The next two days passed similarly to the previous one, with Kael continuing his daily routine. Emily, still hesitant to sleep alone, spent both nights in Kael's room. He didn't complain, understanding her need for comfort as she awaited her awakening and the unsettling fear that lingered in her heart.
On the third evening, as Helena sat with Emily in the living room, teaching her as usual, the long-anticipated moment finally arrived.
Mid-sentence, Emily abruptly fell silent. Her expression shifted, and her body went limp. Helena's eyes widened in concern.
"Emily? What's wro—"
Before she could finish her question, Emily began to float. A sudden burst of mana erupted from her—mana that had been building up for years—in a soft but powerful surge. The air around her shimmered with energy, forming visible waves that pulsed outward. The furniture rattled, but nothing was damaged—it was merely a sign of the long-dormant mana finally breaking free.
Helena immediately took a few steps back from the surge and called for Kael.
Outside in the garden, Kael was practicing with a metal sword his father had given him for his twelfth birthday.he suddenly froze in his Mid-swing. The hair on his arms stood on end as he sensed the erratic surge of mana from inside the house. A moment later, he heard his mother's urgent shout.
He immediately dropped the sword and disappeared from his spot. By the time the sword clattered to the ground, he was already in the living room. He appeared in a flicker of motion, having sensed the mana surge originating from that room.
By the time he skidded to a halt in the living room, Helena was standing on the other side of the room. Emily was floating in the center, wisps of blue mana spiraling around her and coalescing into a faint aura.
"Don't worry! Her mana is awakening now," Helena reassured him. Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled slightly.
Kael nodded, watching with concern in his eyes.
The surge continued, mana flowing endlessly from Emily's small frame. It was a natural part of the awakening process, but that didn't make watching any easier. Helena held Kael's hand tightly as they observed the raw energy radiating from Emily's body.
Two hours later, Lucas entered the house and immediately made his way to the living room. He had been coming home before nightfall each day, anticipating his daughter's awakening.
For four long hours, the pent-up mana in Emily's body continued to pour out. Finally, as the last pulses of energy faded, her body went limp, and she began to fall.
Kael, seeing this, was about to catch her—but before he could, he was stunned to see his father was already there, holding Emily in his arms. He hadn't even seen Lucas move.
Without hesitation, Lucas carried Emily to her bed. Laying her down gently, he exhaled deeply.
"She's fine," Lucas assured his wife and son, though his gaze remained fixed on Emily's pale face. "Her body is now recovering the mana she lost. She'll wake up by tomorrow morning."
Even though they knew this was expected, none of them could fully relax.
After a few minutes, Helena suggested that Lucas and Kael retire to their rooms to rest, offering to stay by Emily's side. But neither of them agreed.
Lucas and Kael shook their heads in unison. "No."
Lucas crossed his arms. "I'll stay instead. As a parent, it's my duty to protect my child."
Helena shot him a deadpan look. "And what am I, then? As a mother, it's my job to look after her."
Kael, watching their back-and-forth, sighed and gave them both an unimpressed look. "She's just sleeping. I'll stay here. You two go. Besides, the chair is too small for both of you."
Helena and Lucas clearly didn't agree, but after some debate, they relented, knowing Emily was simply recovering and would wake up the next day. With reluctant steps, they finally left for their room.
Kael sat beside Emily's bed, settling into the chair. For the past three nights, he had reassured her before she fell asleep, but tonight, she was the one sleeping soundly—yet he still felt uneasy.
Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into sleep.
At dawn, Kael stirred, rubbing his eyes and stretching his stiff back. Emily was still asleep, her breathing even and peaceful. Instead of heading out for his morning training, he remained beside her, watching over her in silence.
An hour later, Lucas and Helena entered the room to check on them. Just as they approached, Emily's fingers twitched, and her eyes fluttered open.
"Mmmh…?" she mumbled groggily, blinking at the three faces staring down at her. "Why are you all here?"
Kael let out a relieved breath.
"Congratulations, Emily," Lucas said warmly, resting a hand on her forehead. "You've finally awakened your mana."
Emily blinked again before realization struck her. Her eyes widened.
"I… I did?!" She sat up suddenly, only to wince as a strange sensation spread through her body. "Ahh! Something feels weird… like—like there's a fog inside me!"
Lucas chuckled. "That's your mana. You'll feel uncomfortable for a few days, but you'll get used to it soon."
Emily was silent for a brief moment. Then, all at once, she lit up with excitement.
"I did it! I awakened!" She kicked off the blankets and bounced on the bed. "Does this mean I can use super-powerful attacks? Can I become as strong as the heroes in the stories? Can I be the strongest in the world?! Can I climb trees like Brother?"
Lucas laughed. "Hmm… except for the last part, you can become all of those things."
Kael and Helena exchanged amused glances. Her energy had returned—she was no longer the anxious girl who clung to Kael's sleeve at night. Seeing her usual chatterbox nature restored filled them with relief.
Suddenly, Emily paused, as if remembering something important. She turned to her mother with wide eyes.
"Wait! What's my elemental affinity?" She asked.
Helena smiled. "We'll find out soon enough. But first, freshen up and take a bath."
Emily pouted, clearly impatient, but Helena ignored her. Instead, she turned to Kael, giving him the same instruction. Once everyone had freshened up and gathered in the hall, Emily was practically bouncing with excitement.
Kael watched her with mild disbelief. 'Was this really the same girl who had been clinging to my sleeve for three nights straight?'
Lucas chuckled. "Alright, alright. You'll know soon."
He infused a small amount of mana into his bracelet, retrieving a small wooden box from its storage. Opening it, he revealed a twelve-sided mana crystal, each face inscribed with a different rune.
"This is an Elemental Stone," Lucas explained. "When you pass your mana into it, the stone will glow in the color of your affinity."
He demonstrated, holding the crystal in his hand before channeling a small amount of mana into it. Instantly, the stone glowed vibrant red, indicating his Fire affinity.
Emily gasped in amazement. "Whoa! That's so cool! Give it to me! Give it to me!" She practically jumped to snatch it from his hands.
Lucas laughed, handing it to her. "Alright, take your time. Just focus on pushing a little mana into it."
Emily squeezed the crystal, concentrating. It took her a moment—she had only just awakened mana, after all—but soon, a faint glow began to appear.
A second later, the crystal shone in a brilliant neon blue.
Seeing the color appear on the Elemental Stone, she immediately turned to her brother, expecting him to tell her what her affinity was. But when she looked at him, Kael was staring at the stone with surprise. Confused, Emily glanced at her parents and found them just as shocked.
Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "What is my elemental affinity?"
Her question snapped them out of their stunned silence. Kael spoke first. "That color indicates the Lightning element. You have the same affinity as me."
Lucas let out a short laugh, still astonished. "I didn't expect you to have the same affinity as your brother!" Then, his surprise melted into a warm smile. "But I'm happy for you, Emily."
Helena echoed his sentiment and told her, "Lightning affinity is very rare, and controlling it is harder than the fundamental elements. But luckily for you"—she glanced at Kael—"you've got the best teacher right here."
Emily followed her gaze and whirled toward Kael, eyes sparkling. "Will you teach me to make lightning attacks? And the zoom thing you do?"
Kael asked surprised "Zoom thing?? What zoom thing did I do??"
Emily huffed. "When you climb trees, you go zoom and suddenly appear on top! That thing!"
Kael blinked before realization dawned. 'Oh, she's talking about Flicker Step.'
Smirking, he crossed his arms. "Alright, but only if you give me your sweets every day."
Emily gasped, clutching her pouch like a dragon hoarding treasure. "Never!"
Lucas chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Breakfast first, future legend. Even heroes need pancakes."
The meal was lively, filled with Emily's endless chatter and excited plans for the future.
-----------------------
The western Grand Duchy of Vaelmont stood as a bastion of power within the Elarion Empire, its vast lands stretching from the emerald forests of Verdant Reach to the towering peaks of the Ironfang Mountains. At its heart lay Valdric Hold, the ancestral stronghold of Grand Duke Cedric Vaelmont, a man whose name carried weight across the empire.
This evening, however, the walls of Valdric Hold seemed to close in as grim news arrived.
Baron Elric Valland, a loyal vassal, stood before the Grand Duke, his clothes wrinkled and travel-worn from two days of relentless journeying. His face was pale, and though his voice remained steady, there was a strain beneath it as he delivered his report.
"Your Grace… five villages, including Blackwood, have been ravaged and destroyed." He hesitated, shame flickering across his features. "We found no sign of who—or what—caused these atrocities." His voice faltered, thick with frustration. "I have failed you, my lord. I am ashamed."
Cedric, seated behind his grand mahogany desk, exhaled sharply. He rubbed his temples, feeling the dull pulse of an impending headache.
"Another five villages in just one week…"
His silver eyes, sharp despite the exhaustion weighing on him, locked onto Elric. "Tell me everything."
The baron swallowed before continuing. "By the time my men and I arrived, there was nothing left. Homes reduced to rubble, bodies burnt and sliced beyond recognition… not a single survivor left. There were no signs of battle, no evidence of looting—just complete devastation."
A heavy silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace.
"You may leave," Cedric said, his voice measured. "I will look into this matter personally."
As the doors shut behind Elric, Cedric let out another sigh. "This makes ten villages in a week," he muttered. "Who could be responsible for this?"
He steepled his fingers, his mind racing. "Could this be the work of the Varkath Nation?" he mused aloud, but quickly dismissed the thought. "No. Even though our relations are strained, they wouldn't resort to such tactics. This isn't their style."
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the map of his duchy. Despite racking his mind for answers, nothing made sense. Frustrated, he summoned his advisors—a collection of the most intelligent minds in his service: scholars, strategists, and generals.
After an hour of intense discussion, they reached a grim conclusion.
"This was definitely an outsider attack," Cedric stated, his voice cold. "But it was not orchestrated by the Varkath Nation. To slaughter so many people with such cruelty and efficiency—wiping out twenty-two villages in just two weeks… there is no doubt. A spatial mage—or a group of them—is involved."
His brows furrowed as a troubling thought struck him. "But how did so many spatial mages appear at the same time? We know every spatial mage within our empire, and none of them are responsible for this." His voice dropped, heavy with certainty. "Which means… they came from outside."
His fists clenched as another realization settled in.
"But who would dare attack our empire like this? If they can come and go unnoticed, they could cause even greater devastation." His jaw tightened, his silver eyes dark with resolve. "I must inform this to his highness immediately."
Without hesitation, he called for a servant. "Establish a communication link with Solmarian Palace at once."
Minutes later, as the magical link stabilized, Cedric straightened in his seat. When the emperor's presence filled the enchanted mirror, Cedric bowed deeply.
"Great hail to the Emperor!"
Sigmund Elarion, a man of commanding presence, nodded. "Raise your head. What news do you bring?"
Cedric relayed everything—the villages wiped out, the telltale signs of mana beast marks, the brutality of the killings, and the likely involvement of spatial mages. His final words carried a grave warning.
"Whoever they are, if they can enter and leave without detection, they could deal even greater damage to the empire."
A heavy silence followed. Sigmund fell into deep thought.
Seeing his liege so contemplative, Cedric hesitated before asking, "My lord, do you know something about this?"
Sigmund exhaled slowly, his expression grim. "The same attacks have occurred in the northern Duchy of Frostwind over the past two weeks. Duchess Lirael Moonvale reached the same conclusion as you."
Cedric's eyes widened. "Are you saying the villages in Frostwind suffered the same fate? If they were attacked simultaneously, that means…" He trailed off, a chilling realization dawning on him. "There must be more than one group involved. Do you have any suspects, Your Majesty?"
Sigmund's gaze darkened. "I believe we have been overlooking something critical. We are focusing too much on the attacks themselves… but there is a larger scheme at play here." His voice dropped to a near growl. "I suspect the Nythra Empire is behind this."
Cedric's breath hitched. "You think demons are responsible, Your Majesty?" He frowned. "But why would they target villagers? If they wanted to cripple us, they could strike at our high-ranking knights or officials, causing us more damage."
Sigmund nodded. "That is precisely what troubles me. Their motives remain unclear."
Cedric's brows furrowed. "Your Majesty, have similar attacks occurred in the eastern or southern duchies?"
Sigmund shook his head. "Not yet. But I fear they may be next. That is why I am dispatching the Imperial Shadow Guard to those regions. They will blend in as adventurers—groups of five per village—stationed near the borders." His voice turned resolute. "I will also warn Grand Duke Orin Dawncrest of the Eastern Duchy and Grand Duke Corwin Goldtide of the Southern Duchy to remain vigilant."
Cedric nodded. "Understood, Your Majesty. I will also increase surveillance along our borders, just in case the Varkath Nation makes any suspicious moves."
Sigmund's expression softened slightly. "I appreciate your loyalty, Grand Duke Cedric. I will take my leave now—I must prepare my forces for deployment."
As the magical link faded, Cedric sat back, his mind heavy with the weight of the revelations.
Something was happening. And it was far worse than they had imagined.