Fayrin began to tell his tale of almost seven years ago. He lived with his father Gedrik. Gedrik was a former authority commander but retired from Legion when his wife and mother of Fayrin died giving birth to Fayrin. The two disappeared from the named cities when Fayrin was still a baby. He was raised in the wastes.
Gedrik and Fayrin lived in a wooden cabin built by Gedrik. Gedrik had been in isolation so long his hair had grown to be long enough that he'd tie it up in a bob. It was a dark navy blue that shined when in the light. He made sure to trim his beard as often as possible rather than growing it out like his hair.
On his face, across his right eye was a scar from a wound he sustained in battle during his legion years. Gedrik was a gentle man who kept Fayrin close to him at all times, teaching him everything he knew. Well, almost everything.
In all this time, Gedrik had taught Fayrin hunting, scavenging, to build, to craft, but nothing to do with magic and their efficiency. Fayrin had never seemed to use magic in any shape or form meaning he might not have efficiency in anything.
It was a summer night, the night before Fayrin's birthday, that a local merchant had stopped by to sell Gedrik some things he had wanted. The merchant warned that nearby villages and towns were experiencing a rash of demon attacks. After he had left and Gedrik had time to think, Gedrik became focused on the fact that the reality of the world is harsh and it would make no sense for Fayrin to not be able to defend himself.
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Gedrik called Fayrin into his den,
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"Son, I think you're old enough to learn something about out family history."
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Fayrin perked up as he knew his father hadn't spoke much of his past before.
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"We're not like other people who are born with an affinity for magic. Ours is different. A gift passed on."
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Fayrin didn't fully understand but he was a smart child thanks to Gedrik's upbringing,
"You mean like people in towns we visit that can change things with abilities? Do you have abilities Dad?"
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"Yes, to both of those things."
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"But you never use any?" questioned Fayrin.
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"No. I had given it up for a long time because my abilities were used to hurt people as a soldier and I didn't have a cause to fight for anymore, well..." he paused looking at Fayrin, "I had a different cause to fight for, just differently."
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Gedrik reached over to some iron he had on the table next to a small satchel. He picked up the flat piece of iron, the size of Fayrin's whole hand, and crumpled it with his abilities forming it into a smooth iron ball. Fayrin's eyes lit up,
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"Wow! Can I do these things too?"
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"You can but you'll need a little help," said Gedrik as he dumped out the satchel into his palm to reveal four gems to Fayrin. A diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
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"You and I are different from others. The abilities we have are passed through knowledge transferred by a blood seal. It's a ritual in which everything I've learned it passes to you almost instantly, however, it will take a lot out us both."
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"But you think I'm ready right?" questioned Fayrin knowing his father was the one person he could fully trust.
"I think it'll be a swift punch to your gut, but yeah you're ready."
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Gedrik placed the gems back on the table, cleared off the floor and took up a knife. He cut into his finger causing it to bleed and began to draw a symbol in blood,
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"Now this is a different kind of magic, not practiced by many anymore. But it's the only way we can do things. Someday people may ask how you got your abilities. They wouldn't understand if you said this is how you got them, so I need you to say you've always had them. Do you understand?"
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Gendrik had finished drawing the symbol on the floor and looked at Fayrin for affirmation. It was the most serious Fayrin had ever seen his father,
"I understand."
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Gedrik reached forward grabbing his son's hand and pushed the tip on the knife into Fayrin's palm causing him to wince but not cry out. Fayrin never wanted to looked weak in front of his father. Then Gedrik placed Fayrin's bleeding palm on the circle he had drawn. He then placed his hand back upon it causing it to glow.
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The cabin began shaking and the symbol began glowing. This magic was powerful. In a flash of light, Fayrin was blown back taking in all the knowledge his father has spoke of. Gedrik stumbled backwards himself. It was at that moment that frantic knocking on the front door of the cabin came.
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Gedrik woozily walked towards the door and opened it to reveal the merchant that was there previously. He looked shaken to his core as he managed to get out one word,
"Demon!"
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A claw ripped into the man throwing half of his torso in the opposite direction as the bleeding stump of his bottom half fell to the ground. Gedrik slammed the door shut locking it. Although it was a sturdy door, it wouldn't do much good.
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The demon kicked the door once and it cracked, but did not open. Gedrik had no time to spare. He could have put up a fight before, but not now. Fayrin was still sitting down not fully understanding what was happening, weakened by the transfer himself.
Gedrik got Fayrin to his feet and in that moment the door was kicked again, snapping in half, letting the demon into the cabin.
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The demon was bigger than most. Its body was muscular, lacking of clothing, covered in scars from previous battles and its blue skin stained of blood from previous kills. And then it spoke,
"Finally."
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Gedrik stood between his son and the demon. The demon lunged forward and Gedrik was powerless to do anything as the demon's sharp claws pierced through his chest and out his back, shooting his blood across Fayrin's face. Fayrin stepped back in horror, in shock.
The demon chuckled,
"After all this time. I've been hunting you for what you did to my master. The one that gave that scar. I'd never forget your face. Don't you recognize mine?"
Gedrik's body was shaking from the impalement as he was losing a lot of blood. He did recognize the demon,
"Or...Oorvuk," he stammered. The demon smiled taking note of Fayrin.
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"So that's the boy then. Your son. The one you disappeared with all those years ago. I bet you were never the same after my master poisoned your bride," chuckled Oorvuk.
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Gedrik knew what was coming next if he didn't do something, but he also had next to nothing left in him. Trying not to speak to conserve his energy he closed his eyes trying to focus.
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"Now now. Don't go dying on me yet. Your death was the dying wish of my master," interjected Oorvuk pulling Gedrik closer.
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Gedrik aimed his hands at the table with the gems and and iron ball, shaping the iron into a point to at least pierce the demon as a distraction. It flew forward stabbing Oorvuk in the back causing it to hiss out in pain.
In that moment, Gedrik saw his chance and flew the gems at his son. Fayrin became wrapped in them as they formed a bubble. It was then that Gedrik spoke his last words to his son,
"Find Taerick of Legion. He will help you. I love you my boy!"
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"Father!" Fayrin shouted as the bubble he was in flew backwards breaking out of the cabin and jettisoning him miles away to safety.
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"Dammit," shouted Oorvuk as he now held a lifeless Gedrik. But his mission was done. His master probably would have liked to see the whole family snuffed out had he been there, but Oorvuk had fulfilled the mission he was tasked with.
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Miles away, Fayrin's body lied with the gems his father had used to save him, which had reverted to their previous state due to Gedrik's death. An authority squadron picked Fayrin up later that night due to him being in possession of so many rare stones.
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Fayrin had asked for the Taerick who was an Authority Commander at the time and so Fayrin was escorted to Heimlock so Taerick could determine what to do with him.
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Fayrin came face to face with this man he had never met before and explained what happened to him. The two met privately in Taerick's living quarters after he had deemed Fayrin not a threat or a thief.
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"I'm sorry about your father kid. He was a good soldier and one of the best men I've ever known," said Taerick patting Fayrin on the shoulder to show his condolences. He reached in his pocket pulling out a black string and placed the four gems on it creating a necklace.
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"These are the last gift your father gave you," said Taerick handing over the necklace to Fayrin.
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Fayrin had tears on his face, but he wiped them off. He never wanted to appear weak, not to anyone, ever again. He wanted to be strong. Most importantly, he wanted to avenge his father. His anger just built and built the more he thought about what happened.
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Fayrin started to think the only way to make things right would be to cut down the demon that killed his father, Oorvuk. The gems in his hand began to glow as he thought this and formed a multicolored sword before Taerick's eyes.
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"Well that's interesting," marvelled Taerick.
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"I need to be strong!" shouted Fayrin, "You're a soldier can you teach me how to fight?"
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Fayrin fell to his knees as the sword lost shape and he bowed his head to beg,
"Please!"
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Taerick took a moment to think. He could tell that the boy would be regarded so desirable being the first multiple efficiency user the Legion has seen.
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"The only way I could dedicate my time is if you were to join Legion, but they'd never allow someone so young. But..." Taerick paused, striking his beard, "Maybe if you were to be my student and I vouch for you and show your gifts, I think I could convince them."
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Fayrin smiled in that moment. He didn't smile out of happiness anymore, but rather, a sense of justice. That one day he would be strong. Strong enough to avenge his father.
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Time went by as Taerick prepared Fayrin to go before the High 13. Things went as he had planned. Word quickly spread through Legion of the youngest recruit they've ever had and his wonderous abilities.
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Months had passed and The Legion's youngest most prominent prospect, Fayrin, had spent his time training under Taerick. They'd be caught up in bout after bout as Fayrin figured out how best to use his abilities.
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"Well, I've trained you to use each of your gems individually. I know originally you had melded them together which looked badass. But impractical to fight efficiently. The densities of the gems are different. When they're melded together like that you can't control which parts are harder than others. Or rather, you couldn't before."
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Taerick explained in full about mastering the manipulation of each gem and how to be efficient by using them individually. One way was to make a sword out of diamond and a shield of emerald, using the ruby as chest armor or helmet and same with the sapphire to offer some defense.
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Fayrin started to notice how heavy each piece used as armor was and how slow it made him. Today was the day he showed his strength and knowledge of battle. After Taerick's lecture, they took to a battle area specifically made for training recruits. Some other legionnaires would watch the fights while they took place. There was always whispers whenever Fayrin took to the arena.
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"The good people want a show boy! Don't make me look a fool as your teacher."
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Taerick shouted as he pulled out a steel rod and formed it into a spear while taking a defensive stance. Fayrin knew after these past few weeks of training that trying to utilize so many of his powers at once by shifting multiple things was really holding him back. So he only took out his diamond and formed a short sword.
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"Bold strategy kid," Taerick smirked pegging Fayrin's thought process. He knew Fayrin would think it'd make him fast, but being fast isn't a guarantee to victory.
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Fayrin to an offensive stance with the blade aimed towards Taerick. He crouched down and with all his might pushed off, darting forward towards Taerick. As he expected, he was indeed much faster than any previous time he had fought.
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Fayrin came in low trying to catch Taerick off guard, but Taerick had fought and trained many different foes in his lifetime. Little surprised him. He countered Fayrin's attack blade on blade and spun the end of his spear gut punching Fayrin with the blunt end. Fayrin flew backwards but found level footing,
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"You'll have to do better than that old man."
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Taerick smirked as he changed to an offensive stance and began to charge,
"Let's see if speed is enough!"
