The courtyard lay quiet, the golden light of late afternoon stretching across the grass. Elina folded her arms, her emerald eyes fixed on her new pupil. Julius still bounced slightly on his toes, eager to prove himself further.
"Julius," Elina said at last, her tone calm but probing, "can you see that rock over there?" She pointed toward a stone resting near the garden wall, about the size of a large dog.
"Yes!" Julius chirped, his bright eyes following her hand.
"Good," Elina continued, her voice firm. "Your task is simple—at least in appearance. Break that rock using only water magic."
Juliette, who had been peeking from the doorway, stiffened. But Nicholas, arms folded, watched silently with interest.
Julius's grin widened. "Okay, Teacher! I'll try my best!"
He stepped forward, his small hands rising. Mana gathered, swirling smoothly under his will. With practiced ease, he conjured a water sphere nearly twenty centimeters across, its surface gleaming in the sun.
"Go!" Julius thrust his hand forward, launching the sphere.
SPLASH!
The sphere burst against the rock's surface, scattering harmlessly into droplets that pattered across the grass. The stone stood untouched, not even a crack marring its surface.
Julius blinked, surprised. "Huh? It didn't work…"
Elina's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "As expected. Striking a solid object with plain water will not be enough. Water flows, it bends—it is not easily a weapon of destruction unless shaped with precision. Now… what will you do, Julius?"
Julius's brows furrowed in concentration. He could feel it—the challenge was far trickier than his earlier demonstrations. This wasn't about simply summoning magic. It was about understanding it.
Frustration began to stir in Julius's chest. His little fists tightened, his brows furrowed. "If one sphere isn't enough… then I'll just make it bigger!"
He drew in a sharp breath, focusing with all his might. Mana surged, swirling faster and faster at his fingertips. The air grew damp as water condensed, pooling and swelling under his command. Slowly, a massive water sphere formed—no longer the size of a melon, but half a meter across.
Sweat beaded on Julius's forehead, but his eyes shone with determination. "This time… it'll work!"
With a sharp thrust of his arms, he launched the colossal sphere forward.
WHOOOSH—CRASH!
The giant sphere slammed against the rock with tremendous force. Water exploded outward in a thundering splash, soaking the grass and spraying mist across the courtyard. The rock lurched under the impact, scraping against the ground as it shifted a few inches from its place.
But when the water settled, the stone still stood, stubborn and unbroken.
"Huh…?" Julius's voice cracked with disbelief. His shoulders sagged. "It didn't… break…"
From the side, Elina's expression shifted—but not to disappointment. Her emerald eyes glimmered with quiet awe. At five years old… to conjure a water sphere of that volume? Even an intermediate apprentice would struggle with such control…
She stepped forward, her tone gentle yet firm. "Julius. Though you failed to shatter the rock, do not underestimate what you just did. To create a water sphere of that size at your age is remarkable. I won't deny it—I am quite impressed."
Julius perked up slightly, though his lips still pouted. "Really…?"
Elina allowed herself the faintest smile. "Yes. But remember, the task is not to move the rock—it is to break it. Brute force will not always win the day. You must think differently. Try something else."
Julius stood still, his mind racing. He thought for a long moment, eyes narrowing in concentration. Then, a spark of inspiration lit his face.
"I think… I know what to do," he whispered to himself.
He raised his hands again, mana gathering with steady focus. A massive water sphere, half a meter in diameter, formed once more, hovering heavily in the air. At first glance, it looked like he was repeating the same attempt as before.
Elina tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her emerald eyes. The same method? No… his expression is different.
Then, with a sharp breath, Julius clenched his fists. The great sphere quivered—then rapidly compressed, shrinking smaller and smaller until it condensed into a tight, glistening projectile no larger than a fist.
The air seemed to tremble with the pressure. The little sphere shimmered dangerously, vibrating as though it longed to burst free.
"Go!!" Julius thrust his hand forward.
The projectile shot through the air with a deafening crack, faster than an arrow.
BANG!
It struck the rock dead center. In an instant, the stone shattered, fragments exploding outward as dust clouded the yard. When the haze cleared, the once-sturdy rock lay in broken shards scattered across the grass.
Julius lowered his hand slowly, wide-eyed at his own success. "I… I did it…"
Nicholas's brows shot upward, astonishment plain across his usually steady face. Juliette gasped softly from the doorway, covering her mouth in shock.
Elina, however, remained still for a moment—processing what she had just witnessed. He compressed the volume of that enormous water sphere into a minuscule projectile… forcing all that energy into one devastating strike. At five years old… how could a child even conceive such a method?
Finally, her composure cracked, and a rare, genuine smile graced her lips. "Julius" she said, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and admiration, "you truly are beyond extraordinary."
The boy turned toward her, beaming proudly, his eyes glowing with uncontainable joy.
---
The shattered fragments of rock still littered the courtyard, Julius stood proudly, chest heaving from the effort, his face glowed with uncontainable joy. He had done it—he had passed his first true test.
Elina's emerald eyes lingered on the boy, her lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. "You really have proven yourself today, Julius. But remember—this is only the beginning. You must become even stronger. Never stop dreaming, never stop reaching higher. Do you understand?"
Julius nodded eagerly, his eyes burning with determination. "Yes, Teacher! I'll train, train, and train until I become so powerful… that no one has ever become before!"
Elina chuckled softly, touched by his fierce spirit. "Yes. With such determination, you can surely achieve your dreams." She straightened her cloak and added gently, "That's all for today. We'll continue our lessons next day."
"Okay, Teacher!" Julius beamed, bouncing on his toes.
From the doorway, Nicholas stepped forward, his deep voice calm. "Miss Elina, before you leave—why not join us for some tea? We can talk more about Julius's studies, and… about his admission as well."
Elina nodded. "Very well."
---
Inside, Juliette quickly set out a tray of fragrant tea and warm snacks. The room filled with a cozy, homely air. Elina sat gracefully at the table, sipping delicately while Nicholas leaned back, arms folded, his sharp gaze never leaving her.
"I can visit thrice a week," Elina explained between sips. "Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On those days, I will focus on nurturing Julius's foundation. With proper guidance, he will not only learn to control his gift, but also refine it safely."
Nicholas inclined his head in gratitude. "That would be more than enough. We're deeply thankful, Miss Elina. But… tell me honestly. How does he compare to other students you've trained?"
Elina lowered her cup, her expression turning thoughtful. "To put it simply—he does not compare. Most children his age cannot even form a proper water sphere without chanting. Some cannot sense mana at all. Yet your son has already demonstrated multi-element control… and without incantations." Her gaze flicked toward Julius, who was nibbling a cookie absentmindedly. "He is years—perhaps decades—ahead of where he should be."
Juliette's fingers tightened slightly around her teacup. "That may be so, but… is it safe? He is still so young. I fear what such power might mean for him."
Elina softened at the mother's quiet worry. "Your concern is natural, Lady Juliette. But you needn't worry too much. My role is to ensure he learns not only strength, but control. Power without discipline is dangerous, but power guided by wisdom can protect, heal, and change the world."
Juliette's shoulders eased a little, though her eyes still lingered on her son with quiet unease.
Meanwhile, Julius had grown restless with all the serious talk. His gaze drifted from his crumbs to Elina herself—the shimmer of her silver hair in the lamplight, the deep green of her eyes, the graceful way she held her cup. Finally, his attention fixed on something else entirely: her ears. Pointed, elegant, unlike anyone else he had ever seen.
He leaned forward on the table, narrowing his eyes in concentration, as though staring harder would reveal the mystery. He even puffed his cheeks out, trying to imitate her composed, serious look.
Elina noticed the boy's unwavering gaze at last. She arched a brow, amusement tugging at her lips. "Is there something on my face, Julius? You've been staring for quite some time."
Julius blinked, startled. He quickly shook his head. "No… nothing like that. I was just wondering…" His little finger pointed timidly. "How are your ears… pointy?"
Elina blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, a faint laugh escaped her lips. "Oh—my ears? That's because I am an elf. All elves are born with ears like these."
Julius's eyes went wide, sparkling with awe. "You're an elf?! Really? That means… you're not human?" He leaned closer across the table, his little hands gripping the edge as though he might see more if he just stared hard enough. "I've never seen an elf before!"
Elina tilted her head, amused by his innocent wonder. "I suppose that's not surprising. Out here in the countryside, humans are the ones you meet most often. Elves rarely travel so far from our homelands."
Julius's eyes lit up with sudden remembrance. "I read in a book once—it said elves live in a forest called Eldia. A forest so big it stretches for thousands of kilometers!"
Elina's lips curved into a soft smile. "Yes, that's right. Eldia is the homeland of every elf. The Eldian Forest is filled with wonders—mystical creatures, ancient trees, rivers older than kingdoms themselves. It is beautiful… yet also dangerous."
Julius's small fists clenched with excitement. "Can I visit your homeland someday? Please, Teacher?"
Elina chuckled at his earnestness, her emerald eyes glimmering. "Yes, you can. But only when you become stronger, wiser… and perhaps a little taller." She leaned in with a playful wink. "When that day comes, I'll give you a tour myself."
"Yay!" Julius hopped in his seat, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll get stronger, wiser, and taller—and then I'll visit Eldia one day!"
Elina's laughter joined the warmth of the room, her silver hair shimmering in the lamplight. Nicholas and Juliette exchanged a glance, their hearts full as they watched their son dream boldly of a world far beyond the little hill they called home.