Elias Leywin POV
Morning slipped through the curtains in thin strands of gold, stretching across the floor and climbing slowly toward the bed. Warmth settled over my face, gentle and unhurried, inviting me to sink deeper into the mattress. The air lay still. The blanket held close, keeping the last fragments of sleep wrapped around me.
The world shattered.
A violent crack tore through the quiet. The window screamed as it burst inward, shards scattering across the room. The force struck my chest and knocked the breath from me.
"Wha-?!" The word scraped out as I threw the blanket aside.
A low crackle lingered beyond the walls, too close to ignore. The birds outside continued their song, though it now sounded distant, stripped of its warmth. Smoke drifted through the room, sharp enough to sting.
I ripped my robe off its hook and slung it over my shoulders in one motion. The sash slipped through my fingers as I tried to tie it. I failed and let its floe behind me as I gathered mana to my palm.
A small ball of gold shot free, and where there was a window was now a hole. Glass crunched beneath my heel as I climbed through. Outside, the sky stretched wide and blue, broken by a thin column of smoke rising in the distance.
I let myself fall. The Wind caught me before I reached the ground. Grass bent under my landing, dew scattering into the air. I pushed forward, each step light, barely touching down before the next carried me on. Gravel spat behind me. My pulse hammered in my ears.
The smell thickened. It was a horrible burning scent. It smelled like how pepper tasted. A shiver shot up me as I rounded the hedge.
My advance slowed as my eyes locked onto the figure who stood at the epicentre of the destruction. Lilia.
She hadn't moved. Her head tilted down, her hands held in front of her as though they belonged to someone else. The air around her shimmered, threaded with drifting motes of light that pulsed with each breath she took.
"Big Sis Lilia!"
She turned slowly. Her eyes found mine. Confusion flickered there. Something brighter burned beneath it.
"What happened?"
I stepped closer.
"I… I think it happened," she whispered. A broken laugh followed, her hand rising to cover her mouth as more tears came. "Lias, my mana core-"
"What's going on?" A man called from behind us. He scanned the courtyard before settling on Lilia. The tension in his shoulders eased, replaced by something quieter. Aunt Tabitha followed close behind he husband, her hair loose, her breathing unsteady.
She crossed the distance without slowing and knelt before Lilia, her hand rising to cup her cheek. Her thumb brushed away the tears that kept falling.
"Elias… could you…" she asked softly.
I nodded.
The smoke thinned as I approached. Lilia's gaze locked onto mine. She gave me a small approving nod as I rested my palm against her chest.
With an exhale, her mana surged in reaction to me. It flowed like water, and at its centre, a small sphere had taken shape.
I pulled back, my throat tightening as I looked between them.
"Congratulations, big sis."
Relief settled over the courtyard. Auntie Tabitha's shoulders dropped. Uncle Vincent drew in a long breath and let it out slowly.
"She did it," he said, his voice low.
Lilia laughed through her tears.
---
The underground training chamber breathed with quiet life. Grass bent under my boots as heat rolled off me in faint waves, the air shimmering just above the ground. A stream cut through the field nearby, its gentle murmur swallowed by the sharp hiss of flame as my conjured blade carved through another of Tess's rising roots.
The elf princess pressed forward.
Her silver sword staff caught the light as she moved, green mana flaring with each strike. Wind curled along her weapon, leaves lifting from the trees at the chamber's edge and spiralling in her wake.
I met her advance.
My wand burned in my grip. Golden flame gathered along its length, stretching outward into a blade that flickered and shifted with each movement. It cut through her gales, the heat parting them as embers scattered into the air.
The chamber answered. Heat pressed outward. Light danced across the dome above, reflections flickering with every clash.
More roots burst from the ground. They tore through the grass, reaching for my legs. One snapped tight around my ankle. Another lashed toward my arm, its thorns glinting under the artificial light.
My flames roared around me. The vine around my ankle blackened and split, ash scattering as I tore free. I swung again, the blade flaring brighter as it carved through the next wave. The cut edges curled inward, charred, before collapsing into brittle husks.
Her assault didn't falter despite my minute gains. Vines spread across the field, a tide of green pushing forward.
"Tch."
Heat gathered beneath my feet. I pushed off, a burst of flame driving me upward as the vines snapped shut beneath me. The ground split where they struck, gouges carved deep into the soil.
Tess's eyes gleamed. "You can't burn them all," she smirked from below me.
"Watch me."
With a deep inhale, I drew the fire, its mana, inward.
The blade collapsed, folding into itself, condensing into a dense sphere of golden flame above my wand's point. It pulsed, bright enough to sting the eyes.
I gripped the wand with both hands and swung downwards towards her with fury. Golden flame burst outward in a wide arc. A wave of heat rolled across the chamber, engulfing the advancing vines. They blackened, cracked, then broke apart into drifting ash. The stream recoiled, its surface rippling under the sudden surge of heat.
Thin tendrils slipped through the ground beneath me. They coiled around my legs as I landed, tightening with sudden force, dragging me down.
Flame surged along my skin.
The vines caught fire instantly. Heat raced along their length, forcing them to recoil.
Not giving a moment's repose, Tess' sword-staff arced down towards me.
I raised my wand.
Flame snapped back into shape, forming a sharp edge just in time. Her strike met mine, steel crashing against burning light. The impact drove into the ground beneath us, dirt and scorched grass bursting outward.
She pulled away, creating space.
Roots surged after her, racing toward me, twisting together into a dense mass.
I moved to meet them.
Each swing left a trail of fire in its wake. The vines caught as soon as the blade passed through, flames racing along their length, consuming them from the inside. Ash drifted across the field, carried by the rising heat.
I continued to dance forward, arcing and spinning my blade through the onslaught. The cauterised vines fell around me as I etched ever closer to the elven princess.
"You're too slow," Tess called, her mana flaring brighter. Her vines knitted together as they braided with each other.
Flame shot me forward as I let my next strike carry too far.
The flame surged at the end of the swing. It burst outward in a sudden bloom, heat slamming into the forming net. The vines caught all at once. Fire spread through them in an instant, reducing the entire structure to drifting embers that scattered across the chamber.
The stream churned, its surface breaking under the pressure of the heat.
She closed the distance again, her strikes faster now, wind driving each motion. Her staff cut through the air with sharp precision, each swing aimed to force me back.
I held my ground.
Flame clashed against steel. Each impact sent sparks scattering, brief flashes of gold against green. Heat built between us, pressing outward with every exchange.
Fortunately, I was the better swordsman.
She struck high.
I met it holding its length perpendicular to my own.
Her breathing grew heavy as her flurry slowed. My blade pressed harder with each swing. Flame surged with every strike, forcing her back, leaving no space to recover.
She began to falter until she fell over.
She rose back upright only to face the warmth of my blade.
"I yield," She murmured.
"What was that?" I smirked.
"I yield. I surrender." She repeated begrudgingly.
My blade disappeared as fast as it manifested. I holstered the dark wood at my side and offered the princess a hand.
She took it and rose back to her feet, in one piece but muddied.
"You nearly had me." I clicked my shoulder as I stretched above my head.
Her gaze dropped to my side. "Did Art teach you how to use a sword?"
"He didn't." I smiled as I patted my side. "My father had that honour, though he does train with me whenever he's home."
"Why do you use a wand then?" she asked. "You already move like a swordsman, why not carry a real blade?"
"A sword?"
"Yes. A proper one. Your mana blade is impressive and all, but wouldn't a real blade be less of a burden on you?"
"I tried."
"And?"
"They don't last."
She tilted her head and frowned at me.
"Doesn't matter what they're made of. The moment I run mana through them, they crack. Heat builds too fast. The metal gives out."
"Wow," she murmured.
"Yup, went through like three in a week, and Dad cut off my supply after that, even though Uncle Vincent could afford to take the hit."
"It suits you."
I shrugged, ignoring the warmth creeping up my neck.
"You break enough things, you figure something out."
We stood there for what felt like an eternity as we basked in the room's ambience.
"That's enough for today. I'm done."
"Quitting already?"
I ignored her comment and turned towards the grand doorway. "You coming?" I called back to her from over my shoulder.
Together, we made our way across the grassy floor of the training chamber. The stream whispered beside us, its sound a faint backdrop against our footsteps. By the time we reached the far wall, natural stone gave way to smooth marble, creating a contrasting view that looked beautifully out of place.
With a cough, I looked up at the silver-haired elf. "Tess… do you want to meet my family?"
Her stride slowed.
"Your family?"
"Yeah. You already know my brother, so I thought…" I rubbed the back of my neck as I looked away from her.
She tilted her head, then nodded. "I'd like that."
Relief settled in my chest.
"Great. Let's go."
We left the training wing behind, the halls widening, sunlight spilling through tall windows. The warmth followed us outside, the city stretching ahead with its noise and motion.
The carriage waited for us as it had done for me over these past three years.
We climbed in, settling into the cushioned seats as it rolled forward. The wheels rattled over cobblestone, the city passing by in a blur of colour and sound.
The princess opposite me spoke up after a few moments of peace, "So," she said at last, breaking the silence. "What are your parents like?"
"You'll see soon enough. But… Well, Dad is the kind of person who could talk to anyone about anything. And Mum… she is protective, but she always means well. You'll like them."
Her lips curved faintly. "You sound confident."
"I am." I leaned back, folding my arms with a grin. "Plus, it's only fair you get to meet my parents even if big bro isn't here"
"Oh? How so?" the elf questioned, giving me a quiet laugh.
"Well, he met yours"
"He did." She smiled.
The ride continued, the streets gradually giving way to quieter roads lined with tall hedges and wrought-iron gates. The carriages thinned out, replaced by the occasional mounted guard or noble family strolling with attendants in tow. At last, the coach slowed. The familiar sight of the Helstea estate came into view.
The carriage rolled to a stop before the front steps.
I climbed out first with Tess following. She fidgeted with her fingers the entire ride and continued to do so even as my sister rushed down towards us.
"Li, who's the girl?"
"Big Bro's girlfriend," I smirked. El's face went blank before a maniacal grin grew on her face.
"LIAS!" the elf squeaked.
My sister closed the rest of the distance between us at a speed that should normally be impossible for a non-mage. She began to inspect the elven princess with an intensity I'd never seen from her before.
"Um, Elias, who's this girl?" my fellow disciple questioned me, looking at me with reddening cheeks.
My sister took a step back and gripped the corners of her skirt. "This is my baby sister, Eleanor Leywin." I introduced, pointing to her with my arm.
"Baby!" she protested.
I ignored her and continued the introduction. "El, this is-"
"Lias, stop messing about-" my mother said, stopping as her eyes settled on the girl to my left.
"Afternoon, Mum." I waved at the woman who was now descending the steps towards us, "I hoped it's okay that I brought a friend over for dinner tonight".
"Yes, of course it is, sweetie," she smiled. Her eyes shifted to Tess. "Who is she, though?"
"Big Bro's girlfriend," I repeated as my mother stood before us.
"Huh?"
"This is Princess Tessia Eralith of the Kingdom of Elenoir," I stated blankly, smiling as my mother's face only continued to distort in both horror and embarrassment.