Morning sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Lira's room. She stirred beneath the covers, the memory of last night's meeting with Grandmaster Elion still lingering in her thoughts like an unfinished melody.
After freshening up and tying her hair loosely behind her head, she sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, the dusty book resting on her lap. Its worn leather cover felt cool and oddly comforting beneath her fingertips.
With a deep breath, she opened it.
The pages inside were yellowed but intact, filled with beautiful illustrations and flowing script. The first few pages seemed like an introduction — or a warning. They spoke of balance, ancient forces, and a time when wielders of multiple elements walked the world freely.
She turned another page and paused. A full illustration stretched across both pages: a lone figure standing at the center of a storm, flames circling one hand, vines rising from the earth around their feet, water swirling from the other palm, and wind lifting their cloak into the sky.
Lira blinked.
It didn't look like a fantasy to her. It looked like a memory.
She traced the image lightly, then turned the page again, eager now, her breath caught between wonder and realization. Something inside her stirred — the same hum she had felt yesterday on the training grounds.
She whispered to herself, "What are you trying to tell me?"
And the book, quiet and ancient, waited with its secrets.
Lira turned the pages slowly, her eyes scanning the delicate text and vivid illustrations. As she read on, something began to shift. A strange warmth spread from her chest, and the edges of her vision grew hazy.
Then—like a ripple through still water—something clicked.
A shard of memory pierced through her thoughts.
She wasn't in her room anymore.
The world around her blurred, then sharpened. She stood in the middle of a wide, ancient field. The wind howled, storm clouds twisted above, and ash floated through the air. A woman stood ahead—tall, graceful, and fierce. Her hair was longer, her features wiser, but Lira recognized her instantly.
It was her again. Older.
The woman stood with her arms outstretched. Earth rose in walls beneath her feet, flames swirled from her side, wind carved pathways through the battlefield, and water formed a shining shield around her. She was surrounded… but unafraid.
She called to the elements—not with force, but with trust. They answered.
Lira's heart pounded. The moment felt real, like a memory buried deep within her bones.
Then the vision faded, dissolving into light as quickly as it came.
She found herself back in her room, the book open on her lap, her hands trembling slightly.
She whispered, "That was… me?"
And somewhere deep inside, something old and quiet stirred in response.
Still shaken, Lira glanced back down at the book. Her fingers gently traced the faded page where the woman—herself, older—had stood commanding the elements with such effortless grace.
Just then, a soft nudge pressed against her side.
"Fluffy…" she murmured, smiling as the little creature curled beside her and let out a contented purr. Its warmth grounded her, pulling her gently back into the moment.
She rested her hand on Fluffy's soft fur, lost in thought.
Could I really wield more than one element?
The memory—or vision, or whatever it was—had felt too real to ignore.
"I need to try," she whispered, more to herself than to Fluffy. "If there's more inside me… I want to know."
Fluffy let out a sleepy hum in response, as if in agreement.
Determination settled quietly in her chest. Today, she would try again.
Lira slipped quietly from her room and made her way to the training grounds. The academy was still waking, and the usual bustle of students had not yet begun. The open space lay empty, bathed in soft golden light and gentle morning breeze.
She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar pull of the wind against her skin. Raising her hand slowly, she focused, calling on the air with all the concentration she could muster.
A gentle breeze stirred first, then grew stronger, swirling around her fingers like a living thing. Lira smiled, heart pounding with excitement and relief — she was truly controlling it.
Pushing a little harder, she sent the current spiraling upward, watching as it danced through the leaves and rustled the grass.
Satisfied, she let the wind settle, the calm returning as the breeze softened once more.
With renewed hope, she turned and walked back toward the academy. Once inside her room, she opened the green book again, curious if anything new had appeared.
Her eyes scanned the pages, but all seemed the same — yet a faint shimmer caught her attention near the edges. She leaned closer, breath held, wondering what secrets might still be waiting to reveal themselves.
The book seemed to hold more, but something felt just out of reach — a whisper of knowledge she hadn't yet grasped. Lira's fingers traced the faded ink, her mind restless.
What am I missing?
The question lingered as she closed the book softly and stood, stretching. The thought of waiting for answers here felt too slow, too silent.
Instead, she decided to visit the greenhouses — a place she hadn't been in some time, where the hum of life and growing things always brought her calm and clarity.
Maybe there, among the leaves and sunlight, she could find the piece of the puzzle waiting for her.
As Lira stepped out of her room, Fluffy padded quietly at her heels. The soft sound of paws on stone echoed gently in the hallway.
Around the corner, Maelin appeared, a bright smile lighting her face. Her eyes widened in surprise and joy.
"Lira!" she exclaimed, rushing forward.
Without hesitation, they embraced warmly, laughter bubbling between them.
"It's been too long," Maelin said softly, holding her close.
Fluffy twined happily between them, purring contentedly.
For a moment, the weight of questions lifted, replaced by the simple comfort of friendship.
Maelin stepped closer, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Lira," she whispered, "how did you use air? Is that even possible? This is not something I've ever heard about."
Lira lowered her voice, answering quietly,
"I'm not sure. I'm searching for more information, but it's almost impossible to find anything on it."
Maelin thought for a moment, and silence hung between them.
"Well, for now, you can secretly practice when others aren't watching—just in case," Maelin suggested. "What about asking the Grandmaster?"
Lira nodded slowly.
"I'll learn more about it in time. I haven't found many answers yet, but I did find a picture of a multi-element user."
Lira told Maelin about the old book she had found in the library.
Maelin's eyes widened with surprise.
"An ancient book? That sounds incredible!"
Lira smiled softly. "I can show it to you."
Together, they walked back to Lira's room, Fluffy padding closely behind them, curious and content.