The early morning mist hung low in the trees as Kael made his way toward the forest once more. He had learned long ago that the woods were where he could be free, where he could hone his skills without the prying eyes of others. The quiet rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird were the only sounds accompanying him as he ventured deeper into the familiar path. His feet were light, moving quickly over the moss-covered ground, but his mind was weighed down with thoughts.
The gold coin had brought so much change to their lives, more than Kael could have imagined. It had been a stroke of fortune—one he never could have predicted, and yet, it had happened. As he thought about how he'd found the coin in the woods, a gnawing feeling of guilt tugged at his chest. He had told his parents that it was a blessing, a gift from the gods, but deep down, he knew the truth. He had created that coin. He had made it appear right when he needed it most.
Kael could still remember the shock that had washed over him when he realized he was capable of such a thing. He hadn't understood it at first—why the coin had just materialized in front of him like that—but now, in the quiet of the woods, he understood. It was his power, something that pulsed deep inside of him, something he couldn't explain.
But that power was dangerous, and the last thing Kael wanted was to bring trouble to his family. They had enough to worry about. They didn't need to know that he could make things appear from nothing, that he could shape reality with his will. He couldn't explain it to them—not yet. Not when he didn't understand it himself. So, when he handed them the coin, he had lied. He didn't want to tell them the truth—not because he didn't trust them, but because he was afraid. Afraid of what would happen if they knew.
Kael stopped at the edge of a small clearing, the sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled shadows on the ground. This was where he had come before, the place where he could practice without anyone around to see. He looked around, taking in the familiar sights: the towering oak trees, the thick underbrush, and the small stream that bubbled quietly nearby. This was his sanctuary, the place where his power felt at home, and where, for a while, he could forget about the weight of his secret.
Sighing, Kael crouched down and placed his palms flat against the earth, focusing on his breathing. His thoughts scattered for a moment, but he closed his eyes, quieting his mind. He needed to concentrate. The last time he had practiced, he had managed to create small objects—stones, twigs, and leaves—but it had been difficult, and it had drained him more than he'd expected. He still wasn't entirely sure what the limits of his abilities were. Could he create anything? How much power did he have? And what would happen if he tried to do something bigger?
Kael took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing once again. His mind cleared, and he let the warmth of the earth beneath him seep into his body. He reached for that familiar, hidden well of energy inside of him, the power that had first surged through him when the coin appeared. It was always there, waiting, like a spark in the dark, ready to be stoked into flame.
This time, he tried to focus on something smaller, something simple. His sister Mara's favorite treat—a sweet bread she loved, one that Elira often made when times were good, which was rare. It was soft and warm, with a hint of cinnamon and sugar, and Mara would always laugh with delight whenever she bit into it. It was one of the few simple pleasures they could afford, and it reminded Kael of the warmth of home.
His palms tingled as he concentrated, his heartbeat slow and steady. He imagined the bread in his mind—the way it would rise and bake in the oven, the golden crust, the soft, pillowy interior. He could almost smell it. Kael felt the pull of the energy inside of him, and he willed it outward. It was like grasping for something intangible, like trying to hold onto a fleeting dream.
At first, nothing happened. Kael's shoulders tensed in frustration, but he quickly relaxed again. He couldn't rush it. He had to let the power flow naturally. Slowly, he focused again on the image of the bread—its shape, its scent, its texture—and he allowed the warmth inside him to spread outward.
The air around him seemed to shimmer for a brief moment, and then, there it was—a small, warm loaf of bread materializing in the space before him. Kael's eyes widened in surprise. It wasn't exactly what he had envisioned—it was smaller than the bread Elira would make, but it was unmistakably a loaf of sweet bread, golden and fragrant.
He hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was real. But the scent—the sweet aroma of cinnamon and sugar—was unmistakable. Kael smiled, a sense of pride blooming in his chest. He had done it. He had created something from nothing, something his sister would love.
He reached out and gently picked it up, the heat from the bread radiating through his fingers. For a moment, Kael simply held it, feeling the weight of it in his hands. He had done something amazing. But as the initial rush of excitement wore off, a familiar feeling crept back in—guilt.
He couldn't shake the feeling that this was wrong. That he shouldn't be using his power like this, even though the bread wasn't for him—it was for Mara, his sister, the one who had always been there for him.
He couldn't keep lying to his parents, though, could he? Every time they asked him how he had found the gold coin, he felt the lie growing heavier on his shoulders. They didn't deserve that. They didn't deserve to be kept in the dark, especially after everything they had been through. But Kael didn't know what else to do. He didn't know how to explain something he didn't understand himself.
As he stood there in the clearing, staring at the bread in his hands, Kael realized something: he wasn't just keeping a secret from his parents. He was keeping a secret from himself. He didn't know how to control this power, didn't know what it could do. He had no idea where it came from or why he had it. And he was afraid that if he tried to tell someone, if he tried to explain it, they wouldn't understand. They might even be afraid of him.
No, Kael decided, it was better to keep it hidden for now. For the sake of his family. He couldn't risk their safety, not when the world was so uncertain. He would continue to practice in secret, honing his abilities so that, when the time came, he could protect them if necessary. And until then, he would keep the secret close to his heart, hidden in the woods where no one could see.
Kael set the loaf of bread aside on a large, flat stone. His stomach growled, but he didn't feel like eating just yet. He wasn't finished. He had more to learn.
He sat down cross-legged on the ground, the loaf now forgotten for the moment. His palms were still warm from the act of creation, and he reached for that power again, drawing it closer as he focused his mind.
This time, he imagined something different. Something more challenging. Fire. A small, controlled fire that would hover just above his palm.
He pictured it in his mind—flames, flickering and dancing, casting a warm glow, just like a campfire. He could see it clearly, the small flame curling upward, gently lapping at the air, but not consuming. It wasn't a raging inferno, but a controlled, stable fire.
Kael closed his eyes and focused, his breath slow and steady. He imagined the flames, the warmth spreading from the palm of his hand, radiating outward. It took all of his concentration. The energy inside him began to stir again, like an ember igniting, spreading through his veins and into his fingertips. The pressure built within his chest as the fire began to form, his hand tingling with heat.
At first, nothing happened. But Kael didn't stop. He kept the image of the flame in his mind, kept the feeling of the heat growing inside him. Slowly, the air around his hand shimmered. He could feel the warmth intensifying, and then—there it was. A small ball of flame hovered above his palm, dancing and flickering in the air.
Kael's breath caught in his throat. It wasn't much—just a small, contained flame—but it was there. He had created fire.
He held the fireball in his hand for a moment, mesmerized by the flickering light. He could feel the heat, but it didn't burn him. The energy he had conjured was within his control. For now, at least.
After a few moments, Kael closed his hand around the fireball, extinguishing the flame. He sat there, panting lightly, a mix of awe and pride bubbling inside him. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't much, but it was a start.
His power was growing. Slowly, but surely.