The early morning sun spilled golden light across the Daryon estate, glinting off the polished wooden floors and casting long shadows through the tall windows. Most children of Aseel's age were still learning to walk through forests safely or play harmless games with peers. But Aseel's mind was already several steps ahead.
At five years old, he had discovered that the natural limits of his body could be pushed with focus and practice. Alone in a secluded garden behind the estate, he raised his tiny hands, calling upon the elements as he had instinctively done during the village storm.
The wind swirled around him, but unlike before, it responded with hesitation, resisting his command. He frowned, eyes narrowing. He focused on the rhythm of his own breathing, syncing with the pulse of the earth beneath him. A pebble rose from the garden path, spinning in midair. Water from a nearby fountain twisted into a delicate spiral. Fire danced along his fingertips harmlessly, controlled perfectly.
Hours passed as he repeated the exercises, each combination more complex than the last. Fire and water created scalding steam walls; wind and earth formed rotating shields of rock; light and shadow merged to produce illusions, delicate and precise. No other child in history had ever attempted—or succeeded—at such feats at his age.
While he trained, he thought of his past life. Betrayal. His siblings. His death. A quiet anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. It was not vengeance yet—not now—but the knowledge that one day, those who had wronged him would face his wrath, sharpened his focus.
A small figure watched from the shadows: Mira, his elder sister, who had insisted on following him even when told to stay behind. "Aseel… you're too young for this," she whispered, worry lacing her tone.
"I know my limits," he replied calmly, without turning. "And I intend to surpass them."
From another corner, Selene, the younger sister, mimicked his movements, though clumsily. Aseel smiled faintly. He realized he could teach her later, guiding her to grow strong—not just for herself, but for the future he intended to shape.
As dusk approached, Aseel stopped. He felt the power coursing through him, steady yet restrained, like a river waiting to be unleashed. This was only the beginning.