After Grandpa Mark discovered Jason's disappearance, he rushed outside, only to find Belle missing as well. His shoulders slumped, and with a downcast expression, he muttered, "I see. He must have taken Belle, too."
The scene shifts to Jason, astride his horse, galloping toward a lonely hillside. Tears welled in his eyes as he urged his steed forward. Reaching the hilltop, he dismounted, letting the reins slip from his hands. The wind whispered around him as he sank to the ground, his gaze lifting to the silver crescent of the moon hanging above.
"If I had known about these powers," Jason whispered, voice cracking, "I could have saved her. She wouldn't have died." His words echoed in the still night, each one soaked in regret.
Tears streamed down his face, and in a moment of raw emotion, he clenched his fists. "It's Grandpa's fault! He should have told me. He should have told me about my abilities! I could have done so much..."
His anger slowly faded, replaced by a hollow ache. Jason wiped his eyes and drew in a deep breath. "Why does everyone keep protecting me like I'm a child? I'm not. I can handle myself! I can..."
The memory of Stacey's final words rushed to the forefront of his mind, silencing him. The anger in his heart began to ebb, replaced by a quiet sorrow. He lay back on the grass, his eyes fixed on the moon above, searching for answers in its pale light.
"Was I too harsh on Grandpa?" he murmured. "I mean, I get why he didn't tell me, but..."
His thoughts drifted back to the moments he had shared with his grandfather, small, cherished memories of laughter and wisdom.
"What do you think, Belle?" he asked, turning to the horse standing nearby. Belle let out a soft neigh, and Jason smiled, reaching out to stroke her neck. "Thanks for listening, girl," he said softly.
Jason remained there, reflecting on his actions, until the chill of the night pushed him to return. Back at the bakery, Grandpa Mark, weary from worry, was about to retire for the night. His heart ached with the fear that Jason might not come back. Just as he began to turn in, the door creaked open. Jason stood there, his eyes brimming with emotion.
"Grandpa!" Jason began, his voice trembling, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ran off, and I shouldn't have yelled. I was just... angry and confused." Tears slipped down his cheeks, but before he could continue, Grandpa Mark rushed forward, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry, Jason," Mark whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I should have told you the truth. You had every right to be angry at me."
Jason looked into his grandfather's eyes and said, "It's alright, Grandpa. I'm ready to listen now. Really."
They sat down together, the tension between them easing as they began to talk. After a long while, Jason spoke again, his voice curious but hesitant. "So, Dad fought alongside other Elementiels to stop 'HIM.' What happened to the other wielders? Did they survive?"
Mark sighed, his voice low with sorrow. "I don't know, Jason. It's possible they shared your father's fate."
"And Mum?" Jason's voice softened.
"She died after giving birth to you, as you know," Mark said quietly, "but there was something strange about her last moments. Her eyes... they changed into the color of a rainbow. Her final words were, 'He will be great.'"
Jason stared at his grandfather, his heart heavy with disbelief and wonder. "Oh," was all he could muster.
Mark placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "I wanted you to live a normal life, son. I didn't want you to suffer as your father did. I thought keeping this from you was the right thing to do, but now I see it was a mistake."
Jason nodded, his voice steady as he responded, "I know, Grandpa. And I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. But I need to learn how to use these powers. I can't let what happened to Stacey, happen to anyone else."
Mark studied his grandson, seeing the resolve in his eyes. "Alright, Jason. I'll teach you. But it won't be easy."
"Whatever it takes," Jason said, determination lighting up his face. "I'm ready."
Mark nodded. "Let's get some rest. We'll begin tomorrow."
The next day, Camelot stirred with excitement. The people gathered in the streets for a special occasion, the return of King Arthur Pendragon from a distant meeting. Knights, clad in shining armor, marched ahead of a grand, white and gold royal carriage, which was drawn by two magnificent white horses. The crowd cheered as the King waved from within, smiling at his subjects, their adoration filling the air.
"We love you, Your Majesty!" a woman shouted, her voice rising above the crowd.
King Arthur's smile widened. "I love you all! May God bless us!"
The procession continued until it passed through the grand gates of the castle. Inside, the King descended from the carriage and strode toward the castle doors, his knights bowing in reverence as he passed.
As the two guards stationed by the grand entrance caught sight of the approaching King, they straightened their postures, swiftly pulling open the heavy oak doors. Their faces lit up with respect and admiration.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty," they greeted in unison, their voices warm and reverent, smiles spreading across their faces.
King Arthur inclined his head slightly, his eyes twinkling with the familiarity of long-serving subjects. "Bless you both," he said, his voice rich with gratitude. "I trust all has been well in my absence?"
The guards exchanged a brief glance before the one on the right stepped forward. "Yes, Your Majesty. The kingdom thrives under your protection."
Arthur smiled, but there was a thoughtful edge to his expression as he continued, "Good, good. Now, could one of you fetch the Commander for me? Have him meet me outside at the gazebo."
Without hesitation, the left guard bowed his head. "At once, Your Majesty. I shall summon him immediately." He turned sharply on his heel and departed, his armor clinking softly as he disappeared down the hallway.
As the king walked through the halls, his eyes fell upon a painted portrait of his younger self with his wife and their baby daughter. He paused, a tender smile crossing his face before continuing on.
Later, in the royal gazebo, surrounded by blooming flowers, the King sat in a white chair, sipping wine. Beside him stood a maid, ready to pour more at his request. Moments later, Elijah Griffin, the commander of Camelot's knights, arrived and bowed deeply.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty," Elijah greeted. "It's good to see you safely returned."
"Please, rise and join me for a drink, my dear friend," the King replied, his voice warm with familiarity.
Elijah rose, sitting beside the King as the maid poured him a glass of wine. "How have you been, Elijah?"
The commander chuckled. "Guarding the kingdom from dragons and training the academy's knights. The usual."
King Arthur laughed. "I meant how have you been."
"Well, I've been fine, Your Majesty," Elijah responded, his voice steady but laced with a formality that spoke of years of duty.
King Arthur's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Come now, dear friend. There's no need to address me so stiffly. Not when it's just the two of us."
Elijah inclined his head slightly. "You are the King, and I will address you as such. But," he added with a faint smile, "since you've returned, there are matters we must discuss."
The King chuckled softly, swirling the wine in his goblet before taking a sip. "Let me guess, the knights' examination for the academy?" His voice was light, though his eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Yes, Your Majesty, though there's something I wish to propose before the formal assessment." Elijah said, his tone shifting to one of restrained excitement. "We were planning to showcase our students' abilities before the royal family. An exhibition of sorts."
Arthur raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Ah, now that sounds intriguing. A display of prowess, before the actual test. I quite like that. And of course, I imagine you'll be eager to show off that particular student you've always been so keen to praise. Adam Spencer, isn't it?"
Elijah's eyes lit up, his voice filled with pride. "Yes, Your Majesty. He's the finest student we've had in years. A natural leader and a perfect soldier."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, regarding Elijah with a bemused expression. "Hah! I haven't seen you this impassioned in some time, my friend. It seems Adam has rekindled that fire in you." He smiled, warmth and nostalgia mingling in his eyes. "I will certainly make sure I attend the event."
Elijah bowed his head in appreciation. "Thank you, Your Majesty. It will mean the world to the students."
King Arthur took another leisurely sip of his wine, his gaze wandering momentarily to the garden visible through the archways of the gazebo. The flowers danced in the soft breeze, and he smiled softly. "And what of your daughter?" Elijah asked gently, as though reading the King's thoughts. "Will she be joining us?"
Arthur's smile softened further. "You know her, lost in her world of colors and brushes. Always in the garden, painting to her heart's content." His eyes glinted with a father's fondness. "Those sorts of events hardly catch her interest."
Elijah nodded, his face thoughtful. "She is quite the artist. Her work is renowned even beyond Camelot's walls. The people speak of her as if she's a muse come to life."
"She does have a gift," Arthur mused, his voice lowering. "It's one of the few things that brings her peace."
Silence lingered for a moment between them, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Elijah rose from his chair, his demeanor returning to the stalwart commander. "I shall inform you once we finalize the details of the exhibition, Your Majesty. The captains and I will ensure everything is in place."
King Arthur stood as well, offering his hand. "I look forward to it, Elijah. And do take care of yourself, old friend. The kingdom needs you more than you know."
Elijah clasped the King's hand firmly. "You too, Your Majesty. You're the heart of this land. Without you, Camelot is but a shadow."
They exchanged a smile, one forged through years of camaraderie, battles, and shared burdens. Elijah gave a final bow before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing softly as he made his way from the gazebo.
Later that afternoon, Jason and Grandpa Mark ventured beyond the walls of Camelot, finding a secluded field where the breeze whispered through the trees. Mark looked around and stretched his arms wide. "This will do."
He turned to Jason, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "It's time, my boy. Time to learn... the powers of a god."
Jason grinned, his heart pounding with anticipation. "I'm ready."
Thus, the journey to unlock Jason's true potential had begun.