[ WP ] Magic is viewed as a curse . It 's unpredictable , hard to control , and dangerous . Those few who find a way to wield it risk losing themselves in the process .

The rain poured down in a flood, as Kris stumbled through the almost liquid dirt. A burning pain reverberated through his lungs with each breath, threatening to send him into another coughing fit at any moment. 
 
 *Exiled, scorned, feared. Why? Why me? * 
 
 After all these years, he still remembered their hateful glances, the way they never turned their backs to him, all of those words that stung like poison: `` Mage! Freak! Just die already!'' He was seven. They didn ’ t understand how hard it was to bear, didn ’ t know what it felt like to contain a raging inferno within your body. And when he slipped, they cast him out. They would ’ ve probably killed him, if they weren ’ t so afraid. 
 
 Ten years had passed since then, but the wounds were still as fresh as ever. Lost in thought, Kris stumbled over a rock buried deep in the mud and flew head first into the disgusting mush. Dirty water rushed to his throat, but for a few seconds he didn ’ t move. An all too familiar thought crept its way into his brain: 
 
 *Just stay like this. No one will care. Just end it. Come on, breath in and all will be over. * 
 
 Gathering all his will, Kris struggled back to his feet and adjusted his ragged cloak. As he tugged onto it, a cold feeling run down his spine. It was light. With a gasp, he collapsed to his knees and began wading his arms through the mud, but the pouch with his only food, a couple of mushrooms and a single squirrel, was nowhere to be found. A squishing sound caused Kris to stop. 
 
 *Footsteps. Run! Hide! But… What if they have food? Real food. Travelers are usually friendly, right? Maybe they won ’ t notice. * 
 
 The boy straightened himself and hid his right hand beneath the cloak. There were five of them: three men and two women, all carrying bags, most likely full of supplies. One had a sword on his belt, another – a dagger. Their clothes looked expensive, but not like those of nobles. 
 
 “ Hello to you, travellers, ” Kris said, forcing himself to smile. “ What are you doing in this place? ” 
 
 “ We ’ re merchants on our way to Ongwar, ” the old man with a sword answered. “ It seems like we ’ re lost. Do you know the way? ” 
 
 “ Yes, yes, I know these lands well. ” The boy couldn ’ t contain his excitement. “ I can lead you to Ongwar. In return all I ask for is some food. ” 
 
 “ Sounds like a generous offer, but… ” The old man looked Kris up and down. “ Why are you hiding your hand? ” 
 
 “ I… I fell and injured myself. ” 
 
 “ Why don ’ t you show that wound of yours? Perhaps we can help. ” 
 
 “ N-no, it ’ s nothing for y-you to concern yourself. I can take care of it myself. Besides, I don ’ t want to disturb the ladies with such a morbid sight. ” 
 
 “ Show it! ” The old man unsheathed his sword. 
 
 With a sigh Kris took his hand from beneath the cloak. There it was: the dark-red burn mark in the shape of an eight-pointed star on his palm. He saw the expression on the faces of the merchants change in an instant. 
 
 “ I knew it! ” The old man spat on the ground. “ Mage scum! ” 
 
 The punch threw Kris to the ground. It was the man with the dagger. As he tried to stand up, a kick landed on his chest. Over and over, the pain sparked in his body from the endless blows. 
 
 “ I ’ m not afraid of this freak! ” the man with the dagger shouted. “ Let ’ s just kill him. ” 
 
 *Why… Why? Why me!? * the same questioned echoed in Kris ’ s mind over and over. *What did I do them? Why do they hate me? What… What do I do? * 
 
 The voice came out of nowhere. It was a scream of something inhuman, an echo of an ancient rage that had no aim and no enemy. Like the cry of a wild beast, it was a sound of pure emotion. Hatred, anger, bloodlust, it was all in those words. 
 
 **BURN. THEM. ALL. ** 
 
 Kris met the next punch with his own fist. As soon as their skin touched, the man with the dagger ignited. Despite the rain and the watery mud, he lit up like a torch, screaming in agony. Slowly, trembling not from the cold but from his own rage, Kris stood up and looked at the remaining four. Winged beings of pure fire began forming in the air around him, preparing to strike at any moment. Over the roaring of the flame, Kris heard his own voice: 
 
 “ You will all die here. ” 
 
 The old man tried to run, only to be torn apart by the burning beasts. He screamed as his flesh was seared and torn from his bones at the same time. Kris smiled. More and more of the magical beings began materializing out of thin air, evaporating even the rain before it could reach the ground. 
 
 “ There is no escape. ” Kris ’ s voice came again, echoing far. 
 
 The winged things dived down onto the remaining survivors, only to be stopped by a spherical blue barrier. One of the women held her hands outstretched to her sides, a faint light enveloping her. With each repelled strike she winced. After three or four hits her appearance began to change, revealing darker hair, eyes of a different colour, and… a burn mark in a shape of an eight-pointed star on the palm of her right hand. 
 
 “ Maria? ” the other woman muttered, backing away. “ You too? ” 
 
 “ Shut up, Cynthia! ” the remaining man shouted. “ Can ’ t you see she ’ s trying to save us? ” 
 
 The woman continued backing away, holding a hand over her mouth. 
 
 “ Watch out! ” Maria cried out, but it was too late. 
 
 Cynthia had already crossed the barrier, and the flaming beasts didn ’ t waste any time. Her body was consumed in an instant, leaving behind only charred bones. The creatures now filled the skies for as far as Kris could see. They soared over the cities and the forests, seeking their prey everywhere. 
 
 “ You don ’ t want this. ” Maria breathed heavily between each word. “ This is not you! Resist! ” 
 
 A dizziness overcame Kris. It was as if he was fading away, disappearing, being consumed by the flame within him. 
 
 *No… I don ’ t… No! * 
 
 He felt the numbness disappear. The winged flaming creatures stopped, hovering in mid-air. He could now feel them, sense that connection to them somewhere in the raging inferno inside his heart. The magic no longer ran wild, it obeyed him… at least for now. The blue barrier disappeared. 
 
 “ Good. ” Maria collapsed to her knees. “ There are other ways. You don ’ t have to run forever. I ’ ll teach you. Thank the Heavens you ’ re finally in control. ” 
 
 “ Yes, ” Kris whispered, “ I ’ m in control. ” 
 
 The fiery beasts rushed down to attack.
