After the fire, students are advised to go home. Thankfully, no one was hurt during the fire. But, the fire caused too much damage in the field. So, it was off limits for the meantime.
Students reported that the fire started in an outside outlet. No one mentioned anything unusual in an investigation. The Arcane Lost worked just fine, that is a good thing.
Looking at the clock, it is past eight o'clock. Will he show up?
Getting lost in the time, I received a notification from my phone.
Blake Serrano: I'm here
My heartbeat started to pump so hard. This is the time where I would know what his answer was. Would he accept or decline that fate with the fire stone?
I took a deep breath, and opened the door. "Come on in. Do you want juice or water?"
"Water."
Too cold. I nodded slightly. I went to the kitchen to get water. "Here."
The living room filled with deafening silence. I don't know where I should start and how I can start the conversation.
"Do you also have the same power?" he seriously asked that, going on point without any more beating around the bush.
I smiled at him. "If you mean the fire power, I don't. I have another power." I opened my palms and let my water stone come out. "This is the water stone." In my command, the stone started to float and dance in the air.
Blake's emotionless face was changed to widened eyes and dropped jaw. I quietly chuckled when he tried to slightly get away from it as if it was something dangerous.
I closed my palm and the water vanished. "I am the water bearer and you are…" I hesitated and stopped because I felt like I was betraying Valen by saying it. "... fire bearer."
"What are we? Do you guys live here?" he asked. His face came back emotionless.
"We don't live here. We live in a world called Aetheria, thus we are called Aetherians."
"Is that like an Earth? If we go there, are we going to travel to space?" I chuckled upon hearing what he asked.
"Of course not. We will not travel in space. And, yes, it is like an earth but much smaller… I think."
His eyes squinted. "So, how can we get there? Do you guys have teleportation?"
That question got me thinking. I guess? I don't know if we can call it teleportation and… maybe?
"Sort of… we have a portal."
"Are there many people living in Aetheria? Different powers?"
My hopes are getting high because I can see his eyes being curious in our world.
"Yes, we have different powers."
"Is the stone the source of our power? Are there other people who have the fire stone?"
"No. Core elemental stones are sacred stone, only you have that fire stone. There are only 4 of that while there are 10 sub-core elemental stones. A total of 14 sacred stones."
He tilted his head, confused. "I don't get it? Then… how about the other people? Do they have another stone type whatever?"
"Only 14 Aetherians holds a sacred stone. Typically, an Aetherian have own innate power that is based on their blood. So, they do not need any stone to have power."
This time, his was frowning. "Then, what is the use of stones?"
"Stones contain many abilities. The innate power is only one. For example, when the water stone is not in my hands. I can only manipulate water but when I was awakened, I can use all abilities that are connected to water such as water construct, water mimicry, and so on."
He stared at me with a questioning look. "Awakened?"
"Yes, before I came here in this mortal world. I undergo awakening, meaning the water stone will be officially mine."
Tackling the awakening makes me remember Valen. That event also brings suffering to him, remembering that event breaks my heart.
"I never undergo awakening," he said emphasisely.
Of course he would not. He wasn't the chosen one in the first place. No one knew what was happening.
I remained silent. I do not know how to respond to that.
"You mentioned the blood. What is the blood you are talking about?"
"That is based on the region you were born in. Blood running in your veins."
He looked at his palms. "What blood do I have? Fire blood?"
"I am actually… not sure about that. But, it is not called fire blood, it is Ignisian blood."
He raised her eyebrows at me. "What do you mean you are not sure?"
He was born here. I cannot sense any aura of Ignisian on him.
"Amore?" His face is filled with confusion and curiosity.
I took a deep breath. "There are four bloods—Aquarian, Aerilonian, Terranian, and Ignisian…" I take a pause and swallow hard. This is it. "I am an Aquarian and you… are Ignisian."
Probably.
I lied. I cannot say that he was a mortal human that will make things worse. Knowing that can lead to him not to accept our world.
"There are four bloods and four core elemental stones. So, does it mean, every blood there is a core elemental user?"
"Exactly. But, we prefer to call it bearer and not user," I corrected him.
He tilted his head. Without asking, I knew what he wanted to know.
I took a deep breath, and started seriously explaining our responsibility and core identity. "As bearers, we are not mere users… we are chosen vessels, entrusted with the responsibility of guarding and protecting our land. We don't simply wield or use its power, but are bound to it… it is not something we choose but it is a destiny bestowed to us."
"Do we have enemies?"
"War is always present in such a world, Blake. Aetheria is divided by two continents, Elysium and Erebos. We came from Elysium… and Erebos have been the archenemy for many decades."
"Same power?"
"No… they have another type of power. A power that symbolizes darkness, a power of destruction."
"Oh, so if we were in a movie, there are the villains, the bad ones." He's holding his chin, keeps on nodding, and looking at the ceiling.
"Yeah… like that." I nodded to agree with what he just said.
"Does our work as bearers involve fighting those villains?" He looks worried. I bet he does not know how to fight.
But… asking that question, does it mean he is slowly accepting his fate as a bearer?
"Yes… it's called missions and since we are the powerful… most of the difficult missions go to us."
He became quiet and anxiety and worries can be seen on his face. "I don't know how to… fight."
I reached for his hand and caressed it. I looked directly at his eyes as if I was assuring him. I smiled. "I would teach you. That skill can be trained."
His eyes still showed hesitance, and he slightly looked scared. "But—"
"I will protect you at all costs."