Rio tilted his head slightly and listened carefully to Olivia. Olivia took a deep breath and began to explain, her voice calm and measured, like a narrator recounting an ancient tale:
"The first species were the Fire Dragons. They're known for their dark red scales that gleam like flames in the light. Most dragons belong to this race—strong, loud, and somehow always carrying a fire in their hearts that won't let them rest. Their red hair and eyes burn like fire too. Next are the Mountain Dragons. Their bodies are like impenetrable silver armor, their scales shimmer in the moonlight, and their eyes sparkle like diamonds. They love collecting treasures—gold, diamonds, anything that can show off their wealth. There's a kind of greed in them; they're always after personal gain, even if it harms others. Then there are the Sky Dragons, who live on floating islands. Their scales are the color of a clear sky, a soft pale blue, and their hair is white like clouds. They're peaceful, calm, and unobtrusive, as if they just want to soar with the wind and avoid trouble. And the last species are the Dark Dragons. Their scales are black as a starless night, and their yellow eyes are terrifying. They're fierce and ruthless, always thinking they're better than everyone else. They look down on others and see no one as their equal."
Rio fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. His fingers tapped soundlessly on the bench, his gaze fixed on the ground as if he were organizing this information in his mind. After a while, he looked up and said with a curious tone, "So, my father's a Fire Dragon, right?"
Olivia smiled and nodded. "Yes, the red hair and eyes are a clear sign. William has that fiery temper of the Fire Dragons too."
Rio paused for a moment, then continued, "And my mother's a Sky Dragon?"
Olivia confirmed again, "Exactly. The white hair and blue eyes show she's a Sky Dragon—calm and patient."
Rio raised his eyebrows and sank back into thought. His fingers stopped tapping on the bench; now his hands rested on his knees as he looked at Olivia. With a simple yet curious tone, he said, "If you can tell their race by their appearance, then why do they need the Seer?"
The question sparked something in Olivia's mind. For a moment, her breath caught, and her eyes locked onto Rio. Her heart beat faster, though she kept her face calm. Rio wasn't supposed to know about "Seer"—that ritual was known only to the tribe's elders, and William and Maria had kept the events of Rio's birth completely hidden. No one knew about that strange night when Rio was born. It was a secret, and Rio shouldn't even have heard the term. But Olivia quickly composed herself, flashed a forced smile, and said in a voice she tried to keep casual:
"Usually, a newborn dragon inherits the race of its parents, but that's not always the case. Sometimes there's a surprise—like a Mountain Dragon born from two Fire Dragons. No one knows why it happens; it's a mystery of the world. That's why they perform the Seer, to determine the true race. But it's just a tradition, not really mandatory."
Rio nodded and slipped back into thought. His fingers now tapped on his knees, his eyes fixed on the scroll on Olivia's table. The diversity of dragons and these strange customs were like a puzzle to him, one he was just starting to piece together. At that moment, Olivia grabbed some yellowed papers and a black quill with red ink flowing inside it, like blood, from a shelf nearby. She carefully placed the papers on the table, handed the quill to Rio, and said with a smile:
"Well, now that you've learned a bit about the world and dragons, it's time for reading and writing."
Rio's eyes lit up with excitement as he said, "Finally! Please tell me everything—what languages are there? Teach me everything."
Olivia sat beside the table and explained, "In this world, there are three main languages that most people know at least one of: the Dragon Tongue, the Elven Tongue, and the Human Tongue. Vampires have their own language too, but it's so ancient and difficult that even they mostly use the Human Tongue."
Rio said eagerly, "I want to learn them all!"
Olivia let out a soft laugh and said, "What an ambition! Each one takes at least a year to master, Master Rio." She said this not knowing she was dealing not with an ordinary person but with a genius at learning.
Rio grinned with a proud face and said, "Let's get started!"
Over the next twenty-five days, the workshop filled with the rustle of paper and the sharp scent of red ink. Olivia worked with Rio every day, teaching him the languages. The Dragon Tongue had thirty-six letters—sharp, nails-like lines as if clawed into stone, harsh and powerful. The Elven Tongue had thirty letters—long, flowing strokes like a whip, shimmering in the light like dancing leaves. The Human Tongue was a hybrid—circles surrounded by nails and sweeping lines, a strange mix. Rio filled papers day and night, practicing the strokes and muttering words under his breath. His eyes grew red from exhaustion, but he never stopped.
Twenty-five days later, three days before his training with William was to begin, Olivia entered the workshop in her long black-and-gold robe. Sunlight streamed through the window, glinting off her hair as her red eyes gazed in awe at the papers in Rio's hands. They were covered in the scripts of all three languages, every letter and word written with unbelievable precision. Olivia's breath caught—she couldn't believe it. Rio had mastered all three languages in such a short time. She pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes brimming with excitement.
Standing behind her, Rio blew on his pen with pride and clasped his hands behind his head. With a mischievous grin, he waited. Olivia studied the papers, then suddenly looked up and exclaimed, "master Rio, this is incredible! You're a genius!"
Rio smirked with satisfaction and said, "That's what I wanted to hear."
Rio sat on a velvet bench by the window, his silver eyes glowing with enthusiasm, his white hair gleaming in the light. After learning the languages in less than a month, he felt something big was coming. His heart raced with a raw excitement he couldn't contain.
Olivia, in her black-and-gold robe, stood by the table, still in shock at Rio's intelligence. She glanced at Elian, who stood by the door in his black armor, and with a quiet nod from him, she felt reassured. Kneeling before Rio, she ran a hand through his hair and said warmly:
"Master Rio, now that you've learned the languages, it's time for magic training. Today, we'll leave the tribe and head to a special place in the western forest."
Rio's eyes sparkled, a wide grin spreading across his face as his breathing quickened.
"Leave the tribe? Seriously?"
His voice was full of excitement, as if a great door had opened in his mind. He'd always been stuck in the tribe, and now the thought of going out—seeing the real world—filled his heart with joy. He clenched his fists, waiting with childlike anticipation.
Olivia's deep smile widened as she gestured to Elian. He packed a large leather bag with scrolls and a small vial, and the three of them left the workshop together. Walking between Olivia and Elian, Rio felt his steps grow lighter. In the tribe, people no longer looked at him coldly—a woman smiled at him, and even a child waved. A warm feeling stirred in his chest, and Olivia and Elian accompanied him with quiet smiles.
As they left the tribe, rugged cliffs rose before them. Rio took Olivia's hand, his feet trembling on the rocks, but she guided him with confidence. Elian followed behind like a steadfast shadow. They soon reached the western forest, and for the first time, Rio felt how alive the world truly was.
The forest hummed with a mysterious energy, brimming with secrets. Tall trees with brown trunks and glowing moss shimmered faintly in the dim light. Silver leaves danced in the breeze, casting deep shadows on the ground. The earth was covered in soft grass and wild yellow flowers, with ancient roots jutting out like gnarled hands. The air was cool, thick with the scent of soil and plants. Four-winged birds with blue and orange feathers flitted between branches, while black-and-white squirrels scampered up trunks.
Rio gripped Olivia's hand tighter, speechless, simply taking it all in. His heart pounded with wonder, a strange sensation rippling through him—it was as if a legend had come to life before his eyes. The three of them walked along a narrow path between the trees, branches arching overhead and filtering the light. They continued for a while until Olivia suddenly stopped between two massive trees. She took the bag from Elian, pulled out a vial of golden powder, and said softly:
"Master Rio, as I told you before, the world is bound to magic—it's built on it. But what matters more than magic itself is its source. If you can understand the source, you can wield the magic."
Rio looked at her in confusion, then she said, "Close your eyes."
His breath quickened, and he hesitated for a moment before shutting his eyes. Olivia rubbed the strange powder onto his eyelids and told him to look only for a brief moment, because "they" didn't like being stared at. Not fully understanding, Rio slowly opened his eyes and saw something beyond his imagination. Golden threads appeared everywhere, shimmering, infinite strands weaving around everything—from tree trunks to animals to the sky itself. They pulsed, growing and shrinking as if breathing, with a vast, majestic rhythm that stole Rio's breath. An epic feeling surged within him, as if he were gazing at an ancient, boundless force—something greater than time, creation, or anything he knew. His eyes widened in awe, his heart hammering as his hands instinctively reached out to touch the threads, as if he could grasp a piece of that grandeur. But Olivia quickly covered his eyes and pulled him into an embrace.
"Calm down, master Rio. They don't even welcome our gaze, let alone our touch."
After a moment, she released him. Rio felt as if he'd awakened from a deep dream. His eyes were empty, a heavy shock settling into him, and his voice trembled.
"What were they?"
Olivia gently took his hands and, as they ventured deeper into the forest, replied:
"Everything."
Later, Rio and Olivia continued along the narrow forest path, with Elian close behind. The two seemed lost in their own world. A cool breeze wove through the trees, gently swaying the silver leaves. Rio was still caught up in the vision of the golden threads—a vast wonder now tinged with a vague fear. His heart raced, his sweaty hands clasped in Olivia's, unwilling to let go. Olivia walked with calm, steady steps, as if the forest were her home. Silence stretched between them until she spoke.
"Master Rio, what you saw were the 'Threads of Creation.' They're spread throughout the world—from the ground beneath our feet to the stars above. They shape everything that exists, every object, every energy—they all come from them."
Rio raised his eyebrows, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
"What do you mean? Tell me more."
Olivia smiled and continued:
"Think of them like the veins of the world. They flow through everything—trees, birds, even you. If a mage wants to create fire, they have two options. If the Threads of the fire element have chosen them, they can summon flames with a single spark. But if the Threads ignore them, they need a conduit—like a 'Flame Diamond.' The Threads of Fate adore that diamond; offer it to them, and they'll let you awaken fire."
Rio was still deep in thought, his mind swirling with questions he couldn't quite articulate. They pressed on through the forest, branches arching overhead and turning the light into faint patches. After a while, the three arrived at a large lake. Its water was like a mirror, reflecting the towering trees that encircled it. The surface rippled faintly, as if a hidden force breathed beneath. The shore was covered in yellow sand that glimmered in the forest's dim light, and a thin mist rose from the water, like spirits emerging from the lake.
Olivia and Rio walked along the shore, like a master and apprentice sharing a great secret. Rio now had a vague sense of the Threads—they were the world's energy, living in everything, infusing magic into the world with every pulse. But just because magic existed didn't mean you could touch it. Either the Threads had to choose you, or you had to offer them something to let you wield it. Lost in thought, Rio's steps slowed. Suddenly, he looked up, his voice trembling slightly:
"Everything? Does that mean gravity has Threads too?"
Olivia nodded, a deep glint in her eyes.
"Yes, Master Rio. The Threads of Creation are everywhere—in the stars, in the laws of the world, even in time itself."
Rio froze. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his eyes filling with a fresh fear. He lowered his head and stopped in his tracks. In a voice that seemed to come from the back of his throat, he said:
"So… could there be someone out there in the world who controls gravity or time? Someone the Threads of time or gravity have chosen?"
Olivia fell silent. Her deep, heavy gaze fixed on Rio, as if she were preparing a monumental answer in her mind. She walked slowly toward the lake, knelt, and sank her hands into the silver sand. The grains shifted between her fingers, sparkling faintly in the dim light. Suddenly, her voice changed—serious, laced with an eerie weight:
"There are three types of mages in this world, master Rio. The first need a conduit for magic, like the Flame Diamond. The second are chosen by a Thread of Creation and can unleash the magic of an element. But the third…"
Her silence fell like a dark shadow over the air. The lake seemed to hold its breath, the ripples calming and the mist thickening. Rio swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest, waiting. Olivia lifted her head, her eyes gleaming in the forest's darkness, and spoke in a voice that seemed to echo from the depths of a cave:
"They're the 'Chosen Ones.' Beings not just selected by one Thread, but by multiple Threads of Creation. They can manipulate the laws of the world—gravity, time, even death. Their power is so immense they're nearly invincible."
A cold wind blew across the lake, stirring the sand and pushing the mist toward the shore. Olivia paused, then added in an even heavier tone:
"Yes, Master Rio, it's possible that somewhere in the world, a Chosen One exists who holds time in their grasp—someone before whom the Threads of Time bow."
Rio's breath caught. His eyes widened, cold sweat trickling down his neck as a deep shiver ran through him. His mind filled with terrifying images—a person, a colossal shadow in the world's darkness, stopping time with a gesture, pulling stars from the sky, controlling fate like a puppet on strings. In his head, he whispered:
"What have you gotten me into, X?"