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Bren thought the trees were really pretty. Their leaves were bright and shining, dappled by the sun, almost glowing green-yellow in the warm light of the late morning. Birds chirped, flowers bloomed, and the grass waved gently in the breeze. The whole world was coming alive after the harshness of winter.
Soon now, after the loveliness of spring, it would be planting season and farming work would truly begin in earnest. The cows and sheep his neighbors owned would start birthing their calves and lambs and, if they had enough money left over from the fall harvest, they might be able to buy some.
For now, though the spring was in full bloom and the world was so beautifully heavy under the weight of such wondrous possibilities.
Bren hummed happily, thinking of the lambs he was sometimes able to play with after the work was done and his mother gave him leave to run to Astrid's house. Maybe Edowulf would even join them. His papa usually kept him late until the cows came home, but spring was infectious. He was sure they would be able to play after.
There was a voice at his side, soft and curious, interrupting his thoughts, "Are you there?"
Bren looked up, confusion closing his throat and filling his chest sharp and quick with alarm at the sight of a purple tiefling with shiny bangles, glittering in the light. His clothes were flashy and bright, a headache in the making. His brow furrowed, his mouth opening and closing before he stumbled over a greeting, trying to find his manners as his mother always chided him to do, "Guten Tag? Hallo, kann ich Ihnen helfen, der Herr?"
The tiefling blinked, utterly confused and Bren blushed scarlet. He switched to common for the foreigner, a rare and exotic sight in Blumenthal, "P- pardon me- I apologize, I forgot- erm... Can I help you?"
The tiefling seemed to brighten, something there that he couldn't quite place. A delight that was almost too much for merely finding someone who could speak common. The foreigner held out his hand, wiggling long nimble fingers, "Yes, you can help me. I am Mollymauk Tealeaf. It’s wonderful to meet you at last. I’ve heard so much about you."
Bren frowned at it before, after a cautious moment, taking his hand, "I am, ah, afraid I am at a loss, Herr Tealeaf. I don’t..."
His, Mollymauk's, smile widened, full and bright and untrustworthy, "Your name, sir?"
There was something niggling in the back of his head. He frowned, tongue suddenly heavy and throat dry. For a moment he couldn’t remember it- but then it came to him. He didn’t know what had come over him, "Oh, ah, my name is Bren, Bren Aldric Ermendrud."
The tiefling was so strange, he tested the name out silently on his lips, the sound foreign in his mouth, "Bren. Lovely to meet you." A delighted curve tugged at his lips. The strange triumphant smile turned wry, suddenly sad and almost painful, a full body wince, "That is a Zeminan name, is it?"
Bren nodded eagerly, excited to know a stranger who knew of his homeland, "Ja, it is native to the Zemni fields. I have lived here my whole life."
He grimaced, "Do you know what it means?"
Bren frowned. He’d known once, hadn’t he? He couldn’t quite.... the tiefling spoke, "Bren is a name I know of. I knew some Zemnians from my time in the circus, you see. It means flame, I believe."
Bren frowned.
Flame.
There was an irritated squawk from somewhere off in the distance, "Hey, Molly, leave Caleb alone! You know he doesn’t like talking!"
The tiefling held up his hands almost guiltily looking away, "Ah, Nott, be careful-“
Fire.
A tug at his hand made him look down, a small girl, green and warped and sharp. A goblin. His eyes widened with fear and she frowned, glare softening as she peered up at him, "Hey, is he bothering you? Are you alright there?"
Was he?
The wonderful brightness of the sun that had filled the leaves with hope and wonder and light, made the green of the tree seem yellow, it’s leaves turned bright with fire.
Flame.
His breath caught, the smoke choking his lungs.
Was he?
He glanced around, taking in the trees and the sky and the fire flickering on the edges of his vision, panic clawing at his arms- but that was him- the flames were inside him, burning him from the inside out. The crystals were growing back shimmering from inside him- bright like firelight, pushing out of his skin- tearing his flesh and rending muscle from bone. They were screaming again and his name- his name was- it was-
He wasn’t.
Caleb Widogast came back to himself pressed against a tree, face in his hands.
The goblin girl ( Nott, Nott the Brave) was stroking his hair and whispering things in a tongue that he didn’t recognize. The purple tiefling, his curled horns decorated with ornate baubles, leaned down, concerned.
He sucked in his breath, wheezing, the world blurred by tears, "W- what happened?"
Mollymauk's lips twisted, he was almost uncomfortable- remorseful, jewelry glinting in the sunlight, "I believe I should apologize, Mr. Caleb. I took advantage of you."
Caleb frowned, fingers trembling. What was he talking about? He couldn’t remember. He always remembered everything, until he didn’t and he knew he should- he should. His mind was keen and sharp and it had led to the state he was in now. So why couldn’t he remember? He choked on a plea, "What- what happened, Nott? I can’t... I can’t remember-“
Nott glared at Molly as she heard the crack in Caleb's voice, clearly blaming it on the tiefling. Her shrill voice was filled with kindness for Caleb even as her eyes promised pain for Mollymauk, "You two were just talking and then... you left for a bit again."
Molly shifted in his crouch, understanding dawning as he watched the two them, Caleb pressed against the tree, as if he could melt away and escape, "You told me your name, Mr. Caleb."
Caleb stilled, eyes flicking up and away, shoulders stiffening, "I- I did?"
Molly nodded, low and serious, "You did."
Caleb played with his hands, fingertips burnt and blackened. If Mollymauk had... if Mollymauk had met the worst part of himself... the monster that hid underneath, the thing that fueled his fire... Would Mollymauk send him away? Send him back? Would he tell the others? He couldn’t let that happen. Nott was doing well here, she was doing better. She ate more than they had in weeks and she made so much coin- more than any of their scams. The group was even mostly tolerable. The others, the blue tiefling at least, looked out for Nott. He couldn’t let his weaknesses lead to them parting ways, to her being alone again.
Caleb swallowed, "Then you must know what I am." He looked up under his lashes and met Molly's eyes for a second, trying to suppress his trembling, blue against red, before looking away again, "Please, do not... do not tell anyone."
Mollymauk straightened, standing up, clearly conscious of the power he now wielded over them, "Of course. I understand. You are our dirty wizard Caleb. Whoever you were before, that’s not who you are now."
Caleb slumped.
He was afraid. Well, he was always afraid. But now it was worse. Mollymauk now held something over his head, a power to expose him to the world. Mollymauk had control. He had power. Anyone would hold on to such a thing, especially if they did not know if they could trust them, the strange pair he and Nott made, quite yet.
Nott glared up at Molly.
Caleb would not look at him, shuddering, shoulders trembling.
Mollymauk turned to go, and stopped, and breathed, "My name... is Mollymauk Tealeaf. It’s who I am now. Who I will always be. But it wasn’t, once. The person who held this body before is gone. They don’t exist... But they happened. They too had a name." He took a breath in the stillness of the forest, the leaves rustling overhead, "It was Lucian."
Molly heard a sharp inhale of shock.
The tiefling shrugged, unable to look back, "Fair's fair, I suppose, Mr. Caleb."
He moved away, unaware of Caleb behind him, watching him go, something thoughtful in his gaze.