The training grounds were louder than usual.
Students stood in scattered groups across the wide stone arena, while instructors observed quietly from the edges.
Today was elemental practice — the day everyone looked forward to.
Six core elements existed in this world:
Fire.
Water.
Earth.
Wind.
Light.
Dark.
However, only four — Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind — were practiced openly by most students.
Light and Dark were rare, spoken of more than seen.
Beyond them were advanced branches — Mist, Ice, Lava, and countless other rare variations, each with its own unique patterns and power.
Flames flickered in bursts as fire users manipulated them with practiced precision.
Streams of water twisted through the air like liquid ribbons.
Stones cracked and reshaped beneath focused palms.
Wind sliced in spirals, lifting dust into brief whirlwinds.
The arena felt alive.
Pulsing with energy.
Rudra stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders with a confident grin.
“I’m going to practice Wind Magic seriously today,” he called.
“You can sit there and take notes.”
Dhruv gave him a flat look.
“You’re making fun of me again.”
Rudra’s grin faltered.
“Hey, no. I was just kidding. Relax.”
Dhruv didn’t answer.
Instead, his gaze drifted past Rudra — beyond the arena — somewhere distant.
For a brief moment, the noise of the training field faded.
He saw an empty classroom.
Sunlight stretching across two chairs.
Only one was occupied.
Softly, almost unconsciously, he whispered,
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Before you came… I was alone.”
Rudra leaned closer.
“What?”
Dhruv straightened quickly.
“Nothing. I’m just… glad you’re my best friend.”
Rudra’s face lit up.
“Obviously. Who else would deal with your serious face all day?”
That earned a faint smile from Dhruv.
“Go practice.”
Rudra ran toward the wind circle, summoning sharp currents that twisted around him like playful spirits.
Dhruv remained seated on a wooden bench at the edge of the arena, observing.
Fire users burned bright and loud.
Water users moved gracefully.
Wind users laughed freely.
Earth users stood firm and steady.
Dhruv rested his elbows on his knees.
Then—
A flicker.
So fast, he almost thought he imagined it.
Not golden.
Not bright.
Just a brief distortion in his vision.
Sharp. Sudden. Gone.
He inhaled sharply.
For that instant, it felt as if something inside him had shifted — like fabric stretching but not tearing.
The shadow near his feet trembled slightly.
Then everything returned to normal.
Students laughed.
Wind roared.
Flames crackled.
Dhruv pressed his fingers against his temple.
“My mind was already disturbed today… now my eyes too?”
But deep down—
He knew.
It hadn’t been his eyes.
After the practical class ended, students began leaving.
Rudra nudged Dhruv.
“Wait here. Keep an eye on Lucia. Follow her. I’ll be right back.”
Before Dhruv could respond, Rudra sprinted off.
Minutes later, he returned wearing a rabbit mask he had bought from a shop.
Dhruv laughed softly.
“This… what you bought? It’s like a joke.”
“Don’t try to oversmart me,” Rudra replied with a mischievous grin.
Dhruv sighed.
“Okay, we should execute your plan quickly. She’s leaving.”
“I am going?” Rudra asked, lunging toward Lucia. “Follow my plan.”
Rudra stepped in front of Lucia.
“Where are you going, darling?” he called.
Lucia didn’t answer.
She only tilted her head slightly.
“Are you ignoring me?” Rudra pressed.
A sharp chill swept the air.
Before Rudra could attempt any Wind Magic—
A glacial formation erupted from Lucia’s hands.
Ice surged upward, immobilizing him while leaving his mouth free.
He shivered violently.
Dhruv stepped forward, removing Rudra’s mask.
The ice began melting immediately.
He struck the base of the glacier with concentrated effort, hastening the thaw.
Axel appeared silently nearby.
He took careful steps and helped break the larger ice shards.
Rudra collapsed, shivering.
Dhruv nodded toward Axel.
“Thank you for helping us.”
Axel’s gaze was intense.
“You are my target. No one else can harm you.”
He turned and walked away, leaves crunching beneath his feet.
Dhruv studied him.
“You’re not all bad. You sometimes bully others… but you truly don’t harm them. After seeing Lucia, I can tell you were very angry.”
Axel’s voice dropped even further.
“Useless. Don’t try to oversmart. You can’t understand my feelings…”
That night—
Dhruv sat cross-legged on his bed.
A book lay open before him, though the words blurred as his thoughts kept returning to the flicker of light he had seen.
“Dhruv, come down. Dinner is ready.”
His mother’s soft voice drifted upstairs.
She had light blue hair, a gentle face, kind eyes — and a touch of exhaustion.
Dhruv walked downstairs.
“Come, sit. We’ll eat together.”
He glanced at the empty chair at the head of the table.
“I’ll wait for Dad.”
“He isn’t coming tonight.”
“He hasn’t been home for three days.”
“You know how much he loves his work. He’s always busy.”
They ate together.
The sound of cutlery against plates felt unusually loud.
The empty chair remained untouched.
Later, Dhruv lay on his bed.
The silence of the house pressed heavier than the arena ever had.
Sleep came slowly.
Then—
Darkness.
Endless.
A distant whisper echoed.
Not threatening.
Not kind.
Simply waiting.
Far ahead, something faint existed within the blackness.
It did not glow brightly.
It did not move.
But it refused to disappear.
The darkness around it thinned slightly.
Dhruv reached toward it—
And woke.
Breathing unevenly.
Moonlight filtered through his window.
“What was that…”
This time, it didn’t feel like a dream.
It felt like something beginning.
Outside, the night wind stirred quietly.
Somewhere beyond his understanding—
Something was awakening.
The silence was no longer empty.
This was just the beginning.
Something was waiting for Dhruv.
