Beginnings
The sun pours into my room, but it takes a few minutes for me to move. I bring a hand up to block it away, but the warmth has begun to make me sweat. With a groan I turn over, trying to bend my body just right to keep the sun from hitting me, and throw the blankets off my body. Sighing, I begin to fall back into slumber when I hear her voice, cheerful as always. "Aran, sweetie! Time to get up! You know your daddy needs your help today!" Another small groan, but not loud enough for her to hear--I hate disappointing my mother--, and I get up begrudgingly. I rub my eyes for a moment, and brush the dark red hair from my eyes. It's getting long, almost past my shoulders. I need it cut. Swinging my legs off the bed and bringing my feet to the floor, I yawn and stand up. Looking around, I take a few moments to blink and let awareness reach me. My eyes see a colorful room, of reds and golds and even a few purples. I left a pile of toys, some of them floating from residual magic and some lying lifeless, in the corner and smile. I was up late, even sneaking out of bed to play for a few minutes longer once mom put me to bed. The sun continues to blast into the room from outside and I step into it, now relishing the heat as it washes over me. I've always liked the heat when I am awake. Fire and high temperatures have always meant life to me, even at eight years old. Another yawn and I can finally see without any blur to my vision. I take just one more moment to feel the sun on my skin before I move to my closet and open it, pulling out my day clothes. Nothing fancy, at least not for our people, and I pull the pants on first, then the shirt. A dark red shirt with subtle yellow trimming, and a pair of finely made, neatly pressed pants that match. Normal wear for me, and I step to my left. When my eyes reach the glass, I see a young boy staring back at me. Eyes a bit too big for his face, though still sleepy-looking. Hair that needed brushing, a dark red that was normally well-groomed. I see an 8-year-old Arandoros Sunforge, and nod. Grabbing a nearby brush, I take a few moments to get the worst of the knots out. Once that is done, I nod again and set the brush down, make my bed, and finally head out of my room to meet the day. As I walk down the stairs, the smell of breakfast touches my nose and I can't help but smile. "Morning, sweetie," my mom calls to me. I go to her and she kisses my forehead, and I take my cue to sit and wait. "How'd you sleep?" she asks cordially. She's always so happy, my mom. I shrug, and can't help but look at my plate hungrily. "I slept okay. I'm hungry," I complain just as quickly, prompting a shake of the head from mom. "Now now, what have I always taught you?" she asks and I sigh in some annoyance. "Patience in all things." "That's right," she says and, with a pat to my head, she turns to continue her cooking. I can't count how many times I hear that phrase on a daily basis. Mom can use magic, and I asked her to teach me as soon as I could speak. And she agreed, but I didn't know it would be this much -work-. I just want to make the air sparkle and float my toy dragonhawk, but she makes me wait and study. It's so boring, but she promises she'll teach me soon. I continue to mull and brood over these things while I eat, and as soon as I swallow my last bite, mom has me out the door and around the house. In the back, the sparks have already begun to fly. He works so much, I almost don't even notice it these days. As I emerge around the corner I see him, and instantly realize how little I'm looking forward to this. He's wearing his normal apron, waist-length blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. His hammer is in-hand, and already there is soot and scorch marks on his face and apron. He doesn't seem to mind though, almost smiling as he pounds and pounds. For a moment I think about turning around and hoping he didn't see me. I turn to walk, and hear his voice. "There you are!" he called out with a laugh at the end. "Thought you were going to sleep all day! Come over here!" he calls, and I frown and turn. So much for sneaking away and practicing setting things on fire today..
