People had more respect for mosquitos than they did for Caldor Soot. And it’s not like he had a family that loved him for who he was. In fact, it was the opposite. He was dumped at an orphanage the moment his parents found out he was a non-mage. He didn’t even have the dignity of knowing his family name. One of the women at the orphanage had assigned him a surname based on the soot that would get on his shoes when he cleaned the fireplace at the orphanage. It was a fitting name, she’d said, a nuisance of a boy should have a name that reminds people of filth.

The one light in his life was when he ate lunch with Elshana, but now she was gone. He had no idea what happened that day. One minute there was a shadow, the next she destroyed it. Then she disappeared. He thought she might be in prison…or worse. He didn’t want to think Elshana was a demon, but there was no other explanation for what had occurred. Demon or not, he’d lost his only friend. It had to be one of the suckiest feelings in the world.

To make matters worse, the shadow wolf event had made him a target of local mages. It seemed they had countless ways to make him feel terrible about himself. He was used to the pain magic sharing rituals, and he craved them in comparison to the public humiliation he received on a daily basis. A few days after the disappearance of Elshana, a light mage approached him as he ate his lunch in solitude.

“Hey look, it’s the guy that used to hang out with that demon girl,” the mage said. He grabbed Caldor’s auburn curls and yanked them so Caldor had no choice but to look the mage in the eyes. With a cruel grin, the mage continued and said, “I would say you’re a demon too, but you’re too much of a loser to be anything but a blot.”

Caldor said nothing. He’d run out of stamina to deal with cruelty. He wished he could be more like Elshana. She’d stood up for him when that mage tried to make him eat off the ground. But as the light mage began shoved Caldor’s face in his pot pie, Caldor was reminded that he wasn’t Elshana. He was Caldor: a powerless man in a world full of magic.

The light mage eventually grew bored of bullying Caldor and left him alone to eat what was left of his lunch. Caldor wiped the pot pie off his face and went back to work delivering mail. As he walked the streets of Cinder City, he observed that just about everyone else had a better life than him. Even the homeless people on the street corners were treated better than him because they were mages. With his head down, he dropped letter after letter into the appropriate mail slot.

I didn’t do anything wrong, he thought. If I could make these people feel my pain for even a second it would be worth it.

As soon as he thought it, the ground opened up beneath him. He was swallowed by the earth, left alone in the darkness. Terrified, he called out, “Hello? Somebody help me. Please!”

Kerrim appeared out of nowhere and illuminated the tiny space. He was still wounded from his encounter with Elshana, and it showed in the cracks on his face. But his visage appeared more human than shadow, which was a good sign that the realms were almost ready to be fused. He smiled at Caldor and said, “Wouldn’t it be nice to help yourself?”

“Who are you? Where am I?”

“The inhabitants of this realm ask so many questions,” Kerrim said. “I have but one question for you: do you want to cleanse this realm of impure mages?”

“Yes,” Caldor said. He had no idea what Kerrim meant, but he did know that he wanted revenge. He raised his arm to show Kerrim his brand. “Look at what they did to me.”

Kerrim ran his spindly fingers over the brand. It faded, leaving behind skin as fresh as a newborn baby. Amazed, Caldor examined his forearm. “How—?”

“Do not ask how. Just accept the gift that I have given you.”

Caldor nodded. “Thank you.”

“a simple thank you is the difference between you and these so-called ‘mages’ of this realm,” Kerrim said. “There was a time when being a mage came with a code of honor. Picking on non-mages was apprehensible. But throughout the last 1000 years, this realm has turned into a den of depravity.”

“Okay,” Caldor said, not wanting to anger Kerrim by asking questions. “I suppose you want to do something about it.”

“I encountered your friend Elshana Devere and she rejected me,” he said. “She made me realize that what I need isn’t a shadow mage. Even the shadow mages of this realm are corrupt.” He stared deep into Caldor’s eyes. “What I need a willing non-mage that will allow me to use his body as a vessel for my power.”

“I know I’m not supposed to ask questions, but I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Caldor replied.

“Then perhaps I should stop talking and give you a demonstration of what we could do together.” Kerrim stretched out his hand and offered it to Caldor. “I promise that if you hate what is about to transpire, I will leave you in peace.”

Caldor took Kerrim’s hand. Their spirits fused, and Caldor couldn’t tell if it was pleasurable or painful. What he did know was that he’d never felt more alive. Kerrim’s figure was gone, but his voice rang out in Caldor’s head:

"Let’s show these pathetic mages what happens when they turn their back on morality."

The ground opened back up above him and Caldor was catapulted back into the city streets. Unbeknownst to him, his appearance had changed drastically. He was much taller than the average human and his veins appeared black beneath his skin. Passersby screamed and ran away at the sight of him.

"Caldor, who would you like to punish first?" Kerrim asked.

Caldor looked around and spotted the light mage that had bullied him just a few minutes earlier. Without hesitation, he said, “Him.”

"Then it shall be done," Kerrim replied.

Caldor realized he was floating. If he could float, that meant he could fly, right? With a little effort, he pushed himself far above the buildings that lined the streets. All it took was once quick snap of his fingers to send the light mage flying toward him. Caldor held the light mage in mid-air a few feet away from him. He was stimulated by the terror in the mage’s eyes.

“How does it feel?” Caldor asked.

“Don’t hurt me. Please!”

“So pitiful.” Caldor shook the mage back and forth in midair. “How does it feel to be helpless?”

"What punishment do you wish to inflict on this reprobate?" Kerrim asked. "Do you wish to let him plunge to the earth and let him meet his demise?"

“No, that’s too merciful,” Caldor replied. “I want his suffering to last more than a few seconds.” He looked into the mage’s eyes once more and grinned. “Kerrim, I know what I want to do.”

Caldor placed his fingers over the mage’s eyes and allowed Kerrim to work through him. When the mage opened his eyes, they were pitch black.

“I can’t see!” The mage screamed. He frantically opened and closed his useless eyes. “You demon! What did you do to me?”

“Since you’re a light mage, you rely on sight to use light,” Caldor said. Satisfied, he added, “Now you’re no better than a blot!”

Caldor dropped the mage but stopped him just before he hit the pavement. He let the mage hit the ground hard but not hard enough to kill him. He continued screaming, and at that point, Caldor couldn’t help but laugh.

"Do you wish to make a deal with me?" Kerrim asked. "May I use your body as a vessel and in return make you a great ruler when the battle is won?"

“Of course,” Caldor said. “That felt…incredible.”

"Our first target is the only known shadow mage in this realm," Kerrim said. "Before I can move forward with my plan, Elshana Devere must perish."

"Then it shall be done," Caldor said.