The Light Spirit thinks that he must feel some disappointment that the Shadow has chosen not to come with him to watch the Fire dance.

The Light - whom everyone calls “Ezi” - trudges on through the forest, his head empty of any meaningful thought. He picks his way through the underbrush, familiar with which trails are the easiest to walk along.

And he ignores this knowledge completely, deciding to take a straight line to the center of the Spirit Valley instead. Ezi trips several times because of this choice. When Ezi does make it to the edge of the forest, he sees the other Elemental Spirits going about their daily activities. Samuel is sparring with another Earth Spirit among the tall grass of the Valley’s center. Hwan is dancing alone, or so he thinks. He has a few observers who he hasn’t noticed yet. The same things, day in, day out. Everyone has a routine. 

Ezi walks silently, giving off not so much of a hint of aura - something that all Spirits are supposed to have - as he traverses the Valley, going towards the volcano on the opposite end of it. That’s where he’ll find Jake. Several pairs of eyes spot Ezi despite his attempts to not be noticed, but they quickly glance away. He will always be different from them, same species or not. He’s a different element. One that doesn’t belong here. Or rather, one that has not belonged here for a very long time. 

Finally, he reaches the bonfire at the bottom of the volcano that marks the dwelling of the Fire Spirits. The flames are eternal, never going out as they’re fueled by the pools of lava that surround the base of the fiery mountain. The way the lava snakes down its slanted surface is hypnotic, and Ezi has spent many hours simply staring at the slow-moving liquid. Like him, it gives off light, though not nearly as much. 

Nothing could ever give off as much as the only Light Spirit left in all of Orsmira. 

Ezi’s gaze follows the vein-like lava downwards, until he’s watching the lava pools. There’s a Fire Spirit lounging in it, seeming to be without a care in the world. Jake’s blue eyes light up - literally - as he hops out, tackling Ezi to the ground after a short sprint. 

“Jake!” Ezi gasps. “Get off of me! You’re hot!”

Jake smirks at the smaller Spirit beneath him. “Tell me somethin’ I dunno yet!”

Ezi has a flustered expression for a moment, then promptly shoves Jake off. Who happens to be laughing. “Did you know that Cyn doesn’t feel like watching you dance today?” Ezi asks. 

“Really?” Jake’s chuckles die down slowly, sitting on the volcanic stones. “Well, I ain’t surprised. We know she’s just like that, yeah? I am a little surprised you went to go wake her up though! You know better than anyone that she’s not someone you wanna take outta dreamland.”

Ezi just shrugs in response. 

“Okay, up we get!” Jake stands, holding his hand out to Ezi so he can do the same. “Kami helped me out with the choreography, so you know it’s a damn good one! C’mon, lemme show you!”

Ezi takes his hand, getting to his feet with Jake. It’s a hand much larger than his own and burning hot. Ezi has always been able to feel the differences between levels of hot and cold, but has never been bothered by them. So the familiar burn of Jake is something comforting to him. 

Other Fire Spirits who had been relaxing nearby take notice of Jake starting to take his robes off, tossing them to the ground. He’s left in only his tight red pants, Ezi trying not to examine his exposed chest too closely. He’s tall, tan, muscular, and absolutely covered in freckles. “You always undress for this,” Ezi mutters. 

“Everyone knows you gotta get a little naked when you’re as hot as me! It’s the law! Or somethin’, I don’t fuckin’ know,” Jake cackles. Ezi, unsure of what this “law” thing is, doesn’t argue against his friend’s logic. 

Jake turns to walk into the massive bonfire, pausing for a dramatic effect. Fire Spirits huddle closer to Ezi to get a better look at Jake. It’s awkward having them so close… Ezi feels crowded, even though he realizes ten other Spirits truly isn’t that many when they’re in such a large, open space. 

As soon as Jake begins his dance, Ezi no longer finds himself thinking of the so-called “crowd.” Even without music, every move is so dazzling, so entrancing. It’s impossible to look away as Jake moves with such passion, his expression serene and focused. His shaggy red hair has flames flickering between his locks, tips of his fingers also blazing to leave purposeful trails of fire in their wake. 

He dances for some time, but not long enough for his observers. It seems to be over too soon. Jake looks to his little audience and grins. “Well, whaddaya think?”

Ezi smiles. “It’s a beautiful routine, Jake.” The other Spirits reflect this assessment, telling Jake so in their own words. It doesn’t take long for them to break away from Ezi, several trying to copy the moves they just saw. 

Jake strides confidently back to him. “Y’know, I’d love to teach you some moves! Bet you’d look real graceful if you figured out how to move those limbs of yours.” In response, Ezi turns away. Jake frowns but pushes the subject no further. He goes off to collect his red robes - the mark of a Fire Spirit in service to their creator - and gets dressed once again. The robes are nothing stylish, but they are long and elegant, worn over simple pants of the same colour. Jake, of course, always leaves his open over his broad chest as if trying to show it off. That, combined with the fact the robes have no sleeves, doesn't mean the robes succeed in covering much when worn by Jake. 

“I have to go now. Mother has an assignment for me today,” Ezi says, deadpan. “Thank you for asking me to watch your dance.”

Jake’s clearly disappointed, but grins anyway. “Yeah! You’re always invited to my little shows, y’know!”

Ezi nods and hurries off toward one of the lava pools. Getting down on his knees, he thrusts his arm into the searing hot liquid, unbothered. Spirits still nearby can’t help but sneak a look at Ezi pulling his weapon out of the lava. Despite being a Light, not a Fire, he has chosen to keep his weapon stored here, as he feels it will be safe. With Jake. 

It’s a spear, one with a shaft longer than he is tall, a tip thicker than his meager width. It has four points, each one with multiple blades along the shaft of it. Like always, Ezi hears some murmurs, wondering how a creature as small as him could possibly wield something so large. They’re comments Ezi has heard many times, but has never understood. 

Once he obtains his weapon, he swings it over his shoulder and takes a few steps away from the others. In his mind, he pictures the place he wishes to go. His left hand seems to float up of its own accord, and Ezi feels power flow out from his center to his arm, then his fingertips. He feels a tugging sensation on his fingers, feels his power latching onto the mental image. It seems to pull that image out of his mind, forming it in front of his eyes. 

It’s as if a painting is in front of him. One with a level of detail only the best artist could achieve. A portal. He walks into it, feeling the shift in the world as he travels between realms. 

The Spirit can’t help but feel some distaste at entering the mortal realm. He comes here nearly every day for assignments from Mother, but many of his kind are not fond of this place. This realm has too much detail, too many living things, too much noise. He looks up at the sky, feeling his power flowing into it, then pouring over the realm to light the world. His light is what allows all those who live to see. But to what end?

He chooses not to ponder that question too long. After all, Mother has sent him to Zensar today, his favourite place in Orsmira. It’s also called the Frozen Lands, and for good reason. There is snow falling almost constantly, the land mostly empty of vegetation. He knows of only one pine forest in this entire country, but he’s nowhere near it at the moment. Instead, he’s surrounded by mountains and ice, just as he prefers it. It’s all white, just like him. White, empty, and cold.

He wanders, content to let his gaze unfocus and just see the blurry plains of whiteness all around him, feeling absorbed by it. There’s a gentle breeze, but neither his hair nor robes are stirred by it. 

He doesn’t start paying attention until he hears the sounds of life, seeing rabbits digging in the snow. Despite maintaining his vacant expression, he admires their fur. All the species here seem to just blend into their background. 

Just like him. This is the only place where he blends in. 

He walks towards them, figuring he may as well pet one or two before starting his “search” once again. The rabbits notice Ezi and come closer, making a smile pull at his lips. He glows just a bit brighter as one rolls over to get a belly rub from him as he gets nearer. 

It’s only when he hears the subtle crunch of snow that he realizes there’s something else here. Ezi turns around.

His yellow eyes lock with another pair of the same colour.

The eyes of an arctic fox. 

It stalks along the snow, licking its lips. Its delicate paws hardly sinking into the fresh powder, so well-adapted to this environment. Ezi idly wonders if he should interfere. Sure, he knows all living things must eat, that much is fact. But he feels no desire to watch some poor bunny get devoured today. 

“Hey,” his soft voice breaks the almost silence, a few of the grazing animals turning to listen. “You do realize that there’s a-”

The Light Spirit is cut off when the large canine bites into his shoulder, fangs sinking deep. 

Oh, whoops, he thinks. Wasn’t my target a Fox Spirit?

It rips into Ezi, jaws twisting as horrific ripping rounds come from the injuries. His blood, yellow like his eyes, splatters everywhere. 

Yet Ezi doesn’t so much as grunt in pain. If possible, his face seems even more apathetic than before. Even bored. He calmly presses against the other Spirit’s forehead, using his immense strength to push it off. It goes flying through the frozen air, squealing. It isn’t until he sees his left arm in the creature’s jaws that he realizes it’s no longer attached. 

“Always the dominant one,” he mutters, indifferent to the sensation of being mutilated. If anything, it’s rather pleasant to be ripped apart. 

Ezi simply takes his spear off his back, resigning to fighting with his off-hand. It feels awkward this way, but he doesn’t have much choice. 

The Fox Spirit spits Ezi’s arm to the ground when it gets back to its feet, lickjing the yellow blood off its lips. A deep growl comes from its chest as it runs closer to Ezi, preparing to pounce again. 

Ezi waits casually, unafraid of the feeling of losing so much blood. It doesn’t matter to him. He swings the heavy weapon into his opponent’s skull when it leaps at him. 

Spirits are tough, all of them are, but the Fox goes down in a single strike regardless. Obviously, it hadn’t expected the spear to be so heavy. 

Ezi yanks on the weapon, which has become embedded in the ice and covered in the gore of a dead Fox. Pieces of its skull are stuck to his spear, and Ezi feels reluctant to retrieve it when it’s dirty like this. 

He watches his opponent fade away. The splattered guts and gore that stained the beautiful landscape soon vanishing. The body of a Spirit, regardless of what kind, never lasts long. His arm is also fading, laying several meters away from the corpse. His shoulder continues to bleed from where it was torn away. 

The Light looks over at the rabbits, most of which had been watching this go on with surprising calm. Now that it’s over, they begin to hop away and Ezi can see the fear in their movements. 

Fear of him. 

He cocks his head as they move more quickly, unable to understand such things. He can comprehend that their instincts would dictate that they should fear one of the Elementals, but he cannot bring himself to relate. What good is fear?

He shrugs his one remaining should, then lets himself collapse back into the snow, eyes wide open as snow falls into them. His blood continues to stain the purity of the world around him. 

He lets himself be buried, becoming one with the endless white. Mother may have given him this assignment to hunt the Fox, but she never said to return immediately. He’ll go back home later. The snow is much too soft, making him apathetic to the idea of any repercussions.