The wagon creaked beneath us, its wooden slats groaning with the weight of our passage. The rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone road was a constant lullaby, a soothing sound that seemed to echo the very heartbeat of the journey.
The cool breeze stirred the canvas covering, and with every gust, it flapped gently, teasing glimpses of the outside world. I leaned back against the worn cushions, allowing the shifting landscape to seep into my soul. There was something about it—the vastness of it all—that made me feel both small and alive.
I turned to Drake, curiosity bubbling up inside me. My voice was soft but eager. "What's Xylaris, Gramps?"
Drake's eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Xylaris is one of the three states of the Marden Kingdom, Aries." His voice carried an excitement that was almost infectious. "Each state has its own ruler, its own history. We're in the state of Astreth right now."
His gaze turned to the horizon, as if the mere thought of Xylaris awakened something in him. "Xylaris is our destination. It's a place of breathtaking beauty, Aries. Trust me, you'll see." His words carried a quiet reverence, like someone describing a sacred land.
The wagon rolled on, and the scenery unfurled before me like a masterpiece. Cascading waterfalls, their white mist rising like spirits caught between worlds, tumbled down jagged rocks. The sound of rushing water blended with the wind, creating a song as old as the earth itself.
We passed rolling hills covered in emerald green, dotted with wildflowers that swayed in the breeze, filling the air with sweet, delicate fragrances. I couldn't help but marvel at it all, my senses overloaded with the beauty of the Marden Kingdom.
Drake, noticing my awe, chuckled softly. "Why don't you take a nap, Aries? We've still got a long way to go."
But I couldn't—my mind was too alive with wonder. "I'm fine, Gramps. I want to enjoy the view." I felt like a part of me was growing alongside the landscape, the energy of the world around me infusing every fiber of my being.
As I rummaged through the bag my mother had packed, I found my favorite snacks, some fresh clothes... and something I hadn't expected. My fingers brushed against the worn leather cover of "Arcanae Umbra"—the book my mother had gifted me on my birthday.
I almost forgot about it, lost in the journey's excitement, but now, as the book rested in my hands, a sense of gravity washed over me. It felt like an old friend, its weight familiar, comforting.
Opening it, the musty scent of old parchment filled my nose. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was really worth reading again. But as the words appeared before me, I couldn't help but feel drawn in.
The text was heavy, ancient in its tone:
To unlock one's true powers, one must summon the great lord, an entity born from the very existence of the void...
My fingers trembled slightly as my eyes scanned the words. A sense of foreboding crept in, yet I couldn't look away. The writing spoke of a realm of endless darkness, where the very essence of reality was devoured by an insatiable hunger. The imagery was vivid—intense. It painted a world beyond comprehension, a place where hope was extinguished, and all that remained was the void.
Then the text spoke of the "chosen one."
The void-blooded one, a being of immense power and destiny, born of the void's own blood, chosen to wield its power without succumbing to its corrupting influence...
I paused, my brow furrowing. "The void-blooded one?" I whispered under my breath, the words foreign and unsettling. My fingers ran over the page, searching for answers, but all I found were more questions.
This chosen one shall be the master of their fate and the world's, bound forever to the void yet unbroken by its darkness.
It sounded impossible. Ridiculous. How could any of this make sense?
I let out a frustrated sigh. "What does any of this even mean?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "Void-blooded... chosen ones... This is just some myth, some bedtime story dressed up in old parchment."
Despite the confusion, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that the words had some deeper significance. But for now, I forced the thoughts aside, tucking the book back into my bag with a final, dismissive huff.
The rocking of the wagon began to lull me, the rhythm of the journey easing the tension in my body. My eyelids grew heavy, and the comforting hum of the road beneath us pulled me into a sleep that, though peaceful, was filled with restless dreams.
Drake's voice cut through the haze of my slumber. I stirred, blinking against the soft light, the faint sound of rushing water drawing me out of my dreamlike state.
"We're here, Aries."
I opened my eyes fully, and the world before me took my breath away.
Xylaris. The name didn't do it justice.
The wagon had stopped by a secluded glen, and before me lay a scene so surreal, it felt like something from a dream. A waterfall cascaded down the side of a rocky cliff, its mist rising into the air like a veil, casting the entire area in a cool, ethereal glow. The scent of wildflowers mingled with the fresh, crisp air, creating a heady perfume that seemed to invigorate every part of me.
Towering trees surrounded us, their trunks thick and gnarled with age, their branches heavy with strange, glowing fruits and shimmering silver leaves. The very atmosphere thrummed with an ancient energy, as if the land itself was alive with magic.
I stepped off the wagon, my boots sinking into the soft, emerald-green grass. The cool mist from the waterfall kissed my skin, and I inhaled deeply, tasting the magic in the air.
"This is Xylaris," Drake said, his voice filled with pride and excitement. "This is where your training begins, Aries."
The old man stood tall, the sunlight casting a golden glow over his weathered face. He was like a sentinel in this place, his very presence a beacon of the wisdom and strength he had gathered over the years.
"Before we begin," Drake continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "I won't go easy on you just because you're a kid. This is real. And you're ready."
I met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm ready," I replied, my voice firm, my heart pounding with anticipation.
I sat on a smooth, weathered stone, the warmth of the sun soaking into my skin as I listened intently to Drake's every word. The sound of the waterfall was a constant, soothing presence, adding a rhythm to the quiet that surrounded us.
"Now, Aries," Drake began, his tone quiet but insistent, "having mastered your mana arcane, you're ready to delve into magic itself. But before you can wield spells, you must discover your elemental nature—the force that resonates within you, calling out like a whisper on the wind."
I leaned forward, every muscle in my body tight with anticipation. "How do I find it? How do I know which element is mine?"
Drake smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Leave that to me. Just trust in yourself and listen to the elements. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Let the mana flow through you, and feel the world around you."
I closed my eyes, taking in a slow, steady breath. The world fell away as I focused on the flow of energy inside me, the surge of mana filling me with an almost tangible power. I felt it—how it pulsed through me, how it wrapped around me, connecting me to the land.
The elements were all around me.
The sound of the waterfall seemed to speak to me, its constant flow calming and soothing like the essence of water itself. The sunlight poured down, warm and inviting, as if the very light of the sun was reaching into my soul. The wind, soft and invisible, whispered through the leaves, its gentle caress like a promise of freedom and speed. The earth beneath me grounded me, its ancient stability offering me strength.
And then—something else.
In the vast, inky expanse of my mind, a sudden spark ignited. A burst of fiery energy tore through the shadows, and two flames appeared—one red as blood, the other grey as smoke.
The red flame was fierce, a blazing inferno of fire that coursed through my veins, its heat alive and wild.
The grey flame, cool and sharp, cut through the darkness with a precision that felt like the very wind itself, light and agile.
Together, they swirled—melding into something greater, something more. The fusion of fire and wind pulsed within me, igniting a sense of power I could barely comprehend.
The bond was forged.
And I felt it.
This was my path.
The power of fire and wind. Together, they would carry me forward.