POV: Arav
Arav inhaled slowly.
Aether followed.
A tiny flame flickered to life on his palm.
It was calm.
Stable.
Gentle.
For a whole—
2 seconds.
Then—
PFFFT—FOOM!
The flame shot upward like a startled rooster, spiraling uncontrollably before sputtering out.
Arav groaned.
"Why does it do that?"
Aaryan massaged his forehead.
"Because you inhale too sharply. You're pulling half the courtyard into your lungs."
"I breathe normally!"
"You breathe like a dragon that just learned what oxygen is."
"I do NOT—"
"Try again."
Arav took another breath.
Aether rushed.
The grass at his feet started glowing.
He panicked.
"Oh no."
WHOOOM—
A grass circle around him ignited for half a second like a ritual flame.
Isha clapped from the side.
"Bhaiya invented FIRE HULA HOOP!"
"Isha please stop naming things—!"
Sharanya walked over, holding a small clay pot of water.
She poured it gently around the scorched ring.
Then handed Arav the pot.
"Here," she said softly. "For your future accidents."
Arav sighed. "That means there will be accidents, right?"
Sharanya gave him a sympathetic smile.
"My love… you are an Ashvathar."
Arav lowered his head. "So… yes."
---
⭐ POV: Aaryan
Aaryan watched Arav try again—
small flame, tiny flare, Grass Endangerment No. 27—
and despite himself, a laugh escaped.
Sharanya smacked his arm lightly.
"Don't laugh."
"I wasn't laughing—"
"You were smiling dangerously."
Aaryan cleared his throat. "I am simply… proud."
Sharanya raised a brow. "That is not what your face was saying."
Aaryan coughed, straightening his posture.
"His control is improving."
Sharanya tilted her head.
"Is it?"
"…In theory."
Isha wandered over holding a half-burnt leaf.
"Daddy, when bhaiya grows up, will he burn the whole house?"
Aaryan froze.
"…Let's hope not."
Sharanya added, "We will build him a fireproof training room."
Arav shouted from the courtyard, "I HEARD THAT!"
---
⭐ POV: Elder Varun (Observation Runes)
Deep within the Ashvathar Clan's inner temple, Elder Varun sat before the ancient flame mural as a new reading blinked on the aether tablet.
Another surge.
Small, controlled, but unmistakably potent.
"Whoever it is," Varun murmured, "they're training."
The pattern was steady enough to show discipline,
unstable enough to reveal youth,
and fiery enough to make a seasoned elder sit straighter.
Varun leaned closer.
"There. Again. Another spike."
He frowned.
If this unknown prodigy was an Ashvathar child, then why had no elder been informed?
Why had the resonance vanished during the awakening?
Why had the Patriarch remained silent?
Varun rubbed his chin, intrigued.
"Fire awakens with emotion," he whispered. "Someone's emotions are growing stronger."
A slow smile crept onto his face.
"I will find you, little flame."
---
⭐ POV: Arav (Return)
Arav tried again.
This time, he focused.
He imagined the flame as a small bird in his palm.
Not a furious phoenix.
Not a wild spark.
Just a tiny, warm bird.
He breathed softly.
The flame steadied.
It didn't flare.
It didn't explode.
It didn't ignite anything that shouldn't be ignited.
Aaryan's eyes widened. "You did it."
Sharanya smiled proudly. "Beautiful."
Isha gasped dramatically. "Bhaiya tamed a fire bird!"
Arav's face lit up.
He held the tiny flame a moment longer—
delicate, balanced, alive.
His heart warmed in response.
But then—
A flicker of silver shimmered around him.
The flame dimmed—
stilled—
stabilized completely.
Arav blinked.
"Isha?"
His sister poked his arm.
"You wobble. I fix."
Aaryan inhaled sharply.
"She… interfered instinctively."
Sharanya whispered, "Her Moon Spirit affinity reacts to destabilization."
Arav stared at his sister.
She giggled.
"You're welcome."
Arav couldn't help it.
He smiled.
Maybe having a stabilizer wasn't so bad.
---
⭐ POV: Unknown Thunder Child
Lightning crackled faintly in the small courtyard where the boy practiced.
His father was far away.
His mother was busy.
No one watched him.
But he watched the sky.
And the sky answered.
A small, sharp bolt danced between his fingertips—
forbidden for someone his age—
but he didn't care.
Thunder pulsed through him again.
Not the wild storm of awakening.
Just a whisper.
A reminder.
The fire is growing.
His lips pressed into a tiny frown.
Lightning sparked again.
Competitive instinct stirred in his young chest—
not hatred,
not fear—
just challenge.
If fire grew…
Then thunder would grow sharper.
And one day—
They would meet.
---
⭐ POV: Arav (Final)
As the flame rested gently in his palm, Arav whispered:
"This time… I did it."
Aaryan nodded.
"Remember this feeling. Control is not tightening your grip. It's easing your heart."
Arav nodded slowly.
Sharanya kissed his forehead.
Isha hugged his leg.
Fire glowed softly between his fingers, warm and steady.
For the first time since awakening—
Arav felt like the flame belonged to him.
And somewhere far away, thunder answered silently.
The first steps of two prodigies had begun.