One day, as they were training, Rethrus was practicing his magic when he saw an angelic figure approaching him.
"It's Elizabeth!" he thought, his heart pounding. "She's so pretty, even Venus would envy her beauty if she existed in this world."
"Rethrus, Rethrus," she called out, her voice sweet as honey.
"Oh, hello," Rethrus said, his face flushed with a mixture of nervousness and delight. "What can I do for you?"
Elizabeth smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Uhm," she said, her voice shy.
Rethrus' heart hammered against his ribs. "Why should she be talking to someone like me?" he thought. "She must need something."
"Can you teach me more about controlling your Mana?" she asked, her eyes filled with a fervent desire to learn.
"Gotcha," he thought. "Sure, we can learn together," he said, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.
So, all day, he taught her the basics of magic, and since her element was water, they practiced in the river. As Rethrus watched Elizabeth concentrating, his mind raced.
"Wait, isn't she 12 years old and I'm basically 30?" he thought, a wave of panic washing over him. "Ackkkk! What the heck was I thinking?"
He tried to rationalize his feelings. "But you're 12 here," he thought desperately. "No, it's wrong."
He tried to calm himself. "Calm yourself, Rethrus," he thought. "You're just admiring her beauty. Talk about coping with myself. Anyway, I should stop it. It's creepy."
That night, after dinner, Rethrus lay in bed and meditated.
"Hmmm, am I still weak?" he thought. "There's still no demon coming at me."
In this world, Dark Magic might be rare and strong, but like other elements, it needs a source where its power becomes stronger by using these sources. The sun, a metaphorical brand of life itself, is the ultimate source of light, warmth, and vitality that Light Users draw upon. Water, the ebb and flow of existence, is the source of life and the cradle of nature's power, from which Water Users harness the flow and adaptability of the elements. Fire Users often turn to the passion of their own hearts, the burning desire for change, and the fuel of creation. Air Users are inspired by the freedom of movement, the swirling winds that carry them aloft, and the boundless sky that beckons them to explore. Earth Users find strength in the solid ground beneath their feet, the stability and endurance of the physical world that grants them resilience and growth. And darkness, the shadowed depths, and the unseen mysteries that lie within, provide the wellspring of potential for Darkness Users, the power of secrets and revelation, and the ultimate test of their own hearts. And of course, have you heard the saying, "Don't fly too close to the sun?" It's a reference from Icarus. In this world, too much will kill you, just like how the sun burned the wings of Icarus. Of course, you can fly towards the sun with better equipment, which we will tackle later.
After eight months of constant practice, Rethrus reached the Platinum Petal. They also mastered the basics of their magic. What Jack and Lumine could do, Rethrus and Aethra could do it quicker, larger, and more powerful. Talk about having so much Mana, both of them can just spam some skills. Which made him not worry now for the consumption of Mana.
"I'm above anyone else now," Rethrus thought. "It's easy to achieve my dreams, and I'm going to explore the world and..., and?"
He paused, his mind adrift in a sea of possibilities. "What's next?" he thought. "What will I do after I travel the world? I'm still a kid. Nah, why would I be worried?"
For now, he decided, he would just rest. He fell asleep.
"Milo, Milo," a sweet voice called out. Rethrus opened his eyes.
"Eska?" he asked, his voice filled with affection.
Eska, her cute eyes half-closed, was running and laughing, urging Milo to follow her. He caught her, and she hugged him tightly.
"You're so soft and smell nice," Rethrus said, his voice filled with a tenderness that surprised him.
Eska held his face, and then he saw blood on her hand. He looked at his face and saw a wound, a wound from a claw. He looked forward and saw the Emberfox attacking him.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Rethrus screamed, his voice filled with terror.
"Rethrus, what happened?" Sister Susan's voice was filled with concern. "You okay? You're late, and I knew you're here."
Rethrus looked around wildly, his mind racing. Then, he suddenly hugged Sister Susan tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. Sister Susan was surprised but comforted him.
"It's going to be fine, dear," she said, her voice soothing. "It's going to be fine."
They went inside and ate dinner. Rethrus didn't speak and didn't train for three days. He just looked at the sky, lost in thought. Xavier didn't do anything.
"Teacher, shouldn't you talk to him?" Elizabeth asked, her voice full of concern.
"Let him be," Xavier said, his voice calm and reassuring. "He's a smart kid, he'll come around."
"What is happening to him?" Suryu asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"Maybe lost his balls and didn't want to go to war, such a huge waste," Jack joked, his words eliciting a mixture of laughter and disapproval.
Aethra thought, "Jack is right, maybe he's not all that. I mean I'm the talented one here and maybe he'll reach his limit soon." He added, "Maybe he's scared because his some of his power will be sealed in the academy."
Lumine looked scared. "Let him be, we're still kids, y'know," Jestus said, his voice gentle. "We should be sleeping and playing."
"Shut up you smart ass. It's our chance to get fame," Haldrin interjected, his voice filled with ambition. "Wealth, powers, and girls," Jack said with a laugh.
Rina splashed water on Jack's face.
"Hey, why'd you do that?" Jack asked, his face dripping with water.
"For being a dog," Rina responded, her voice laced with amusement.
Hans held Jack as the others laughed. "Huh, being that blessed yet so depressed? Doesn't he know how lucky he is?" Leo asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Yeah, what a loser," Finn muttered, his voice tinged with a bitter envy. He sat in the shadows, his face hidden from view.
Father Henry sat with Rethrus, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you scared?" he asked gently.
"I don't know," Rethrus mumbled, his voice barely audible.
"You don't want to join the war, do you?" Father Henry asked, his voice filled with empathy.
"I don't know," Rethrus repeated, his voice filled with a profound sense of confusion.
"I'm sorry," Father Henry said, his voice heavy with regret. "I'm sorry because it's our generation's fault why kids like you have to fight and not just play. You should be playing right now and enjoying life. Yet you're training hard to fight towards something that isn't your problem."
"If only we can solve it in another way," Rethrus said, his voice filled with a longing for peace.
"As a priest, I don't want war," Father Henry said, his voice echoing Rethrus's sentiment. "But what can I do? It's nature itself. I always pray to God that he'll end this war. But I realize that we can end it on our own. We're just too stubborn."
"Sigh, listen Rethrus, you're smart. Don't complicate things right now, okay. Put yourself where your feet are."
After hearing Father Henry's words, something snapped in Rethrus. "You're right, father," he said, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "Thank you!"
He ate dinner and went to his bed to meditate. He saw someone again.
"Milo, Milo!" he called out, his voice filled with a desperate hope.
He opened his eyes.
"Rethrus, Rethrus!" it was Elizabeth. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"Yes," Rethrus said, his voice filled with relief. "Sorry for making you worry."
"Elizabeth, aren't you scared?" Rethrus asked, his voice filled with a deep concern for her well-being.
"Of course I am," Elizabeth admitted, her voice soft but firm. "But don't we have any other choice? They say fighting for our country is a great honor. Besides, I'm fighting with you guys. And we got you and Aethra. Plus Rina, Jestus, Jack, and our other friends. So I guess it's less scary thinking I'll be fighting alongside with you."
Rethrus was too stunned to speak.
"Goodnight, Rethrus!" Elizabeth said, her voice filled with warmth and a hint of playful teasing.
Rethrus smiled, his heart overflowing with a mixture of gratitude and affection. "Goodnight, Elizabeth!"