Touching the Stars by Moreth

Chapter 1

Many thanks to pandemonium_213 for character names!

White gold sparks scattered through the air. Enchanted, he took a firmer grip on the rocks and struck them together once more.

Gilya was right, the stars also lived in the rocks. Akâron smiled.

At his feet, one spark found a dry leaf. A wisp of smoke attracted his attention, and he bent to examine it. The first pale flickers of flame showed at the edge of spreading black ash. Intrigued, he found another leaf and held it to the flame. And so, piece by piece, he fed this strange, new thing and wondered.

Hesitantly, he reached to touch it.