The knock came at dawn.
Three sharp bangs against the elder's door, each one heavy enough to rattle the wooden frame. I sat at the table with a bowl of steaming broth in my hands, the warmth barely cutting through the chill that clung to me.
Luther looked up from his cup with his brows raised in alarm and his cloudy eyes flicked toward me, then back to the door. He hadn't expected visitors. Not this early and, especially, not with that kind of knock.
"Stay here," he murmured, rising slowly with his staff.
But curiosity pulled me onto my feet anyway.
When the door creaked open, five men stood outside, their armor gleaming in the pale light. They were not in the mismatched leathers of farmers or hunters. Instead, they were soldiers, polished and uniformed, royal knights to be exact. A banner of deep blue and silver marked their breastplates, embroidered with a sigil resembling a rising sun pierced by a sword.
The one leading stepped forward with his helmet under his arm, revealing a hard jawed face and piercing grey eyes. He scanned the room past Luther and his gaze landed on me instantly, sharp as a blade.
"We received word," he said, voice clipped and formal, "of an elemental wielder who could wield more than one element. It's rumored that they reside here, in this village."
The words curdled the broth in my stomach.
Luther's staff tapped the floor softly. "And who brings such words to my door?"
"Sir Algren of His Majesty's Royal Guard." The knight's tone carried the weight of command. "We are tasked with investigating the claims of this impostor, parading as blessed wielders." His gaze slid back to me, appraising, measuring. "Duo-wielders are rare, but to wield more than two elements is unheard of. Multiple elemental wielders do not exist nor has it ever been known in the Keltric Nation that there was such a power. They are trickery of charlatans. If one truly lives here, we require proof at once."
The knights' hands rested casually on their hilts. Not drawn, but ready.
Luther's grip tightened on his staff. His voice was calm with a hidden etch of warning. "This girl saved our village from a corrupted beast. Without her, half of us would be dead. You dare call that a trick?"
Algren's jaw flexed. "So it is claimed, however, words are wind and proof is steel." His eyes bore into me. "You, girl, if you can wield more than one element, show us. Fail, and you will be detained and escorted to the capital for judgment."
My mouth went dry. Prove it? Easy enough, right? Except what if I slipped? What if, in my desperation, I did too much or worse… too little?
I turned instinctively toward Luther, his eyes were already fixed on me. Then, ever so slightly, he shook his head.
Later, when the knights allowed a moment to gather in the square, Luther pulled me aside. His hand was dry and papery, like a brushing my hands against a brown paper bag. It clamped around my wrist with surprising strength.
"Listen carefully, child," he whispered, voice low enough that only I could hear. "Do not show them everything."
"But…"
"No." His tone was stern. "What you did against the beast… that was no Saint's blessing. Not in their eyes. They are terrified and if you reveal it all, they may kill you."
My breath caught. "So what do I do?"
"Limit yourself to just two elements, maybe just air and fire. It is the two elements that are most common. It's simple, known, and acceptable. Show them only what they ask…" his voice dropped into a whisper, "... more than one and nothing more."
I clenched my jaw. "But won't that paint me as weaker? More vulnerable?"
"Yes," Luther said grimly. "But it will keep you alive. Power draws blades as honey draws bees. Hide your strength, Andrea. Hide it until you know who is foe and who is friend." His warning sent a chill through my body and the use of my true name made me falter. Luther's eyes bored into mine. "Promise me."
I swallowed. My lungs thrummed restlessly, the atoms within me humming like a restless orchestra. They wanted to sing. They wanted to be unleashed, but I nodded. "I promise, Luther."
The square filled quickly. Villagers gathered, their faces pale with worry. The knights stood in formation, Sir Algren at their head, grey eyes gleaming with suspicion.
"Girl, you will prove yourself now." Luther announced, steady voice carrying across the crowd. "By the Saints' witness, she shall." Algren gestured bluntly. "Begin!"
My pulse, hammered fiercely. Air and fire, Luther had said. Simple. Acceptable. I forced a breath deep into my lungs, ignoring the chorus of other elements screaming for my command.
I exhaled. Oxygen surged forward and the torches along the square flared brightly, flames leaping higher, crackling as though fed oil. Gasps rippled through the villagers. Even the knights blinked.
"Air," one muttered, "that will be air, Sir Algren."
Good. One down, one more to go.
Now fire. I took a deep breath again, pulling the bonds tighter. Hands out facing each other with a small distance apart, I released the air from my lungs with a sharp snap. A jet of flame burst to life between my palms, flickering and hot before I clapped my hands shut and snuffed it out.
The crowd gasped louder, but awe crept into their eyes.
"Fire." another knight said.
I panted, forcing myself still while all the molecules in my body tingled for me to use its powers. Luther said only two elements, but deep inside, the rest of me seethed wanting to explode. The iron in the soil, the carbon in the wood, even that strange humming of energy beyond what the periodic table offers that surrounds the air in this new world. They all ached to be used. My whole body strained against an imaginary leash like an excited pup choking itself on its collar.
"Enough," Luther's voice rang out as he stomped his cane.
Sir Algren studied me for a long, tense moment. His expression was unreadable. "Acceptable," he said finally. "Air and fire. A rare gift, but not unheard of. Some call it Saint's favor, while others call it dangerous." His eyes narrowed at me. "I will call it, duly noted."
He turned sharply to his men. "Take a record of it. A two-element wielder, female, named Eriden age…"
"Nineteen." Luther replied from where he was standing.
"Age nineteen, residing in Foot-Herb village. Report to the capital by wind-bird for haste."
My chest tightened. Reporting to the capital will mean more attention to me. That also meant I wouldn't be forgotten and who knows what kind of issues will pursue.
The villagers murmured nervously, some relieved and some unease, but at least no one cried for my possible death.
Algren's gaze flicked back to me one last time. "Do not overstep, girl. Air and fire may keep you alive, but flaunting what you cannot control will draw the King's eye. And the King," he pauses to narrow his eyes at me, "does not tolerate chaos."
With that, he put his helm back on, turned on his toes in an about-face, and marched away leading the rest. The knights followed, their armor clinking like distant thunder until the forest swallowed them.
*
The square exhaled as one.
"She did it," someone whispered. "Air and fire."
"Blessed…" another said softly. "Truly blessed."
And this time, the words weren't laced with venom, instead they carried wonder and gratitude. A fragile thread of trust.
Delsey approached, clutching her basket to her chest. "You did well, my dear" she said, voice hushed. "Better to give them less than more. May the Saints continue to shield you, child." She placed a small sprig of Eucalyptus into my hand, nodded and retreated.
One by one, others followed. Small gifts, quiet nods, and murmured prayers. Not fear, but acceptance.
For the first time since awakening in this world, I felt the faintest warmth of belonging.
*
That night, Luther and I sat by the hearth. I palm the fire for warmth and watched as the shadows danced across his lined face as he sipped his tea.
"You did wisely," he said. "They will speak of today, but as something blessed and not something cursed… And that buys us time."
"Time for what?" I asked softly.
His gaze burned. "For you to learn the truth of what you carry. Air and fire are safe. But I saw how the ground trembled beneath you, how the beast fell on iron spikes. I know what you wield, Eriden, and it's more than two… More than anyone should. That is why I advise that you hide it. Until the world is ready."
I hugged my knees, staring into the flames. Its heat warmed my skin, but inside, my lungs still buzzed with restless energy. There's so many elements yet somewhere in the space of all matter there was that silver-blue shimmer of the unknown element.
"I don't know if I can control it," I admitted to Luther.
"Then find ways to utilize those powers discreetly by pouring its power out with your daily chores. We can help you with that." Luther said simply.
The flames cracked, sparks flying upward. For the first time, the word "we" felt like an anchor instead of a chain.
Still, Algren's warning echoed in my ears. "Report to the capital" and "The King does not tolerate chaos".
And I knew that sooner or later, chaos would come to find me.