Chapter One ~ The Awakening

  The Awakening. At first glance, the word might sound like someone reaching the peak of their power—but in this world, it’s something far more common… and far more unsettling. It happens precisely at the age of sixteen. Like puberty, it’s simply part of growing up.

  An Awakening is when a person’s fantastical ability first manifests. And in this world, there are countless abilities and an even greater number of elements.

  Yet for all their variety, the elements can be grouped into seven primal forces: Wind, Earth, Lightning, Nature, Water, Fire, and Ice.

  These seven are the most common, so much so that anything else is considered a mere branch or offshoot.

  Every person—or creature—can harness just one of these elements. Their element is determined by their bloodline. If your parents use water, then chances are, you will too.

  Rarely, someone is born with two elements. But whether that ever happens with non-humans… I really don’t know.

  I’m Tomokui Akira.

  Everyone calls me Akira.

  I was born with pale blue hair and violet eyes—an odd contrast, really. My hair is the color of a clear sky, but my eyes…

  Wait, wait, I don’t have time to talk about my family tree.

  And who am I even talking to?

  I think I’m going crazy from not having any friends!

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  “You there!” barked a harsh voice. “What are you doing just standing around?! Can’t you see the caravan’s about to leave?!”

  Let’s pull back a moment. Step away from Akira’s perspective and look at the scene around him. A village, calm on the surface, yet something in the air feels wrong. A caravan is parked near the edge of the dirt road—an odd sight here. Armored knights sit on restless horses, gripping reins tightly, their steel catching the morning sun. Children—around fifteen to seventeen years old—are being herded aboard.

  One after another, they are shoved toward the wagons, some resisting, others too numb to protest. Parents stand nearby in silent crowds, trying to mask their grief, hands clenched, eyes trembling with tears they don’t allow to fall. This isn’t a kidnapping.

  It’s a farewell without consent.

  The man with the gravelly voice approaches Akira.

  A Silver Knight, though his gear is anything but elegant—plain and worn, like a farmer forced into armor.

  Akira flinches. He tries to smile, but his features betray him. A bead of sweat slips down his cheek.

  “Well, I…”

  The knight doesn’t wait for an answer. He lifts Akira off the ground with effortless strength—and throws him toward the wagon.

  “Wha—AAAAAHH!”

  Akira’s body soared through the air toward the wooden carriage. The wind whipped his hair back, and just as he was about to crash—

  A faint golden aura flickered around him.

  He froze mid-air. Glowing. Weightless.

  Akira blinked, stunned, and slowly looked at his hands. The children inside the carriage stared back—some wide-eyed in awe, others unimpressed. They were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the rough wooden floor, squeezed together like cargo.

  Among them, a girl with shimmering blonde hair and soft golden eyes sat with her knees drawn up. Her hands rested atop them—calm, precise. But one finger, discreetly, was extended toward Akira.

  He floated above them, still suspended. He grinned, waving his arms in disbelief.

  “This is amazing! Did my power just activate?! Is this… my Awakening?!”

  The girl lowered her finger.

  Whoosh.

  Akira’s hair ruffled wildly as gravity returned. He dropped like a sack of potatoes.

  Thud!

  “Owww…”