As a curious three-year-old, I learnt about my family. My father, Dorian Valemont, stood tall with a sharp jawline, his black hair perfectly complementing his piercing yellow eyes. He exuded confidence and strength—a skilled swordsman and a low-ranking noble.
My mother, Liora Valemont, was a vision of beauty, her dark red locks cascading down her back, bright blue eyes sparkling with kindness, and a warm smile that could light up any room. She was a mage—a gentle, devoted woman and a loving mother.
My seven-year-old sister, Keylith Valemont, had striking features. Her raven-black hair framed her stormy grey eyes, giving her an air of quiet mystery. She was always lively around me—sometimes playful, sometimes bossy, but always present.
As for me, I inherited a fiery mane of red hair and piercing yellow eyes—a combination that stood out in our noble lineage. I had only recently begun walking, and now that I could move, I wandered endlessly through the estate with an insatiable curiosity.
One day, my little legs carried me down the hallway toward a room I'd only ever seen from afar—a room filled with books, glowing with quiet mystery. Just as my tiny hands reached for the doorknob, I was suddenly lifted into the air.
"Aries, sweetie," my mother cooed in my ear, "I've been looking all over for you. Time for your bath, darling."
I whined softly, clinging to the edge of her robe. She laughed and kissed my cheek. "No, no, little Aries. You shouldn't deny your mother, okay?"
But I was determined. And so, on another day when she was busy with housework, I snuck away—this time undetected—and made it to the library.
My fingers brushed across ancient spines until I tugged down a large, leather-bound tome. Inside was a beautiful, illustrated map. I gazed in wonder. It showed our land—Astreth State, one of the three states within the mighty Marden Kingdom.
My fingers turned page after page, and then I found another book—"Basic Spell Casting for Beginners."
Magic. The very idea thrilled me.
"This world is so different from my previous one," I thought. "Magic, huh? That sounds... fun."
"Well, well, looks like someone's trying to be a little mage," my sister's voice teased from behind me. I jumped.
"You think you can handle this, little bro?" she asked with a smirk.
"I... I just want to learn," I muttered.
She sat beside me and gently closed the book. "You can't even read these letters yet," she said. "But let me give you a quick lesson. There are four major elements—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Then there are advanced elements like Ice and Verdancy. I'm a Wind mage, by the way."
With a flick of her fingers, a tiny whirlwind appeared, gently tousling my hair.
"Whoa, that's cool!" I gasped.
She smiled. "Glad you like it. But it's not just about flashy spells. You need to control your Mana Arcane. It's the energy that fuels magic."
I nodded seriously. "Is it hard?"
"It can be," she replied. "But I think you might have a knack for it. Usually, we wait until you're six to begin training, when your elemental affinity awakens. Until then, just be patient."
Suddenly, a distant call echoed through the halls. My sister's ears perked up. "Mother's calling. I need to go," she said, patting my head. Her voice softened. "We'll talk about this again soon, okay?"
As she left, I turned back to the books with renewed wonder. I kept flipping pages, discovering tales of humans, elves, and spirit beings. But then, one word stopped me cold:
"Phobians."
It wasn't like the others. I had never heard it before, not even in fairy tales.
My heart raced as I read further.
The book spoke of the Great Sage who created this world, and how he had two children—Xander Havoc, a Phobian of terrifying strength, and Kael Havoc, a kind-hearted human.
Phobians, it said, lived up to a thousand years. Ten times stronger than humans. Brutal. Unforgiving. Alien.
"Phobians...?" I whispered aloud. "Why have I never heard of them before?"
Driven by curiosity, I wandered into the kitchen where my mother was preparing herbs.
"Mother," I asked, "can you tell me something about Phobians? Why do they have such a complicated past with humans?"
Her hand froze mid-stir.
She turned to me slowly, her face pale. "What did you just say?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Phobians," I repeated. "I read about them in one of the books."
Her voice rose sharply. "Never say that name again!" she snapped, then quickly pulled me into a tight hug, her arms trembling.
A long silence followed. Then, in a low voice, she asked, "Where did you hear that word?"
"I studied it," I said innocently.
She leaned back and stared at me, stunned. "You... studied it?" she whispered. "Aries, how is this possible? You're only three... you shouldn't even be able to read, let alone understand complex words and stories!"
At that moment, my father rushed in from outside, sword still in hand, having overheard the commotion. My sister trailed in behind him, her face equally stunned.
They all stared at me, wide-eyed.
"I... uh... maybe I shouldn't have said anything," I thought nervously. "I really messed up now."
Then my mother's shocked face shifted into a radiant smile. "Honey, our child is a genius!" she exclaimed.
My father chuckled proudly. "Reading at three... that's my son!" He lifted me high into the air and spun me around. "I couldn't be prouder!"
Relief washed over me. "Huh... I guess I was worried for nothing," I thought, smiling.
Later that night, back in the library, I sat cross-legged beneath the moonlit window.
"I can do it," I whispered to myself. "I don't have to wait until I'm six. I'll learn to harness my Mana Arcane now."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, reaching inward, feeling for something—anything—that might awaken.
A strange warmth built in my chest.
Then—a sharp surge.
A pulse.
And in that instant, the air around me shimmered.
But before I could understand what was happening, a cold voice echoed faintly through the room, carried on the wind:
"So... you've finally awakened."
My eyes flew open.
No one was there.
Just the flickering candlelight.
And the shadows... deepening.