The forest opened up to the familiar training clearing where Calder waited, his imposing figure standing rigid against the soft morning light. His arms were crossed, his face an unreadable mask. Rowen adjusted his grip on the Ignivulp's glowing fang, taking a deep breath as he stepped into the clearing.
"You're late," Calder said flatly, his eyes narrowing as they swept over Rowen.
"Ran into some trouble," Rowen replied, holding up the fang. "But I handled it."
Calder's eyes flicked to the fang, and for the first time, his expression wavered. Surprise. It was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual stoic demeanor, but Rowen caught it.
"You killed it," Calder said, his tone neutral but edged with curiosity. "And you're still breathing. Impressive."
Rowen smirked. "You sound surprised."
"Don't get cocky," Calder snapped, stepping closer. "Ignivulps are dangerous, but they're not the strongest magical beasts. Still, for a first test…" He nodded slightly, a rare gesture of approval. "You've done well."
Rowen felt a flicker of pride but kept his tone casual. "That's not all."
Calder raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Rowen took a step back and held up his hand. Concentrating, he summoned the flickering flame Zoreth had helped him master earlier. A small, vibrant flame sparked to life in his palm, dancing and crackling with energy.
Calder's eyes widened, and this time, he didn't bother to hide his surprise. "You… awakened an ability?"
"Looks like it," Rowen said, grinning as he let the flame dissipate.
Calder's gaze lingered on him, sharp and calculating. "How?"
Rowen shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Guess the fight pushed me over the edge. Isn't that how it works?"
Calder didn't respond immediately. He seemed to be studying Rowen, as if trying to uncover a secret hidden just beneath the surface. Finally, he nodded. "It's rare for someone your age to awaken, but not unheard of. If this is real…" He trailed off, his expression hardening. "You'll need to train harder. Abilities are a double-edged sword—powerful, but dangerous if you don't control them. Understood?"
Rowen nodded. "Understood."
"Good." Calder gestured toward the village. "Go. Tell your family. But don't let this go to your head. Tomorrow, we train."
Rowen gave a mock salute, earning himself a withering glare as he turned and started back toward the village.
The walk home was a blur of excitement and nerves. Zoreth's voice chimed in his head as he neared the house.
"Well, that was entertaining. Calder didn't even suspect a thing."
"Why would he?" Rowen whispered under his breath.
"True. You played the part of a clueless newbie quite well. Bravo."
Rowen rolled his eyes as he reached the front door. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open.
Rowen pushed open the door to the lively sounds of home. Gene and Seras were in the middle of an animated argument over a toy near the fireplace, their voices filling the room with energy. The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the warm crackle of the fire, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
"Rowen!" Seras cried out when she saw him, dropping the toy and rushing over. "You're back! Did you fight something? Did you win?"
Gene, equally curious, hurried to join her, his wide eyes locking onto the glowing fang in Rowen's hand.
"What's that?" Gene asked, his voice filled with awe.
Rowen grinned, holding the fang up for them to see. "This? This is a fang from an Ignivulp—a fire fox."
Both twins gasped, their faces lighting up with wonder.
"An Ignivulp?" Zenora called from the kitchen, her tone tinged with surprise and concern as she approached. "You encountered a magical beast during Calder's test?"
"Encountered it, fought it, and won," Rowen said, pride evident in his voice.
Zenora's expression flickered between pride and worry. "You fought an Ignivulp?"
"It was part of the test," Rowen explained, holding the fang out for her to inspect. "Calder thought I was ready for something real. So, I handled it."
Before Zenora could respond, Ryland entered the room, his casual stride masking a growing curiosity. "What's this about a magical beast?"
Rowen handed the fang to Gene, who held it like a priceless treasure. "Calder sent me to deal with a problem in the forest. It turned out to be an Ignivulp. It was fast and dangerous, but I managed to take it down."
Ryland raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "An Ignivulp? They're no joke. Quick and clever."
Rowen nodded. "It wasn't easy, but I kept my cool and remembered what Calder taught me."
Ryland studied him for a moment, then smirked. "You've come a long way. Nice work, little brother."
Darius entered just as Gene began inspecting the glowing fang closer, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room. "What's this about an Ignivulp?"
Rowen straightened under his father's commanding presence. "It was part of Calder's test. He sent me to deal with a problem, and it turned out to be an Ignivulp. I killed it and brought this back as proof."
Darius glanced at the fang Gene held tightly, his expression serious. "An Ignivulp? Impressive. They're fast and unpredictable. You held your ground?"
"I did," Rowen said confidently.
Darius stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Rowen's shoulder. "Good. Facing a magical beast and coming out victorious shows courage and discipline. Well done."
Rowen basked in his father's approval but hesitated for a moment before continuing. "There's… something else."
Zenora, Ryland, and the twins all turned their attention to him, their curiosity piqued.
Rowen took a deep breath, extending his hand. With a thought, a small flame flickered to life in his palm. It danced softly, casting warm light over the room.
Zenora gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "You awakened an ability?"
"I did," Rowen said, extinguishing the flame. "Fire affinity."
Ryland's eyes widened slightly. "Fire? That's… no joke."
Darius's expression turned more serious, his gaze locking onto Rowen. "Fire is powerful, but it's also dangerous. It requires control and responsibility. Do you understand what that means?"
Rowen nodded, meeting his father's eyes. "I do."
Zenora stepped closer, her worry melting into a proud smile. "You've awakened your power and completed Calder's test. We're so proud of you, Rowen."
"Yeah!" Gene piped up, clutching the fang tightly. "Can you show us more fire tricks?"
"Please, Rowen!" Seras added, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Rowen laughed, ruffling their hair. "Maybe later. I need to practice more first. Fire isn't something to play around with."
Ryland chuckled. "Smart answer. Fire's no toy. But it's strong—and it'll make you strong if you learn how to use it right."
Darius nodded in agreement. "Ryland's right. Strength isn't just about power. It's about how you wield it. Learn control first, Rowen, or you risk hurting yourself and those around you."
"I will," Rowen promised.
Zenora smiled warmly, her pride evident. "This calls for a celebration. Darius, help me prepare something special."
As the family began to discuss the evening's festivities, Zoreth's voice hummed softly in Rowen's mind. "Control, discipline, strength—they're all correct, of course. But don't let them box you in. Fire is freedom, boy. Remember that."
I'll remember, Rowen thought back. But for now, he let himself enjoy the warmth of his family's encouragement, knowing that this was only the beginning of his journey.