The morning sun stretched lazily across the sky, casting a warm, golden glow that seeped into the room like a gentle nudge, coaxing Elena to wake up. She blinked groggily, her eyelids heavy, and slowly peeled herself from the comfort of her blankets. Stretching, she let out a dramatic yawn that could have rivaled any lion's and rubbed her eyes in an attempt to wipe away the stubborn remnants of sleep. With the kind of grace only a half-awake child could manage, Elena stumbled out of bed, her feet dragging as she shuffled downstairs.
Down in the dining room, her parents were already seated at the table. Selaria, her mother, looked as effortlessly radiant as always, despite still being in her usual evening gown—a sparkling, silvery number that shimmered in the soft morning light. Her fiery orange hair was a perfect match for her green eyes, and she gave Elena a warm, knowing smile as her daughter entered. If anyone could look this beautiful this early, it was definitely Selaria.
Eryndor, Elena's father, was sitting across from her mother, dressed simply but dashing in a white tunic and black pants, his fiery red hair catching the light just enough to make him look like a walking sunset. His piercing blue eyes twinkled with the same warmth as the early morning light. He looked like someone who could tell a good story or crack a terrible dad joke, and Elena was pretty sure he could do both simultaneously.
"Good morning, sweetie," Selaria said, her voice like honey—smooth, melodic, and just a little bit dangerous if you weren't careful.
Elena blinked a few more times as she sluggishly sat down at the table, still processing that she was actually awake. "Good morn... yeah, morning," she mumbled back, her voice thick with sleep. She rubbed her eyes again and then squinted at the plate of food her mother had already set in front of her.
On the plate was a steaming serving of Sunroot Porridge, a breakfast specialty from the Ardentia region. It was made from a radiant tuber that was sun-powdered like a tiny, golden miracle. Topped with a dollop of honey collected by magical bees, the sight alone made Elena's stomach give a little happy flip. Her mouth watered just at the smell of it, and her groggy demeanor melted into one of pure contentment.
Without missing a beat, Elena grabbed her spoon and dug in. The first bite was a warm, comforting embrace to her senses, like a hug from the inside. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the rich, slightly sweet flavor of the porridge, before her mother's voice broke through the peaceful silence.
"So," Eryndor began, his deep voice full of fatherly authority, though tinged with a hint of something mischievous. "I've been talking with Souta's parents… and we were thinking that maybe it's time for you to go with him to the university in Solstara."
Elena paused mid-bite, her eyes snapping wide open. She froze, the spoon still hovering near her mouth, and her jaw dropped slightly. "Wait… really? Me? You mean, I can actually go with him?" she asked, her voice rising in disbelief.
Her father nodded, his smile growing. "Of course, sweetheart. We've been talking about it since you two met on his first birthday. It was kind of a done deal back then, to be honest. We thought, 'Why not send them to the university together? It'll be fun!'"
Elena's excitement bubbled up like a geyser. "You mean I'm really going? With Souta? To the big university in Solstara?!" She clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with joy as if the best thing that had ever happened was just handed to her on a silver platter. The thought of being with Souta every single day, learning and growing together, made her feel like she was going to burst with happiness.
Selaria smiled, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Yes, darling. Of course you can go. We've planned this from the very beginning. You and Souta were practically meant to be together, weren't you?"
Elena beamed, her heart soaring as she imagined all the adventures she and Souta would have in the bustling capital of Solstara. Being apart from him had never even crossed her mind. The idea of the two of them going to the university together, learning magic side by side, was like a dream come true.
But then, Selaria's voice cut through the excitement, bringing a little more seriousness to the conversation. "But, my dear, before you get too excited, there's something you need to understand. You'll need to prepare yourself, especially in magic. If you're going to go with Souta, you'll need to be able to support him, especially when he inevitably gets himself into trouble."
Elena's eyes grew wide, and she looked at her mother with a touch of concern. "Support him? But what if I'm the one who gets into trouble?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.
Eryndor let out a laugh, his deep chuckles rumbling through the room like a soft storm. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Your mother's right. You'll need to learn healing magic. It'll be your job to patch up Souta when he gets too reckless."
Elena pouted slightly, her pride a little bruised. "Souta is kind of careless sometimes," she admitted, rolling her eyes playfully. "He charges into everything without thinking. But I'll protect him. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid." Her face broke into a proud grin, and she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, as if this was the most obvious statement in the world.
Selaria chuckled softly, her hands folded delicately on the table. "I'm sure you will, darling. Just make sure you're ready when the time comes. You'll need to be as strong as you are caring."
Elena nodded seriously, her eyes wide with determination. "I'll do my best, Mom. I won't let anything happen to him. He's too reckless without me, anyway. I can't wait to be seven and go with him to the university!"
Eryndor smiled warmly at her. "That's the spirit, kiddo. You'll both do just fine. Just keep your head on straight, and remember that you're stronger than you think."
Selaria exchanged a fond look with Eryndor, and then both parents gave Elena a final encouraging smile. With a mouth full of porridge, Elena could barely contain her excitement. She was practically bouncing in her seat. She couldn't wait to be seven, to start this new chapter of her life, and to do it all with Souta by her side. Life was about to get a whole lot more magical.
As they finished their breakfast, Elena wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling a deep sense of warmth in her chest. She wasn't sure what the future held, but she knew she wanted to be by Souta's side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
Afterward, she excused herself to wash up, giving her parents a quick kiss on the cheek before heading upstairs. Her mind was racing with excitement about the upcoming years. The thought of living and studying with Souta filled her with anticipation. She was already imagining all the adventures they would have together.
When she entered the bathroom, though, Elena was caught off guard. There, standing in front of the mirror, was her mother, who seemed completely at ease. Selaria, always graceful in everything she did, was preparing for her bath with the same serene composure she wore every day. Elena, in her usual innocent way, couldn't help but stare at her mother's figure. She had always admired her mother's beauty, but this time, it came with a tinge of envy.
Selaria, noticing Elena's gaze, raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Is something the matter, dear?" she asked teasingly, arching her back as she reached for a towel, which only seemed to emphasize her womanly curves.
Elena, slightly flustered, blurted out, "How... how come you're so... big?" She gestured awkwardly toward her mother's chest with wide eyes, clearly confused by the difference between their bodies. "You're so... perfect. And I'm still... well, not as... grown-up!"
Selaria laughed softly, clearly unbothered by her daughter's directness. "Ah, my sweet girl," she said with a soft smile, her voice warm and motherly. "You'll grow into it, I promise. Just be patient."
Elena let out a frustrated sigh, pouting as she crossed her arms. "But why are you so perfect and I'm just... me?" Her voice had a hint of jealousy, though there was also an undercurrent of admiration in it. She couldn't help but feel both envious and proud of her mother at the same time.
Selaria chuckled and gently ruffled Elena's hair. "Don't worry, darling. Every day you get a little bit closer. And you know, I think you'll be more beautiful than I ever was. You have a strength in you that's unlike anyone else. And besides, you have your own charm."
Elena's face brightened at the compliment, and she couldn't help but grin. "Well... I'll take that. But don't you think I should get something a bit more grown-up too?"
Her mother winked, her laughter filling the air like a melody. "In time, sweetheart. In time."
As they began washing up together, Selaria started to tell one of her favorite stories from her adventurous past. Elena loved hearing these tales, no matter how many times they'd been told before. "Before you were born, your father and I, along with Souta's parents, traveled all around the world. One of the most memorable places was the Beast Continent. Do you know that we once had a run-in with the elders of one of the tribes there?"
Elena's eyes lit up. "Really? You fought warriors?"
Selaria smirked. "Not exactly. Your father and Souta's father made quite an entrance when we arrived. They were loud—so loud that they accidentally insulted the elders! And let's just say... things got heated between them and the warriors of the Great Forest. They didn't exactly appreciate the noise."
Elena gasped. "You fought? In the forest?"
"Of course! But don't worry," Selaria added quickly, "we didn't hurt anyone seriously. I used my healing magic to patch everyone up. There was blood, sure, but it wasn't too bad. After that, we all came to an understanding, and the rest of our time in the Beast Continent was fantastic. It was truly the best part of our adventures."
Elena, wide-eyed and enthralled by the story, asked eagerly, "Why are you telling me all of this, though?"
Selaria's expression softened, and she spoke with a hint of fondness. "Because, Elena, when you and Souta start traveling the world together, you'll need to be the one to keep calm and help everyone stay safe. Your role will be to support him, just like I supported your father. Sometimes things can get a little... intense, but you'll have to be the one to keep things from spiraling out of control."
Elena nodded seriously, her expression suddenly thoughtful. "I understand, Mom. I'll always be there to calm things down. And with Souta being so careless, I'm sure he'll need me." She puffed out her chest with pride. "I won't let anything bad happen to him. I'll make sure he's safe, no matter what."
Her mother chuckled, clearly proud of her determination. "I know you will, Elena. I have no doubt that you'll do great things together."
The two of them shared a warm, genuine laugh, the bond between them deepened even further in that small moment of shared understanding. It was a reminder that, no matter how much the world might change, there would always be family, love, and support waiting at the heart of it all.
After they finished their bath, Elena and her mother dried off and got dressed, each moving with the grace of routine. Elena was already buzzing with excitement, eager to meet Souta and see what he had been up to. She rushed out of the house, her hair still damp and wild from the bath, and headed to his house. As she approached, she saw Souta in the front yard, his back to her as he stood still, his hands held out in front of him, fingers splayed wide. His concentration was palpable, and it struck Elena as odd. She had never seen him like this before.
"Souta!" she called out, waving enthusiastically as she jogged toward him. "What are you doing?"
Souta turned toward her, his face breaking into a huge grin. "Elena! Just in time! Wait till you see this!" His voice practically sparkled with excitement.
Elena tilted her head in confusion. "See what? You've been standing like that for ages. What are you doing, trying to levitate or something?"
Souta shot her a mischievous smile. "Something like that," he said cryptically, before suddenly raising his right hand high into the air. Elena blinked, wondering if he was going to do something ridiculous, but then, to her surprise, a small ball of water began to form above his palm.
"Whoa, what the—" Elena gasped, her eyes widening as the sphere swirled and pulsed, the water shimmering in the sunlight.
With a dramatic flourish, Souta turned and pointed the ball at a nearby tree. "Watch this!" he announced, then shouted, "Aqua Blast!"
The water sphere shot forward with surprising force, splashing against the tree trunk. The tree shook under the impact, water dripping from its branches and splattering on the ground around it. Elena stood there, completely stunned.
"Did... did you just—" Elena stammered, eyes wide as she turned to Souta, who was beaming with pride.
"Yep! I learned that this morning!" he said, puffing out his chest. "I've been practicing it with my mom. Pretty awesome, right?"
Elena blinked, still processing what she had just seen. "Wait, this morning? You've been practicing magic? Like... for real? Since when?"
Souta shrugged nonchalantly, though his grin didn't falter. "Yeah, just today! My mom showed me how to do it, and I thought, 'Why not give it a try?' It's not that hard once you get the hang of it."
Elena looked him up and down, taking in his confident stance, and then the tree, now dripping wet from his magic. "Souta, you never told me you were into magic! I always thought you just ran around with a sword and, you know... tripped over things."
Souta laughed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well, I didn't want to make it a big deal. You know how it is. Plus, I thought you'd just laugh at me. I mean, I'm still figuring it out!" He hesitated, then added, "It's not like I'm a full-on mage or anything, but I thought it'd be good to have some magic in my pocket, you know?"
Elena was still processing, her mind racing. "But... magic? Seriously? And you? I mean, I knew you were good with a sword, but... I didn't even know you could do stuff like that!"
Souta gave her a sly grin. "I've got layers, Elena. You just never asked," he said, pretending to be a mysterious wizard. "I'll be the most well-rounded adventurer ever—fighting with my sword and casting spells! Maybe I'll even start my own magic academy. You could be my first student!"
Elena rolled her eyes, smiling. "I can't believe this! You've been holding out on me!" she teased. "I thought we were best friends! You could've told me you were secretly turning into a wizard."
Souta chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock defense. "I wasn't hiding it! It's just... well, it's new." He paused, then added, "Oh, and don't tell anyone about this, okay? I mean, it's not like I'm going to be casting spells every day or anything."
Elena crossed her arms, eyeing him skeptically. "I don't know. I think I'm going to tell everyone that you're secretly a wizard now. I can see the headlines already: Souta Laurent, the Mage Who Was Hiding In Plain Sight!"
Souta groaned dramatically. "Please don't. I'll never live it down!"
Elena burst out laughing, the sound of her amusement echoing across the yard. After a moment, she calmed down and then said, "Alright, alright, I won't tell anyone... yet. But you owe me now, so don't be surprised if I ask you to cast a spell for me sometime."
Souta smiled. "You know, if you keep being so dramatic about it, I might start charging you in mana."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Charging me in mana? You're such a nerd, Souta."
Souta stuck his tongue out at her, then shrugged. "Hey, gotta make a living somehow. But, for you, I'll make an exception." He winked at her, clearly enjoying their playful banter.
"Fine," Elena said with a smirk. "But only because I think it's amazing that you can do magic now. So... does this mean you're going to try to learn a bunch of other spells too? Can you make fireballs? Or, like, summon a thunderstorm? You know, just to spice things up."
Souta looked mockingly serious. "Hmm, fireballs... Thunderstorms... Actually, I could probably learn those, but it would be really messy. And I think my mom might freak out if I start summoning lightning in the backyard."
Elena grinned, already imagining the chaos. "Oh, I'd love to see that. Just don't set the house on fire, okay?"
"Promise," Souta said, holding up his hand in mock solemnity. "But hey, if you're going to be so impressed, you better show me what you've been practicing, too! You've been talking about your healing magic for ages. I want to see it in action."
Elena froze for a moment, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Oh, uh... well, I—" she stammered. Then, taking a deep breath, she gave him a mischievous look. "Fine. But don't laugh when I mess up." She held out her hand and focused, concentrating hard as she summoned a soft green glow to form in her palm.
A few moments passed, and then—poof—a small, glowing orb of healing magic appeared, hovering in her hand.
Souta's eyes widened. "No way! You can heal people now? I didn't know you were so powerful!"
Elena laughed, feeling a little less embarrassed. "Well, I'm not that powerful yet. But I've been practicing! I thought, you know, if we're going to be adventuring together, we might need someone who can patch people up. Besides," she added with a wink, "you're always getting yourself into trouble, so it's probably good to have a healer on hand."
Souta laughed along with her, nodding. "I'm starting to think we're going to be the most unstoppable duo ever. Sword-wielding mage and healing magician—who can take us down?"
Elena grinned, feeling more confident. "No one, Souta. No one can."
They spent the rest of the morning laughing, practicing, and sharing stories of what they hoped the future would hold. The day felt full of promise, and Elena couldn't wait for the adventures ahead.