When I left the pond, night had already fallen, and the moon's silvery light filtered through the branches of the ancient oaks. Inside me, the disappointment of the Blood Ceremony had been replaced by a strange uncertainty and curiosity born from the peculiar event I had just experienced. The energy I felt when I touched the water, the indescribable light I saw, and the dancing stardust… These had seized my mind like a storm. Perhaps I truly possessed a power, only it was different from others. But what kind of power was it? And most importantly, how was I going to explain it to my family?
As I walked along the silent paths of the Ancestral Lands, each step was filled with the echo of questions in my mind. As I approached our home, the whispers and occasional raised voices from within indicated that my family hadn't yet recovered from the shock of the Blood Ceremony. When I entered the village, I noticed more family elders and guests from other clans than I had ever seen before. The lights of our house were still on, and a large crowd, with representatives from every element, was gathered outside the door. At this late hour of the night, such a large gathering was unusual. This showed that my lack of elemental power was a major problem, not just for me, but for our entire clan.
When I stepped through the door, all eyes turned to me. My mother and father stood tensely in the middle of the living room. Their faces held both worry and helplessness. All around the room, esteemed members of our clan and neighboring clans sat with stern expressions. Among them, Lord Gorok, the powerful representative of the Earth Element, sat like a rock with his massive physique, his brows furrowed as he scrutinized me. Lady Lyra, the wise leader of the Water Elements, watched my mother with graceful but anxious eyes. Lord Vulcan, the passionate chief of the Fire Elements, clenched his fists, further increasing the heat of the room. And Lord Zephyr, the quick-witted leader of the Air Elements, his eyes vigilant, observed everything carefully.
This scene tightened my chest even more. I understood that my situation had become an inter-clan matter. Not possessing elemental power was seen not just as a personal deficiency, but also as a weakness in terms of our clan's prestige and strength.
"Auren!" My mother's voice echoed faintly in the room's tense atmosphere. She rushed to me and hugged me tightly. "Where have you been? We were so worried."
My father also approached, his face showing relief but also continued tension. "Son, there are important things we need to discuss."
Lord Gorok's deep voice filled the room. "Young Auren, take your place. This situation concerns not just you, but the entire Ancestral Lands."
Grandmother Elara sat in the corner, with her usual serenity. Her eyes, holding a spark of wisdom, looked at me. In her gaze, I saw that enigmatic expression that implied I was "different."
My father took a deep breath and began to speak. "We have gathered because Auren's failure to show any elemental power in the Blood Ceremony is a unique situation for our clan. There is no such case in our ancestors' records. The other clans also have rightful concerns."
Lord Vulcan impatiently waved his hand. "Concern? This is a disgrace! If a Fire Element cannot control his own blood, how can he be a warrior? If an Earth Element cannot feel the earth, how can he be a farmer? If an Air Element cannot command the wind, how can he be a spy? Auren having no elemental power could cause your clan to fall weak, Kael!"
These words struck my heart like a blow. Although I tried to hide the pain inside me, I felt the judgment in everyone's eyes.
Lady Lyra intervened with her gentle voice. "Lord Vulcan, your words are too harsh. This is a young man facing a situation beyond his control." Then she turned to me, a touch of pity in her eyes. "But the truth is, it will be difficult for Auren to have a place in our clan's hierarchy without elemental power. Our traditions require every individual to be connected to an element."
Lord Zephyr scrutinized me with his sharp gaze. "So what will happen, Kael? This young man is neither Earth, nor Water, nor Fire, nor Air. How will you keep him within your clan? This situation is also causing unrest among other clans. What if similar situations arise? What if someone tries to exploit your weakness?"
My father helplessly bowed his head. My mother held my hand, tears streaming from her eyes. "He is our son," she said in a trembling voice. "We cannot abandon him."
As these discussions continued, the fear accumulating within me began to give way to a strange courage. Perhaps I should tell them the truth. Perhaps this was the only way they would understand me and everything.
"I," I said, my voice initially trembling but growing stronger, "I… I felt it. Something happened at the pond."
Everyone's eyes turned to me. Lord Vulcan laughed mockingly. "What did you feel, young man? The coldness of emptiness?"
"No!" I said, my voice firm. "It was something different. The water glowed, and… and things like stardust rose. When I touched it, I felt an energy envelop my entire body. It was something I had never felt before."
Everyone in the room looked at each other. Some had suspicion on their faces, others curiosity. Lord Gorok frowned. "Stardust? Nonsense! Elemental powers do not manifest that way."
My mother and father looked at me hopefully. My mother said, "Auren doesn't lie. He has always been honest."
Grandmother Elara slowly rose from her seat and approached me. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was as if she was trying to feel the energy within me.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes. There was an expression on her face I had never seen before. Astonishment, but also a hint of admiration. "He… He feels it," she said in a low voice. "There is an energy. But it doesn't resemble the elements. This is different."
These words broke the silence in the room. Everyone was surprised by Grandmother Elara's explanation. Her wisdom was unquestionable.
Lord Zephyr leaned forward. "What do you mean by 'different,' Grandmother? If it's not from the elements, what is it?"
Grandmother Elara shook her head slightly. "I don't know. There is no information about such an energy in our ancestors' records. This could be something very ancient, or… something completely new."
Lord Gorok grumbled. "An unknown power? This is even worse! Something uncontrollable could be a danger to our clan."
My mother looked at Grandmother Elara pleadingly. "So what will we do? We cannot abandon Auren to the pressure of other clans. We must protect him."
Grandmother Elara thought for a moment. Her eyes scanned each person in the room. Then she turned to my father. "Kael, we need to understand what Auren's power is. And he needs to learn to control it."
My father's face held a desperate expression. "But how? There's no one in our clan to teach him. None of us know this power."
It was at that moment that an idea came to Grandmother Elara. "Perhaps we should send him to that special school where all elemental children go."
This suggestion created a new silence in the room. The Academy of Elements. This was the most prestigious educational institution in the Ancestral Lands. Only the most talented children, whose elemental powers had clearly manifested, were accepted. There, they would learn how to use, control, and develop their elemental powers. But I… I had no elemental power, or at least it seemed so at the Blood Ceremony.
Lord Vulcan objected. "This is madness! Only those with elemental power go there. What business does Auren have there? The other students will laugh at him. It will bring more shame to our clan."
Lady Lyra approached more moderately. "Perhaps Grandmother is right. If this is a different power, the wise masters at the Academy might be able to help him. At least, he would have an opportunity to understand his power there."
My father was undecided. "That place could be dangerous. If he can't control his power, he could harm himself or others. Moreover, how will they treat someone without elements there?"
Grandmother Elara insisted. "We must understand what Auren's power is, Kael. Keeping him here would both darken his future and leave our clan defenseless. The Academy might be the only place that can give him a chance. We will send him there, at least initially."
All eyes turned to me. The idea of going to the Academy stirred a range of emotions within me. On one hand, the chance to understand and control my power excited me. On the other hand, how would I exist among hundreds of completely foreign, non-like-me element users? After the disappointment I had already experienced at the Blood Ceremony, I didn't want to be a laughingstock at the Academy.
My father finally made a desperate decision. "Alright," he said, his voice tired but resolute. "Auren will go to the Academy. At least he'll have a chance to understand what his power is."
My mother was both relieved and sad about this decision. She hugged me, tears in her eyes. "We will miss you, son. But this is for the best for you."
That night, the representatives of the other clans left our home after discussing this decision. My acceptance into the Academy had, for now, alleviated the tension between the clans. But for me, the real struggle was just beginning.
The following days passed in a flurry. Preparations for going to the Academy were being made. My father tried to teach me everything he knew about fighting techniques and survival skills. "Auren," he said one morning while we were practicing with swords. "Even if you don't have elemental power, a sharp mind and an agile body can save you from many dangers."
My mother, on the other hand, gave me information about medicinal herbs and basic first aid. "Always try to help others, Auren," she said. "Kindness always returns."
Grandmother Elara brought me old books and maps. "The Academy not only contains elemental powers but also the history and secrets of the Ancestral Lands," she said. "Read, learn, observe. And remember, the greatest power is inner knowledge."
The thought of going to the Academy filled me with both fear and a strange hope. What would I do in an environment full of young people who could control their elements? How would I survive there when I still didn't understand my own power? No one knew what to do with me, and this had become a burden for me.
Still, as I thought about that moment at the pond, a glimmer appeared within me. That glimmer whispered to me that there might be a different path. Perhaps this new power was much more than the other elements. Perhaps one day, this state, seen as "nothingness," would be my greatest advantage. But for now, it was just uncertainty, and I was preparing to step onto this path filled with uncertainty.
The day of the journey had not yet come. In this chapter, I had only learned that I would be going to the Academy. The Academy itself, its atmosphere, and encountering other students would be the subject of the next chapter. However, this decision had changed my entire future. My family, to protect me, was throwing me into an unknown world. Within this world, I had to understand my own power and survive.
I lay in bed, the silence of the room enveloping me. When I looked out the window, far away, the glimmer of stars filled the sky. These stars reminded me of those tiny, sparkling specks I had seen in the pond. Perhaps my journey would be as unknown and mysterious as these stars. And this thought awakened both fear and a strange excitement within me at the same time.