The peaceful life of Castiel's family in Eldoria continued unabated. Months had passed, and they had slowly adapted to the way of life of the Druids who resided there.
A quiet morning was broken by Castiel as he emerged from their little cottage, his face alight with joy.
"Yay! Another new day!"
The smell of burnt toast wafted through the house from the kitchen. Standing next to the magic stove, Helene gently reminded her child.
"Be careful, dear, and avoid the thorny plants."
At the doorway stood Arthur, his tall and muscular frame making the cottage seem even smaller.
He gave a calm but meaningful reminder.
"Do your best in your training, and always be respectful. Show your skills, but stay humble."
Hearing the advice from his parents, Castiel turned back to them and waved enthusiastically.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad! I love you!"
He then continued on his way, the fresh breeze enhancing his sense of well-being. As he walked, he passed by his friends playing.
"Hey, guys! How are you? I need to hurry today. See you later!"
His steps quickened with a mix of urgency and slight anxiety.
"I might get scolded by Queen Elara again if I'm late!"
Pim, one of his Druid friends, gave him a playful push.
"You're always getting in trouble. When have you not been scolded by her? You're so naughty."
They laughed together briefly before Castiel waved and hurried off again.
"Okay, everyone, see you later!"
As he approached the open space near his destination, his excitement grew. From a distance, he saw a magnificent stone altar, its runes glowing as if they had a life of their own.
Finally, he spotted Queen Elara patiently waiting beside the altar. Her presence was enchanting and regal. She lowered her hood, revealing her golden hair and bright green eyes.
She greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, little one."
Her voice was soft yet powerful, bringing a sense of peace when heard.
"The new morning holds the promise of purpose."
Castiel couldn't contain his excitement upon hearing the Queen's voice.
"Good morning! I'm ready, Queen! What are we learning today?"
Queen Elara's eyes smiled as she heard the child's eager voice.
"Today, we will deepen your understanding of elemental magic."
Upon hearing this, his anticipation for new knowledge grew.
He rubbed his hands together.
"Wow! I can't wait! I'll give it my all! I promise!"
She smiled warmly, witnessing his enthusiasm.
"Since you've learned the basics, I'll teach you the 'Celestial Vortex.'"
"Celestial Vortex? That sounds amazing! What is it?"
The Queen began to explain, her tone calm and deliberate as she walked him through the steps. Castiel listened intently, smiling.
The Queen demonstrated the spell using her magic, gracefully swirling different elements in her hands, forming a vortex.
His mouth gaped open as he watched carefully.
"Whoa!"
Queen Elara stepped back to give him space.
"Now, it's your turn."
He focused, his brows furrowed. He felt the flow of his mana, but something was off. Instead of forming a vortex, he produced a weak water spell.
Disappointment clouded his face. He kicked the ground in frustration.
"Huh? What was that? Why did it happen like that?"
The Queen chuckled softly and offered gentle advice.
"Patience, little one. Feel the magic—like the heartbeat of the world. Try again."
He tried again, but this time, a simple fire spell flickered before vanishing. Once more, he failed.
Yet he muttered to himself, determined. He bit his lip.
"Aww, come on! I can do this!"
Noticing his frustration, the Queen offered more advice.
"Mastery is a journey, not a destination. Imagine the dance of the magic."
Hours passed, but he still couldn't create the vortex. Despite wanting to give up many times, he persisted. He took a deep breath, setting aside his feelings. He focused intensely, thinking of the elements, but managed only a stronger wind spell. The wind whipped through the open space, sending leaves flying.
Queen Elara's eyes widened at the powerful spell—though not the vortex, it was stronger than a normal spell and truly impressive.
"Impressive. You're close. Before casting, visualize it in all its glory. Watch me again."
She cast the vortex again, the elements dancing in her hands, creating a beautiful display. Castiel's determination solidified.
He knocked his two small fists together.
"Amazing! I know I can do that too!"
He concentrated even more, thinking of the elements. He felt the flow of his strong mana, his eyes closed. Slowly, the spell formed in his hands. When he felt it, he shouted as he released it, a storm roaring and shaking the ground.
"CELESTIAL VORTEX!!!"
But he couldn't control it; the vortex grew larger and stronger. His initial joy turned to fear. Queen Elara, alarmed, quickly created a protective barrier, but the vortex was too powerful.
"Stop, Castiel! Control it—hold it back."
But he couldn't. The vortex intensified, sucking in air and debris around it. The ground shook more violently, and ancient trees groaned.
Queen Elara struggled to contain the raging magic, casting her own spells to try and restrain it. But it wouldn't be stopped. The runes on the altar glowed, heightening the chaos.
"Castiel, concentrate!"
Her voice was strained with effort. Her once calm face turned serious.
"You must regain control!"
His hands trembled, sweat forming on his brow as he struggled to restrain his immense power.
"I'm trying! But it's not working!"
The vortex threatened to tear the space apart. Queen Elara's calm demeanor vanished as she used all her strength to contain the magic. She pleaded, her eyes filled with determination.
"Hold on, Castiel! Don't let fear take over!"
His chest tightened with desperation. He closed his eyes, calming his breathing. He visualized the elements, as Queen Elara had shown him. Slowly, he felt a slight sense of control.
He whispered, his tone desperate.
"Please, work!"
The raging spell began to weaken. With the Queen's magic aiding, the elements gradually calmed.
The vortex slowly dissipated, and silence returned. Exhausted, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry, Queen Elara. I didn't mean to cause such chaos."
Queen Elara, also fatigued, kneeled beside him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Do not fear, little mage. What you did was impressive. But mastery requires control and harmony. You are on the right path."
He looked up, gazing at the queen's face. His tears slowly subsided. He felt a sense of calm after hearing her voice.
"Thank you, Queen Elara."
He wiped his tears and continued.
"I couldn't have done it without you."
"My guidance is but a spark—the fire is within your spirit. Rest now, Castiel. You've used much mana today. We will continue at the next dawn."
He nodded and hugged the queen, waving energetically before saying goodbye. The smile returned to his face as he realized he had progressed in his magical knowledge. He was excited to share his day's lessons with his parents.
-----
From a distance, as he approached their little cottage, he saw a familiar figure emerging from the door—Thistlebranch, his mentor in physical combat.
It wasn't usual for him to visit their home, so Castiel felt a twinge of curiosity about his presence. There was something odd about him that Castiel couldn't quite place.
He waved energetically and called out.
"Hey, sir! How are you? I'm happy you visited!"
But Thistlebranch ignored him, a strange glint in his eyes as he smiled slyly before quickly leaving and disappearing from sight. Castiel's curiosity deepened.
He shook his head slightly and smiled again before continuing.
"Did he not see me? Or hear me? What's his problem?"
"Is he in a bad mood? Or maybe he's getting old! Haha, probably both!"
He hurried to their cottage, carefully opening the door. A chilling silence greeted him, and the stench of rust filled the air—a smell unfamiliar and deeply unsettling.
A sense of foreboding washed over him as he announced his arrival, hoping for a warm embrace from his parents.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"
But there was no response. His heart began to race. He quickly checked the empty rooms, his voice echoing as he called for his parents.
"Mom? Dad? Where are you?"
Still no response, and he saw nothing. His curiosity deepened.
"Hmm. Maybe they just went out and haven't come back yet."
But the thought of Thistlebranch's presence added to his growing anxiety.
"Wait, if no one was here, what was Thistlebranch doing here?"
Despite his rising fear, his stomach growled in hunger, pulling him back to a mundane reality.
He shook his head, trying to grasp any sense of normalcy.
"Never mind! I'll just eat first!"
As he reached the kitchen, he froze. His heart pounded even faster, and tears began to fall from his small face. His parents lay on the floor, riddled with stab wounds and drenched in their own blood.
Beside them was a familiar, bloodied dagger. Castiel immediately recognized it—it was Thistlebranch's, the one he often used during their training sessions. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed him—sorrow, disbelief, and a rising fury.
"M-Mom? D-Dad? What is this? Please get up!"
He collapsed to his knees, his trembling hands touching the cold, lifeless skin of his parents. His cries echoed within their home.
"NOOO!!!"
He stared at the faces of his lifeless parents. He couldn't accept the reality. He began to weep beside them. His body shook violently, and he fell into despair.
A powerful aura emanated from him, causing a slight tremor. The air thickened with his raging emotions.
But he tried to calm himself and spoke to his lifeless parents with a desperate plea, holding their hands.
"Mom? Dad? Please, stop joking! Get up! Let's eat!"
But there was no response. Only his cries and the echo of his voice filled the room. The silence and the emptiness only intensified his raging anger.
Consumed by grief and overwhelming rage, he felt a surge of uncontrollable mana. He punched the floor, causing cracks and the collapse of the house's pillars. His screams reverberated through the crumbling walls and falling roof.
But he remained unharmed, his intense aura forming a protective shield around him.
He sat amidst the ruins, continuing to cry. His mind was a storm of emotions. Memories of his parents' smiles, warm hugs, and love flashed vividly in his mind.
The image of Thistlebranch's sly smile reignited in his mind, fueling the flames of his determination to seek vengeance and intensifying his anger.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you, you monster! You plague!"
But the memories of his experiences with his mentor flooded his mind. This only deepened the pain in his heart.
"How could he do this? Why? How could he kill the two most important people in my life?"
He was consumed by the desire to find Thistlebranch and hold him accountable for this monstrous act.
Amidst the storm of emotions, a familiar voice pierced through the chaos.