A still lake nestled within the forest, where only the sound of wind rustling through the leaves broke the silence. Suddenly, the water started to ripple, then burst open as a massive fish, nearly five feet in size, leapt from the lake's center. The fish's scales gleamed green and blue in the light, its wide mouth large enough to swallow someone whole, like a monstrous catfish. Sharp, razor-like teeth lined its jaw. Clinging tightly to its massive fin was none other than Lucian. As the fish soared through the air, Lucian grabbed its tail and, with little effort, threw it onto the shore. He quickly ended its life to spare it any suffering.
"I thank you for the mouths you will be feeding," Lucian said, pressing his hands together in a gesture of gratitude for the fish.
Lucian looked taller than before, noticeably towering over other kids his age. Hoisting the massive fish onto his shoulder, he headed back to the village. As he neared the village entrance, he noticed a group of kids waiting eagerly. One spotted him and yelled, "HE'S BACK! AND HE BROUGHT AN EVEN BIGGER FISH THAN LAST TIME!"
Hearing this, the rest of the kids sprang to their feet. Lucian dropped the fish in front of them, and they gazed at it in awe, some of them already drooling at the thought of a feast.
"Big brother, did you really catch this fish all by yourself?" asked a little girl named Sira, who was six years old with brown hair, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Yup, just like before, I caught it with my bare hands," Lucian replied, flexing his arms proudly. A boy named Gelric, Sira's ten-year-old brother, chimed in, puffing out his chest. "This big brother of yours could catch a fish ten times bigger than this if he wanted," he boasted, attempting to impress her.
But Sira quickly retorted, "But, brother, you haven't even caught a fish smaller than the one Big Brother Lucian caught." Her words hit Gelric like a rock, but he scrambled to recover.
"Well, I just don't like water that much. But if I wanted to, I could dive in and catch any fish I wanted," he insisted. The other kids gave him skeptical looks. "What the hell are you looking at!" he snapped, and they quickly returned their attention to the impressive fish.
Lucian grinned and addressed Gelric, "As always, you're in charge of taking the fish to the butcher and making sure it's shared fairly. I'll head home now."
"But why don't you keep any fish for yourself?" Gelric asked, curious. Lucian never kept any of his catches, always sharing them with the village kids.
"It's simple," Lucian replied. "My dad knows what I'm up to every day, but my mom thinks I just hang out with you guys. If she found out I was jumping into the lake to catch fish, I'd have a whole different battle to fight. Besides, it makes me happy to see everyone excited over the fish I catch." Lucian watched as the kids tied the fish to a long pole, preparing to carry it off.
Gelric looked at him and said, "I wish I could be as selfless as you are."
Lucian chuckled, "Nope, I'm very selfish. I get good training out of catching these fish every day."
Gelric rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure, I'll believe that if it makes you feel better." They exchanged amused looks, then burst into laughter.
As Lucian headed home, he was surprised to find a lock on the front door. He had a key, but he knew his mom was usually back by this time. "Where could she be?" he wondered. Just then, he saw Gelric running toward him, looking pale and shaken. Grabbing Lucian's hand, he said, "Come with me, quick."
Confused and alarmed, Lucian asked, "What's going on? Where are you taking me?"
Gelric didn't answer, only led Lucian to Amara's house. Outside, he saw his mother, Lyra, holding the hand of Amara's mother, Salena, who looked devastated, her face streaked with tears. Lyra seemed to be comforting her. Two men in red and blue robes stood nearby, somber expressions on their faces. Lucian's mind raced, dreading the most likely explanation.
He turned to Gelric and demanded, "What happened? Tell me!"
Gelric's head dropped as he spoke in a broken voice, "She's gone. She left us. Sister Amara… she's dead."
The words hit Lucian like a blade to the heart. "No, no. WHO TOLD YOU THAT? THAT CAN'T BE TRUE!"
"The men in robes are from the academy," Gelric answered, barely able to speak. "They… they brought Amara's ashes."
Lucian's fists clenched, his gaze locked on Salena's anguished face. Without a word, he bolted into the forest, rage and sorrow bubbling inside him.
His screams echoed through the trees as he ran. He reached his training ground, where he finally let go. Tears streamed down his face as he struck a massive boulder, again and again, his fists bloodied as cracks began to form in the rock. With one final blow, the boulder shattered, yet the pain within him remained. In a frenzy, he unleashed his magic, blasting trees and leaving craters in the earth.
"How can I surpass you when you're not even here!" he screamed, his voice hoarse. "I finally had someone… finally… and now you're gone!"
As the dust and smoke settled, the once-vibrant forest lay in ruins, charred and scarred. Exhausted, Lucian collapsed, memories of Amara flashing through his mind. She was like the sister he'd always wished for, a gift from this world, taken from him as if in a cruel gesture. His heart thundered with grief and fury.
A rustling sound came from the forest, and someone sat down beside him. Lucian recognized the presence immediately, his father, Galen.
"How are you?" Galen asked softly, placing a reassuring hand on Lucian's head. "I'm here."