The sun shone brightly, but inside the house, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The results of the national magic exam were due today. Maren paced the living room, her hands wringing nervously. Ayla sat at the table, swinging her legs, occasionally sneaking glances at her older brother.
Samson, however, sat calmly—or at least he appeared to. Inside, his heart raced. He had poured every ounce of himself into the exam. This was his second chance, and he couldn't afford to fail.
"When do the results come out again?" Maren asked, her voice slightly strained.
"Any time now, Mom," Samson replied, glancing at the clock.
As if on cue, the soft chime of the mail portal near their door sounded. All three of them froze.
"I'll get it!" Ayla exclaimed, darting toward the door.
Samson stood, his legs feeling heavier than they had ever been. Maren placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Whatever happens, Samson, we're proud of you."
Ayla returned, holding a sealed letter. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she handed it to her brother.
Samson took a deep breath and opened the envelope. The room was silent except for the faint rustling of paper. His eyes scanned the letter, and for a moment, he froze.
"Samson?" Maren's voice was barely a whisper.
He looked up, his face breaking into the widest grin they had ever seen. "I did it," he said, his voice shaking. "First place. I got first place!"
The room erupted into cheers. Ayla leapt up, wrapping her arms around her brother. Maren's eyes filled with tears as she pulled both of her children into a tight hug.
"I'm so proud of you, Samson," she whispered.
That evening, the family celebrated at a small but cozy restaurant in town. Laughter and joy filled the air as they toasted to Samson's success and his 14th birthday. Maren smiled warmly, watching her children. For the first time in years, she felt the weight on her shoulders lighten.
---
The next day, Samson sent his application to the nation's most prestigious magic school, The Alamcaran High. It was a place where the best young minds and talents were nurtured, and Samson was determined to be among them.
For two days, tension gripped the household again. The wait for the school's response felt endless. Maren reassured him that he had nothing to worry about, but Samson couldn't help pacing the halls, his mind running through every possible scenario.
On the second evening, the letter arrived. Samson tore it open, his heart pounding.
"Dear Samson Eryndor,
We are pleased to inform you that your application to The Alamcaran High has been accepted. Congratulations, and we look forward to welcoming you into our institution."
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Relief and excitement coursed through him as he read the letter aloud to his family. Maren and Ayla cheered once more, their faith in him unwavering.
---
The next day, Samson went for a walk in the nearby forest to clear his mind. The air was crisp, and the rustling of leaves was calming. As he walked along the path, he heard raised voices ahead.
"Just give it to us, and we won't hurt you," one of them said, their tone menacing.
Samson quickened his pace and found three boys cornering a girl about his age. Her face was pale, but her eyes were defiant.
"Hey!" Samson called out, his voice firm. The boys turned toward him, startled.
"What do you want?" one of them sneered.
"Just thought you might want to pick on someone your own size," Samson said, stepping closer.
The boys exchanged glances before two of them charged at him. Samson darted away, leading them deeper into the forest. He was fast, but they were relentless. Eventually, they caught up to him, and one of them grabbed his arm, slamming him against a tree.
"Big mistake, hero," the boy growled.
Suddenly, Samson's watch began to glow with a faint purple hue. A surge of energy coursed through him, and he instinctively pressed the small button on the side of the watch.
A crackling sound filled the air as purple lightning erupted from his hands. The boys stumbled back, their faces pale with shock.
"What the—" one of them stammered.
Samson didn't wait. He thrust his hands forward, releasing a bolt of lightning that struck the ground near their feet. The boys screamed and fled, tripping over themselves in their haste to escape.
The girl stepped out from behind a tree, her eyes wide. "Thank you, Mr. Great Wizard." she said, her voice trembling.
Samson nodded, still catching his breath. As she left, he turned his attention to the watch. Its glow had faded, but the feeling of power remained.
Over the next few hours, Samson experimented. He discovered that pressing the button changed the watch's glow: purple for lightning, red for fire, and white-blue for ice. Each color granted him a different elemental power.
He smiled, but the weight of secrecy settled on him. If anyone found out about the watch, he would be in danger. He decided to keep its powers hidden for now. The welcoming ceremony at The Alamcaran High would be the perfect time to reveal his lightning magic.
For now, he had a plan—and a powerful tool to help him achieve his goals. But still the thought of how this mysterious watch get to him, aches his mind. But for now there's no time for it.