After a week
The king himself arrived, and they went to the open area farther from the orphanage to celebrate. With the use of magic, Xavier created a barrier for the safety of the king and his royalty. Also, there's another person who accompanies the king. He has a raven logo on his chest.
"It's one of the council of Silentvisk!"
Xavier said surprisingly. "Now you should do your best in your performance because these people funded our orphanage."
Everyone: "Yes, sir!"
The tension in the air was palpable. The King, Prince Ezra, Jeshur, and a member of the Silentvisk Family, Alaric, stood amidst a crowd of townspeople gathered for a special event.
Xavier, the mage instructor, had created a powerful barrier to ensure the King's safety. The air crackled with anticipation as the orphans prepared to showcase their talents.
The non-magic combatants demonstrated their physical prowess, wielding their chosen artifacts with skill.
The earth mages created awe-inspiring rock formations, while the air mages soared through the air, effortlessly manipulating the wind.
The water mages, particularly Elizabeth, captivated the audience with their graceful movements and mesmerizing water displays.
Prince Ezra, mesmerized by Elizabeth's beauty, couldn't help but admire her.
Rethrus, watching Elizabeth, lost in his own thoughts, momentarily forgot about the performance.
"Rethrus, it's our turn," Lumine whispered, snapping him out of his reverie.
They performed a basic shadow manipulation routine, which impressed the audience but failed to impress Alaric.
"Tsk, we support this stupid orphanage just to have a product like this? What a disappointment," he muttered under his breath.
The King, aware of Alaric's disdain, smiled subtly. He couldn't risk offending the Silentvisk Family, whose loyalty to the throne was invaluable.
The grand finale was reserved for Aethra and Jack, the fire mages. They unleashed a dazzling display of fire magic, showcasing his immense power.
After the show, the audience eats, and some are still in the barrier congratulating the kids.
Prince Ezra also enters the barrier with Xavier's help.
"You are so Beautiful,miss." he said, looking at Elizabeth.
"Thank you, Your Highness," she replied.
"Say, do you really want to fight for the country? A beauty like you should be living in the palace with me."
Instinctively, she can't answer, still secretly looking for Rethrus.
Jack heard it and went straight there.
Jack: "Hey, Prince, that's my girlfriend, you know?"
Ezra: "Girlfriend? Really?"
Jack: "Yes, and be a man. Don't use the fact that you're the prince of this kingdom on me."
Elizabeth was worried and still looking for Rethrus.
Ezra: "I saw you earlier, and we are the same element. How about we make a contest for her heart?"
Elizabeth still isn't talking and is still looking for him but can't move due to the fact that he's in the presence of the Prince.
"Now let's show off," Everyone in the barrier watches and cheers for both contestants.
Jack concentrates and uses his special technique like before. He was proud of his performance, and the king also watched; he was amazed, but…
"Ezra's fire power is stronger," the king said.
And Ezra fired a similar spell with a more special wand. And the fire is bigger than Jack's.
"As expected from the King's son," they all murmured.
Hearing this just makes the king more proud.
"See, it turns out, I won Ms. Elizabeth's heart,"
As he walks towards Elizabeth, who's still looking for Rethrus, the Prince utters these words,
"I, the strongest fire user in this country, will claim your heart."
And before he holds her hands…
Aethra hears this and makes a fire half bigger than the Prince's. Everyone was amazed and shocked, even the king.
The king knew that Aethra was the genius one, yet he didn't know his fire power was this strong.
"Such a strong fire power," Jeshur said. Even the member of the Silentvisk was amazed.
"Maybe we hire this kid instead," he said.
All were amazed until they all realize they're inside the barrier, and the fire is starting to spread.
It turns out even Aethra can't absorb that much. Even the other two fire users. It's too big.
"Xavier, do something! My son is in there!" the king shouted.
"I can't, sire!" Xavier replied. "My wind would make the fire bigger."
Everyone is panicking, and Rina and Elizabeth try to stop it, but their water only makes the fire grow bigger.
Especially for the three fire users.
Hans, Terra, and Haldrin create a wall to cover the fire, but it's only a minute before Aethra's fire will eat it.
Aethra was really pissed off; he uncontrollably unleashed those hellish fireballs.
Elizabeth runs around to find Rethrus, but still, she can't find him. She finds Lumine panicking and goes to her.
"Where's Rethrus?"
"I don't know, but he said he's going to take a nap," she replied.
The king is panicking, Xavier is scared too.
The fire burned the wall they made, so they start making it again while
Elizabeth makes a small barrier to protect her. So as others to protect the civilians (the twelve of them know how to make a basic barrier for defense).
She's still looking for him. And she saw a kid that doesn't have any protection crying because of the fire.
She ran to him, and the fire suddenly grew bigger. She looks at it while grabbing the child. She closed her eyes while hugging the kid.
In a split second, it went dark, so dark. The king was shocked, everyone was shocked.
Elizabeth looks behind her; there's a scarred-faced guy who's familiar to her.
She smiles because she knows she's safe already.
The flame was covered with darkness coming from one area.
"DEVOUR!"
And the darkness totally eats the fire, shrinking it into nothingness.
And Jack remembers what he said ("What, you're going to eat it? Hahaha")
He was upset but he smiles.
Aethra froze and smiled fiercely.
(He ate my fire as if it was nothing. He's really worthy as my rival) he thought.
Elizabeth suddenly hugged him and cried.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"Sorry, I took a nap under the table," Rethrus replied.
"Thank you for saving us," she said.
There were accidents, but no one died due to the barrier.
The king and the Silentvisk Family shoulder the damage. Especially the member of the Silentvisk Family still can't believe how strong Rethrus was.
"Those kids should really be part of our army for the damage they cost," the king murmured.
After the incident, Alaric asked Rethrus to come with him to meet the family. He never used the money part; it might ruin their image in the mind of the kid.
"I can't, I still have more years here in the orphanage," Rethrus replied. "And I will cherish it," he added.
"Hayst, I can't force you (but my master can)," Alaric said. "You're a good kid. Don't waste your talent on this useless war."
And he left.
The kids were still amazed and scared of how powerful these two had become.
The news reached the kingdom.
"Papa!!! Are you okay???!!!" Princess Elaina asked (Older sister of Prince Ezra, she's 15 years old).
"I'm fine, dear," the king replied. "It's your brother's fault," he added.
Elaina: "Is it about a girl again?"
Ezra didn't answer, and Elaina punched him in the head. "You brat!"
"Ouch, it's not entirely my fault," He explains to her what really happened.
"Really?"
A flame user and a dark one… she murmured.
It's on the newspaper, and also the Silentvisk Family heard it.
In the dark room, Alaric reported.
The room was so dark and cold.
"Tell me, is the kid really that talented?" the master asked.
"Yes, master, in a split second he ate the fire with ease. He's had a large Mana pool at a young age too."
"Did you see any mark?" the master asked.
"That's the mysterious part, I didn't see any marks on his body, master. Nor sensing a demon in him," Alaric added.
"Interesting…" (the light from the moon that came through the window showing his face slowly)
"A strong dark magic user without a contract involved. We will get him," (as the light from the moon completely shows his face)
It's a man with a demon as his right face.