The courtyard lay silent, bathed in the golden haze of late afternoon. Shadows stretched long across the grass, and the air shimmered with the faint warmth of the sun. Elina stood with her arms folded, her emerald eyes fixed unwaveringly on her new pupil. Julius, unable to contain his restless energy, bounced lightly on his toes, eager to prove himself once more.
"Julius," Elina said, her voice calm yet probing, "can you see that rock over there?" She pointed toward a stone near the garden wall, roughly the size of a large dog.
"Yes!" Julius chirped, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
He felt a rush of excitement, as if the world had suddenly expanded. This was more than a lesson—it was a chance to prove himself, to show that all the hours of practice while Father was away had not been wasted. His small hands tingled with mana, eager to obey his will.
"Good," Elina continued, her tone firm. "Your task is simple—or at least in appearance. Break that rock using only water magic."
Juliette, peeking cautiously from the doorway, stiffened at the challenge. Her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the frame as a flicker of worry passed through her eyes. Nicholas, standing silently with arms crossed, simply observed, his expression a mixture of curiosity and restrained pride. He had trained many children, yet none had ever approached magic like this at such a tender age.
Julius's grin stretched wide. "Okay, Teacher! I'll try my best!"
He stepped forward, small hands raised. Mana swirled smoothly beneath his fingertips, coalescing into a water sphere about twenty centimeters across, its surface catching the sunlight like liquid glass. His heart thumped violently. The sphere felt alive, responsive to his every thought. He imagined it striking the rock, shattering it into pieces—but would his strength be enough?
"Go!" Julius thrust his hand forward, and the sphere shot toward the rock.
SPLASH!
The sphere collided with the stone, scattering harmlessly into droplets that splattered across the courtyard. The rock remained stubbornly intact.
"Huh? It didn't work…" Julius blinked, surprise shadowing his expression. Confusion swirled in his mind. He had felt the energy surge perfectly, why had it failed?
Elina allowed herself the faintest smile, a knowing glint in her eyes. "As expected. Plain water striking solid stone is rarely effective. Water flows, it bends—it cannot destroy unless shaped with precision. Now… what will you do, Julius?"
Frustration flared in his chest. He clenched his tiny fists, brows furrowed in concentration. "If one sphere isn't enough… then I'll just make it bigger!"
Breathing sharply, he focused all his energy. Mana swirled violently, condensing into a massive water sphere, half a meter across, bulging with power. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his eyes shone with unwavering determination. He felt the pulse of raw energy vibrating in his palms, a sensation both thrilling and terrifying. The world seemed to hold its breath along with him.
"This time… it'll work!" he whispered.
With a powerful thrust, he sent the colossal sphere hurtling forward.
WHOOOSH—CRASH!
Water exploded against the rock, drenching the courtyard and sending a fine mist into the late afternoon air. The stone shuddered, scraping against the earth, but it remained unbroken.
"Huh…?" Julius's voice wavered, disbelief shadowing his small features. The effort had been tremendous, yet the result fell short. A pang of doubt struck him—but he pushed it down. He could do this. He would do this.
Elina's expression shifted from expectation to awe. A child of five, to conjure a water sphere of such size and stability… even an intermediate apprentice would struggle to command such volume.
She stepped forward, voice calm yet commanding, tinged with admiration. "Julius. Though the rock remains unbroken, do not underestimate what you have accomplished. To create that sphere at your age… remarkable. Truly impressive."
Julius's lips quivered slightly, a mixture of pride and lingering doubt. "Really…?"
Elina nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes. But brute force alone does not win battles. You must think differently. How will you achieve your goal now?"
Julius paused, eyes narrowing as his mind raced. Inspiration flickered, small but bright. He remembered the water's movement, how it had flowed around the rock without harming it. If only he could compress all that energy… focus it into a single point…
"I think… I know what to do," he whispered.
Hands raised, he gathered mana again. The massive sphere shimmered into existence, seemingly the same as before, yet something in his posture and concentration was different.
Then, with a sharp exhale, he clenched his fists. The sphere quivered violently, condensing rapidly into a dense projectile no larger than his own fist, glowing with compressed energy. The air seemed to hum with tension, vibrating from the contained force. Every ounce of power, every drop of water, every thought of focus had been distilled into this moment. He felt alive, unstoppable, like the very air itself was bending to his will.
"Go!!" he shouted, thrusting the sphere forward.
The projectile shot through the air like a bolt of pure energy.
BANG!
The rock shattered with a deafening crack. Fragments exploded outward, dust and shards scattering across the courtyard. When the haze cleared, only scattered remnants marked where the stubborn stone had stood.
Julius lowered his hands slowly, awe and exhilaration battling on his face. "I… I did it…"
Nicholas's brows rose sharply, astonishment plain across his usually composed expression. He had never imagined such ingenuity at this age, nor such precision and creativity. Juliette gasped, clutching her hands to her chest in amazement, feeling a tear threaten as pride and relief mingled.
Elina remained motionless for a heartbeat, processing what she had just witnessed. To compress such a massive sphere into a single, lethal projectile… at five years old… she had never imagined such ingenuity.
Finally, a rare, genuine smile curved her lips. "You have proven yourself today, Julius. But remember—this is only the beginning. You must grow stronger. Never stop dreaming, never stop reaching higher. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Teacher! I'll train, train, and train until I become so powerful… that no one has ever become before!" His voice rang with determination, bouncing with uncontainable energy.
Elina chuckled softly, touched by his fierce spirit. "With such determination, you can surely achieve your dreams." She straightened, adding gently, "That's all for today. We'll continue our lessons tomorrow."
"Okay, Teacher!" Julius exclaimed, beaming.
Nicholas stepped forward from the doorway, voice calm yet warm. "Miss Elina, before you leave—why not join us for some tea? We can discuss Julius's studies… and his formal admission."
Elina inclined her head gracefully. "Very well," she replied, eyes glinting with thoughtful curiosity.
———
Inside, the house smelled of fresh tea and warm pastries, the cozy glow of lamplight painting the walls in soft amber. Juliette moved quickly, setting out a tray with care, her hands steady despite the flutter of nerves that never seemed to leave her when it came to Julius. She watched him, remembering how small he had been when he first lifted a wooden sword, and now, this—the sheer power and brilliance of her child left her breathless.
Elina seated herself with graceful composure, lifting her cup delicately to sip, while Nicholas leaned back, arms crossed, eyes sharp yet calm as they followed her movements. He felt a swell of pride he hadn't allowed himself to indulge in until now, watching Julius conquer not just magic, but the fear of failing.
"I can visit thrice a week," Elina said between sips, her voice steady, measured. "Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On those days, I will focus on nurturing Julius's foundation. With proper guidance, he will not only learn to control his gift, but refine it safely."
Nicholas inclined his head, a subtle warmth in his gaze. "That would be more than enough. We're deeply thankful, Miss Elina. But… tell me honestly. How does he compare to other students you've trained?"
Elina set her cup down thoughtfully, her fingers curling around the porcelain. "To put it simply—he does not compare. Most children his age cannot even form a proper water sphere. Some cannot sense mana at all. Yet your son has already demonstrated multi-element control..." Her emerald eyes flicked to Julius, who was happily nibbling on a cookie, crumbs dotting the tabletop. "He is years—perhaps decades—ahead of where he should be."
Juliette's fingers tightened around her own cup, the warmth of the tea grounding her as she swallowed her worry. Her heart raced for him, and she realized how much she wanted to shield him, even as she knew she must let him grow. A child so small, holding so much potential, and yet, so vulnerable.
"That may be so, but… is it safe? He is still so young. I fear what such power might mean for him," she admitted, voice tinged with worry.
Elina's expression softened. "Your concern is natural, Lady Juliette. But you needn't worry too much. My role is to ensure he learns not only strength, but control. Power without discipline is dangerous, but power guided with wisdom can protect, heal, and even change the world."
Juliette exhaled slowly, her shoulders easing, though her eyes never left her son, full of quiet, protective concern. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine him grown—a great mage, shaping the world with his hands—but for now, he was still small, still five, and still needing them.
Meanwhile, Julius had grown restless. The serious discussion barely held his attention. His gaze drifted from crumbs on his fingers to Elina herself—the glimmer of her silver hair in the lamplight, the deep green of her eyes, the serene grace with which she held her cup. And then, at last, his focus found what truly captured him: her ears. Pointed, elegant, unlike anything he had ever seen.
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing as though sheer concentration could unlock the mystery. His little cheeks puffed out in earnest imitation of her composed expression.
Elina noticed the unwavering gaze finally and arched a brow, amusement tugging at her lips. "Is there something on my face, Julius? You've been staring for quite some time."
Julius blinked, startled, and shook his head quickly. "No… nothing like that. I was just wondering…" He pointed timidly with a tiny finger. "How are your ears… pointy?"
Elina blinked, caught off guard, then allowed a soft laugh to escape. "Oh—my ears? That is because I am an elf. All elves are born like this."
Julius's eyes widened, sparkling with awe. "You're an elf?! Really? That means… you're not human being?" He leaned across the table, hands gripping the edge, as though if he just looked hard enough he might understand everything about her. "I've never seen an elf before!"
Elina tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I suppose that's not surprising. Out here in the countryside, humans are the ones you meet most often. Elves rarely travel this far from our homelands."
His eyes lit up with remembered knowledge. "I read in a book once—it said elves live in a forest called Eldia. A forest so big it stretches thousands of kilometers!"
Elina's lips curved gently. "Yes… that is correct. Eldia is the homeland of every elf. The Eldian Forest is filled with wonders—mystical creatures, ancient trees, rivers older than kingdoms. It is beautiful… yet dangerous as well."
Julius's tiny fists clenched with excitement. "Can I visit someday? Please, Teacher?"
Elina chuckled, emerald eyes twinkling. "Yes, you can. But only when you are stronger, wiser… and perhaps a little taller." She leaned in with a playful wink. "When that day comes, I will give you a tour myself."
"Yay!" Julius hopped in his seat, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll get stronger, wiser, and taller—and then I'll visit Eldia one day!"
Elina's laughter joined the warmth of the room, her silver hair catching the lamplight as she tilted her head. Nicholas and Juliette exchanged a glance, hearts full, watching their son dream boldly of worlds far beyond the little hill they called home.
And so, beneath the gentle glow of that autumn evening, surrounded by laughter, tea, and the warmth of family, the first true chapter of Julius's destiny quietly unfolded. He was still just a boy — small, curious, and brimming with wonder — yet within his tiny hands rested the potential to shape a future far greater than anyone could imagine. Today, he shattered a stone. some day, he would face challenges far larger than himself. The road ahead would be long, winding, and filled with lessons yet to learn, but as long as that spark of determination burned within him, nothing — not even fate itself — could halt the boy who dreamed beyond the horizon.