"You have to leave your home," Shadow stated, his words hanging heavy in the air.
"What?" I was taken aback, the idea shocking me.
"I'm not saying permanently, just temporarily. Until your academy starts, you need to become an adventurer. Only then can you truly grow your power," Shadow explained patiently.
"But how do I convince my parents? I'm too young to become an adventurer. They would never let me go," I said, the reality of the situation dawning on me.
"Don't worry. I have a plan for that," Shadow said, his tone reassuring.
"What is it?" I asked, hopeful but skeptical I was thinking what shadow was going to say.
"You have to tell them about me. You have to tell them that you have three elemental abilities and explain about the shadow element," Shadow suggested.
I was bewildered. "What? But you said that no one should know about that!"
"Yes, you are right, but they are your parents. There is nothing to worry about. It will be easier to convince them if they know the truth," Shadow reassured me.
After thinking about it for a while, I decided, "Okay, I'll do it. But not now. Tomorrow morning, when everyone's mood is fresh."
"Hmm, yes, you are right," Shadow agreed.He too was thinking it would be good to tell them when they are in fresh mood
The next morning, I woke up early, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. I went downstairs to find Mom and Dad already up, preparing breakfast.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, mingling with the early morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows.
"Good morning, Aric," Mom greeted me with a warm smile. "You're up early."
"Morning, Mom, Dad," I replied, taking a seat at the table. "There's something I need to talk to you about."
"What is it, baby? You want to tell us something?" Mom asked, her voice filled with concern as she looked at me. Her eyes searched my face, trying to gauge what was on my mind.
"Don't worry, Mother. It's not something bad; you don't have to worry," I reassured her, trying to keep my voice steady. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment.
"Then tell us, Aric. What is it you wanted to talk about?" Dad asked, his eyes narrowing with curiosity as he leaned forward slightly, hands resting on his knees.
"Yes, first let's take a seat," I suggested. We moved to the chairs around the dining table and took our seats. My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to reveal my secret.
The thought of their reaction—whether they would be happy, concerned, or something else entirely—made me nervous. But I had to tell them.
"Dad, Mom, actually, I don't only have dual elements. I also have a third element," I began, my voice slightly shaking. I saw their eyes widen in surprise.
"What do you mean, Aric? Having a third element has never been recorded. It's unheard of," Dad said, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief. He straightened in his chair, glancing at Mom.
"But I do, Dad. And it's the shadow element," I said, bracing myself for their reaction.
"What?" They both stood up in unison, their eyes wide with shock. Mom's hands flew to her mouth, and Dad's face turned pale.
"Shadow element? But how? You're not joking with us, right?" Dad asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"No, Dad, it's true. You can even talk to him," I replied, trying to calm them down.
"What? An element that can talk?" Mom's voice was filled with bewilderment as she clutched Dad's arm.
"Yes, Mom. He can talk inside my consciousness. Shadow, tell them yourself."
A moment later, Shadow spoke, "Hello, Aric's dad and mom. I am Shadow, your son's elemental power."
Hearing Shadow's voice, both Mom and Dad looked startled. I expected them to be frightened, but instead, they remained seated, their expressions shifting from shock to a mix of surprise and something else. Suddenly, they started laughing happily and hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces.
I was bewildered. Even Shadow seemed confused. "Aric, did your parents become insane?" Shadow asked inside my mind.
"No, I don't think so. What are you talking about?" I responded, still watching my parents' unexpected reaction.
"Dad, Mom, what happened?" I asked aloud, my confusion growing.
"Oh, Aric, you've given us really great news, you know?" Dad said, his eyes gleaming with pride. He wiped a tear from his eye, still holding Mom close.
"What do you mean, Dad?"
"You have awakened Shadow, Aric, which is the strongest element in the world. Only one person has successfully awakened it before.
This means you are going to be the strongest awakener in the world," Dad explained, his voice full of pride. His hand rested on my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.
Mom was crying now, tears streaming down her face. She reached out and took my hands in hers. "Yes, but I know that already. Why are you both so happy and crying?" I asked, still puzzled.
"Lyra. I think it's time to tell our boy the thing he should learn," Dad said, turning to Mom.
"Yes, honey, you are right," Mom agreed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
"What are you talking about, Mom and Dad? What do I need to know?" I asked, my curiosity and confusion intensifying.
"Aric, today we are going to tell you about our origin and how we are not originally from this kingdom," Dad said, taking a deep breath.
"What? We're not from this kingdom?" I thought, my mind racing. This revelation was unexpected, but suddenly, many things started to make sense.
I had always wondered why, despite their elemental abilities, my parents didn't have much influence. They could have easily secured prestigious jobs in the kingdom, yet we lived near commoners, leading a simple life.
But why would they choose this? I needed to understand their story before jumping to conclusions.
"Dad, Mom, please tell me more. Why did we come here? What is our true origin?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity and a hint of urgency.