In his room Ren sat as readied himself. He had everything he needed a weapon, several jars of wisps for light, and potions to heal any injuries. All that was left was for him to steel his nerves. As the sun began to set a rumble drums began to be heard outside. ‘It’s almost time’, Ren thought to himself clutching his hand shaking with anticipation. The music outside only grew louder and louder as the sky dimmed. Finally, with the sun completely gone and the drums at their loudest Ren knew it was time.

  He slowly walked downstairs to find his father working hard over a cauldron. “Is it ready?”, Ren asked. “Almost his.”, his father said, “Azure get over here I need you.” From the kitchen a light blue fairy flew over. “I’m ready when you are.”, he said as started to glow even brighter than before. Ren’s father concentration became unbreakable as he mixed the contents of the cauldron together. Slowly a green liquid began to form. Taking this as a sign Ren’s father began chanting causing the liquid to change colors. As his chanting became faster so too did the changes in the color. Finally, in a puff of the smoke the changing of color ceased staying a shade of purple.

  “It’s ready.”, Azure said, “Ren kneel and close your eyes now.” Ren did as instructed making sure his eyes were shut tight. Ren waited in the darkness eager to get started causing every second to feel like an eternity. Suddenly Ren pressure from his father’s fingers as they drifted across his face. First starting under his eyes drawing several crescents facing downward. “May your eyes which were blind finally see the light.”, his father said. Then Ren felt his black hair being lifted from his forehead. “May your mind let you see these lights and accept them.”, his father said as Ren felt fingers dragged across his forehead.

  Everywhere his placed his fingers felt like they were bursting with energy. Every instinct told him to open his eyes so he could find his path, but Ren defied this instinct knowing that they weren’t done yet. Suddenly in the darkness the sound of his front door creaked open. “Ren.”, his father spoke, “On your 17th year under the Solstice of Fire you venture out in search of your partner.” His father stopped as his fairy continued, “The trial before you is to your companionship and your power. The trial is as unpredictable as the world we live in. It may be dangerous, it may be tranquil, will be a long journey or short these questions we do not know. The only thing we are certain of is that it will forever change the course of your life. Do you accept this change?” Ren took a deep breath letting out any nerves he had left and responded with a yes. “Good”, his father said, “Venture forth.” Ren get to his feet and slowly made his way out the door in front of him. As he made it outside his father spoke giving him one final command before shutting the door, “Open your eyes.”

  Ren’s eyes shot open as his eyes which were once blue turned purple to match color of the paint. Ren felt a surge of energy in his eyes and knew that the ritual had worked but as he looked around his village lacking any light Ren saw nothing. ‘What’s going on?’, Ren thought. He looked in every direction over and over but no matter what there was no light. Ren was puzzled when suddenly the other village kids started to run past him going in multiple different directions. ‘I can’t stay put I have to at least move!’, Ren thought as he followed one of the kid’s into the forest.

  These forests were always dangerous, but on the night of the Solstice it was even more so. Out of the darkness of wolf emerge lunging at Ren with its fangs bared quickly. Ren pulled out his sword catching the wolf’s teeth as it tackled Ren to the ground. Its barking became more savage and ferocious tried to bite Ren over and over getting closer to Ren’s face with every attempt. Suddenly the wolf’s teeth turned blood red as chomped down snapping Ren’s sword. With speed unlike any before went for another bite chomping into Ren’s shoulder. The pain was unbearable as he cried out in pain Ren grabbed the wolf by the jaw and tried with all his might to get the wolf to release but to no avail as the wolf’s fangs sunk deeper and deeper.

  Out of the darkness another boy who Ren knew as Vef emerged plunging a dagger straight into the wolf’s head. The low growl the wolf emitted quickly turned into a little whimper before stopping all together. Trying again Ren forced the wolf’s jaw open releasing him. Not dead yet but definitely not unscathed.

  “You ok?”, Vef asked.

  “Y-yeah I’ll be fine.” Ren said clutching his shoulder.

  “H-here I got a potion.”, he offered as he rummaged through his bag.

  “No that’s ok.”, Ren rejected, “I have my own.”, he said as he pulled a small bottle out of his bag. Quickly downing the contents Ren couldn’t help but gag at the taste as the wounds in his shoulder vanished. “Thanks for the help back there.”, Ren said.

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  “No problem. Guess it was too much to ask for our trial to be easy.”, he said with a chuckle.

  “Tell me about it I don’t even knew where to go.”, Ren replied. “What do mean you don’t know where to go? You just follow the glowing trail of light.”, Vef said with a confused look.

  “No that’s the problem I don’t even see my trail all I see is the darkness around me.”, Ren explained.

  “Huh”, Vef thought, “That’s strange.”, he said getting closer to Ren’s face staring directly at him. “Well the ritual worked your eyes are the right color.”, he reassured Ren. “My trail takes me deeper into the forest if you want you can tag along maybe your trail will wake up by then.” With no better option Ren agreed and the two continued deeper into the dark forest.

  The deeper into the forest they ran it only became darker. Even though Ren saw nothing when he looked around he knew there were dozens of eyes hiding in the shadows staring at them waiting for a moment to strike.

  “So, what are you gonna do when you finish this trial?”, Vef asked.

  “Wh-what?”, Ren said being snapped back to reality, “O-oh to be honest I haven’t really decided yet but I have been interested in traveling to different regions. What about you?”

  “I kinda wanna head to one of the kingdom’s capitals and study magic after that I haven’t really decided. I mean planning everything could be…”, before Vef could finish a large root swung at him from out of the darkness. Acting on pure instinct Ren tackled him to the ground narrowly avoiding getting their heads taken off. Their hearts were beating faster than ever as they into the darkness to find their attacker. Slowly they heard loud foot steps getting closer and closer. Then out of the shadows an Ent larger than any they’d seen before emerged, it’s wood was dark and rooting with what looked like a twisted face carved into it. Another root swung out faster than before. Ren and Vef quickly rolled out of the way as the root slammed down leaving an imprint on the hard dirt below.

  “Any ideas.”, Vef asked.

  “Only one really.”, Ren said looking at jars of wisps he has in his bag, “If we set off several wisps at once we can make big flash of light that should stun the thing long enough to get past.”

  “Don’t suppose you have another plan?”, Vef asked but only received a shoulder shrug as a response. With a deep sigh he agreed taking out several jars he had ready.

  “No matter what you keep running even if I’m not behind you got it?”, Ren asked. Vef gave and quick nod then as if using it as a signal chuckled several of their jars at the Ents face. With a loud shatter the wisps inside were set free. “Go now!”, Ren shouted shielding his eyes. As both of them ran on opposite sides of their enemy a flash of light emerged blinding him. The Ent was furious and startled as it swung its branches around hitting everything in its way. As a branch swung down at Ren he thought fast rolling out of the way before it hit him. Faster and faster he ran until he finally made it past the Ent, ‘The plan had worked we made!’, Ren thought. Suddenly out of the corner of his eye Ren noticed something strange. In the light ball of blinding light snaking off into the distance a small trail the color the black sky was visible.

  “What is that?”, Ren thought.

  “Ren look out!”, Vef screamed as another branch swung towards Ren. Ren tried to dodge but he was too late the branch hit his side sending him flying.

  With a loud crash Ren landed in the marsh. His body felt in pain and several of his bones felt cracked but he was alive for the most part. Ren reached for his bag but instantly felt a shock of pain run across his body. Slowly and more carefully Ren pulled out two potions drinking both in one gulp. Quickly the pain in his body went away and injuries he had subsided.

  Ren looked through his bag and saw he didn’t have anymore supplies. “I should just head home.”, Ren sighed, “I’ve been up running around this forest all night and I’ve found nothing. Not even a … trail.” At that moment Ren remembered the black streak he saw and how he could only see it cause of the light. Ren looked at his last remaining wisp and had a thought. He slowly opened the jar releasing the wisp into nature slowly the wisp started to glow a bright light, not bright enough like before but enough for Ren to see around him. He looked all over and then he found it connecting to his hand was a black trail of mana stretching out into the distance. “Th-there it is!”, Ren said excitedly. Quickly Ren ran faster than ever before as the wisp followed behind lighting his path. Whether it were trees, ravines, or the monsters of the woods Ren couldn’t slow down with one wisp left this was his only chance.

  Ren sprinted and sprinted following the trail until suddenly the trail didn’t appear for him anymore. Under the wisps fading light he looked left and right but saw nothing. “No no no no! Come on not now where are you?!”, Ren said angrily. As the last light of the wisp faded Ren was truly without any more hope. Defeated for sure turned around beginning his long trek back home.

  “Hey, what’s got you so upset?”, a voice said to him.

  Ren turned around seeing no one. Then it came again, “Hey down here.” Ren followed the source of the voice finding a fairy glowing a color as black as the moonless sky sitting on a flower. Slowly the fairy started to fly up to meet Ren eyeline, “Look man you better shape up cause I will not have a wimp be my partner.”, he said with a tinge of sass in his voice.

  Ren chuckled, “Sorry but maybe next time speak up a little faster.”

  The fairy shrugged his shoulders, “Eh fair enough. Why don’t we head back to your house know erm…”

  “Ren”, he answered.

  “Well nice to meet ya Ren I’m Noir and from today on we’re gonna be partners.”