had been chosen to be trained in the art of fire, a technique once known to each of those of fire, before the Great War and then the Great Peace, where the elements mixed. As she thought of the mixed, Azura cringed how could anyone like let alone love one that wasn't a fire?

Once the great fire had died, Azura retreated back into the house. She had been sitting on the small wooden balcony, but now there was no reason to be in the outside air. She settled down on the floor wrapping the red blanket around her. Azura's house consisted of two rooms, one was the main room where she slept on the floor and her mother and little brother slept on the tiny couch. In front of them was the fire pit, where they made the food. The next room had a small pot and a water bucket for bathing. Even by the poor's standard they were poor, but I could change that Azura thought. If I learnt, then we would live in luxury. If I learnt, she couldn't understand why she thought about it as if she had a choice.

She heard her mother and little brother Axon, come back later that night but she didn't greet them instead pretended they hadn't roused her. The next morning, Azura picked herself up and lit the fire. She carefully focused her energy on the small tinder and grass and pushed mentally. A small spark appeared and slowly grew bigger. She had learnt to do it when she was five and that was why she had been picked. Although no matter how hard she tried she was never able to get more than a small spark.

"Azura, you were missed. Now that you are to be trained you are expected," her mother started in her normal condensing voice.

"Expected, not ordered and I don't want to be trained," she interrupted her.

"Blasphemy, no daughter of mine will speak like that," her mother said angry, as her voice steadily rose.

Azura didn't wait around to hear the rest, she ran down the stairs, smiling at the family below them as she walked out the door. The sun warm rays welcomed her as she stepped outside. Azura walked forward, manoeuvring between the red dyed wooden shacks, which slowly turned into proper houses as she moved forward.

She stopped in front of the Academy the place where she would live and be trained. It rose up into the sky, even bigger than the red palace. Surrounding it were columns made from the royal red rocks, twisted to look like the red dragon of power. At least a hundred steps led up the huge doors, which no single person could open. The whole place was big on a grand scale, and red and orange. How much can one person take of those colours, Azura wondered. She looked around nervously, she knew her thoughts were wrong, but she couldn't help it.

One of the huge doors was pushed open and Azura saw Phoenix step out. He can open it on his own she corrected herself. His sinister stare seemed to settle on her and Azura stepped back into the shadows. He can't even see me she scolded herself. Phoenix was the greatest warrior of fire, rivalling those of old. He wore no shirt to prove that, as his entire chest was covered in marks of fire, which proved he was given its strength. Azura knew though that she wasn't the only one, who was afraid of him. Phoenix was known for being quick to anger, he disobeyed orders when they didn't suit him, and might just kill you if you even looked at him wrong. She cringed when he put his hand on the hilt of his sword that hung loosely on his belt. His light orange eyes still seemed to dwell on her and Azura turned around walking away. She fingered her dark red curly hair nervously and was happy to see that when she turned around he was facing another direction.

"Azura, come here a second," an old man called from a side stall.

"Majuro, how are you?" Azura said carefully, smiling as Majuro lifted up a small package.

"Good, fading. Here is some fire bread for your mother," he said handing it over.

Majuro was one of the bread merchants and apparently when he was younger had tried to win her mother's hand.

"Your hardly fading and thank you, it means a lot," Azura said trying to comfort him, but she knew it was a lie.

Fading was the process that happened when you grew old, the red colour turned to a dark black in your hair and your orange eyes, turned black as well. Once all colour was lost, death. Majuro was getting dangerously close.

"Lying to an old man you should be ashamed. I hear you are to be trained, you should have a look around the Academy before, uncle said its best otherwise you get lost," Majuro advised.

Azura nodded and then made her way home, in all truth she didn't want to be near the Academy, because that made it real.

Azura mother stood up, in annoyance when she came through the door and Azura decided she would prefer to be anywhere but at home.

"Majuro said I should tour the Academy," she said before her mother could open her mouth.

"Yes you may do that now, though it will be dark by the time you get back. Oh and Azura never leave without saying where you're going again," her mother warned her voice like ice.

"Of course not I apologize " Azura said, meaning not one word.

Then she turned around again and headed out. I don't have to go she reasoned with herself as she made her way back to the Academy. Yet, she knew she would disobedience wasn't something she knew well.

Azura climbed the steps quickly regretting it as her breath ran out even before she made it to the top. At least Phoenix isn't around she told herself. When she stood in front of the doors she looked up gulping, that's at least twenty of me tall. How do I even get in, she asked herself walking down around the side of the Academy. She smiled when she saw a person sized door at the side and walked through. A dark room welcomed her and she focused mentally making a tiny spark ignite in her hand. The room had no doors and Azura looked around in confusion. It was empty except for scattered hay around the floor. Across the far wall, Azura could see some writing covered in dust. She walked over, blowing and brushing away the dust with her hands. Arson and Arrow it read, Arson and Arrow Azura said to herself. As soon as she did the room felt cold and her small fire died in her hand. Her spine tingled and Azura ran over to the door desperately trying to open it. When she did, she felt a huge gust of wind follow her out; she slammed the door shut and leaned against it breathing heavily.

Arson and Arrow, something about those words were dangerous.

"Are you alright?" a fire warrior asked appearing from around the corner.

Azura looked at her; she was just a little bit older than her and must have just started training.

"I'm going to be trained," Azura began showing her the dragon of power, "and I wanted to look around and I must have gone in the wrong door."

"Okay, there's only one door. Not sure how you could have missed it, it's pretty big. Next time, just knock twice and it will open," the girl responded giving her an odd stare.

"But," Azura said turning to face the door, "it was just here."

Except all that Azura could see was the wall, like the door had never even existed.

"Maybe you should go home, I think maybe you had too much red ruby," the girl told Azura, looking slightly offended Azura was even there in the first place.

"I think that's a good idea," Azura replied walking past her, head spinning. It was there, she was sure of it.