Kris sat down on the floor while he meditated inside his room. In the dead of night, only a couple of candles illuminated the room in an orange hue while shadows hugged the edges of his bed and furniture.

Meditation isn’t really anything new to mages, but for users of magic this usually meant trying to get acquainted with their mana and potential.

For Kris, it was different. He had no need to re-acquaint himself with his mana now that it’s already steadily growing back to its original capacity. What he meditated about, was what he meditated on and thought about when he was still a mana-less musician.

That’s why right now, Kris was preoccupied with names. Truthfully, he wasn’t good with names and he wasn’t remotely interested in terms or the etymologies behind them, but that’s why he found that right now was a good time.

He’s lived with three names now. Two of them have made their impact on two different worlds, and with each name came different circumstances.

The name Rizale struck fear into the hearts of the people in that time and its history is now recited as a cautionary tale of how power can drive a person to madness and bloodshed.

Rizale and its owner’s ideologies became synonymous to evil and in its own way paved the way to the current era, an era of community that sought to eliminate this kind of evil hand-in-hand.

Kris Maya was adored. Fans shouted their throats dry and lashed out in excitement when he sang and strummed a chord. Anything and everything that he said was met with curious eyes and occasional scrutiny, but his philosophies and charm touched the hearts of people.

It was a name carried by someone perceived to exude greatness. Still, instead of making a direct impact on society and making changes to the cogs that run the world, that name jolted the souls of individuals, a more personal touch.

So what was Kris Raven to do? Does he want to create a personal influence or does he want to carry the burden of society? He hasn’t an idea yet.

Then, what was in a name? Is it a gap that you need to address when you want to connect with someone? Is it something that carries with it a vision and belief, its owner’s body a vessel to act upon these dreams?

One thing was for sure. A name can be immortal and timeless. It can inspire and be larger than life. Kris knew that he needed, again, to be at the fore-front of attention, or at least, his power begets attention. So what was he to do when the eyes have turned towards and, at times, against him?

Kris shook his head and ruffled his hair as his thoughts weighed on him. He knew he needed a balance between the two opposing sides of him, but he also knew that a definite and stronger belief is what propels success.

Kris Maya was the quintessential rockstar, yet even though he spread word about his beliefs of progress and self-empowerment, he knew that it wasn’t enough to propel society in that particular direction. There were people who still felt hopeless, inadequate and unloved.

Rizale was loathed, and yet this loathing became the target for everyone’s hate and it spurred relentless action.

Kris frowned as he remembered the cold that he was able to summon previously with his fight against the Colonel because he knows that as soon as his inner rage and desires gets lit up, the lifelessness that overtook the surroundings is assured to envelop the world.

His two options are to return to his roots and force his way even if it meant being hated, or be loved but be quite unsure if he can uphold his promise with Dragnir.

As his mind raced while he tried to figure things out, he jerked up as an idea rushed inside his head.

What if I gave mana a name?

He closed his eyes and felt for his core. As usual, it was chaotic. Kris imagined pulling at the sides of his core, and he felt the lump of mana acquiesce to his will as it stretched. He imagined dipping a finger unto its surface, making a ripple. His body shook in response.

Satisfied, he placed his palms together and directed half of his overall mana to each. He felt heat gather up and his palms were getting repelled. After enough time has passed and enough mana has gathered, he pointed his palms inward and concentrated on his left hand.

He thought back on his days as Rizale, the unbridled desire and rage that he lived with. He projected that name on his left hand, recalling significant memories and events from that time.

He inhaled slowly and then closed his eyes, making sure to shut off his awareness of the mana in his right hand.

The time when he first decided to become powerful. It filled his heart with desire and anticipation.

The time when he killed most members of a nomadic tribe. He couldn’t stop his feelings of regret.

The time of his final battle. It was a new hope and beginning that signaled his change.

The time when he killed his lover. Just recalling it made Kris lethargic.

“With my power, I, Kris Raven, grant you this one’s old name, and allow you to act in behalf of me and under my will. Use your rage and desires to my whims. You will live for my sake, and for the sake of this world. Rise, Rizale.”

The flames of the candle in the room became brighter and started to shine in a purple glint, as the winds outside blew stronger and crept towards Kris’ left arm. The mana in his left arm slowly condensed and took shape as it left the vicinity of his palm.

The flames started to grow in size as the wind guided it in front of Kris left arm. The wind grew more visible as it invited to flame to swirl around it. Soon, the swirling grew rapid and then steadied, revealing a tall humanoid plume of smoke and flame.

Its body was constituted with grayish smoke but every time the humanoid moved with even the smallest of movements, a trail of hot, orange fire blazed along its edges. The humanoid being knelt down in front of Kris, its sharp movement intensifying the flames.

“My flames live. My gale ruptures. My rage grows. My joys fulfilled. My dreams, yours. My name, Rizale,” The being spoke as an intense heat reverberated with each word, its baritone voice eerily calm and firm. Even with the bright flames, the room still felt devoid of light and was strangely dark.

When the being spoke its name, an instinctive fear and anger whispered to Kris’ subconscious.

‘Oh my,’ Kris thought.

One thing was for sure, this being was as selfish and self-absorbed as Kris was back when he was still Rizale. Though this time, this being self-absorption was directed to his loyalty to Kirke. Granted, the way he spoke was a bit of a chore to understand, but it was something Kris could get used to.

‘I didn’t think that’d work.’

Vaguely acknowledging Rizale, he then turned his attention on his remaining arm. Now, he thought about his time as Kris Maya.

His learning and the things that he spoke of, of how he thought about life everyday. Kris Maya’s value of other people, and his overall positivity that saw the good in everybody. His love for music.

The time when he first met his parents. The feeling of love that began to grow on him made Kris faintly smile.

The time when he first learned an instrument. It filled his heart with joy and satisfaction.

The time when he first kissed Reese. His blood traveled to his cheeks as he unconsciously took a step back in embarrassment.

The time when he proposed to Reese, and she tearfully said yes. It made Kris truly feel alive.

“With my power, I, Kris Raven, grant you this one’s old name, and allow you to act in behalf of me and under my will. Use your love and knowledge to my whims. You will live for my sake, and for the sake of this world. Rise, Maya.”

The moisture in the air began to dry as the earth shook. A rumbling rocked Kris’ eardrums as his throat dried up and he began to thirst. The trees outside literally sang in a harmonic chorus as the whistles of the trees changed their pitch with an odd sense of melody in celebration.

The volume of the whistles became louder, as its melody became more structured and catchy. With a final note, the shaking of the earth became powerful and made Kris stumble as he lost his balance. With a boom, the mana from his right hand imploded and revealed another humanoid.

This time, it was a being entirely of water. Kris was confused at first, but as the figure knelt down, the earth shook gently once more and cradled Kris’ body.

“It is a good day to flow with the world’s veins, master. It is I, Maya, and I live for the day the people sing your name with love and gratitude. I give my deepest thanks for granting me the melody in which to serve you,” It was an feminine voice that put Kris at ease. Her tone was flowing and its high and lows were light on the ears.

This time, when this being spoke its name, it carried a sense of wisdom and longing that made Kris just want to sit down and converse.

Kris almost expected the being to have a similar nuance to its speech, but apparently, its vocabulary was instead eloquent and charming, in a way.

Kris nodded and smiled.

“Rizale,” the being’s flames grew hotter and brighter as Kris spoke of him. “and Maya,” the heat of the air became arbitrary as a pleasant moisture cooled Kris’ body.

“I welcome you to Ensfell,” He smiled as he willed the two beings to collect on his fingers. Instantly, the environment returned to normal as two rings appeared on each of Kris’ hands.

One was a dull red with smoothly curved engravings, while the other was a light blue ring with bits of it stylishly embossed on the outer edge.

The ideas of spirits that carried the will of its creator were something that was a sort of fairy-tale during Kris’ time. It was impossible simply because mana both inside and out of a mage’s body was erratic.

However, maybe due to the circumstances now where the ambient mana was tranquil, it allowed Kris to mold his chaotic mana into a shape where he can imbue his will and pieces of his personality.

Kris, feeling tired but satisfied walked to his bed and laid down with a thud. He closed his eyes as he thought of his previous question of what was in a name.

As he fell asleep he felt catharsis. He still didn’t know what was in a name, but by asking the right questions, he at least found some answers. He didn't know however, that this makeshift ceremony took a lot out of him, and it would spur the events that would forever alter his path.