By Ice, Prologue
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Fire and Ice, Robert Frost
Prologue
Scotland
About 600 B.C.
Glacia Kerrich watched as her village was engulfed in flames. Her tear stained face was hidden in the shadows of her cowl as she watched her home burn to the ground. The screams of her loved ones echoed in her ears and would haunt her for the rest of eternity. She watched from a cliff that towered above until her whole life was reduced to faintly glowing embers.
She let out a fierce cry of anguish and sank to her knees. She was a young water and ice compeller, she had only just begun training. Her guts twisted at the irony; her life had been destroyed by fire and she had the ability, but not the skill, to prevent it.
Her tortured cries caught the attention of Benjirou Saito. He watched Glacia from afar, watched until her cries softened and she fell silent. Benjirou's Japanese features showed his contemplation. She had the potential to be a fierce warrior, that much was obvious, and her powers could not be denied.
Benjirou approached the grieving young girl and put a soothing hand on her shoulder. Glacia let out a startled gasp and looked up at the Japanese man. Benjirou knew she sought comfort after such a tragedy, so he knelt beside the Celtic girl and said, in a strange voice that had no accent, belying his Japanese features. "This was not your fault, young one. You could not have prevented this. Your village's enemies were much too strong, even for an experienced compeller, such as myself."
Glacia's watery blue eyes wavered as she looked up at the strange man. His features were distinctly Asian, although Glacia's knowledge ended there. His almond shaped eyes were filled with kindness and compassion, but also an ancient wisdom. "Who are ye?" She had a thick Celtic accent that sounded odd in contrast to Benjirou's.
"My name is Benjirou Saito. Your family sent a letter to my people saying you needed a tutor. Were you the only compeller of your tribe?"
Glacia nodded faintly as Benjirou rose to his full height. He held out his hand for the girl. "Come with me, young one. I will take you under my wing, teach you all you need to know. I will hone your powers until you are a fierce warrior. Never again will you be vulnerable."
She looked at Benjirou warily before grasping his hand and letting him pull her to her feet. "I willna ever have to be this vulnerable? This helpless?"
"After I'm done training you, there won't be a creature in the land that won't fear you."
"Ye promise? I have yer word?"
"I promise." He watched as Glacia cast one last look at the remains of her village, her whole life reduced to mere ashes. "Come, young Glacia. We must get to work."
Glacia followed the Japanese man as she silently vowed vengeance against those that had destroyed her village. The fire compellers. While Glacia had been the only water and ice compeller in her tribe, there was a village full of fire compellers just North of her village.
And she vowed vengeance on them all. She promised herself that they would all die slowly, under her torture. She would make them beg for mercy for what they had done to her village.
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Fire and Ice, Robert Frost
Prologue
Scotland
About 600 B.C.
Glacia Kerrich watched as her village was engulfed in flames. Her tear stained face was hidden in the shadows of her cowl as she watched her home burn to the ground. The screams of her loved ones echoed in her ears and would haunt her for the rest of eternity. She watched from a cliff that towered above until her whole life was reduced to faintly glowing embers.
She let out a fierce cry of anguish and sank to her knees. She was a young water and ice compeller, she had only just begun training. Her guts twisted at the irony; her life had been destroyed by fire and she had the ability, but not the skill, to prevent it.
Her tortured cries caught the attention of Benjirou Saito. He watched Glacia from afar, watched until her cries softened and she fell silent. Benjirou's Japanese features showed his contemplation. She had the potential to be a fierce warrior, that much was obvious, and her powers could not be denied.
Benjirou approached the grieving young girl and put a soothing hand on her shoulder. Glacia let out a startled gasp and looked up at the Japanese man. Benjirou knew she sought comfort after such a tragedy, so he knelt beside the Celtic girl and said, in a strange voice that had no accent, belying his Japanese features. "This was not your fault, young one. You could not have prevented this. Your village's enemies were much too strong, even for an experienced compeller, such as myself."
Glacia's watery blue eyes wavered as she looked up at the strange man. His features were distinctly Asian, although Glacia's knowledge ended there. His almond shaped eyes were filled with kindness and compassion, but also an ancient wisdom. "Who are ye?" She had a thick Celtic accent that sounded odd in contrast to Benjirou's.
"My name is Benjirou Saito. Your family sent a letter to my people saying you needed a tutor. Were you the only compeller of your tribe?"
Glacia nodded faintly as Benjirou rose to his full height. He held out his hand for the girl. "Come with me, young one. I will take you under my wing, teach you all you need to know. I will hone your powers until you are a fierce warrior. Never again will you be vulnerable."
She looked at Benjirou warily before grasping his hand and letting him pull her to her feet. "I willna ever have to be this vulnerable? This helpless?"
"After I'm done training you, there won't be a creature in the land that won't fear you."
"Ye promise? I have yer word?"
"I promise." He watched as Glacia cast one last look at the remains of her village, her whole life reduced to mere ashes. "Come, young Glacia. We must get to work."
Glacia followed the Japanese man as she silently vowed vengeance against those that had destroyed her village. The fire compellers. While Glacia had been the only water and ice compeller in her tribe, there was a village full of fire compellers just North of her village.
And she vowed vengeance on them all. She promised herself that they would all die slowly, under her torture. She would make them beg for mercy for what they had done to her village.