The night was dark. Thick clouds covered the sky of the remote village of Etherfield, hidden among the trees of a giant forest, completely obscuring the light of the moon and stars.
In a humble house, far from the hustle of cities and the calculations of empires, a child was born. Amidst the moans of pain and whispers of hope and prayer, a boy was born. He was just a small child, weak and fragile like any newborn in this harsh world.
The air that night carried a biting cold, mixed with the deep scent of damp soil and the forest herbs that grew stubbornly outside the house.
Inside the simple wooden walls, the child's mother, Elena, lay on her humble bed, utterly exhausted from the difficult labor, her face pale, reflecting all the pain and fatigue she had endured. But her eyes, despite the weariness that weighed down her lids, sparkled with boundless love and a hidden fear as she held her newborn child in her arms.
His pure scent, the scent of childhood, filled the air around her, bringing some warmth to the cold night. Beside her stood the child's aunt, Celia, his late husband's elder sister. Celia was a woman in her late thirties, with a slender build that suggested strength, and piercing blue eyes that held a depth and wisdom gained from years of experience and trials.
She was a Rank Six mage, possessing enough power and knowledge to be respected anywhere she went, but she chose to forgo a life that might have awaited her elsewhere, settling in the quiet of this remote village, caring for what remained of her lost brother's family.
"Theo... I'll name him Theo." Elena's voice suddenly emerged.
Celia looked at the infant child in Elena's arms with a look that Elena couldn't quite understand. It was a focused look, in which Celia tried to sense the latent mana energy within this newborn.
Celia carefully extended her hand, gently touched the little child's forehead with extreme softness, closed her eyes for a moment, focusing all her magical senses.
When she opened her eyes again, her expression had changed. There was no fear of an overwhelming power suddenly appearing, but rather a mixture of deep astonishment, growing concern, and something else that seemed like a realization of something extremely rare and potentially dangerous, not in itself at birth, but in what his existence might signify.
"He is... different, Elena," Celia said in a low voice, almost a whisper, as if speaking of something no one should hear.
"I feel... I feel his affinity with darkness. It's an exceptional affinity, unlike anything I've felt before. And there's also... a spark of fire within him, a normal or moderate affinity, but the presence of both elements together... and the darkness with this affinity..." Celia stopped speaking for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts or not wanting to say everything she felt.
Elena, who was not a mage and lacked sufficient knowledge of the affinity and element system, felt a deep anxiety from Celia's tone and serious look.
"What does this mean, Celia?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly with worry and fear for her child. "Is it... Is it bad? Is he alright?"
Celia hesitated for a brief moment, but it felt like an eternity to Elena. She was quickly thinking of the right words.
How could she explain to Elena, a mother with no knowledge of magic, that her son possessed an extremely rare and powerful talent in an element considered mysterious and frightening to many? How could she explain to her that such a talent, if discovered by the wrong people, or how it could make Theo a target for those greedy for power, or even for those who relentlessly conduct forbidden experiments on mages with rare talents?
This was the real danger Celia felt at that moment, not that Theo's powers would suddenly erupt and destroy everything, but that his very existence with this unique talent was an invitation to external dangers.
"I don't know yet, Elena, if it's bad..." Celia replied in a calm voice, attempting to reassure her, but her eyes held a decisive resolve. "But what I am sure of is that Theo is exceptionally gifted, especially in the element of darkness. This kind of talent... is very rare. And if others discover it, it could be dangerous for him. Many will covet his talent, and may try to... exploit him or..." Then Celia suddenly stopped at the last part, being careful with what she said, "especially with an element like darkness, which many fear."
Celia sighed and added, "He must learn to control his powers completely. He must become strong enough to protect himself from anyone who might try to harm him because of his talent. It won't be easy, but this is the only thing I can do to protect him in the long run."
At that moment, Celia made a decisive decision deep within her. She would take on the responsibility of training Theo herself, and would keep his exceptional talent a secret as much as possible from the outside world, from the villagers, and even from Theo himself at first, until he grew old enough to understand.
Theo's first years in the village of Etherfield passed with apparent tranquility.
Theo was a quiet and gentle child with his mother and aunt, possessing a sharp intelligence and endless curiosity that drove him to ask questions about everything in the world around him. Elena enjoyed his curiosity and answered his simple questions with tenderness.
"Why can't everyone use magic, Mom?" Theo asked Elena one day when he was three years old.
Elena smiled and ran her hand through his hair. "I don't know, my little one. It's not that simple. Perhaps because it's something very special, or destined, granted only to some. Why don't you ask your Aunt Celia? She knows a lot about magic."
"Hmm, alright." Theo said with a wide smile, and went to look for Celia. He found her in the courtyard of the house; he would wait for her return from school as was his habit.
"What is it this time, Theo?" Celia asked with her usual smile, as she approached him.
"Auntie, why are there shadows? Why do they move too? And why can't everyone use magic like you?" Theo asked with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The shadows in the house no longer moved as clearly as they had during his infancy, but Theo felt their presence in a different way, as if they were silent living beings, and sometimes he saw a flicker or a subtle movement within them.
"Why have you started asking so many questions, Theo?" Celia chuckled lightly. "First, Theo, darkness exists wherever light doesn't reach. As for the second question, and also why everyone can't use magic, that's a bit complicated, and you'll learn about it and understand it better when you grow older and learn more about the nature of magic and the world."
"Why don't you just tell me, Auntie, instead of always hiding some things from me?" he asked with a slightly sad face, which made Celia smile.
"Why would I tell you everything at once if that would deprive me of seeing that funny face of yours?" Celia laughed, and Theo's funny frown deepened.
And so, as the days passed, Theo reached the age of four, the age at which Celia decided to begin his magical training. The training was very basic and simple, conducted in the backyard of the house, away from the eyes of the villagers. Celia taught him the basics of controlling mana, that hidden energy that flows within the bodies of living beings and is the foundation of magic.
"Focus, Theo," she would say in a calm and firm voice. "Feel the energy inside you. It is there, like a hidden current. Try to guide it. Imagine it's a shadow moving with your breath, responding to your will."
Theo, despite his young age, possessed a focus and understanding that surprised Celia repeatedly. In his first attempts, he was able to direct mana to form a small, moving shadow on the ground.
But each time Theo used darkness magic, another sign appeared that hadn't been there with such clarity before: his eyes would glow with a deep black color, as if they were two dark stars in his young face. This phenomenon, in addition to the unusual movement of shadows that occurred around him during training, began to attract the attention of the village children who sometimes glimpsed it from afar.
The children initially played with him, but after they noticed the strange glow in his eyes and the unexplained movement of shadows around him, they began to feel afraid. They began to whisper about him, move away when he approached, and avoid him in their games. "He's strange," they would say in a low voice. "His eyes are scary. The shadows move around him."
Theo, despite his intelligence and early awareness, was a child and felt the loneliness imposed upon him. He noticed that the children stayed away from him, preferring to play far off. But he didn't show his sadness or frustration in front of them.
He kept his warm and open smile only for his mother Elena and Aunt Celia, and showed a calm and cold face, devoid of expressions, to others. This was the first shield he built to protect himself from the gazes of the outside world which had begun to look at him with misunderstanding and fear.
One day, after the start of his magical training, Celia sat with Theo in the quiet backyard garden, under the shade of an old tree. She began to explain to him, in simple words appropriate for his age, the nature of magic and the different elements that make up the world they lived in.
"Look, Theo," Celia began, her voice calm and instructive. "The world we live in is made up of a fundamental force we call elements. There are the elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. And there are also two other elements, more mysterious and rare: 'Light and Darkness'." She paused for a moment, and looked at Theo with serious eyes. "The elements of Light and Darkness are extremely rare, Theo. It's never easy to find someone who has an affinity with one of them.
"And it's much rarer, or even impossible, to find someone who has a strong affinity with both together. You, Theo, possess an exceptional affinity for the element of darkness... an affinity I've never felt before. And you also possess an affinity with the element of fire, but it's a normal or moderate affinity, as we mages classify it."
'Exceptional affinity with darkness... and moderate affinity with fire...' Theo thought, listening attentively to his aunt's words.
He could feel the mana within him, and how some parts of this energy responded faster and stronger when he thought of shadows, compared to fire which required more effort from him.
"What's the difference between the strength of affinities, Auntie?" Theo asked, thinking about how his response to darkness and fire differed. The question seemed logical to him.
"We mages divide affinity with elements into different grades to simplify things," Celia explained patiently. "There is Exceptional affinity, which is the highest. Followed by High affinity, then Moderate, and finally Weak. The more affinity you have with a specific element, the easier that element becomes for you to use, the more responsive it is to your will, and the stronger its effect and magical power. And the opposite is true: the less affinity you have, the harder the element is to use, and your power within it is weaker."
Celia added, seeing the curiosity in Theo's eyes: "Mages with Exceptional affinity, after intensive training and complete control, can achieve something called 'Pure Transformation'. In it, they merge with the very essence of the element to greatly amplify their power, but this is very dangerous and requires incredible control to avoid losing control and perishing."
'Pure Transformation... immense power... very dangerous...' Theo thought. It seemed as if she was talking about a completely different level of magic, something he had never imagined before.
"What about you, Auntie?" Theo asked curiously, wanting to know his aunt's standing in this system.
"I am a dual-element mage like you, Theo," Celia replied with a light smile. "But I possess a Moderate affinity with the element of fire and the element of wind. I don't possess an Exceptional or High affinity with any element."
'So Auntie is strong with a Moderate affinity... How strong am I with my Exceptional affinity with darkness?' Theo wondered to himself, feeling some childish pride, but also some concern from Celia's words about danger.
"What's the difference between the elements, Auntie? Isn't it all magic?" Theo asked, thinking about how Fire and Wind differed for his aunt compared to Darkness and Fire for him.
"Of course, it's all magic, and it all relies on mana," Celia said. "But each element has its own very specific nature and laws, and its own personality, so to speak. Fire is destructive but volatile. Water is fluid but can be powerful. Darkness... Darkness is more mysterious and complex than the other elements, and connected to things many don't understand."
Celia added, giving Theo a glimpse into how magic is used in battles and what distinguishes powerful mages. "And as I told you, Theo, it also depends on the mage's strength and deep understanding of magic itself, not just on the strength of their affinity or the elements they possess. Talent in affinity alone is not enough to reach the peak. Mana is a living entity, searching for a strong and wise mage who understands magic deeply. A mage who lacks understanding, even if gifted with an Exceptional affinity, will never reach the peak in mastering magic."
'So a powerful mage doesn't just rely on affinity, but on understanding magic and creating their own spells?' Theo thought with astonishment. He began to realize that the world of magic was much more complex than he had imagined as a child.
"The spells we use in battles are divided into two main types: Original and Ordinary," Celia continued her explanation, clarifying another important aspect of understanding magic.
"Ordinary spells are those that have been discovered, developed, and documented by mages throughout history, and are widely taught and used. These Ordinary spells are classified into grades according to their power, complexity, and effect. There are Exceptional grade spells, which are the strongest, rarest, and most difficult to master. Followed by High grade spells, then Moderate grade, and finally Low grade spells, which are the simplest, most common, and easiest to learn.
"As for Original spells, they are completely different. They are very unique spells to the creator, because they are created by the mage themselves through their deep understanding of their element and their personal connection with it. In other words, they are a personal innovation of the mage, embodying their unique vision of the element."
Celia added seriously, "The most important thing about Original spells is who uses them. While any mage can use spells depending on their mana capacity, the full power of a spell is only manifested when its original creator uses it.
"To simplify, if the mage who created a specific spell uses it, their spell becomes Original, and its power will increase several times compared to another mage using the same spell, for whom it will only function as an Ordinary spell. This makes it foolish to try to challenge a mage in battle if they are using their own Original spells, because they possess a tremendous advantage in using them that you cannot match with Ordinary spells."
'Original spells? Created by the mage themselves? That sounds very difficult!' Theo thought, feeling excitement and awe at the same time.
"Original spells are divided into only two categories: Ordinary and Exceptional," Celia continued. "An Ordinary Original spell is roughly equivalent in power to Weak and Moderate Ordinary spells, but it originates from the mage themselves and is completely harmonious with them. As for an Exceptional Original spell, it is extremely rare and very powerful, it can surpass all Ordinary spells, even Exceptional ones, because it represents the peak of the mage's understanding of their element and their ability to express this understanding as pure magical power, and you cannot face an Exceptional Original spell except with one of its kind."
'So Original spells are stronger,' Theo thought, absorbing the new information.
Celia completed her explanation in a serious tone that carried weight. "One more very important thing, Theo. The power and rank of a spell are not everything. An Ordinary spell, even if it is Exceptional and of a high rank, loses some of its power and effectiveness when used by a mage other than its original creator. But if its creator uses it, it is activated at its full power and is much more effective. For this reason, it is utterly foolish to try to challenge a mage who is using their own Original spells."
"But there is another aspect, Theo, and this goes back to the point I mentioned about understanding and experience." Celia said, her tone becoming more focused. "Even the strongest spells can be overcome if the enemy mage has a high degree of mastery and a deep understanding of their element and yours. If they understand magic deeply, they may know the limits of your spells and how to counter them. They may know how to use even their Weak or Moderate spells with unexpected effectiveness, simply because they understand how it works, how magic interacts, and how to exploit weaknesses. This requires significant experience in real battles, or very intense training, or a combination of both."
'Understanding... and mastery... can defeat even the strongest spells...' Theo thought. This seemed to add another layer of complexity to his understanding of magic, but it also gave him hope. Absolute power alone wasn't the key, but rather understanding and the intelligent application of power. This information opened up new horizons for him about what it truly meant to be a powerful mage.
Celia's explanation of magic and its principles continued, opening a window for Theo onto a vast and complex world he hadn't imagined. His questions were endless, and Celia answered with patience and wisdom, planting the foundations of understanding in his mind that he would need on his long journey. These theoretical lessons were no less important than practical training, as they gave him the map to understanding the power he possessed and how to use it intelligently.
And before Theo could ask another question he was thinking about, a question perhaps related to how to achieve this deep understanding or how to reach the degree of mastery his aunt had spoken of, he heard his mother Elena's voice calling them from the house.
Time passed quickly, as was usual for the time he spent with Celia learning magic, and it was already sunset, the time for her to return home for dinner. This day of training and explanation was a true beginning for Theo's journey into the world of magic, a journey that would be full of challenges and discoveries, and would lead him far beyond the boundaries of the small village of Etherfield.
On a quiet and dark night, while the house was lit by a faint and comfortable magical light cast by a simple spell from Celia, Theo sat by the window in the living room, watching the stars that seemed to sparkle particularly brightly on that clear night. His mother Elena entered the room and saw him sitting in the darkness.
"What is it, Theo?" Elena said in a warm and affectionate voice, a voice that was always a source of warmth and safety for Theo. "Why all this focus, my little one?"
"I'm looking at the stars, Mom," Theo said, pointing his small finger towards the star-filled sky. "I love seeing them. They are very beautiful."
Elena smiled a light smile, a smile that held all her love for her son. "Of course they are beautiful, my little one. Would you like to go out and watch them together from the courtyard?"
"Of course!" Theo said with clear joy on his face, forgetting for a moment all his worries and loneliness, and felt overwhelming happiness just at the thought of spending time with his mother, whom he loved more than anything else.
After they returned from watching the stars, Theo went to his bed and quickly fell asleep. He had a strange dream that night. He was standing in a vast place, a boundless white world. There was no one but him. No matter how he tried to walk or stand, nothing changed in this infinite white void. Stranger still, whatever he imagined appeared before him instantly, as if his thoughts alone were enough to create reality in this strange world. In the dream, Theo was a happy child with what was happening, playing with his thoughts that turned into reality.
Theo woke up the next morning, got out of bed, and walked quietly out of his room. He didn't tell anyone about the dream at first. It was a strange dream, but not a frightening one, and being a four-year-old child, he didn't give it much importance at first.
He went to the kitchen where his Aunt Celia was preparing breakfast. Celia, as usual, looked beautiful in the morning light, with her black hair and blue eyes, and her usual slight smile on her face, ready to receive Theo's endless questions.
"Auntie, can I ask you a question?" Theo asked while waiting for breakfast, thinking about the strange dream and the looks of the other children in the village.
"Of course, my little one, you can ask," Celia said, her smile increasing slightly. She was used to his many questions and boundless curiosity.
"Why do people fear me, Auntie?" Theo asked directly. He didn't feel fear himself, and wasn't truly sad because of loneliness, but he was curious about the reason behind their reaction.
Celia smiled a smile that held something of wisdom and hidden sadness. "Is that why you always seem so cold to others, Theo?" she asked, pointing to his calm, expressionless face. "Don't worry, my dear, you are not different from them in your essence. They simply fear what they don't understand. And they fear magic, and even more so, uncommon magic like yours," she said, watching Theo's facial expression.
"I don't care about them, Auntie," Theo said with a calm face, as if it didn't truly concern him. "But I was just curious. And actually, I prefer it where no one bothers me."
Celia laughed loudly. "Hahaha, but someone disappointed you, Theo, didn't they?" she laughed again, looking at Theo's face, where a slight smile began to form, as if he was smiling to himself because of Celia's hint.
"Ryan is just silly, Auntie. I don't know why he follows me and tries to play with me." Theo said in a tone that held something of hidden affection towards Ryan, his almost only friend in the village, who wasn't afraid of him like the other children. At that moment, he glimpsed Elena's room door opening.
"Good morning, everyone." Elena said in her warm voice, as she entered the kitchen.
Celia and Theo replied at the same time: "Good morning, Elena / Good morning, Mom."
After Theo finished his breakfast, he went out for his usual midday walk in the quiet village. People's gazes followed him, gazes carrying a mixture of curiosity and fear, and sometimes silent disgust. He had been used to these looks for a long time, and usually ignored them. As he was walking, he heard a voice calling him. "Theo, Theo!" He looked behind him, and saw Ryan waving his hands excitedly and running towards him.
"How are you, Theo?" Ryan asked, a child his age, with messy brown hair and eyes that sparkled with energy and activity.
"As usual, I'm fine, Ryan. How are things with you?" Theo replied with his usual face, devoid of expressions in front of strangers.
"Hey, Theo, don't talk like that, you look like an idiot!" Ryan said, trying to joke, but Theo didn't show any clear reaction on his face. Ryan felt disappointed for a moment. "You know what, I'll just go back."
"But... wait, Theo!" Ryan called out as Theo had started walking away.
Theo walked a little until he could get away from Ryan and return to his house, thinking about Celia's words about people's fear of uncommon magic. He entered the house and met his aunt, and decided he didn't want to wait any longer. "Auntie, can we start training now?" he asked seriously.
One day, after the start of his magical training, while Theo was training in the basics of darkness magic in the forest with his aunt, he felt something strange. He felt as if something was watching him from among the thick trees. He stopped training and looked around, but the forest seemed quiet and empty, except for the sounds of wild animals and the wind. "What is it, Theo?" Celia asked him with a worried look, as she had noticed his sudden stop and tense look.
Suddenly, Theo heard a faint voice, which seemed to whisper directly into his ear, despite no one being nearby. "Theo... yo-" His entire body trembled from the surprise of the voice that seemed to be speaking from inside his head, but he tried to remain calm and not show how affected he was. "Who are you?" Theo whispered in a voice that was barely audible, directing his question to the unknown source of the voice.
But the voice didn't appear again. As Celia continued calling him in a louder voice, "Theo! Are you alright?", Theo paid attention and his focus returned to reality.
"I'm sorry, Auntie." he said, trying to regain his composure. "But I... heard a voice calling me... from the forest."
Celia looked at him with a little worry, but she didn't delve into the matter. Perhaps she thought it was just a simple hallucination due to training fatigue or a child's imagination.
"Alright." she said in a decisive tone. "We'll stop for today. You seem tired and need rest."
"But-" Theo tried to object, as he didn't feel like stopping, especially after the strange voice that had just appeared.
"No buts, Theo." Celia interrupted him in an unquestionable tone. "You really do look tired. Let's go home, it's time for lunch."
Theo didn't know what to do. He felt extremely puzzled and curious about the voice, but he couldn't convince his aunt. He fell silent and followed her on the way back home. Celia looked at him now and then with eyes holding a hidden worry, but she didn't ask him more about the voice.
That night, Celia looked at Theo with great concern before he went to sleep. "Theo, you must be careful. And don't overexert yourself in training. And we will rest tomorrow."
"Alright." Theo said with a slight frown, for he had been secretly practicing magic at night after everyone had fallen asleep, driven by his curiosity and his desire to understand his powers better. He didn't know that his aunt had been noticing his fatigue and suspected that he wasn't following her instructions for complete rest.
In the following weeks, Theo didn't hear the same clear voice again, but he continued to feel something strange. He kept feeling hidden gazes watching him, his senses perceiving them even if he saw nothing.
He felt them in the forest during training, and sometimes, which was more unsettling, he felt them in his dreams. And sometimes, when he was practicing darkness magic by himself, it seemed as if something was whispering to him in his mind, not clear words, but a feeling or sensation guiding him towards something he didn't understand.
In one occasion, while he was trying to apply this mysterious guidance and form a sphere of dense darkness, he lost control for a moment. The shadows extended around his hand in a chaotic and uncontrolled manner for a moment, as if they were claws trying to grasp something, before they faded and disappeared.
"Theo!" cried Celia, who was supervising his training, and had noticed his sudden loss of control. Her tone was sharp and decisive. "You must focus! What happened? If you keep doing this, you'll never be able to progress! Control is everything in magic!"
Theo felt guilty for causing his aunt's worry, but he couldn't tell her the full truth. He couldn't tell her about the feeling of being watched, or about the whispers he heard in his mind. This was something mysterious and personal to him, and he wasn't sure how to explain it even to himself, so how could he explain it to his aunt?
On a quiet night, while the house was lit by a faint and comfortable magical light cast by a simple spell from Celia, Theo sat with his mother Elena. She was telling him a story about his father, her late husband who had died in the war before Theo could see or know him. Elena spoke of his father's bravery, his kindness, and his belief in a better future.
"He was a brave man, Theo." Elena said, smiling a tender smile that held something of distant sadness. "He believed in strength and courage, but he also believed in a kind heart. And I'm sure... sure you'll become like him someday. Perhaps even stronger."
Theo didn't reply with words, but he felt his mother's warmth and love enveloping him. He felt a hidden responsibility towards her and towards his father's memory.
Theo, on that very night, after Elena had fallen asleep, stood before the window of his small room, looking at the dark forest which seemed to whisper unknown secrets.
"What am I?" Theo whispered to himself, a question that stemmed from the depths of his soul, a question about his identity and the mystery surrounding him, and about the reason for his difference and the looks of others.
The moment he asked the question, an unexpected reply came. It wasn't a voice he heard with his ears, but a voice that echoed directly in his mind, as if it were speaking from inside his head, stronger and clearer than the previous whispers.
"You are the future," came a voice from the shadows. "You are the sacrifice."
Theo was terrified at that very moment, he didn't understand the meaning of the words, but he felt they carried a threat.