The morning sun had yet to pierce the thick walls of Castle Krest, but inside the training hall, a different kind of dawn was approaching. Today was the Awakening Day For the fifteen-year-olds gathered here, it was the day their lives would irrevocably change.
Yurn stood at attention in the grey, windowless room. The space was ten meters square, bare save for a few candles flickering in metal sconces, casting long shadows over the rows of students. A half-meter of empty stone separated each young person. At fifteen and 1.75 meters tall, Yurn had the lean, conditioned build common to all the castle's recruits. His black hair and dark eyes were fixed ahead, his handsome face set in a mask of calm anticipation.
Right on time, Master Dan entered, his boots echoing on the stone. A man in his late fifties with a grim face, grey stubble, and greying hair, he wore segmented armor over his torso and arms. He carried a crate, which he thumped down before the students.
"Today," his voice rang out, "you awaken. Today, you begin your true purpose: to serve as humanity's guards against the filthy trolls here at Castle Krest."
A solemn silence settled over some of the students. Dan let it hang for a moment before continuing. "The potion will stimulate your core's awakening. You will gain a Tier 1 core and affinity for two personal elements. Elements are divided into common and special. The common are Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. You will gain primary attunement to two—your personal elements—and secondary attunement to the others. Some," he said, his tone dismissive, "may be talentless enough to receive only a single common element. Do not hope for a special element; those only manifest at Tier 4. As for tiers, there are ten, each divided into four levels, marked by the color of your core."
The students' eyes were locked on the crate, their minds barely registering the well-rehearsed speech. They knew all this.
"When I call your name," Dan barked, "you will come forward, take your potion, and drink it. I will then announce your elements. Rin! Front and center!"
A boy from the middle of the ranks stepped forward. He took the offered vial, drank it, and waited. A few seconds passed. "Why isn't anything—?" he began, before his words dissolved into a raw scream. He crumpled to his knees, overcome by the violent pain of his core forming. As suddenly as it came, the agony vanished, leaving behind a green core the shape of a sphere with the size of an adult man's hand in his plexus right above the stomach within him—the mark of a Tier 1 core.
Master Dan observed him coolly. "Rin. Personal elements: Water and Earth."
One by one, the students came forward. Each met their own wave of pain; some screamed, some groaned, a few bore it in clenched silence. Then it was Aris's turn. Yurn's only friend was 1.76 meters tall, with a similar build, golden hair, and striking golden eyes. He drank the potion, and when the pain hit, he merely gritted his teeth, his body trembling but refusing to buckle.
Dan gave a slight, appreciative nod. "Aris. Personal elements: Air and Fire."
Finally, it was Yurn's turn. He strode forward, drank the bitter liquid, and faced the erupting fire in his veins with the same stubborn defiance as his friend. The pain crested and faded, leaving a warm, green energy pulsating at his center.
Master Dan studied him. His brow furrowed slightly. "Yurn. Earth and Fire…" He hesitated, his eyes narrowing as if double-checking an unexpected reading. "…as well as Air. Personal elements."
A ripple of shock passed through the room. Whispers broke out.
"Silence!" Dan commanded. "It is uncommon, but a triple affinity is possible. Rare. Even rarer are those with affinity for all four common elements—once-in-a-generation geniuses. Do not let it distract you."
The remaining awakenings proceeded without further surprise. When the last student was done, Dan addressed them again. "You now have the means. Your personal elements will answer your will, but you are weak. You are Tier 1. Your task is to practice, to control your mana, and to master your affinities. Now, dismissed. Return to your quarters."
---
Evening had fallen by the time Yurn left the hall. He was halfway down the dim, candlelit corridor when an arm hooked around his neck from behind, another hand vigorously ruffling his hair.
"What the heck, man?" Yurn laughed, shoving his attacker off.
Aris grinned, falling into step beside him. "I'm proud of you! Triple affinity is no joke."
"You know it's not that big a deal," Yurn replied. "Lots of guards have it. But you… the way you took the pain without flinching? That was awesome."
Aris looked at him dubiously. "You did the exact same thing… Wait." He paused, realization dawning. "Are you trying to make me feel better?"
"Why would I think you needed that?" Yurn said, pushing him playfully toward their dormitory. "Now come on, before they lock the doors."
Their room was like all the others: two meters by three, with no bathroom. Two narrow beds flanked the walls, with tiny nightstands and space beneath for meager possessions. A single narrow slit of a window high on the far wall admitted a sliver of moonlight. Yurn shut the door, and a thick silence filled the cramped space.
Yurn broke it, his voice low. "Finally. We have the means to escape."
"A means, not a method," Aris corrected, sitting on his bed. "We still need the keys to the underground tunnels—the ones the leaders use for escape and as a dungeon. And even with keys, the commander wouldn't leave them unguarded." He waved his right hand, and the air stirred. A tiny, ten-centimeter stream of flame danced over his left palm. "We need to get stronger first."
"Yes," Yurn agreed. He focused. A small pebble on the floor trembled, then lifted an inch into the air before dropping. A flame, no larger than a baby's hand, bloomed above his right palm. The air around it stirred at his thought, causing the fire to surge before he snuffed it with a closing fist. "I can feel them… the earth, the fire, the air. The connection is real."
"It's our ticket out of this shithole," Aris said, his voice firm. "By the way, what did Lisa get?"
"Fire and Earth," Yurn answered, sitting and pulling off his shoes.
Aris moved to sit beside him. "I can't wait to leave, Yurn. To see the world. First, I'm going back to my village. I need to see my parents." His voice softened. "I know they sold me. Probably out of necessity. But I have to see them one more time."
Yurn stared at the wall. "Same for me. My village is farther. My father took me by force, handed me over. I still remember my mother… she was crying when they pulled me away."
"None of that matters if we're stuck here," Aris said, his golden eyes hard in the dim light. "To get out, we need to get stronger."
---
At that same moment, Master Dan stood before the captain's personal quarters, a report in hand. He knocked.
"Enter."
Captain Ralph, a man in his late thirties with sharp brown eyes and black hair streaked with grey, was lounging with his feet on his desk. He took the report as Dan offered a deep bow.
Ralph skimmed the pages, his expression settling into disappointment. "Only five promising recruits? And just one triple affinity? Pathetic."
"Yes, sir," Dan replied. "With the Blue Fang Tribe mobilizing against Krest, the numbers are… worrying. I recommend authorizing more collections from the villages while we strengthen the outer defenses."
Captain Ralph nodded slowly, tossing the report onto his desk. "You're right. Double their training drills. Start tomorrow. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir." Dan bowed again and retreated, closing the door softly behind him.
Alone, Captain Ralph leaned back, his eyes on the ceiling. He whispered the name like a curse and a promise.
"Blue Fang Tribe."