It was the day after Caedrion awoke from his poisoning, that Valerius found himself strolling through his family’s lands.
Lands that had once been the sovereign territory of House Ferrondel, long since annexed by Ignarion in the wake of ancient squabbles between the two Magi Houses.
Each house maintained its own territory, which varied in scale and shape based upon its power.
In the ancient era, just after the Exodus of the Eidolons, as it was now known, had occurred, House Ferrondel had been among the most powerful
But such glory was long forgotten, with only a few dusty old tomes to preserve its primeval claims.
Instead, the lands had been gradually consumed by House Ignarion as the power of the Architect seemed to wane more and more with each passing generation.
By now the Ferrondels had but a single city to their name, and even then it lay in the center of what was now Ignarion territory, rendering them a vassal of the great house of Fire in all but name.
Perhaps because of this, the Ignarions treated the Ferrondels in a similar vein.
But that was none of Valerius’ concern.
For you see, he was uncharacteristically in a jovial mood.
Thanks to the restrictions that the Magi Houses had put in place since the era following the Exodus, there was no other suitor who could claim the object of his desires.
Aelindria may be forsaken to him due to the incompatibility of their bloodlines, but he would be damned if another man dared to lay a finger on her perfectly sculpted flesh.
Because of this he had gone through great difficulty and expense to dispose of Caedrion.
And now that the man was dead, he would buy a gift for his grieving beloved.
He had descended from the Hall of Flames, which House Ignarion called its home, built into the depths of an active volcano, and entered the city below.
A city known as Emberhold.
Specifically, he had entered the district where the wealthiest of the Nulls dwelled.
The shop he stood in was among the finest jewelers in all the human realm.
The scent of molten silver and scorched velvet hung in the air.
Rows of obsidian shelves glistened with intricate rings, chains, and soulstones, empty vessels waiting for power to claim them.
Their clientele was exclusive, House Ignarion and its few favored allies.
Today, Valerius entered the room with a confident gait, pushing open the door and decreeing his entrance with a striking pose.
"Veldric! I have returned, and I require a vessel fit for a maiden worthy of myth"
However, Valerius’ brow immediately furrowed deeply as he saw the man standing at the Craftsman’s counter.
It was his elder brother, a bastard born of his father’s dalliance with a local null.
As a result of his heritage he might carry some degree of magic lineage, but his ability to wield fire was juvenile at best.
It was not suited towards the purpose of war, which was the sovereign duty of each Magus and his family.
Veldric sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose after seeing the troublesome heir of House Ingarion enter his shop at the least opportune moment conceivable.
With a glance of apology to his current customer, he immediately adopted a more ingratiating demeanor.
"Young Master Valerius, I must confess I am surprised to see you here, but it is my grandest honor! You are looking for a vessel? For your young fiancée no doubt? Well, I have just the thing for you!"
Valerius, provoked by the comment regarding the distant cousin of his he was being forced to wed, was quick to lash out, forgetting that a bastard of his own house was present to witness his outburst.
"Veldric, you misunderstand... I said a maiden worthy of myth... which means whatever you had reserved for that little brat is subpar for my needs. I desire a vessel in your possession that is the grandest of all."
Until now, the other man had remained silent.
He shared many similarities with Valerius and his striking appearance.
Eyes like glowing embers, and a gilded head its polished tips tinged with licks of scarlet flame.
"Little brother," Baelius said coolly, "It would not be wise to speak of our cousin in such a crass manner... She may be a bit immature still, but she is still an Ignarion all the same... Besides, what other woman could you possibly be preparing such an extravagant gift for?
Valerius’ eyes narrowed to slits, pupils glowing crimson with intensity.
If not for the fact that his body was more robust than the average human’s as a result of his divine heritage, then his teeth would have cracked from the sheer pressure he exerted upon them when they clenched.
"Whose brother are you? Just because my father decided to lie with that null wench you call a mother, doesn’t mean for one second you bear the right to call me kin, Baelius... If I weren’t so preoccupied with other matters I would brand you right now for failing to know your place!"
Valerius’ face was flushed with rage, practically steaming as he continued his rant, pressing forward and drilling his finger into his older brother’s chest as he did so.
You’re nothing but a nullborn, remember that the next time you deign to speak to me with such familiarity...."
Veldric cast the half-born Magi a sympathetic gaze, which was returned in silence, before he shifted the conversation elsewhere.
"Young Master Valerius, if you will come with me, I have just what you are looking for, don’t let this miser ruin your day."
The moment Veldric drew Valerius’ attention, he huffed the last of his fury in silence, before recovering his imagined noble demeanor.
"Very well, lead the way...."
Once Valerius followed after Veldric, the old craftsman turned around when the young master wasn’t looking and shot Baelius another apologetic gaze before vanishing entirely.
Baelius sighed and shook his head, looking down at the palm of his hand.
A small flame formed within its grasp.
The flicker in his palm pulsed once, faintly.
A forge’s breath, not a warrior’s wrath.
He let it die, just like everything his bloodline never gave him. He let it all die.
There would be other days.
Days when the fire might answer him properly...
But that was not today.
Resigned to his fate, he simply sighed heavily and turned around, leaving his business with Veldric for another day, a time when Valerius was preoccupied elsewhere.