The village of Arlin was not large, but it had its own rhythm, its own customs. Each day felt like a mirror of the last—peaceful, predictable, and, for Elian, uneventful. Or at least it had been until today.
Now, everything felt different.
Elian stood by the river, gazing into the shimmering water as the early morning light cast a warm glow over the surface. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine from the forest that bordered the village. It was peaceful here, at least on the outside. But inside, Elian was a storm of thoughts, his mind racing as he tried to come to terms with the power that had awakened inside him.
His heart still hammered in his chest from the intensity of what had happened earlier. The surge of energy, the golden veins, the crystal—it was all too much to process in one day.
He reached for the water, his fingers grazing its surface. The moment he touched it, a ripple ran through the water, like a wave spreading out from his touch. It was subtle, unnoticed by most, but to him, it was another reminder of how much had changed. That energy inside him was different. It wasn't like the stories he'd heard about spiritual power. It was older, more primal.
"Elian!"
The shout broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see Mira running toward him, her expression a mix of worry and determination. She had been following him since he left the orphanage, clearly concerned about what had happened. Elian's change hadn't gone unnoticed.
"I thought you'd left," Mira said breathlessly, stopping just short of him. "You've been acting strange ever since you tested your power. What happened to you?"
Elian's gaze softened, but he didn't answer right away. What could he say? That he felt as though something ancient had been awakened inside him, a power that was both exhilarating and terrifying? That he had no idea how to control it?
Mira pressed her lips together, waiting for him to speak. Her concern was genuine, but Elian knew she wouldn't understand. No one would. He had felt it—how the power coursed through him, how it seemed to defy the very laws that governed cultivation. The crystal, the energy, the ancient voice—it all pointed to something beyond what anyone could explain.
"I didn't ask for this," Elian finally said, his voice low, almost inaudible over the sound of the river. "It just... happened."
Mira frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "But Elian, it's a blessing. A gift. Why do you look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?"
Elian shook his head. "You don't understand. It's not just power—it's something else. I don't know what it is or where it came from, but it's not normal."
Mira stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'not normal'? You're glowing, Elian. You've got power. You don't have to be afraid of it. You can use it."
Elian looked down at his hands, which still faintly pulsed with golden light. He clenched his fists, trying to hold back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "I don't know how to control it. What if I hurt someone? What if I'm not ready for this?"
Mira's expression softened. She reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him in the moment. "You're not alone in this, Elian. I can help you. We can figure this out together."
Elian looked up at her, meeting her gaze for the first time since he had tested his power. There was something comforting in her eyes, a trust he hadn't realized he needed until now. But still, the uncertainty gnawed at him.
"Even if I don't know what this is, I'll help you control it," Mira said, her voice firm. "But first, we need to go to the elders. They're going to want to know about this. They might have some answers."
The thought of going to the elders, the very people who had once dismissed him as the "spiritless" boy, made Elian hesitate. But Mira was right. This power, whatever it was, couldn't be hidden forever. And if anyone could help him understand it, it would be the elders, even if they didn't know what they were dealing with.
Reluctantly, Elian nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
The journey to the elder's hall was short, but the weight of it felt enormous. Mira walked beside him, her steps quick and purposeful, while Elian's pace was slower, hesitant. They reached the hall, a simple stone building at the edge of the village. It wasn't grand, but it was respected. The elders had guided the village for generations, and their word was law. Elian had never felt welcomed there before, but now he was about to step into the very heart of the place that had always viewed him as an outsider.
As they approached the entrance, Elian could feel the eyes of the villagers on him. Whispers rippled through the crowd as they recognized him. The spiritless boy—the one who had never shown any talent. Now, he was different. Now, he was a mystery. Elian's heart thudded in his chest, and his breath hitched, but he refused to let fear show. He couldn't afford to be afraid anymore.
Mira knocked on the door, and a soft voice from inside called out, "Enter."
They stepped into the hall, and Elian immediately felt the weight of the elders' gaze upon him. There were five of them, each one sitting at a long wooden table. The eldest among them, Master Harlin, was a tall, imposing figure with a long white beard and sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything. The others, though less intimidating, still exuded an air of authority that made Elian uneasy.
Mira spoke first, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "Elders, we've come to report an unusual occurrence."
Master Harlin's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by 'unusual'?"
Elian stepped forward, feeling the weight of the room's gaze on him. "I've... awakened spirit energy," he said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the nerves that coiled in his stomach. "But it's not like anything I've ever seen before. It's different."
The room fell silent. The elders exchanged glances, some of them skeptical, others intrigued. Master Harlin leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Elian.
"Show us," he commanded.
Elian swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. This was the moment of truth. If his power was truly as unusual as he suspected, it could either change everything—or make him a target.
He took a deep breath and extended his hand, focusing inward. He could feel the energy within him, stronger than ever before, and this time, he didn't hesitate. He let it flow, gently at first, until a golden light began to glow from his palm.
The elders gasped, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and awe. Master Harlin stood, his hands trembling as he reached out to examine the light.
"Impossible," he muttered under his breath. "This... this energy is ancient. It's beyond anything we've ever known."
Elian's heart skipped a beat. Ancient?
The elder's voice rose, filled with urgency. "This boy... Elian, what you carry within you is not ordinary power. It is something... much older. Something that has been lost to time. And you have awakened it."
The weight of those words settled heavily on Elian's shoulders. What have I become?
"You need to be careful," Master Harlin continued, his voice grave. "This power is unpredictable. And you are only beginning to understand it."
Elian swallowed, the fear creeping back into his chest. "What do I do now?"
Master Harlin looked at him with a seriousness Elian had never seen before. "Now, you must learn to control it. And I believe you'll need guidance beyond our village."
Elian felt a chill run down his spine. Guidance beyond the village?
Mira's voice broke through his thoughts. "You mean… the Azure Flame Temple?"
The elders nodded solemnly. "The Azure Flame Temple is one of the few places that might have the knowledge and the means to help Elian control his power. But it will not be easy. The journey will be dangerous."
Elian looked between Mira and the elders, his mind spinning. This was more than just a discovery—it was a call to something far greater, a path that would take him far from the life he had known.
His new life was about to begin.