Darkness engulfed everything… only ash could be seen falling from the sky, and screams echoed between the crumbling walls of a collapsing palace, as if the world itself were cracking from within.
At the heart of the destruction, a small child cried out, while a masked man ran with the boy in his arms, weaving through the shattered corridors. Flames rose behind him, and the sound of explosions threatened to tear his eardrums apart. With every step, the child screamed his name… as if pleading for salvation.
Then suddenly, everything turned pitch black—swallowed whole.
But… in the middle of the void, a girl appeared.
She stood in a white dress amidst the nothingness, her hair billowing as if the wind came from within her. She looked at him with glowing eyes, then said in a voice that wasn't human:
— Come closer.
A faint light extended toward his chest, and just as it was about to touch him—
Leo awoke in a panic, his face pale and drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like it was trying to escape his ribcage.
Morning light had begun to filter in through the royal chamber's window in the palace of Arethylia. He heard a voice behind the door:
— My lord… the king requests your presence for breakfast.
Leo looked over at Dravis, still fast asleep like a child untouched by worries. He sighed, then grinned mischievously as he extended a finger toward Dravis's backside and fired a small beam of light.
— Ahh! What the—?! Dravis yelped and jumped from the bed, flailing his arms.
Leo laughed and said:
— Good morning, oh knight of light.
Dravis groaned:
— If you weren't my friend, I swear I'd turn you into dust!
The two descended to the royal breakfast table. The hall was grand, crystal blue chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with embroidered tapestries symbolizing the noble bloodline of "Deygar."
Lita stood at the entrance, looking at Leo with a haughty expression, as if she hadn't seen him fighting creatures of darkness just the day before.
Leo whispered to Dravis:
— Seems arrogance is a royal trait here.
Dravis chuckled softly—but Lita heard.
— What did you say? she asked challengingly.
Leo responded with a forced smile:
— Nothing… I swear, I swear!
She scoffed:
— Whatever… anyway, I'm Lita. And you're the strange boy with the repulsive mark, aren't you?
Leo replied firmly:
— Yes… and I'm on my way to meet the king for breakfast—if you'll allow me, "girl."
She raised an eyebrow:
— What? My father?!
He nodded toward the hall:
— Yes, shall we?
They walked in, with Lita following quickly behind, curiosity flaring in her eyes.
Inside, King Deygar sat at the head of the table, Queen Anya beside him. At the other end sat Darin, who immediately yelled when he saw Leo and Dravis:
— What are those fools doing here?!
The king snapped:
— Silence, Darin! They are our guests—guests of the High Sage himself… and they will fight alongside our guards to protect this kingdom.
Darin growled:
— Even the High Sage?!
But Leo calmly cut in, looking at the king:
— Your Majesty, I don't believe a family breakfast is the reason we're here, is it?
The king smiled in admiration:
— Clever, as they told me… No, we're not here for small talk. We elves don't trust easily. I brought you here to announce you'll face two of our royal guard captains in combat. I want to judge for myself—has the High Sage grown senile… or has he chosen well?
Leo replied coolly:
— No problem… just tell me which one's stronger, and I'll handle him.
Darin glared at him, while Lita stared at Leo—something familiar pulsed within him, something she couldn't explain.
In the grand training arena, the stands were packed with onlookers, royal banners fluttering in the wind. The king and his guards stood on a platform while Leo and Dravis stood in the center of the ring.
The king declared loudly:
— Today's duel is a duo match! The knights of Kraken and Blendria… Leo and Dravis, versus Captains Draco and Smith!
The drums sounded.
The battle began.
Smith charged at Dravis and struck him hard, causing him to stagger, but Dravis quickly regained his footing. On the other side, Draco did something strange—he stomped the ground, shaking it beneath Leo, causing him to fall. Draco then lunged forward and landed a fierce punch.
— He's fast… Leo muttered as he backed off.
At first, the elven captains held the upper hand. Darin laughed mockingly from the stands, the king watched with cautious interest, and Lita didn't blink—as if waiting for a specific moment.
Then… Leo fell, his body covered in dust.
Dravis shouted:
— Leo! Get up!
Leo whispered faintly:
— Is… this… my limit?
And suddenly, a vision: a woman running through darkness, clutching a baby, calling his name.
— Leo…
Then… a burst of radiant light exploded within him.
A mark appeared—a glowing quarter-circle of light on the center of his back. The light wasn't ordinary—it was alive.
His features shifted… his face suddenly resembled the elves more.
He rose, then surged forward like a storm, striking Draco and Smith with a flurry of rapid attacks.
He shouted:
— Dravis! Hit Smith now!
Dravis understood the plan and tripped Smith, while Leo gathered energy into his palm. A radiant halo formed—a sun burning in his hand.
He slammed the ground, unleashing a devastating wave of energy that swept across the arena, knocking both captains to the ground—defeated.
Silence fell over the crowd.
Then the king cried out:
— Enough! The duel is over. The victors… Leo and Dravis!
That evening, they all sat at dinner. Queen Anya watched Leo quietly, as if trying to recall something.
The king spoke:
— You two were incredible… but Leo—what happened out there? That mark… was it the Mark of Light?
Leo answered hesitantly:
— I'm not sure… but it didn't feel like a normal mark. It felt like… it merged with the Mark of Balance I already have.
The king and queen exchanged glances.
— So… you possess five powers? Light, Balance, and possibly three more?
— I don't know, Your Majesty… but I can't control them yet.
The king declared firmly:
— You will… with training, here in Luthoria.
Then Lita suddenly asked:
— Are you… one of the elves?
Silence filled the room.
Leo looked at her, then whispered:
— I don't know yet… but I belong on this path… no matter where I come from.