Five-year-old Arthur sat on his bed. A thick book about Arken's history and legends lay open on his lap.
But his mind was not in the book. He gazed at the clouds outside his windows with empty eyes.
It had been a year since his parents died and four months since his attribute evaluation.
He was devastated to find out he didn't have an attribute. The scholars suggested he could be a late bloomer.
But a person manifesting an attribute after the age of five was unheard of, a fact the elders of the branch family emphasized as they insisted on exiling him.
Finally, his uncle came up with a compromise. The branch family can take ownership of Night Manor in Solaris City, the capital of Solaria and the main family can move to the much older Night Manor near Lunaris city.
It took about three months to renovate the 2000-year-old manor house and rebuild the dock. Afterward, he and his siblings moved in.
Arthur spent most of his time indoors, usually in his room, reading books but his mind was not always in them. He didn't spend time with his siblings and was always alone.
The doctor told his uncle that Arthur was still suffering from the trauma of the death of his parents. But who can blame him, his parents died in front of the poor kid's eyes.
It was a fine day and Arthur was still in his melancholic mood when suddenly the doors of his room burst open. He turned and saw to his surprise, a little girl of his age standing in the doorway looking around.
Her ginger hair flowed over her soldiers and her dress fit snugly on her petite frame. She looked around with her amber eyes and finally saw Arthur.
"Oh. I didn't know this room was occupied. Sorry for barging inside.", she smiled sheepishly and walked to him. Arthur was too surprised to process what happened.
She stood beside his bed and saw the book on his lap.
Her eyes lit up, "A Guide to Arken's History And Legends! That is one of my favorite books! If you can read it, then you're like me.", she said, her face beaming.
"What?", Arthur snapped out of his shock. He was surprised to find someone else of his age who knows the book that lay on his lap, "You can understand this book?"
"Of course! I've read it many times. That's because I am smart. I think you are smart since you can read it. But not as smart as me.", the girl said with a smug smile.
Arthur frowned, "Who are you?"
"Oh. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Vesta Freydis. I will be living here from now on.", she said.
"What?", Arthur was confused again.
Vesta frowned, "What is your name? It is rude considering I told you mine."
"Oh. My name is Arthur Night."
"Arthur Night? Oh, so you are the gloomy younger brother of big sis Alice.", Vesta said. "Gloomy?", Arthur asked.
Vesta nodded, "Your sister told me you always spend your time inside and you never smiled for a year."
She frowned, "I find it hard to not smile for an entire year."
"You would if your parents died in front of you.", Arthur said and looked away.
"I've never seen my parents. I only knew who they were today when uncle John told me about them.", Vesta said.
"But don't you miss them?", Arthur asked.
Vesta shrugged, "How can I miss someone I have never met?".
'She has a point.', Arthur thought.
He heard footsteps outside his room, "Vesta? Are you in here?", John Night said as he knocked on the door.
"I am here uncle John.", Vesta replied.
The door opened and John saw Vesta beside Arthur's bed. He smiled, "I see you have already met Arthur."
Vesta nodded, "He is smart but strange. He never smiles."
"Excuse me?", Arthur frowned.
John laughed, "He has his reasons. Perhaps you will be the one to make him smile, Vesta.", he looked at Arthur.
"This is Vesta. She's the daughter of your mom's friend. Her parents were one the best spies in Arken. Because of their job, they couldn't meet their daughter. It was also to protect her from enemies.", John explained.
"So Vesta never saw them and stayed with her grandmother till now. Unfortunately, her parents died a week ago when their ship was attacked by a storm."
"Her parents told your mother to take Vesta in if something ever happened to them. Unfortunately, she passed away along with your dad. So I decided to take her in to honor the promise my sister made to Vesta's mother."
John looked at Arthur, "So Vesta will be staying here. Are you okay with that Arthur?"
Arthur nodded, "Sure. But why ask me?"
"Probably because you are the same age as Vesta?", John wondered aloud with a smile.
"Whatever.", Arthur sighed.
Suddenly Vesta grabbed his hands, "What are you doing?", Arthur demanded, his face turning red.
"Thank you for letting me stay!", Vesta beamed at him. "Uh. Okay?", Arthur responded uncertainly.
"That's it! I will make you smile to show my appreciation.", she declared and ran outside the room.
"HUH?", Arthur was at a loss.
John laughed, "She is a lively one. Perhaps she will be the one to bring back your smile.", he looked at Arthur.
"I seriously doubt it.", Arthur said as he turned back to his bed. "You have to let go of the past Arthur. You are carrying too much burden for a five-year-old.", John said worriedly.
"How can I let go? I always have nightmares of that day.", Arthur retorted, his eyes becoming moist, "I was the one who saw them get killed. Not Alice, not Allistair. But me!", Arthur collapsed on his bed and hid his face in the pillow.
John sighed and exited the room. He closed the door and leaned against it, "He was such a happy kid back then."
A few days passed.
Arthur was looking outside his window when the doors burst open and Vesta came in. "Come outside Arthur! I want to show you something amazing!", She said excitedly.
"I'll pass.", Arthur said and went back to looking outside.
"You're such a letdown.", Vesta pouted. She grabbed his hand, "Hey!", Arthur protested as she dragged him out of the room.
Alice was practicing with a wooden sword in the huge courtyard and Allistair was relaxing on the grass.
"What the...", Alice stopped mid-swing as she saw Vesta dragging Arthur out to the courtyard. "That is a curious sight.", Allistair remarked as the five-year-olds passed them.
Soon both of them reached the lake. "What are you doing?", Arthur pulled back his hand, annoyed.
"Check this out.", Vesta held out her palm. The air shimmered over it and suddenly a flame erupted over it and burned brightly.
"Whoa.", Arthur was amazed by the flame and felt a nice warmth from it, "You manifested your attribute?"
Vesta nodded excitedly, "I did the test, and guess what, I got two attributes.", she extinguished the flame.
"Two?", Arthur was surprised, "Which is your second one?", he asked.
"It's a secret for now. Uncle John told me not to speak about it but I will tell you as soon as I am allowed.", Vesta said and winked.
"Oh. I envy you. You have such amazing attributes.", Arthur said sadly. "Is it because you don't have an attribute?", Vesta asked. He nodded.
"I don't think that not having an attribute means you're weak.", Vesta smiled, "If lacking an attribute is your weakness, then improve your strengths. That is what my grandma used to say."
"Really?", Arthur asked, doubtful.
"Of course, my grandma never lies to me. You are a really smart guy, so use your superior intelligence to outsmart people, become skillful with one thing and create your own style. You have magia right?", she asked.
Arthur nodded, "Yeah. I do."
"Then improve your control of magia. And if you are still weak, don't worry because I will protect you. Grandma taught me how to fight.", Vesta puffed her chest.
"What kind of a grandparent teaches their five-year-old grandchild to fight?"
"Mine does. Grandma was weird but she was really kind.", Vesta said.
"Was? What happened?", Arthur asked. Vesta shrugged.
"She went on a long journey and I haven't heard of her since. Perhaps she forgot to write a letter."
"Ah."
"But Grandma said something before she left.", Vesta said. "What is it?", Arthur asked.
"She said that the greatest thing for a person is a friend.", Vesta replied.
"A friend?", Arthur asked. Vesta nodded and held out her hand, "So will you be my friend?"
Arthur was surprised, he looked away, "But I am a gloomy boy, you said it yourself and I can't let go of the night my parents died."
"If you can't let go of the past, then accept it.", Vesta said with a smile. "Did your grandma say that too?", Arthur asked.
Vesta shook her head, "Nah. I just thought of that right now.", she tilted her head, "Are you going to shake my hand? It is starting to hurt."
"Alright.", Arthur shook her hand and for the first time in a year, he smiled.
"You finally smiled!", Vesta exclaimed. She started running towards Alice and Allistair, "The last one to reach big sis Alice is a stinking troll!", she yelled.
Arthur chuckled and ran after his first friend.
*******
"That was a good backstory.", Robin said as they reached the outskirts of the woods. The huge walls of Crystalis city peeked between the trees.
"I'm not done yet.", Arthur smiled. "There's more?", Gray asked. He nodded.
"I met Ray and Minerva afterward. The four of us had an amazing time. Then three years later, Vesta entered the Shadow Sect saying that it was the best way for her to protect me."
"And I was correct.", Vesta piped in. "Yeah, you were. Don't rub it in.", Arthur rolled his eyes.
He continued, "Vesta was ten when she finished her Shadow training and by the time she returned to Night Manor, she was still the same person but something changed. Her cheerfulness was mellowed and she became a bit more serious."
"Yeah. That happens in the Shadow Sect. I don't know how it's done but even bawling wimps become cold and hardened individuals by the time they leave the Sect.", Robin said.
They finally reached the city gates. "This is as far as I will go. From now on I have to remain hidden. The common folk doesn't know we exist and I believe walking in the city fully armed will be frowned upon by many.", Vesta said.
She nodded to Seventeen and Ruth, "It is a pleasure to meet you two.", she winked at Arthur, "I will be watching you."
Arthur shivered at the thought, "Yeah."
"Vesta. If you ever feel like it, you can sit in Special Class A. You are welcome.", Seventeen said.
Vesta looked at him with surprise, "Thank you instructor Seventeen. I will make sure to stop by your class.", she recovered and thanked him.
She turned around. One of the rings on her hand glowed with a gray color and she sank into the shadow of the city walls.
"I presume that ring gives her the Shadow attribute?", Ruth asked. Arthur nodded.
"Speaking of attributes.", Seventeen looked at Robin, "You said she has two attributes. Which is the second one?"
Robin looked uncertain, "I don't know what it is but I do know that it is a powerful attribute."
"I can tell you. Vesta told me about her second attribute after she returned from the Sect.", Arthur said.
"Are you sure? Shouldn't you be keeping it a secret?", Ruth asked. "I'm only telling the attribute name. Not her proficiency over it.", Arthur assured. He took a deep breath and looked everyone in the eye.
"Vesta's second attribute is Time."