The forest was quiet in the early morning, mist curling between the trees. Prithvi, Aarav, and Meera had been training separately for years, each honing their skills in their own way. Prithvi with water, Aarav with spear techniques, and Meera… well, Meera had a secret.
For years, she had been sneaking into the village chief's home, poring over dusty, forgotten books filled with ancient secrets. She had stolen them, hidden them, and learned in secret — chanting quietly, memorizing every word, practicing whenever no one was watching. Unlike her brother, who could summon water without effort or words, Meera had to chant. Her hands glowed a faint purple every time she did, a sign that she was channeling earth magic.
No one had known. To the villagers, every time she cracked the ground in front of her feet, it was nothing more than an accident — or perhaps the work of some other child with a strange knack. Even her family assumed her small bursts of power were harmless quirks of childhood.
But Meera's control had grown. She could summon walls of earth, manipulate roots, and even create tremors in the soil to knock off-balance anyone who threatened her. Still, she had kept it secret.
That afternoon, a scream ripped through the village. A pack of wild tigers, drawn close by hunger, had attacked near the forest edge. Villagers scattered, shrieking, as the beasts prowled dangerously close to homes.
Meera's eyes went wide. Amma and several children were trapped near the trees, cornered by snarling predators. Without thinking, she chanted under her breath, purple light flaring around her hands.
The ground beneath the tigers trembled. Roots shot up, tangling their legs, while stones erupted like spikes from the soil. The tigers yelped, snapping and thrashing, but Meera's control was precise. She guided the earth like an extension of herself, pushing the beasts back, forming barriers to protect the villagers.
Amma gasped, eyes wide, shielding herself as Meera's power radiated outward. By the time the last tiger bolted into the forest, shaken and unable to approach, the villagers were safe. The aftermath left cracked earth and small fissures, evidence of the purple glow she had wielded.
When Prithvi and Aarav arrived moments later, they found Meera panting but unharmed, standing among the trembling villagers. Aarav's mouth fell open. "You… you did all this?"
Prithvi stepped closer, eyes wide. "Meera… you're amazing."
Appa, who had come with them after hearing the commotion, knelt beside the younger children. "Earth magic… she's learned it in secret," he said quietly, noting the purple glow fading from her hands. "And she has control. Very precise."
Meera's face flushed as she confessed about the books she had borrowed from the village chief long ago. Appa nodded slowly, a faint smile on his face. "Your training begins in earnest now — along with your brothers. Prithvi with water, you with earth, and Aarav will continue developing his spear techniques, unique to him. Together, the three of you will become formidable."
Aarav's eyes gleamed with pride and determination. "I've been working on my own style," he admitted, twirling his spear. "It's not a sword, but I've made it mine. And with you two… we'll be unstoppable."
Meera grinned, her purple aura fading, and Prithvi reached out to squeeze her hand. For the first time, the three siblings trained openly, their strengths complementing each other: water, earth, and spear.
The forest around them seemed to hum in approval, and deep in the shadows, unseen eyes watched… waiting.