Anna had always been the ideal daughter — hardworking, composed, and clearly destined for greatness. Their parents beamed with pride whenever they spoke of her. Everyone around her praised her early Flow awakening and endless dedication.
The question no one asked out loud was simple: Where was Cal in all of this?
Nine years ago…
The Emra family estate rose like a proud castle at the edge of the noble district. Tall spires of white stone reached toward the sky, connected by graceful arched bridges and crowned with flowing banners that rippled in the breeze. Lush gardens surrounded the main building, filled with carefully tended flower beds, sparkling fountains, and ancient spirit trees whose leaves glowed softly at dusk. High walls enclosed the entire grounds, giving it the feel of a private fortress dedicated to both beauty and quiet power.
Young Anna wandered through the garden behind the main house, searching.
"Seriously, bro… where are you? I've literally checked everywhere," she muttered, stopping beneath a tall oak tree.
A loud cracking sound came from above. Anna looked up slowly, a mix of nervousness and curiosity on her face.
Branches snapped. Cal came tumbling down with a loud scream. Anna ducked just in time. His leg caught on a thick vine at the last second, leaving him dangling upside-down a few feet above the ground.
"I'm alive!" he announced, sweating and swinging slightly.
"Cal…?" Anna said, staring up at him.
"Oh, hey sis," he replied with a sheepish grin.
The vine snapped. Cal crashed onto the grass with a thud.
He stood up quickly, dusting dirt off his clothes, still smiling brightly.
"What were you doing up there?" Anna asked, hands on her hips.
Cal straightened up, flashing a huge grin. "Just wanted to see the world from a high view."
"Okay… but you know you could go to your room for that, right? It's at the top of the house — way higher than this tree."
"Let me correct myself," Cal said cheerfully. "I wanted to see the world from nature's view."
Anna stared at him, utterly confused.
"Forget it, Anna," she whispered to herself, then spoke louder. "Cal, I was looking everywhere for you."
"Why…?"
"You promised Big Sis that you would train with us today."
"Oh… that. Yeah, I guess it slipped my mind," Cal said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"This isn't the first time you promised and didn't show up," Anna pointed out.
"Sorry, sis. Next time," Cal replied with that same calm, easy smile.
...
Always made this promise… but I always knew deep down I would never keep it.
...
Three years later…
According to the rules, every child turning twelve had to take the Flow Test at the Golden Tower.
Groups of kids streamed out of the towering structure, voices buzzing with excitement.
"Fire Flow, baby!"
"Gonna be a battle Flow user… sweet!"
"Support Flow… thank goodness, no front lines for me."
Some sounded genuinely happy. Others might have been pretending. From what Cal saw, most seemed satisfied with whatever Flow they received.
Then it was Cal's turn.
Inside the Flow Test chamber of the Golden Tower, the room was both dark and luminous. Bright blue orbs floated gently near the ceiling, casting an ethereal glow. Ancient symbols covered a raised altar at the front. Before it stretched the Endless — a deep, mystical stream said to never run dry.
The Water Elder sat solemnly behind the altar.
Cal approached, dressed in the pure white ceremonial robes worn by all candidates. The white symbolized purity; stepping into the Endless marked a new beginning.
The Water Elder pointed toward the water. Cal stepped onto its surface. Thanks to the Elder's power, he walked across it as if it were solid ground and stopped at the glowing circle in the center.
He stood still, nerves clearly visible.
The Water Elder exhaled slowly, rolled his palm across the surface of the Endless, and caused it to glow faintly. A wave of water rose gracefully, moving toward Cal and enveloping his entire body like a translucent cocoon.
To Cal's surprise, he could still breathe perfectly inside.
"Close your eyes and clear your mind," the Water Elder instructed.
Cal obeyed, exhaling calmly.
Moments later, the Elder began a secret prayer. The water surrounding Cal glowed brighter and brighter. A warm sensation spread through his body, as if he were being gently reborn. His heartbeat slowed to a peaceful rhythm. Every breath felt refreshingly new.
Then the water dropped away.
Cal stood calm at first, breathing steadily. He looked down at his hands, wondering why he felt no immediate change.
Without warning, a massive energy surge slammed into him — painful and intense. Cal screamed as the water beneath his feet turned liquid again. He sank rapidly, falling deeper into the Endless.
The Water Elder raised a hand. A powerful wave lifted Cal and deposited him gently on the edge in front of the altar.
Cal coughed violently, gasping for air. The intense pain from moments ago had completely faded.
The Water Elder congratulated him and explained his new Flow: Plant. He taught Cal the basics — how to sense living energy in nature, how to grow and manipulate vines and roots, and everything else a new user needed to know.
Cal left the Golden Tower in silence.
In his mind, only one thought repeated: I love nature… but I hate the idea of it being my Flow.
He had been avoiding training sessions with his sisters. He slacked off constantly. Because it was known that a person's Flow often reflected their deepest wants and will, Cal wanted nothing to do with the front lines. His parents saw him as weak and disappointing — their only son failing to live up to the family name.
Cal had always hated the idea of war. He wanted absolute peace. More than that, he was terrified of making a single mistake in battle that could get someone hurt.
Since a battle Flow user needed a proper battle item to be effective in combat, Cal deliberately became an even bigger slacker, hoping a support item would choose him instead.
But everything changed the day he saw Koya.
He was walking alone down a quiet academy hallway when she passed by. Time seemed to slow. Her hair caught the breeze, her eyes sparkled with quiet determination, and her face lit up with focused energy.
Cal stood frozen, heart pounding so hard he could barely breathe. For that single moment, nothing else in the world mattered.
Koya walked past without noticing him.
His mind flooded with questions. What should I do…? Should I talk to her?
A light tap on his shoulder made him jump.
He turned to find Anna standing there.
"Bro, are you okay…?" she asked, tilting her head.
Cal stayed silent for a few seconds, then exhaled.
"Do you know who that girl is?" he asked, voice calm but slightly shaky. "The one in white."
"Weird… that's my roommate, Koya. Why do you ask?"
"Your roommate, huh?" Cal said, head slightly bowed, trying to sound casual.
Anna studied his face and quickly caught on. A spark of excitement lit her eyes. "Do you have a crush on her?"
Cal avoided the question and turned away. "Stop asking silly questions," he said, keeping his tone composed even though his insides felt nervous and confused.
Anna grinned excitedly as he walked off.
Days turned into weeks. Cal watched Koya from a distance, falling for her even harder. Her relentless hard work, the way she rose every time she fell, and her determination to keep pushing despite being flowless — it all captivated him.
Later, through Anna, he finally befriended Koya and got to know her better. His feelings deepened into something far stronger than simple admiration. He had never felt anything like it before and didn't even know what to call it.
He wanted to confess… but hesitated. He felt unworthy of someone like her.
So he made a decision: he would become someone worthy of her.
Cal stopped slacking. He trained harder than ever before, pushing past his limits and breaking through them. He became the very thing he once swore he never wanted to be — a warrior.
One quiet afternoon, sitting alone in his dorm room, Cal laughed at himself. He had changed completely, all because of one girl… and he felt zero regret.
Present Day
Cal sat high on a sturdy tree branch just outside the academy grounds, alone with the wind. The breeze blew gently around him, rustling the leaves.
"How much I wish this wind could just blow all your problems away," he murmured, tears gathering in his eyes.
He wiped them quickly and let out a calm, self-deprecating laugh. "Nah, bro… you ain't that weak. One day she will return… and it ain't gonna be to a crybaby, but to a stronger me."
He looked down at his open palm and smiled softly, a quiet determination settling over his face.
To be continued…