Chapter 01 ~ The Awakening (Part Final)

  The forest of Orrgwen—one of the deep mysteries surrounding the Earth Kingdom of Drogaren.

  Though considered part of the Greater Earthlands, it lies beyond the fortified walls of Drogaren itself.

  Drogaren, the capital of the Earthlands, stands as the most prosperous and well-defended city in the region, hence why it's often referred to simply as the “Capital of Earth.”

  All surrounding villages—including the one Akira and the other boys came from—fall under Drogaren's protection. If any trouble arises in one of those villages, it is the capital’s duty to dispatch soldiers to investigate.

  And yet, to the capital's nobles and elites, villagers are little more than a resource—some even go so far as to call them livestock. Their lives hold little value. Their only real “duty” is to produce children.

  Once these children reach the age of Awakening, they’re taken—forcefully, if need be—to the capital to be conscripted.

  As for the forest of Orrgwen, though technically part of the Earthlands, Drogaren’s military has strict orders: never travel through it at night.

  Serio’s head remained slightly bowed as he continued his heartfelt apology to the silver-armored knight. The knight’s brown eyes glared at him in silence, caught between two choices—cast the boy Akira into this cursed forest, or show mercy in honor of Serio’s composure.

  Then Akira spoke from behind.

  “Why are you apologizing, Serio? I haven’t even said anything yet.”

  Serio whipped his head toward him, his green eyes flaring beneath his silver hair.

  “Just shut up,” he hissed. “If you don’t want to be buried alive in this place, don’t open your mouth again.”

  Akira fell silent—not out of fear, but because it was the first time he’d seen Serio like this.

  The knight finally slid the metal visor down over his eyes.

  “You with the silver hair,” he said coolly. “A man who swallows his pride to protect a friend... earns my respect.”

  Then, with a loud clack, he slammed the wooden rear gate shut. A burst of sunlight and forest air filtered in just before it sealed.

  All the children exhaled at once. A collective breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding. Especially Serio.

  “Don’t speak again unless I say so,” he muttered, sitting back down.

  His friends immediately clustered around him.

  “Dude, that was reckless,” said one, shaking his head. “What if he’d dumped you out with him?”

  “Seriously! Akira’s not worth dying for, man. Are you insane?”

  Serio placed a hand on his forehead and sighed.

  “Just shut up. I don’t know what came over me either.”

  Akira, still stunned, glanced around at the children packed into the wagon like crates of vegetables.

  We’re... children of that village.

  The caravan creaked and began to move again, the horses’ hooves pounding against the earth in rhythmic strides. The motion jolted Akira, knocking him off balance. He tumbled backward and landed near the blonde girl.

  He found himself lying on his back, staring up at the wooden ceiling, his pale blue hair fanned out like silk on the floorboards. And then—

  Their eyes met.

  His violet eyes, still wide with surprise, locked with hers—serene, pale gold.

  The blonde girl was watching him quietly. Next to her, there was a narrow, cramped bit of space.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “You can sit beside me if you want,” she whispered—just loud enough for him to hear.

  Awkwardly, Akira scooted between her and a boy on her other side, trying not to bump anyone.

  We’ve all seen each other’s faces before, he thought, but we’re not friends. There are people here whose names I don’t even know... like this kind girl.

  I think the last time I saw her was two months ago at the well. She was with her mother, if I remember right.

  Our village is small. Poor. Fragile.

  But to me, it always seemed... normal. These words—‘fragile,’ ‘poor,’ ‘small’—they’re used by people who’ve seen cities, capitals, the world.

  To kids like us, who’ve only ever known our village... it just seems normal.

  Akira’s violet gaze shifted again, glancing at the girl now sitting so close beside him.

  She sat quietly at the rear of the wagon, her back pressed against the wooden door. Her expression was calm—completely unbothered by how close he was to her.

  Akira, meanwhile, was on the verge of spontaneous combustion from embarrassment.

  The caravan didn't escape the clutches of the Orrgwen Forest until a few minutes after sundown. Even with the trees fading behind them, the knights kept glancing back over their shoulders, unease etched into their expressions. The dread in their veins spoke louder than words—whatever lurked in that forest, it made even seasoned warriors wary of the dark.

  Above them, the sky had turned into a sea of stars—dozens, no, hundreds of glittering constellations carved across the black canvas like precious stones. But none of the children inside the wagon could witness the beauty. The wooden walls caged them from wonder.

  It was deep into the night, and nearly all the boys and girls had drifted into slumber. The blonde girl had fallen asleep on Akira’s shoulder. His head lolled gently to the side, breath slow and unconscious—like the rest, he was lost to the world.

  All except for Serio.

  Propped between two boys who lay slumped over his shoulders, Serio stared down at his hand in the pitch darkness, thinking.

  Akira and I were born on the same day. There's a strong chance our Awakenings will happen at the same time, too. Everyone else here’s already awakened, except us. But I’m not worried about myself. I know I’ll inherit powerful flames—just like Father’s red inferno.

  His green eyes shimmered faintly, and for a moment, they flared. A sudden flicker—a ghostly emerald light ignited in his hand like a spectral flame.

  He stared at it, silent and frozen. His expression unreadable. The dancing firelight reflected in his wide eyes.

  “What… is this?” he whispered. “Why is it green?”

  He closed his fist, and the fire crumbled into glowing shards, vanishing into the air like drifting embers.

  A soft smile tugged at his lips as he leaned his head back.

  As if. I must be hallucinating. I just need sleep.

  Outside, the caravan creaked onward beneath the starlit heavens, hooves clopping against endless stone roads cutting through the empty wilderness.

  At dawn, a thin sliver of golden light crept through the cracks in the wagon walls, slowly brushing against the faces of the sleeping children.

  Akira’s purple eyes blinked open.

  Still groggy, he swept his gaze around, and suddenly—his vision shimmered. Glowing grid-like lines pulsed and disappeared like flickering screens before his eyes.

  He yawned, trying to tell if he was still dreaming. But as his eyes adjusted, he noticed something impossible.

  Floating above each child’s head was a glowing symbol—each one shaped differently, each representing one of the Seven Elements.

  He rubbed his eyes once.

  Then again.

  But they didn’t vanish. They became clearer.

  What… is this?

  He jolted upright. “What the hell is this?!”

  The wagon screeched to a sudden halt.

  Wooden wheels rattled and groaned. The children inside lurched from side to side, woken by the commotion and Akira’s sudden outburst.

  The blonde girl’s golden eyes blinked open slowly. She looked up and found Akira’s hands on her shoulders—his face close, staring wide-eyed at the top of her head.

  Her long-sleeved tunic—an elegant yet worn yellow-cream piece—wrinkled beneath his grip as he leaned closer.

  “What is that symbol? Did you guys put these glowing marks over each other while I was asleep?!”

  Her golden brows furrowed in pure irritation. With an unimpressed scowl, she pressed her palm to his chest.

  “So this is how you repay me for giving you a place to sleep, you pervert?!”

  “Wait, what—?!”

  BOOM.

  A golden surge of energy exploded from her hand, hurling Akira like a cannonball.

  He blasted through the back of the wagon with a crash, wooden panels flying in all directions. Light spilled in as the morning sun finally broke through, washing over the stunned faces of the children inside.

  The wagon exhaled like a beast awakened. Blonde strands of hair danced in the breeze as the girl blinked calmly, unaffected by the chaos she had just caused.

  Outside, Akira groaned on his back amid broken planks, eyes spinning and limbs splayed.

  The caravan’s knights turned their heads, wide-eyed, horses stamping nervously.