Elias Leywin POV
The stairs creaked faintly underfoot as I made my way down, one hand trailing along the smooth wood of the bannister. The morning light spilt through the windows, soft and golden, painting the floorboards in warm stripes. My limbs still felt a bit sluggish, like I hadn't moved in days. Maybe I hadn't.
But the muffled voices from the kitchen, familiar, spirited, and faintly annoyed, drew me forward anyway.
"–he's my brother," Arthur's voice was sharp and indignant. "I should be the one to train him!"
"Oh come on," Papa countered, just as firmly. "You're eight."
"And your point is?" he states back flatly.
"My point is, I've fought mana beasts and bandits. Whilst I'm his Father and you're an eight-year-old child."
"I'm a Light red cored Quadra-elemental mage with a Beast will, who just happens to be an eight-year-old boy!" he retorts, his annoyance and frustration only seeming to grow with my father.
I stepped into the kitchen just as Arthur threw his hands up for emphasis, his azure eyes bright with fire figuratively and, knowing him, nearly literally.
"Lias?" Mama was already halfway out of her chair the moment she saw me.
Arthur's eyes widened, his mouth still half open from whatever comeback he was about to hurl.
"Morning," I murmured, rubbing my eye. "Food smells good."
Mama rushed over, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder, her other brushing against my cheek as if to make sure I was there. "You should still be resting."
"I didn't want to stay upstairs alone," I say as I look up at my mother
She sighed, but didn't argue. Just guided me gently to a chair next to her and fussed with my hair a little more than necessary before letting go.
Aunty Tabitha gave me a warm smile from across the table, her hands folded in her lap. "It's good to see you up, Elias. You had us all worried."
Vincent nodded, more reserved. "You've given your family quite the scare, young man."
"I didn't mean to," I said quickly, unsure why I felt the need to apologise.
Arthur pulled out the chair beside me and plopped down with a huff. "How are you feeling, Li?" he says with a slight knowing smirk.
I shrugged, my feet dangling above the floor. "Floaty," I mumbled. "Like I'm still dreaming."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching me with that annoying look he gets when he thinks he knows something no one else does. "That thing that happened to you was caused by something called mana exhaustion," he said matter-of-factly.
"mana exhaustion?" I repeat, confused back to him as I tilt my head slightly.
"Your Mana core awoke after you began to gather all those little lights" I says poking the right side of my chest lightly "You burned through a lot of mana all at once. Probably more than you had, so much so that you began to drain it from the world around you."
My eyebrows scrunched. "But... I didn't do anything."
"That's kind of the point," he said, his tone just a little too pleased. "It happened on its own," he says, nodding his head.
"Oh, you probably don't remember that, well, it shook the entire house. You nearly overloaded your own mana channels. If I hadn't been there-"
"If you hadn't panicked and started to scream," Papa interjected dryly, sipping his tea without looking up,
"I did not panic," Arthur shot back. "I was just worried about my baby brother." He says, hugging me whilst staring daggers at our father
Mama sighed as she stood beside me, brushing her fingers gently through my hair. "Let's not do this again. Not this early."
"But he's fine now," Arthur said, softer, his attention turning back to me. "That's what matters."
I nodded slowly, though I wasn't sure if I felt fine. My chest still felt strange, like something inside it had shifted when I wasn't looking.
"I didn't mean to scare everyone," I mumbled.
"You gave your poor sister a heart attack," Papa said with a chuckle. "She refused to leave your side for hours."
Arthur's brow arched. "Speaking of her..."
As if he had summoned her, there was a sudden thump against the wooden floorboards of the hallway.
"...that'll be her," he finished.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder with each second.
"Li!" The door burst open.
Eleanor flew into the kitchen like a shot, her light brown mop bouncing wildly, arms outstretched.
"Li!" she cried again, barrelling toward me.
I barely had time to open my arms before she collided into me, throwing both of us halfway across the chair.
Her little arms clung tightly around my neck, warm and shaking. "You idiot," she hiccupped against my shoulder. "You didn't wake up. You didn't move for so long, Mama and Papa were..."
"I'm sorry," I whispered, cutting her off as I hugged her back just as tightly. "I didn't mean to scare you, El."
"You're not allowed to do that again," she sniffled, voice cracking. "Ever."
"Okay," I say as I continue to stroke her hair.
Because really, what else could I say? I didn't want to annoy or worry one of the most important people in the world, to me at least. Not now, at least.
My twin clung to me for a few moments before she eventually loosened her grip. Her arms fall to her sides as she sinks into the seat next to me. Her eyes continue to flicker between her lap and me.
~~~
Later that day, after the house had settled and everyone had returned to their routines, Arthur led me out to the back garden.
The sun had risen higher now, casting soft light across the grass and trees. A breeze fluttered through the leaves, rustling gently like whispers. I followed him wordlessly, still feeling like a ghost drifting through my own limbs, but something about his quiet purpose kept me tethered.
Arthur finally stopped near the edge of the clearing and turned to face me, hands on his hips. "Alright," he said, voice lighter now, though his eyes were serious. "Time to teach you how to breathe."
I blinked at him. "I already know how to breathe."
"Not like this," he grinned. "Come on, sit."
I do as my brother commands and sit in the still-damp grass. He kept pacing in front of me, running a hand through his messy hair like he was trying to untangle his thoughts before saying them out loud.
"Alright, Lias," he finally said, planting himself in front of me and squatting down so we were eye-level. "I've... never really shown anyone how to do this before. So, uh, bear with me, okay?"
I nodded quickly, trying not to bounce where I sat.
He poked my forehead gently but firmly. "First rule, don't lose focus. If you feel weird or dizzy, stop right away and tell me. Got it?"
"Got it," I said, swallowing my excitement, nodding my head excitedly.
"Okay. So... you have that little warm spot in your chest now, right? That's your core. It's like a tiny cup. Right now, it's almost empty because you used up everything before."
I frowned. "So, how do I fill it?"
Arthur sat cross-legged, too, mirroring me. He looked serious, but there was something proud in his eyes, like he couldn't believe I was really doing this.
"You have to... sort of invite mana in. It's all around you in the air, in the ground, even in the trees. Close your eyes and take slow breaths. When you breathe in, think about tiny sparks floating toward your chest. Don't force it. Just... imagine it likes you and wants to help."
"Like what we did yesterday with the lights?" I ask as I half close my eyes
"Yes", he says excitedly, before he recomposes himself with a cough
His explanation was clumsy, but something about it made sense. I shut my eyes tight. The breeze tickled my hair.
"Good," I heard him murmur. "Nice and slow. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Feel the warmth behind your ribs, then picture little lights drifting closer every time you breathe in."
At first, I felt nothing. Then, maybe because I wanted it so badly, a faint tingle brushed my ribs. Like tiny bubbles popping inside me. I gasped, eyes fluttering open.
Arthur grinned so wide it made my chest flutter again. "You felt it, didn't you?"
I nodded, breathless. "It tickles."
"Yeah. That's good. That means your core's drinking it in. Alright, keep doing that, slow and steady, until it feels warm but not too heavy. Tell me if you get tired."
He watched me closely while I did it again, in, then out, in, out. The little fizz built up bit by bit.
When my shoulders relaxed and I let out a satisfied breath, Arthur laughed under his breath. "Okay, that's enough for now. You don't want to overdo it on your first try."
I peeked at him. "What now?"
Arthur stood up and brushed a leaf off my shoulder, then offered his hand to pull me up. My legs wobbled as the warmth still buzzed inside my chest, unsure where to go.
"Alright," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You've got mana in your core that's usually the hard part done. Now let's see what suits you best. I want you to focus on your core and tell me what colour lights you see."
I look at him, my confusion evident.
Noticing how I kept staring at him. He let out a quiet breath before he began to speak once again.
"Alright, Lias. Listen carefully now. I'll tell you what each colour means and what element they are."
I nodded quickly, my confusion wavering.
Arthur held up one finger. "Green is wind. Wind magic is all about speed and freedom. It helps you move faster, jump higher, and sometimes even guide air currents. It's usually light and quick."
He holds his spare hand palm up, causing a light swirl of wind in it, making it appear as if a miniature tornado were forming.
He raised a second finger as he continued. "Blue means water. Water magic is calm and steady. It lets you control streams, make mist, or even heal small wounds. It's gentle, but strong when you need it to be."
He does the same as he had done with the wind; he forms a sphere of water in his palm that eventually bursts under its own surface tension.
Another finger is raised. "Yellow is earth. Earth magic is sturdy and protective. It's good for making barriers, shaping rocks or soil, and standing your ground. It's very reliable for defence due to its innate toughness."
As if tradition, Art forms a clump of dirt in his palm that crumbles under little to no pressure.
Finally, he lifted his pinky. "Red is fire. Fire is powerful, but harder to control. It's strong for attacking and burning through obstacles. It can be warm and inviting, but also dangerous if you push too hard. It also happens to be my favourite"
Flames gather in his palm, starting as a deep crimson before it grows into a rich indigo as the fire grows in its size.
Show off.
He curled his fingers into a loose fist, extinguishing the flame.
"Most mages have one main element they're naturally good at. Some rare people can learn two. He gave me a small, smug smile.
"Whilst you can use all 4..." I let out a tired sigh
"Does that matter?" he asks, placing his hand on my shoulder
I look up at him, tilting my head slightly.
"I might have more variety than you and most other mages", he says, giving a reassuring smile, "But over each individual element, you or any other mage would have a far greater mastery over it"
I shifted in the grass, the words settling in my head like new seeds as my older brother reassured me. "So... green for wind, blue for water, yellow for earth, red for fire..." I repeated slowly.
Arthur nodded. "Exactly. And now we need to see which of those colours are calling your core home. That's where we'll begin with little steps."
I closed my eyes again, shutting out the garden and the rustle of leaves, listening only to my breathing and the steady hum behind my ribs.
Green for Wind... Blue for Water... Yellow for Earth... Red for Fire...
I repeated silently, clinging to Arthur's words as if they were an anchor in the sea of darkness I was about to plunge into.
At first, I felt nothing but the warm fizz. But then, little by little, shapes bloomed in the darkness behind my eyelids. Wisps of soft green spun gently, like tiny threads caught in a breeze. Beside them, brighter flecks of yellow glowed, steady and warm, like grains of sunlit sand drifting closer.
I sucked in a sharp breath and my eyes flew open, wide as the sky. "Arthur! I see them! I really see them Green and Yellow, just like you said!"
Arthur's face lit up with a grin so bright it made my chest flutter all over again. He laughed in an easy and delighted sound that echoed across the garden. He leaned forward to squeeze my shoulder.
"I knew you could do it," he said, ruffling my hair with both hands until I squeaked. "Wind and earth, huh? That's a good balance," he holds his chin as he begins to murmur to himself, "quick on your feet but strong too. Just like I'd hoped."
I couldn't stop smiling. My cheeks hurt from how wide my grin stretched, but I didn't care. For a moment, everything inside me felt light, like the fizzing warmth had turned into bubbles lifting me off the ground.
But when I closed my eyes again, wanting just one more look, I saw them; they were faint but impossible to ignore. Drifting around the green and yellow were little golden specks, brighter than the rest. They didn't swirl like the breeze or glow steadily like sunlight. They just floated there, calm and quiet, almost as if they were watching me back.
A tiny chill slipped down my neck. The bubbles of excitement tangled with a knot I couldn't swallow down.
"Arthur..." My voice came out softer than I meant. I opened my eyes and peeked up at him through my lashes. "The gold... It's still there. Even when I only look for the other colours. It just... stays."
Arthur's grin didn't falter, not really. He glanced at me, then tapped my forehead again, more gently this time.
"That's alright, Lias," he said easily, like he was brushing aside a stray leaf. "We'll sort and figure that out later. It doesn't change how well you did today. Right now, I want you to focus on the green and yellow. The gold's not hurting you, right?"
I hesitated. It wasn't hurting. It just was. A warm, quiet presence curled deeper than the others, like something tucked away where I couldn't reach it.
"No... it doesn't hurt," I murmured, fiddling with the hem of my sleeve. "It just... feels strange."
Arthur nodded, all calm and sure, like he didn't have a single worry in the world. "Then we don't need to worry either. Not today. One thing at a time, little Brother."
He reached out and tugged my sleeve away from my fidgeting fingers, folding my hands together in my lap. His touch was warm, grounding.
"You did really well, Lias. I'm proud of you," he said, voice soft but steady. "Tomorrow, we'll practice shaping the wind a little, maybe play with a few stones. Deal?"
I nodded, forcing my lips into another smile, but deep inside, the knot stayed a quiet swirl of questions I didn't know how to ask yet.
The gold lights flickered behind my ribs, bright and patient and secret. I pressed my palms together tightly, trying not to think about how they didn't belong to any colour Arthur had named.
But Arthur was here. He knew everything. And he wasn't scared. So maybe, for now, I didn't have to be either.
"Okay, Art," I whispered. "I'll try my best."
Nimue POV
"So what do you make of the young prince?"
My Brother's voice drifts lazily down from where he's perched on the old stone wall, boots dangling, tapping out some idle rhythm only he knows. He looks more like a bored cat than Avalon's ancient keeper, his hair tousled by the breeze, eyes half-lidded but glinting with mischief.
I press my palm flat against the sun-warmed stone, grounding myself in its hush. The warmth hums through my skin, steadying the bright whirl still spinning behind my ribs.
"He's not a prince," I say, but a smile tugs at my mouth before I can stop it. I keep my gaze fixed on a strand of ivy curling through a crack, pretending not to notice Merlin's grin widening above me.
"Mm. Titles are stubborn things, Nimue," he drawls, leaning forward so his shadow falls over my hair. "Sometimes they crown you long before your head is ready to bear the weight. But you didn't answer me. What do you make of him?"
I pull my hand back from the stone and cross my arms. He watches me like a fox preying upon a fledgling bird, he's patient and far too entertained.
"He's..." I start, but the words tumble over each other like startled birds. "He's not what I expected. There's a softness to him, but something fierce underneath it, too. He's..."
"Charming?" Merlin supplies, eyes glittering.
"No!" I shoot him a sharp look, which only makes him grin wider. "He's... unshaped. Still new. Like a bud that doesn't know it's meant to bloom yet."
Merlin leans his elbows on his knees, chin propped in his hand, pretending to look deeply scholarly. "So. Unshaped. Soft. Fierce. You do realise you're listing the sort of things that make someone dangerously appealing to troublesome little fae, don't you?"
I swat at his leg, but he pulls it just out of reach, laughing.
"You're insufferable," I mutter, though I can't hide the warmth creeping into my voice. The truth comes out in a breath before I can stop it. "It's just... hard not to admire someone who shines that brightly. Even when he doesn't know how to hold it yet."
Merlin quiets for half a heartbeat, just long enough that the wind ruffles the ivy between us. Then he says in a teasing but gentle voice, "Careful now, little lake-heart. Fall too close to that sun, and you'll scorch your pretty wings."
I roll my eyes so hard it nearly hurts. "Don't be dramatic. I'm not falling for anyone. I just..." I press my palms together, grounding myself. "I want to see what he becomes. I want to see if he can keep that light alive in a world that feeds on putting it out."
My Brother's smile softens, the mischief folding into something older and sadder behind his eyes. He nudges my shoulder with his knee.
"Then keep watching him. Be the mirror he needs, when he forgets who he is."
WC – 3218
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
I hope you guys enjoyed Lias and Art's bonding, that was originally planned for only the first half of the chapter, but I got a bit carried away. Also, the introduction of Merlin was pretty cool imo, but I'm writing this story, so I think it's all cool.
Cartethyia is S6; It only took about 500 Pulls, which I'm quite pleased about.
Finally home from Uni by the time this goes live so that's cool as well I guess.
The next chapter is out at 10 Likes or Wednesday.
Rius out.