The Black Flare

The Flare

Alex then focused on the task in front of him and started unpacking, organizing, and putting away his belongings in a systematic way. Some hours later he was finished with the bulk of the work and thinking about his father’s offer. He truly saw no downside to the proposal. In fact, he thought of one particular possible positive that made him decide to go with it. He would tell his father at dinner. Thinking about dinner being soon, he got up from the bed where he sat thinking and went to go wash up before dinner.

He then walked out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen to see if dinner was ready. Upon entering, he saw his father pulling out a freshly baked lasagna.

“Ah, Alex, right on time. You are as punctual as ever, son.” He said, setting down the lasagna on top of the stove and removing his apron and gloves. “Go ahead and cut yourself a slice. I’ll set the table.” He said, scurrying to do just that.

Alex complied, cutting himself a slice, plating it, and sitting across from his father. When both of them had been seated, both began eating. Almost creepily in sync, as if copying each other. Taking bites and drinks of their respective drinks, coke for Baron and Sprite for Alex, at the same time. Alex was the first to notice.

“It seems we are twinning. And speaking of such. I thought about it. I want to learn magic like you!” Alex said enthusiastically.

At that, Baron paused in his eating. “That makes me very happy to hear, my boy. I will unlock your powers tonight and then in the morning we can pick up your school supplies and register you at Pharos.” he said cheerily with a smile.

“Sounds great, dad. I can’t wait.” Alex said in between bites of his food. “I did have one question though.”

“And what’s that, my son?” Baron asked, having a feeling he knew.

“Can... Can magic make me a real boy?” Alex asked.

Baron gave him a kind smile. “My son, you are already a real boy. But if what you mean is, can it change your body to conform to your gender, it actually can.”

“Really? What do I have to do?” Alex said excitedly, thankfully finished with his dinner, because if not he would be too excited to eat now.

“It’s a simple potion. I have all the necessary ingredients. I just need to mix them and let it brew for an hour. I’ll have it ready before you go to bed tonight,” Baron assured his son.

Alex barely stopped himself from literally jumping for joy. He could use the men’s room without fear, no more binders or packers and STPs and anxiety about one of them falling out. It was truly a wish come true.

“I’ll go get the potion started, then I can unlock your Flare while we wait” Baron said.

“My Flare?” Alex asked, confused for a second.

“It’s like Mana in those video games you used to play. The magical aspect of your soul that ties you to the universe and allows you to bend it to your will.”

“Spectacular.” Alex replied “So you say everyone is born with a Flare, but it is locked from birth until unlocked by another’s magic?”

“Precisely, my boy,” Baron said with pride. “To add to that, everyone is born with a different specific color of Flare. And that color determines the aspect you will excel at. Not to say you can’t do very well in others. But it’s sort of like a precursor to your best subject in magical schooling. To me that’s all it is, but, in every difference, there is prejudice,” Baron said with a disappointed sigh.

“You see, my boy, we come from a long line of African Americans. Our people are the first wielders of magic in this land. Then the colonists came from Britain. We embraced them as family, as was our way. We taught them the ways of magic to help them survive their unfamiliar environment, and from there the history you learned in your schooling began to form. You know, colonizing America, The Revolutionary War, The Civil War. All that. But what you don’t know is the magic going on behind the scenes,” Baron went on to explain.

"I’ve heard stories about founding fathers using magic to win the Revolutionary War. Are those true?” Alex asked.

“Yes, my son, precisely. The founding fathers, especially President Washington, were skilled magicians, and I do not mean the impostors that do children’s birthday parties. I mean real spell casters. And they used magic strategically to win the Revolutionary War, taught by slaves brought to the states in the slave trade. From colonization and mixing of races, Some of our paler siblings can use magic like you, for example, since you are mixed yourself. Because everyone has the potential to use magic, all that is required is for it to be unlocked and learned.” Baron went on further.

“So there is racism even in the magical world?” Alex asked, very disappointed that even with a magical life, race was still an obstacle.

“Sort of. It’s less about race and skin color in the magical world, and more about… the color of your Flare. “ Baron elaborated.

“What does that mean?” Alex asked, confused.

“It means that your magic is tied directly to the color of your soul, and the color of the soul depends on the culture and traditions of your ancestors as well as who you are as a person.

“Is it possible to have two Flares? You know, the ones you talked about in the past, and now you said you could unlock mine.” Alex asked curiously.

“Technically, yes. Some can excel in two or three areas of magic. The color only determines what area you will thrive in. Theoretically speaking, however, some wizards, the stuff of legend, have the Black Flare. Which begets a level of skill in all forms of magic," Baron answered.

"Like a jack of all trades and a master of none?" Alex asked curiously.

"But oftentimes better than a master of one," Baron finished cheerily. "Now as for my unlocking your Flare, I will begin as soon as we finish our meal. I will prepare the potion and start it brewing. If you want to freshen up before bed, feel free to take a shower," he added.

Alex nodded in agreement and both men finished their dinner in relative peace from that moment forward. Once done with their plates, they each rinsed them in the sink they each went their separate ways. Alex went to the bathroom to shower and Baron to brew the potion.

Roughly 2 hours later Alex was dressed and playing on his handheld game system as he waited for his father when the man in question knocked on the door. Alex was off like a shot at the door in a matter of two seconds and opened it, revealing his father who was holding a small flask filled with liquid that was changing colors before his very eyes. "This is The True Self Potion. It reveals the color of your flare, which as we previously discussed, is based on 2 main factors, your heritage and your nature." Baron explained. " Just one drink and your true self will be revealed. And your true body as well. "

Alex was amazed by the glowing colors floating in the flask. He could not think of a conceivable scientific explanation as to how the colors changed. Though he was sure some fancy scientist out there would have a guess that would be logical to regular people, somehow Alex just knew it was magic. He carefully grasped the flask, feeling it warm in his hands as he held it.

Then, in one fluid motion, he downed the colorful liquid, finding it tasted familiar and sweet. He felt a strange sensation from his core spreading outward. It was not painful, but it was peculiar. He noticed himself beginning to float and glow various shades of colors before gently floating back to the ground, and it seemed the color decided to settle on one final choice. Black.