It was unseasonably warm for a midwinters day. Zim was trying to make sense of it all just yesterday he was the second oldest son of a wealthy merchant and today he was all alone after his family had been wiped out by that strange creature that had seamed to just swoop in from the sky. What had that creature been its skin looked like leather it had a face all distorted but somewhat human like and those wings like a bat but massive. Zim couldn't figure out why it had spared him when it had so brutally killed his whole family. Zim's oldest brother Zarrion had always been the strongest that's why his father had him apprenticed to the blacksmith Cudule Ironblade. Zim was to take over his fathers  Business bringing weapons and armor from Odesia to Odsen down the Onie river. Zim knew this was going to be his  destiny even if he had just turned nineteen. That was all gone now his whole family was on his fathers boat celebrating his birthday when that creature swooped in. It ripped his father in half as though he was nothing more than a paper doll then slashed his mother with one of it's massive wings. Zarrion had tried to kill it with one of the  ors but as big and strong as he was hitting this beast with an ore had no affect except for the creature to rend Zarrion open with its other wing. Then it turned its attention to Zorra Zim's little sister it grabbed her with its talon like hands and flung her across the deck of the boat where Zim had to jump over her on his path to try and kill this evil creature. As soon as the creature had flung Zorra thought it took flight and disappeared before Zim could close the distance and try and  attack it with the sword his brother had made him for his birthday.


     This day would forever be etched into his memory. Zim managed to get the boat back to Odsen and after securing it to the dock he ran into town to search for help. Most of the men of Odsen were off fighting the war that would be called the war of the two kings in years to come but he did run into an old man in blood red robes tied at the waist with a golden rope and walking with a staff with a dragon like gemstone on top. The man was good bit shorter than Zim and a bit heavy in the middle making the golden rope strain as he walked. The man saw Zim running looked him over and said " Zimmian Blooddraw" in a higher pitched voice than Zim had expected. How could this man that Zim had never met before know his name. Zim froze  mid stride and began asking the man for help explaining what had happened. The man didn't even seem shocked at what Zim was telling him and was simply telling Zim to calm down.


     After the man had calmed Zim down he introduced himself "I'm Arious Darkside of the order of the dragon." This was the first time Zim had noticed the man's accent he must be from the north although Zim couldn't quite figure out exactly where. Arious asked Zim if they could go somewhere to talk Zim said they had to go back to the boat and help his family to which Arious replied that there was nothing that they could do but finally relented and followed Zim back to the dock.


     Arious  surveyed the situation and thought at least they had all died quickly.Arious expressed his apologies for what had happened and told Zim that they really needed to talk that this was no place to have the conversation they needed to have. Arious lifted his staff and let it fall back to the deck the dragon on the top spread it's wings and all the bodies were suddenly cleaned laying next to each other and wearing white death shrouds even Zim's father seamed to be whole again.


     Zim had known that this Arious was a wizard when he saw the robes and staff it wasn't that unusual to see a passing wizard in Odsen now and then and he had even seen some magic preformed before but nothing like this. Zim thanked Arious for what he had done and was somehow more at peace seeing his family all laying there peacefully they got off the boat stood on the dock and again Arious lifted his staff and let it fall the dragons wings spread again and this time the boat drifted out to the middle of the river and was consumed by flames.


     Arious and Zim walked down the wide street that led back to town from the dock Arious asked "Is there somewhere we can talk? We have much to discuss."


     Zim told him they could go to his family home here in Odsen. Zim was lost in his  grief and didn't say much on their way to his family's house other than to give directions as they wound through the streets.


     Once they arrived Zim fumbled through his pockets and realized he didn't have the key. Without a word after realizing what Zim was doing Arious looked at the door to the massive multistory  mansion and the door just opened. Zim may had been amazed by this yesterday but after the day he had had this was no big deal. Zim lead Arious past the grand staircase through the double doors and into the parlor. There were beautiful vases with flowers in them on all the tables the  furniture was of the highest quality and the giant fireplace was made entirely out of white marble. Arious thought this room was as nice as any in the tower of the dragons and told Zim " your father must have been a very successful man"


     Zim nodded his head and replied "he was one of the smartest men I ever knew" Zim ushered Arious to come sit on the white couch with the gold thread working by the giant fireplace. Zim began loading wood into the fireplace and started to grab the tinder box and flint and steal when Arious told him he would light it for him. Zim stepped back away from the fireplace and the wood he had just put in burst into flames.


     Zim sat on the couch with Arious and the weight of all that had happened started to weigh down on him like a ton of bricks. He was just barely able to keep the tears from flowing from his eyes. Arious noticed this and began to speak "l know that today's events have been more than anyone should have to bare and that is why the order has sent me here."


     Arious continued after a moment " That creature that  attacked your family is called an ethirial it came into existence for the same reason I am here" he paused one more time to let Zim process for a second " You are to be a great wizard and play a large part in future events." 


      Zim didn't really know what to make of what he was hearing but now he had a million questions but before he could ask any of them Arious continued " I was sent here to help you to control the flame. I have a few things I need to teach you so I need you to wait to ask all the questions I'm sure you have for just a little bit. 


      Arious started again this time as though he were going through a speech he had made a thousand times before " Everyone born is born with the spark of life given to them by the creator but some very special people like you and I are born with the flame and that is what makes us able to work magic."


     Arious now changed his tone to that of a teacher " I want you to clear your mind" he paused and waited for Zim to comply then he continued "now I want you to see your spark" again Arious waited he could see Zim getting frustrated "don't worry it's not easy the first time"


     This went on for what seemed like days even if had only been a few hours Zim would clear his mind and start seeing the spark but it would just fizzle out before it would take hold. Finally he could hold the spark in his mind. Arious could sense it and said " very good you are getting it now I want you to let the spark take hold and smolder into a flame" again this went on for what seemed like forever before Zim got it agen Arious could sense it continued " you are doing great. Now I want you to take control of the flame and feed it make it grow. Excellent! Now make the flame in your mind make the flame in the hearth grow." The flames in the great fireplace started dancing wildly and filled the whole fireplace even though there wasn't much wood there to burn 


"You are really getting it now" Arious continued " now let the flames in the hearth die down" as soon as Zim willed the flames to die down they went back to just a few dancing little flames over the smoldering remains of the logs 


     It was getting late and threw the window at the far side of the parlor Zim could see it was dark out and after the long and crazy day he had had he was  exhausted even though he was excited at his new found power he could barely keep his eyes open. Arious looked to be tied as well but continued anyway " I know we have been at this for hours now but I have a few more  exercises I need you to do" and with that Arious pulled an amulet from his robes and laid it on the table next to the vase with the flowers in it and said " I want you to pick this up with the flame in your mind"


     For another hour or so Zim would feed the flame in his mind and will the amulet to come off the table but every time he did the amulet would just sit there and the flame in his mind would start to die out. Finally Arious said " I think that is enough for today is there a room I could stay in for the night we have a long journey tomorrow" 


      Zim showed Arious to the guest room and went to bed himself. No sooner did he lay in bed and Zim was asleep. 
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This is chapter 3 of my book I am writing for steemit if you would like to read chapter 1and 2 visit my blog and give me a follow as I will try and add another chapter once a day also if you have any comments I would love to hear them I'm always looking to  improve and know that there are so many great writers and helpful people here on steemit until next time have a great day and steem on