The sun rose over Elandria with a golden glow that made the dew on the grass sparkle like tiny crystals. Birds chirped from the trees, and the distant river murmured lazily. The village square, normally calm and mundane, now buzzed with an unusual excitement. Today, the Holy Knights of Chronus were visiting—the event that the villagers had whispered about for months.
Icarus stood quietly at the edge of the square, silver hair catching the morning light. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the excited murmurs of the other children and the nervous shuffling of villagers. Rowan, however, was doing his best to create chaos.
"Watch this!" Rowan whispered. He picked up a pebble and tossed it high, missing entirely and hitting a merchant's basket of apples. Apples tumbled everywhere.
"Rowan!" Icarus hissed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Rowan waved innocently. "It was a test. See if the village could survive me. They passed."
Icarus shook his head and surveyed the square. A crystal pedestal had been set in the center—a polished, multifaceted prism that pulsed faintly with inner light. The Holy Knights intended to test the children's elemental affinity today. Each child would place their hand on the crystal, and the magic within them would resonate with it, revealing their power.
Sir Alaric Arrives
A sudden commotion heralded the arrival of the Holy Knights. Shining armor clattered across the cobblestones as the knights paraded into the village, banners snapping in the wind. At their head rode Sir Alaric, Commander of the Holy Knights.
For a moment, he looked every bit the heroic knight—the sun glinting off his armor, a commanding posture, and a smile that suggested confidence. Then his horse tripped on a stray stone, sending him nearly face-first into the mud. He flailed his arms dramatically.
"Fear not!" he called, regaining his footing with exaggerated flair. "All part of the plan! Tactical humility demonstration!"
Rowan burst out laughing. "Strategic? More like tragic!"
Icarus, however, remained composed, silver eyes observing the man with calm interest. So this is the legendary Commander? Clumsy, yes… but there's something else beneath the chaos.
Alaric straightened, brushing mud off his armor, and addressed the villagers. "Greetings, loyal citizens! Fear not! I am Sir Alaric, most noble, heroic, and occasionally clumsy Commander of the Holy Knights. Today, we will discover the latent power of your children. Potential prodigies among you may one day save the kingdom—or, at the very least, not burn it down!"
He wobbled slightly and nearly tripped again, eliciting more laughter from Rowan.
The Testing Begins
Children were called forward one by one. Some glowed faintly with the crystal's resonance, revealing small elemental affinities—fire, water, earth, or air. Others barely lit at all. A few grew nervous, sweat beading on their foreheads as they tried to summon even the smallest spark.
Rowan, of course, managed to make a small explosion of smoke that covered his head entirely. "Told you!" he shouted, emerging from the smoke like a victorious warrior.
Icarus sighed but did not intervene. Rowan was harmless, and the boy's antics were nothing he hadn't seen in his old life.
Finally, it was Icarus's turn. He stepped forward, silver hair catching the sun, silver eyes steady and calm. He reached out and placed his small hand on the crystal.
The response was immediate and violent.
The crystal glowed red, then blue, green, and yellow, each element lighting up in succession. Flames curled around his fingers, water spiraled into perfect spheres, wind whirled around him, and earth lifted slightly from the ground.
But it did not stop there. A faint shadow stirred beneath the crystal, responding to his energy. Lightning crackled along the edges of the pedestal. A tiny column of flame rose into the sky. The crystal began to hum loudly, the vibrations reverberating through the square.
Sir Alaric nearly fainted. "By the gods… I… I did not expect this!"
Rowan gawked. "Uh… Moon-Eyes, you're supposed to touch it, not obliterate it!"
Icarus, calm as ever, withdrew his hand. The crystal shuddered violently and then… cracked, splitting down the middle with a blinding flash. Rainbow-colored beams shot into the sky, momentarily casting the entire village into stark light and shadow.
The villagers screamed in awe, some dropping to their knees. Mothers clutched their children. The merchants dropped baskets.
Sir Alaric adjusted his stance, trying to appear dignified. "Extraordinary… completely extraordinary! Moonborn, you may have just… um… redefined the crystal's limits. Yes. Very impressive."
Rowan peeked from behind Icarus, grinning. "Well… that's one way to make an entrance."
Icarus's gaze remained steady, unshaken by the chaos around him. He had experienced far worse in his previous life. A shattered crystal? A screaming crowd? Small disturbances in the natural order. Nothing could unbalance him.
Recognition by the Commander
Sir Alaric approached, taking careful steps to avoid any stray beams of residual energy. "From this day forth," he said, bowing slightly, "you are my apprentice. Moonborn. And I—Commander of the Holy Knights—shall do my utmost to… well… try not to trip over your destiny."
Icarus inclined his head politely. "I will do my best."
Rowan nudged him. "Best already, huh? Already have a clumsy mentor and glowing hair. Life's perfect."
Alaric clapped Rowan on the shoulder, nearly sending him tumbling. "And you, young man, are officially under my supervision as well. Try not to blow up too much, yes?"
Rowan grinned sheepishly. "No promises."
Selene's First Appearance
As the crowd began to settle, a hush fell over the square. From the castle gates, a figure appeared on horseback. Her hair gleamed like gold in the sunlight, eyes sharp and curious. Princess Selene.
She dismounted gracefully, walking toward the crystal. Her gaze lingered on Icarus, taking in the silver hair, glowing eyes, and the aftermath of the shattered crystal.
"So this is the famous Moonborn," she said, voice playful yet measured. "The boy who shattered a crystal yesterday… and probably terrified the entire village."
Rowan whispered in awe, "Uh… do we bow? Wave? Make him like us?"
Icarus only nodded politely. "Your Highness."
Selene smiled faintly, crossing her arms. "You have potential, Moonborn. I hope the stories are true."
Icarus's calm demeanor met her gaze steadily, silver eyes unwavering. "I will live up to them."
Rowan elbowed him. "Smooth, Moon-Eyes. Very impressive. Don't trip over your words like our mentor does."
Selene laughed quietly. "I like your friend. He's… amusing."
The Aftermath
The villagers buzzed with excitement and fear. Rumors spread like wildfire: a prodigy, a child with power beyond imagination, a potential savior—or harbinger of disaster.
Icarus, however, was calm. He understood the weight of his abilities, even at ten years old. This was only the beginning. He had a long path to mastery, a friend by his side, a clumsy yet devoted mentor, and a princess who might yet become more than a distant observer.
Rowan, of course, had other priorities. "So… when do we start blowing stuff up? I mean… safely, of course."
Icarus allowed himself a faint smile. Yes, we'll learn. We'll grow. And someday, this power will mean something.
Sir Alaric, attempting to regain dignity, tripped once more over a loose stone, muttering, "Ah… part of the training. For… humility!"
Rowan doubled over laughing. "I told you! The guy's a disaster!"
Icarus only shook his head, silver eyes reflecting the morning sun. And yet, this is the team I have. My destiny begins here