Slowly Zane awoke, laying in a low hay bed. Looking around he saw the walls of a stable around, the room filled with hay. He realised his burns were covered with warm, wet rags. A woman came through a door off to the side, as she saw him and was startled he was awake. In her arms were cold, damp rags, to replace the now warm ones. She looked back in the door, “Dear, the man is awake,” she called into the house. He heard another lower voice call back, but Zane could not tell what it said. The woman walked over to Zane removing the warm rags and replacing them with cold shooting ones. After she was done a man walked in with a plate of food. Looking at the meal Zane realised he was starving. As the man placed the plate down next to him tired for Zane to dig in. The woman left the room closing the door behind her. Wolfing down the meal the man watched as he did. “My name is Cornan. Yours?” He asked. Pausing his meal to answer Zane replied, “My name is Zane,” but as he did he felt his voice rasp as his scorched throat burned. “What happened to you, why are you burnt,” Asked Cornan. Looking up Zane remembered what had happened, he stopped eating, but this time because he felt he couldn’t take another bite. “Please, it would help both of us if you told me,” encouraged Cornan. “They...... they killed.... everyone,” paused Zane through his sadness. Looking sadly Cornan said nothing. “Stay here, you will be safe to go anywhere you wish, just wait until you are ready,” Said Cornan. “Thank you,” Replied Zane, just managing to release his words. 

   The village was silent, the farm crops leaned in the soft breeze. Slowly all the lantern lights were extinguished, like stars disappearing from the sky. The black sky was filled with sparkling stars which twinkled over the lands. Then figures seemed to glide over the farm land, heading for the lonely village. Men holding flint and daggers crouched up, followed by tall robed magicians. As the men holding the flint walked up to the area lit up, sparks flew quietly, once, twice, then a warm but oddly blue flame took hold of the crops. The men drew their daggers and ran into the village, the magicians followed, their hands glowing as power flowed ready to be released. The flame quickly spread from the crops to the fences, then like a wave it traveled over the grass, eating its way closer to the village. A snapping sound cracked through the air as a red glowing orb exploded on the side of a house, then another exploded its way into existence. The men burst down doors as the charged into the village, daggers ready. The first blue flame crawled up the side of a building, sewing chaos into the village. People woke to the sound of doors snapping on their hinges and bolts of red lightning exploding around them. Zane watched in terror out of his window. As he watched he heard slamming downstairs as men forced their way inside of his house. Turning around Zane quickly climbed awkwardly out of the window, just as running feet came stomping up his steps. Shifting to the side of the window he hid, feet scrambled inside his house as they searched. Suddenly a face peered out of the window looking straight down. Hoping with all of his heart that the man wouldn’t look to the side Zane held his breath. Then the man looked around, he saw Zane standing on the slim ledge and yelled out. The man slowly pulled himself out of the window onto the ledge. Slowly shuffling to the side Zane knew he wasn’t going fast enough. His only chance was to jump off down the two stories. Breathing in he calmed himself down and quietly leapt, landing on his feet his knees gave way. Pain shot through his bones as his legs took the full force of the drop. Gritting his teeth Zane ran, but a red orb exploded behind him, sending his house into planks and splinters. A plank flew through the air and smashed against the back of his head. Falling down Zane was unconscious before he hit the floor.

Waking up Zane exhaustedly opened his eyes, “Morning,” Said Cornan. Looking up Zane saw Cornan at the door. “If you need anything, all you have to do is tell us,” he continued. “Now,” He said walking through the door and sitting down. “Tell me, what happened,”. “First, t-there was fire, b-blue fire. A-and red magic. Then men attacked us and I think I saw a black figure out in the fields watching me.” Replied Zane scared at the throught of the attack. “Then I escaped and just ran,”. “What!” Exclaimed Cornan before calming down, “this cant be...” he trailed off in thought. Cornan abruptly sat up and made for the door. Confused Zane looked around wondering what had happened.