• On a cold winter’s in the heart of winter when the powers of magic run at their highest and the beauty of a frozen night is at its peak twin boys endowed with the wintry magic were born. The night brought with it great meaning and so the boys, brothers in blood but not in mind, were named Nicholae and Ferdarc.
    Over the years the boys grew and developed their skills, often falling into arguments and contests as to which possessed the greatest power. Ferdarc insisted that his dark arcane arts, the arts of a warlock were far superior to those of a wizard who only gained his power from wisdom. Nicholae’s retort was always that of a learned scholar for although both had received instruction relative to that of their class, only the brighter twin seemed to have fully grasped the knowledge taught them. The arguments always led to some great contest of power, and in these contests destruction often chanced upon the land as Ferdarc would show his power of destruction and conquest, flattening fields of crops or melting towns stepped in ice, often times turning the icy buildings into raging infernos to only prove a point. The wizard Nicholae than stepped in showing that Ferdarc was wrong in his destructive ways and showing that white-magic was what made the crops grow and gave the people back their homes. As was expected Nicholae became the more favored brother further isolating the angered Ferdarc until one day he disappeared into the icy darkness in a self-imposed banishment, shortly after the great ruler of the land had recruited Nicholae for both advisement and for the rare-possessed quality of magic. The ruler had no desire to destroy for their land was a peaceful one, and so Ferdarc was last seen traveling to another land.
    It was not until many years later that tales of a warlock tearing through the world under the command of the Frost King, the ruler of a land not too distant from the warlocks home and one who possessed an icy countenance that matched the name he had been given. Ferdarc had visited many lands and demonstrated in front of many rulers but only the Frost King had seemed interested, so far to the north. He had immediately recruited the man and begun to train him as a soldier. Like Nicholae and his knowledge Ferdarc was skilled at strategizing and advanced quickly and on the same wintry night full of magic the twins had been born on they clashed.
    The invasion of the Frost King’s army had not come as a shock to the smaller nation, for the peaceful were always the targets, nor was it shock when their small battalion had fallen to the destructive forces. Yet over the years Nicholae had also grown strong and loyal to his own king, performing the tasks he had been given dutifully and without question, eventually becoming manipulated by the corrupt. Even in the corruption though his heart had remained true and as the sounds of the past, destructive blows and words that chilled echoed down the halls towards the great hall in which those of most import were the wizard braced himself placing a veil of protection around both himself and the king. Moments later the veil proved useful as a great gust of wind extinguished the candles and after the sound of soldiers footsteps Nicholae knew he had been correct in protecting himself and his ruler for as the ominous purple glow of arcane magic lit the room Nicholae saw they were the only two left, but of course a reserve set of their own soldiers had also arrived if not a second to soon. The barrier had gone undetected by his brother and as they stood face to face Nicholae saw no recognition cross across the face of his twin for though he had done little to change the red robes of those serving under the king hid his identity quite well.
    Somehow as they faced each other the room had grown silent, much like the night outside. Unlike the night, however, there was nothing peaceful for static electricity seemed to permeate through the air, indicators of the polar opposites the twins truly were. Suddenly, breaking the silence the harsh voice of Ferdarc spoke but it was not in warning, it was in an aggressive stance of spell casting. Instinctively Nicholae began his own spell but then, halfway through stopped. Should he destroy his brother it would prove that destruction truly was the greater half of all things, and that was not something Ferdarc needed to see. In a sudden upsurge of brotherly pity and a final act of proof of political corruption the bright twin placed himself in front of the oncoming spell all barriers lowered for life was the true victor in all things good. Yet somehow it did not triumph now as the mass of magic collided with his form and the light of the world was extinguished. In his fall all concealments that had kept Ferdarc from guessing the protectors identity had fallen away to reveal a face identical to his own.
    Although Ferdarc had been known for his destructive ways as he felt a small part of himself grow cold he knew that despite their arguments and separation he and Nicholae had been closer than any might have ever speculated. The world had grown dark, as destruction stood seemingly the victor in finished battle. But the battle wasn’t over, for though Ferdarc had used his power for destruction and chaos, in that chaos there was life and it was a power he could harness. The wrong brother had fallen, and that was something that needed to change. Summoning his strength Ferdarc attempted to resurrect the fallen form, the soldiers from each side looking on for it was a great power indeed if death was reversed. Yet when the spell was complete the scene was the same, and knowing that no matter how he cast it Ferdarc submitted. Removing his hat he solemnly walked forward and taking a medal he had received for his leadership and placed it near the real leader and took his leave, the silent soldiers following and leaving the peaceful king on his throne of corruption. Upon his report back to the Frost King his failure was poorly received and as the king was in the habit of doing, he beheaded the failure and Ferdarc fell into obscurity and fell victim to a curse he had unwillingly laid upon himself; the curse of destruction.
    Unbeknownst to the dark twin his spell had truly worked; though it had been slow it had brought Nicholae back in even better spirits. The man with the second chance left his service of the king, though his red robes remained so that all would know and remember peace came at a very dear cost. To children he gave the gift of laughter and to men the gift of knowledge and occasionally riches. For many he was a saint, for the light of his magic seemed to shine like the brightest of halos. His image was soon immortalized and although one day he too disappeared his spirit remained, continuing to fight the curse of corruption.