The Starling mansion stood grand and still as the warm afternoon sun bathed its walls in a golden glow. The gardens, usually calm and serene, were suddenly disturbed by a frantic voice cutting through the air.
"Young master! Where are you?" cried Rosie, one of the Starling household maids, as she sprinted through the lush greenery, her voice growing more urgent with every passing moment. "Young master Alexander!"
Hidden inside a thick bush, a small figure crouched low, stifling a giggle. Alexander Starling—now five years old—was holding his breath, hoping the rustling leaves around him wouldn't give him away. His bright eyes sparkled with mischief, and his silver hair, much like his father's, peeked out from the foliage.
He could hear Rosie's hurried footsteps growing closer, but before she could find him, another voice—calm but sharp—came from behind.
"What are you doing, Alex?"
Alexander froze. His heart skipped a beat, and he slowly turned his head to meet the one person in the world he feared more than anyone: his sister, Emilia. At twelve, Emilia had already grown into a formidable figure, with her silver hair flowing down her back and an aura of strength surrounding her.
"Si… sister," Alex stammered, trembling slightly. "Nothing…"
His voice wavered as he quickly thought of a way to escape, but the moment he twitched to run, Emilia was already in front of him, her movements so fast that he hadn't even seen her take a step. In the blink of an eye, her hand gripped his shoulder, preventing any further escape attempts.
"No… why is she this strong?" Alex thought, despair filling him as he realized there was no getting away.
Emilia knelt down to his eye level, her voice laced with amusement. "Why are you hiding from Rosie?"
Alex's face turned bright red, and he kicked at the dirt in frustration. "I don't want her to bathe me! I'm a big boy, you know."
Emilia raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. "A big boy, huh?" she chuckled softly. "You couldn't even run away from me. Go take your bath."
Her words hit him like a hammer, and though he pouted and mumbled under his breath, Alexander had no choice but to obey. He shot his sister a playful glare before trudging off toward Rosie, who was now waiting for him with her hands on her hips, a knowing smile on her face.
A short while later, inside the large Starling mansion bathroom, the scene was quite different. The room was enormous, with walls adorned with intricate designs and marble floors that shimmered under the glow of enchanted lights. In the center stood a massive bathtub, its surface bubbling with warm water.
Alexander sat inside, sulking as Rosie gently scrubbed his hair. The warm water made him feel drowsy, but his curiosity soon got the better of him.
"Rosie," Alex asked, his voice breaking the silence, "where are Mom and Dad? I've barely seen them all week."
Rosie smiled brightly, clearly happy to answer. "Young mistress Emilia's 13th birthday is coming up soon, isn't it? They're busy with the preparations for her Talent Awakening Ceremony."
"Talent Awakening Ceremony?" Alex repeated, tilting his head. "What's that?"
Rosie placed a soft cloth on the side of the tub and leaned in slightly, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "It's a special ceremony for all children when they turn thirteen. That's when they awaken their Talent, a unique ability that will help them grow stronger."
Alex's eyes widened. "But Emilia's already really strong! She's good at swordsmanship and martial arts. Isn't that enough? What's this Talent thing?"
Rosie chuckled softly and resumed scrubbing. "Oh, young master, there are two kinds of skills in this world: Natural skills and Talents. The ones your sister already has—like swordsmanship, martial arts, and magic—are all Natural skills. They're things anyone can learn with enough hard work and practice. But a Talent is different."
"Different how?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Talents are unique to each person. No two people have the same Talent," Rosie explained, her voice filled with reverence. "A Talent is a gift from the world itself, something you're born with but only awaken when you turn thirteen. It defines who you'll become in the future and helps you reach your true potential."
Alex's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So, when I turn thirteen, I'll get a Talent too?"
Rosie smiled warmly. "Of course! And you'll become even stronger than your father one day."
Alexander's jaw dropped. "Stronger than Dad? Is my father really that strong?"
Rosie laughed gently as she rinsed the soap from his hair. "Your father is the second strongest person in the Empire, second only to the Emperor himself."
Alex's eyes widened even more. "Wow," he whispered in awe.
As the water continued to swirl around him, Alex's mind raced with thoughts of the future. He imagined himself standing tall, wielding some incredible Talent, facing off against powerful enemies like his father did. The idea of growing stronger filled him with excitement and hope, but there was also a slight pang of fear deep inside him—a fear that he might never live up to the great expectations placed on him.
But for now, he was just Alexander Starling, a five-year-old boy who hated bath time.
With his bath finally finished, Alex climbed out of the tub, wrapped in a soft towel. As Rosie helped him dry off, his thoughts drifted back to what she had said about Talents. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of Talent he would awaken when his time came.
Would it be something powerful like his father's? Or something unique and unexpected?
Either way, Alexander was determined to make his mark on the world, no matter what it took.
Days passed by in the Starling household, and the long-anticipated day of Emilia's Talent Awakening Ceremony finally arrived. The sun rose high, casting a golden glow over the mansion, adding to the excitement in the air. Alexander, barely able to contain his curiosity, bounced around his room, eager to see what amazing talent his sister would awaken.
Suddenly, the door to his room swung open. His father, Armon Starling, stood tall in the doorway, dressed in his ceremonial knight attire, with his silver hair gleaming in the morning light. Beside him was Sara, his mother, smiling warmly.
"Come on, Alex," Armon said, "let's go to the ceremony hall."
Alex nodded eagerly, his eyes filled with excitement as he rushed toward the grand hall with his family.
The hall was magnificent, decorated with golden banners and brilliant lights, packed with guests from all over the Great Lumenor Empire. Nobles, knights, and esteemed mages filled the seats, their eyes fixed on the central stage. At the heart of the stage, a large magical circle glowed faintly, pulsing with mystical energy, awaiting the next Starling heir.
The massive doors to the hall creaked open, and all heads turned as the Starling family entered. They greeted the guests, and whispers of admiration echoed through the crowd.
At the front of the hall stood a priest, clad in ceremonial robes. His voice boomed across the room. "Emilia Starling, please step forward and enter the magic circle."
Emilia, poised and composed, stepped onto the stage. Her silver hair shimmered as she walked gracefully to the center of the magic circle, her eyes gleaming with determination.
The priest continued, "Please drop a few drops of your blood into the center of the circle."
Without hesitation, Emilia pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the magic circle's core. Alex watched with wide eyes, gripping the edge of his seat as anticipation built up in the air.
Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from the circle. The entire room filled with golden light, swirling and dancing around Emilia. A soft hum of energy pulsed through the air as the light converged toward her, swirling faster and faster until it all entered her eyes. The glow faded, leaving her standing there, eyes gleaming with a radiant golden hue.
The priest's voice rang out, awe in his tone. "Emilia Starling has awakened the Talent of the Almighty Eye!"
The crowd gasped in amazement. The Almighty Eye was a legendary Talent, one said to grant unimaginable abilities to its wielder.
Alex's face lit up with excitement. Unable to contain himself, he dashed up to the stage and threw his arms around his sister, hugging her tightly. "Sister! That's amazing!"
Emilia smiled softly, hugging her little brother back, but as they embraced, unnoticed by most, a man hidden in the crowd grinned darkly. He wore a black cloak, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
Without warning, a dark barrier suddenly erupted around the stage, trapping Emilia, Alex, and the priest inside. The guests gasped in terror, and the entire hall descended into chaos as they tried to comprehend what was happening.
From the shadows, the cloaked man stepped forward, cackling maniacally as he made his way onto the stage. His aura was suffocating, the air growing colder with each step.
Before anyone could react, the man raised his hand, and with a sickening grin, he struck down the priest in an instant, leaving him lifeless on the ground. Alex, filled with fear, clung to Emilia's arm, his heart racing as tears welled in his eyes.
Emilia, though shaken, remained calm and composed. She placed herself protectively in front of Alex, her eyes scanning the surroundings, searching for any means of escape. Her sword glimmered as she drew it, ready to face the intruder.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady. "What do you want?"
The man threw his head back, laughing loudly. "I am Bomer, a dark mage. And what I want, girl, is simple—I want your eyes. Once I have them, I'll kill you and your little brother!"
Emilia narrowed her eyes, tightening her grip on her sword. She gently pushed Alex behind her, her protective instincts kicking in. "I won't let anything happen to my brother," she declared fiercely.
Bomer sneered, amused by her defiance. "Oh, how cute. But it's no use. This dark barrier is my Talent. It cancels all magic and abilities of those trapped inside. No one can save you."
Emilia wasn't deterred. She lunged forward, her sword flashing through the air. But Bomer melted into the shadows, his laughter echoing all around them as he launched quick, sharp attacks from the darkness, slowly wearing Emilia down. She gritted her teeth, blood trickling from small wounds as she tried to locate him in the surrounding gloom.
"This is interesting," Bomer mused, his voice slithering through the darkness. "But what will happen if I go for the boy instead? How will you react then?"
With a cruel grin, Bomer darted toward Alex, his dagger gleaming in the dim light. Emilia's heart raced as she realized his intention, and she dashed toward her brother with all her might.
Before Alex could even react, Emilia threw herself in front of him, blocking Bomer's strike with her own body. The blade plunged into her side, and she staggered back, blood soaking her dress.
"Sister?!" Alex's voice trembled with shock as he watched his sister struggle to stay on her feet, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
Emilia smiled weakly, her hand resting on Alex's shoulder. "I will always protect you, little brother," she whispered.
Alex's eyes filled with tears. "No… Sister…"
Bomer laughed again, savoring the chaos he had caused. "Well done, Starling. But now… you both die."
He lunged toward them again, his dagger aimed for a killing blow. But as Bomer closed in, Alex felt something stir deep within him. A voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations. Condition to awaken the Talent "Creation" has been met. You will now awaken it.]
Suddenly, a shimmering blue shield appeared in front of them, blocking Bomer's attack. Bomer recoiled, stunned.
"What?! What is this?!" Bomer shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How is this possible? I've already blocked Emilia's power!"
His gaze shifted to Alex, and realization dawned on him. "No… it can't be… It's this boy's power?!"
Bomer's eyes filled with panic. "I can't let this go any further. I have to kill them now!"
But before he could make another move, the dark barrier surrounding the stage shattered into pieces. Bomer froze, turning slowly, his face pale with horror.
Standing at the entrance of the hall was none other than Armon Starling, his eyes burning with fury. In a single, swift motion, Armon charged forward, and before Bomer could react, he was cut into pieces, his body disappearing into the shadows from whence he came.
Armon turned toward his children, his heart racing as he saw Alex protecting a heavily injured Emilia. Without hesitation, he rushed to them, Sara close behind.
"Alex, baby," Armon said, his voice trembling with worry. "Are you okay? What happened to your sister?"
Tears filled Alex's eyes as he looked up at his father. "She saved me… She protected me…"
"Bring the healers, now!" Armon yelled, his voice filled with urgency as he cradled Emilia in his arms.
Sara knelt beside them, tears streaming down her face as she hugged both Alex and Emilia. "We will protect you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This will never happen again."
End of Chapter 2