Elyndra stood a little distance from the boys, her heart swelling with pride as she observed Nyx and Astor seated in meditation. She had known, from the moment they were born, that they were extraordinary. Having S-grade affinities was rare enough, but to sense essence this quickly? That was something she hadn't anticipated. It usually took even those with an A-grade affinity at least two weeks to feel the flow of essence within themselves. She had expected to guide them through the basics and planned to gently break their meditation after six hours, thinking they'd need more time.
But then the air around them began to change.
The essence, once barely noticeable, started to thicken. It swirled around Nyx and Astor, like a mist gathering in the clearing, and Elyndra's eyes widened in surprise. This wasn't something that was supposed to happen, not so soon. The flow of essence condensed around them as if drawn by their very presence. The sheer density of it was remarkable.
Elyndra quickly reached for her communication device, a discreet, enchanted earpiece that allowed her to silently call the rest of the family. Alaric, Selene, and Alarion responded immediately, their voices tinged with confusion. She explained the situation in brief, not wanting to disrupt the boys' focus. She herself had seen prodigies before, but this—this was on another level.
Within minutes, Alaric and Selene arrived, followed closely by Alarion, who stood behind her, arms crossed, watching the scene with his sharp, calculating gaze. He too noticed the unusually dense essence that clung to the air around the twins. There was an unspoken understanding between them. Alarion's experience as the former Duke had taught him to recognize potential danger along with potential greatness.
"They're advancing too quickly," Elyndra whispered, her voice low so as not to disturb Nyx and Astor. "At this rate, they'll sense the essence before the day ends."
Alarion's response was calm, yet firm. "Don't tell them anything special, Elyndra. Not yet. Let them experience it naturally."
Elyndra nodded, though she couldn't suppress the slight apprehension she felt. Alarion had always been the measured one, never one to let emotions cloud his judgment. But even he seemed taken aback by how swiftly the boys were progressing. If Nyx and Astor were to continue advancing at this pace, it could change everything—not just for the Shadowstar family, but for the kingdom as a whole.
She glanced again at the boys, their faces calm and serene in their meditative state. The essence had become almost palpable now, swirling like a soft mist in the air. It reminded her of the legendary prodigies of old, those who had reshaped the world through sheer force of will and power. But those were stories—legends. This was real, happening right before her eyes.
"They need time," Alarion's voice broke through her thoughts. "They must learn at their own pace, no matter how fast they progress."
Elyndra nodded, understanding the weight of his words. They had to be careful, not to overwhelm Nyx and Astor with their expectations, even though the boys' abilities were clearly beyond the ordinary. There was no need to rush them, despite the urgency she felt.
She turned to her husband, exchanging a knowing glance with him. They would watch closely, but for now, the boys needed to experience this moment without interference.
"Let them savor this first step," Elyndra thought. "There will be plenty of time for them to understand what they truly are."
Astor's POV
As I sat there, my legs crossed in the meditative posture that grandmother had shown us, I couldn't help but feel a little bored at first. Meditation? Sitting still? Not exactly my idea of fun. But when grandmother had said this was how we'd become real mages, something clicked inside me. If this is what it took to cast cool spells like her and father, then I was all in. Even Nyx seemed focused, so I figured I should try my best too.
The clearing was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. I closed my eyes, trying to do what grandmother had instructed—"Feel the essence," she had said. What did that even mean? I sighed a little, keeping my eyes shut, determined not to be the one to give up first.
Then, I felt a hand gently press against my back. It was grandmother's touch, light and warm, and suddenly, something shifted. It was like a door had been unlocked inside me, and I felt it—something coursing through my body. It wasn't just a vague feeling either; it was like a flood, rushing through me, making my whole body tingle. My breathing slowed down, and I started focusing on that feeling, going deeper into it.
The more I focused, the stronger it became. The essence wasn't just around me; it was inside me. Flowing through my veins, filling every part of me. It was incredible. My whole body felt alive, buzzing with this energy that I had never noticed before. How had I not felt this before? How had I missed something so powerful, so… real?
Time seemed to blur. I wasn't sure how long I sat there, immersed in the feeling of the essence. Minutes? Hours? It didn't matter. I didn't want to stop. I could feel myself getting stronger with every breath, with every second that passed. It was like this energy, this essence, was mine to command, and I never wanted to let it go.
Eventually, though, the world started creeping back in. I could hear the soft rustling of leaves again, the birds chirping, and then... footsteps. I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the light of the rising sun. Dawn? How long had we been sitting here?
I turned to see Nyx beside me, his eyes still closed, his face completely calm. The air around him was different. The essence was thick, almost like a mist swirling around us. It felt… heavy, but in a good way. Was this because of the meditation? Or was it something else?
I glanced up, seeing our parents and grandparents standing nearby. Grandmother was sitting, looking calm as ever, but there was something in her eyes—something proud. Grandfather stood tall, his gaze fixed on us, while father looked... relieved, almost? Behind him, Ivor stood like a statue, his eyes watchful.
Then Nyx stirred beside me, and before I could say anything, he opened his eyes. His expression was unreadable for a moment, but I could tell he had felt it too. That same rush of power, that same connection to the essence.
Before either of us could say a word, mother came forward, her smile warm but her eyes filled with something deeper—pride, but also something else. She knelt down beside us, pulling both of us into a tight embrace.
"You've done well," she whispered softly, kissing the top of my head and Nyx's. "Both of you."
Grandfather stepped forward too, his usual stoic expression breaking into the faintest of smiles. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath.
I glanced at Nyx, and for a moment, we just shared a look. We both knew what this meant. We weren't just kids playing at being mages anymore. We had sensed the essence. We were on the path now, the real path.
And if this was just the beginning, I couldn't wait to see what came next.