Time flew by—a year, just like that. My elemental training had become so instinctive it felt like an extension of myself. Each day, as I honed my powers, I found myself becoming more familiar with the Darkshadow family. My older sister, Aurora, was ten years my senior, always there to "comfort" me and my father, Xedeth, always there for a good laugh, sometimes I wondered if he really is the Demon King. As for my mother, not much to say there, just an angel in a demon's skin.
As for me, my mastery over the elements progressed so smoothly that it almost felt like an extension of my body, like second nature. The fire, water, wind, and earth—all were at my command.
One crisp morning, with the chill of early autumn in the air, I found myself casually hurling a fireball the size of a small car into the sky. (Don't ask why—it seemed like a good idea at the time, and besides, it was fun.)
As the flames soared upward, I noticed a flock of birds flying overhead. A dark impulse flickered within me. I know it's cruel, but for the sake of training, I decided to take one down. Or perhaps, if I was lucky, I'd hit more than one.
"Gomen ne, pakkun," I said or tried to say,(it didn't sound quite right.) under my breath as I prepared another fireball. It had quickly become my favourite elemental attack. Something about the raw, destructive energy of fire made it the most satisfying to wield.
Without a second thought, I released the fireball, feeling no remorse. My aim was true. It was necessary for my training; I couldn't afford to be weak. Not again.
I watched as a few birds plummeted to the ground, and a brief, fleeting sense of accomplishment washed over me. Was it cruel? Perhaps. But in my mind, the ends justified the means.
As the day wore on and the afternoon sun reached its peak, I decided it was time for a break. My mother would be coming soon to check on me, as she always did. I typically tried to pretend I was asleep when she arrived, hoping to avoid any interruptions. Anything to prolong my precious free time.
Using a wind-element trick I had mastered some time ago, I floated gently into my cradle, the magic carrying me effortlessly. I settled in just as I heard footsteps approaching.
Sure enough, a few moments later, Lara, entered the room. She had a habit of simply standing by the door, watching me in silence. I could feel her eyes on me, as if she were trying to ensure that I was truly resting. Such a kind mother.
I did my best to keep still, to hold my breath and maintain the appearance of a sleeping infant.
After what felt like an eternity, she smiled softly, content that I was asleep, and quietly closed the door behind her.
The moment she left, I wasted no time. I slipped out of the cradle, hovering in the air as I flew toward the window. The sky outside was still a bright blue, perfect for continuing my practice. I resumed my elemental exercises, summoning wind and fire as I tested my limits. I often wondered if there were other spells or abilities in this world, something beyond just controlling the elements. Perhaps one day I would discover them. But for now, the elements were all I had.
Sometime later, while in the midst of another fireball, I was hit with a sudden, blinding pain. It shot through my eyes like molten iron, and I doubled over in agony. It felt as if my head were being pounded from all sides, like someone had decided to use it as a punching bag. My vision blurred, and everything around me began to flicker and warp. The world spun, colors and shapes swirling together in a dizzying blur. Nothing made sense. I tried to cry out for help, but the pain was overwhelming, as if my skull were caught in a vise.
Then, just like that, darkness consumed me.
When I came to, I found myself lying back in my cradle, safe and sound. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up to see Lara hovering over me, her eyes filled with worry and tears. She had clearly been through an emotional storm, and I didn't need to guess why. Finding her one-year-old son unconscious on the floor must have been terrifying. How had the baby gotten out of the cradle? Why was he lying there, unresponsive? Those questions surely raced through her mind.
Seeing her so sad and worried made me feel a stab of guilt. It wasn't her fault.
Then, the door creaked open—or at least, I thought it did. It seemed to open and close before finally staying open. The chandelier's candles flickered unnervingly, casting long shadows that danced across the room. Everything felt wrong, off-kilter, and it was stressing me out. My perception of time and reality was completely unbalanced—one moment things happened too soon, the next they were delayed.
My father, Xedeth, stormed into the room, but his entrance played out in slow motion, only to speed up in an instant. "Is he okay?" he demanded, he rushed to my side, though it seemed like he had already done that. I was seeing two of him.
"What happened?" he asked, panic evident in his tone.
"I don't know," my mother replied, her voice shaky. "I just found him on the ground."
Although they were both doubtful,they both assumed I had simply fallen. A classic misinterpretation.
After that incident, they checked on me more frequently, cutting my practice hours drastically. They were far more cautious, and while I understood their concerns, it was frustrating. I wanted to push my limits, not be coddled.
After that day, I realized I had gained a new ability—foresight. I could see the future.
At first, it was confusing. I would see ghostly, translucent versions of people or objects moving just before they actually did. Over time, I grew used to it. I could see a few seconds into the future, constantly and without pause. While it made avoiding my sister's cheek-pinching much easier, it also meant I was hyper-aware of everything happening around me.
I suppose, as the son of a demon king, powers like these are to be expected.
Speaking of which, next week was a big event—my official introduction to the inhabitants of the demon kingdom. My parents were practically buzzing with excitement as they prepared for the day.
I, on the other hand, wasn't all that thrilled. But what could I do? I'm just a baby.