Father Chaos

Ludwig glanced at me, his gaze patient and expectant, waiting for my next question. I hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to delve deeper into personal matters. But the curiosity nagged at me, urging me to bridge the gap between us.

"Does it hurt?" I finally gathered the courage to ask, my voice hesitant. "I mean, when you summon fire with your hands, does it cause you pain?"

Ludwig took a moment before responding, his smile carrying a hint of reminiscence. "The first time? Oh yes, it was excruciatingly painful. But with practice and acceptance of your abilities, you grow accustomed to it. Eventually, you feel the warmth without the agony."

With a flick of his fingers, Ludwig conjured a small flame, demonstrating the process. At first, it resembled a swirling vortex of dust, but upon closer inspection, the dust transformed into tiny sparks of fire that coalesced into a growing flame.

I watched in awe as each spark ignited into a vibrant fire, marveling at Ludwig's control and mastery over the elemental force.

Ludwig's demeanor shifted slightly as he spoke about the seriousness of Faes training with elemental abilities. "Training is crucial for Faes, especially with fire. If your body is not strong enough, the flames can consume you completely. Fire cannot be contained by something that cannot withstand it."

His words made me ponder about the young ones among Faes. "What about children?" I queried. "Do they also undergo training, and for how long?"

Ludwig nodded in affirmation. "A lifetime. Usually, Faes discover their abilities during adulthood, but there's no fixed age. It can awaken unexpectedly, and one must accept the gift. However, there are exceptions, like Quentin and my trusted commanders."

Sensing Ludwig's reluctance to delve deeper into the exceptions, I decided to change the subject, respecting his boundaries. "Is it the same for other Faes as well, or is this trade-off specific to the Fire element?" I asked, curious to understand more about the dynamics of elemental abilities in general.

Ludwig's sigh carried a weight of solemnity as he delved into the nature of elemental abilities. "Each element is more than just a power. It's energy with a cost. There's a trade-off, a value exchange involved. While it's a gift, if you can't control that energy adequately, it can lead to your demise. That's the harsh reality of this gift. You must become capable enough to wield it, or face a tragic end."

"Tell me more about your kind," I urged Ludwig, eager for a deeper understanding of his world.

Ludwig's smile widened at my curiosity. "Sure, there are four types of Faes: Water, Fire, Land, and Wind."

Intrigued, I asked, "What sets Fire Faes apart?"

Ludwig explained, "Fire Faes have immunity to fire, even that produced by other Fire Faes. This makes us unable to harm each other with fire."

"And what about Water Faes?" I inquired further.

"They can breathe underwater and possess healing abilities," Ludwig continued. "They play a crucial role in nurturing and healing creatures within our realms."

"Wind Faes sound fascinating," I remarked. "What makes them unique?"

Ludwig nodded, "Wind Faes are known for their agility, speed, and their ability to fly. They have a freedom of movement that others envy."

"And Land Faes?" I prompted.

"Lands Faes control the ground and have a knack for nurturing plant life," Ludwig elaborated. "While they can't create plants from scratch, they can enhance and promote growth in existing flora."

I listened intently, absorbing the diverse abilities of each Fae type, marveling at the intricacies of their world. "But wait, I don't understand. If they could grow the plants, why couldn't they make their own? Isn't it the same thing?"

Ludwig shook his head. "No, it's not. Only Mother Nature can create nature. We are here only to use it and bend it to our will, but we cannot create it ourselves. The same principle applies to Water Faes. They can manipulate water and control it as they wish, but they cannot conjure it out of nothing."

I was in disbelief. "But you just created fire," I argued. "Out of nowhere. How is that possible then?"

"That's because fire doesn't originate from Mother Nature," explained Ludwig. "Its power stems from chaos. If you observe closely, the angrier we become, the hotter our fire burns. It's fueled by our emotions, especially the negative ones. Fire is the only elemental force that thrives on dark emotions. The more malevolent we are, the stronger our fire becomes. That's the reality of our nature."

I left Ludwig's explanation with nothing but confusion, but he tried his best to shed light on the complexities. "You can gain a deeper understanding by reading the History of Faes. It's still available in our library the last time I checked. To summarize, Father Chaos and Mother Nature are the revered deities we praise. They bore three children: Land, Water, and Wind. However, Father Chaos had an affair with a non-deity, whose name escapes me now. From this union, Fire was born. When Father Chaos passed away, a tumultuous battle ensued among the siblings for the throne. It was a time of chaos and discord. In a selfless act, Mother Nature sacrificed herself to end the war, casting a powerful spell on our lands in exchange for her life. Since then, unity has been our strength. The Water, Wind, Fire, and Land Faes must maintain peace, honoring Mother Nature's vision. Failure to do so would mean division and the triumph of darkness."

Ludwig suddenly stood up gracefully and pointed towards a towering mountain behind us. "Do you see that mountain?" he asked.

I stood up as well and nodded in silence.

"That's Mother Nature's body, her eternal grave, the Helios Mountain. I suppose if we were to dig as deep as our lands go, we could reach her body. But of course, that would be incredibly disrespectful, and it's something we would never do."