Arlo

As the moonlight's ethereal beams illuminated the woods, two figures approached Gladius. Stepping out of the shadows were two young elves, a man and a woman. Their presence exudes an aura of grace and power. The woman's attire exuded a wild yet elegance, as she wore a vest of vibrant green, crafted from high-quality leather that extended gracefully below her waist. Adorning her vest was a golden emblem of a bow, an insignia of her skill and prowess as an archer. Beside her, the man's robe shimmered like the depths of a serene forest, blending hues of blue and green. He held a white book with an angelic symbol in the gold carve in gold.

With pride, the woman fixed her gaze up Gladius, who looked half-dead as his right arm was perfectly severed.

''What a waste of an arrow.'' The woman, Tianna, grumbled in frustration. Meanwhile, Narhil, the man, looked at Gladius with pity and raised his hand, pointing at him.

"Bring life once again, Full Heal," Narhil intoned. The book suddenly opened, bathed in a bright white light that transformed into a magic circle. With a graceful gesture of his hand, Narhil transformed the circle into a light of particles that infused Gladius's body. Almost instantly, Gladius's injuries healed, and any ailments were dispelled.

However, Tiana noticed the decapitated arm and inquired, "Are you not going to heal that, Narhil?"

He closed his book, his gaze steady. "Tiana, that arm is no longer a part of him." Narhil declared calmly. Tiana raised her eyebrow and looked puzzled by his statement but quickly brushed it off.

A sudden cough jolted Gladius back to consciousness. Despite the miraculous healing, he sounded exhausted, having expended much of his magic and stamina during the battle.

"W-what took you so long?" Gladius asked, his voice weak and bewildered.

Tiana scoffed, unimpressed by his lack of gratitude. ''Not even a thank you, pathetic,'' she retorted. ''We aren't as swift as you, even by using gate travel between the kingdom and this forest takes time.''

Narhil intervened, urging them to depart. "Let's get going now. In your current condition, walking is the best option. It will take time to get back to the gate.''

With Narhil's help and support, Gladius slowly rose and started walking back to the gate. Tiana's voice turned cold as she looked back at Gladius. ''The king is disappointed, as are we. Perhaps losing a right arm won't be your only punishment tonight,'' she said, her words full of threat. Gladius, overwhelmed with terror, stood at a crossroads, torn between escape and facing the consequences of his actions. The moonlit forest bore witness to the uncertain fate that awaited him.

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Years had passed since that fateful confrontation, and the sacred forest flourished alongside the growth of the Kingdom of the Elves. During those years, Avianna lived an isolated life with Arlo under the watchful eyes of Malek. Time had etched its mark upon Avianna's face, her once golden hair now adorned with strands of silver, a testament to her many years of wisdom and experience.

Arlo, nurtured by the teachings of Avianna, had grown into a young lad, his wild spirit infused with the knowledge of essential magic and combat garnered from his unique upbringing. As he raked the ground, preparing to plant something he had discovered in the forest, Avianna observed him with pride and joy.

A serene sigh escaped her lips as she gazed up at the clear, boundless sky, a canvas of tranquility and peace. Two things she had once thought unattainable, but now she found solace and joy in their presence. Her treehouse was woven with her nature magic, woven seamlessly into the branches served as a sanctuary, which was a method that showed her respect in the forest, where she nurtured life rather than disrupted it.

''Grandmother'' Arlo's cheerful shout as she called the attention of her adoptive grandmother Avianna, a small part of her couldn't help but to feel a twinge. whenever he addressed her with that sweet yet endearing term, a reminder of her advancing years. Avianna turned to see Arlo, already finished planting a seed—a remarkable feat for a child his age.

"You've done a splendid job, Arlo," Avianna remarked, a hint of pride in her voice. "This labor will slowly build up your physique and benefit you greatly."

As she approached, Avianna observed the young boy, his face radiant with confidence and happiness, although stained with sweat due to the intensity of the sun and the hard work he had dedicated to completing the task assigned to him. "Heh, told you this is easy," Arlo declared confidently, pleased with his accomplishment, as Avianna carefully inspected the seed he had planted.

"You did a really good job," Avianna praised, gently patting Arlo's head, only to retract her hand as she felt his sweat-moistened hair. She almost make a disgusting face.

"Now it's time to give them a little magical boost," she continued, her eyes shifting to one of the planted seeds. With a graceful motion, she placed her palm on the ground and invoked, 'Give life, Bloom.' A magical circle, an ethereal blend of white and green, manifested in her hand, and before their eyes, the seedling swiftly transformed into a fully-grown tomato tree.

Arlo stood in awe. Even though he was not a stranger to witnessing his grandmother's magic, it always gave him curiosity and amusement. Curiosity about the world around him always makes him want to learn and emulate her abilities. He placed his palm in perfect mimicry in front of another planted seed.

"Sprout!" he cried, and a spark of magic ignited within his hand. To Avianna's surprise, the magic was different. It ignores the creation and transformation of magic. The magic went directly to the ground.

"That wasn't regular magic..." Avianna mused, her mind abuzz with intrigue. As the ground trembled, a tomato tree took form, reaching the same height as her but with a unique structure that resembled a flowing river of branches.

"Just like I imagined!" Arlo exclaimed with joy, his eyes gleaming like stars.

''What do you mean by that?'' Aviana asked while still puzzled about the unexpected outcome.

"I-I was copying you, but then I wanted it to be different! It just... happened!" Arlo exclaimed excitedly, his eyes shimmering with wonder.

Avianna found herself between awe and fear. The age-old unchanging magic had suddenly taken a fresh turn through the ages. While the flow of magic remained undisturbed, she sensed something had altered. She was both amazed and slightly fearful of the unknown.

"Can I do the rest?" Arlo asked, his bright, endearing eyes captivating her. Avianna couldn't resist his charm and wholeheartedly agreed, eager to witness more of his extraordinary and unprecedented magic.

Half an hour had passed since Arlo used his magic on the seed he had planted. He was panting and exhausted, well aware that excessive magic usage could lead to mana exhaustion. He knew from previous explanations that mana was like blood and air - too much intake or release could cause harm. Just as Arlo almost stumbled, his grandmother, Avianna, quickly caught him.

"You almost got it," Avianna said, smiling proudly at his progress. At that moment, a giant oak tree sprouted from the ground. Its branches and thick leaves gave them welcome shade from the sun.

"Malek!" Arlo exclaimed with enthusiasm, settling on the ground to rest. Avianna guided him gently to sit on the ground to gave comfort to the child.

The oak tree's trunk formed an eye and a mouth, and the eye shifted to look at Arlo. "Ahh... How's you're training today?" Malek asked.

Arlo proudly pointed at the peculiar tomato tree. "See, my powers are extraordinary!" he declared, letting out a confident laugh.

Curious, Malek asked Avianna about the unusual appearance of the tomato tree. She let out a sigh and proceeded to explain everything about Arlo's magic and what had transpired during his practice. In response, a root sprouted from the ground and extended towards the tomato tree.

Malek carefully examined the tree, intertwining its roots with the tomato plants. "The flow of magic was not disturbed, but the distribution was," Malek observed confidently.

"This is a rare occurrence; it seems like a magic combination," he added.

Avianna pondered and asked, "Is it a combination of Experience and Life magic?"

Malek nodded, and the oak tree's branches moved, releasing some leaves and twigs from its crown in agreement. Arlo, who suddenly looked curious about what they were talking about, was unfamiliar with magic except for what her grandmother taught him.

"That's not possible, right?" Avianna asked Malek, seeking confirmation. "Experience magic takes time to practice. A kid like him wouldn't be capable of it, not even the basics." Her eyes turned back to Arlo, who was listening intently. She faced palm, knowing where this was going.

''A person's Environment and nurture could be a possibility, but unknowingly casting a combination of magic? I have never heard of it in my entire life,'' Malek responded, his gaze shifted to Arlo.

Curious, Arlo interrupted with a smile, "What magic are you talking about?"

"It's magic that you're not supposed to learn without proper training," Avianna replied. Arlo's faces suddenly became sour.

''But if I did it, maybe I can do it?'' He replied.

Avianna sighed as she had already expected this to happen. She knelt in front of him to be at his eye level and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Listen, Arlo, Experience magic is a type of magic that boosts a person's physical prowess," she explained, trying to simplify it for him. "Combination magic is when you fuse two different types of magic," she continued.

Arlo looked a bit confused, not fully grasping all the concepts. Seeing his confusion, Avianna sighed and rose to her feet.

"I'll show you," she said with a smile. Malek groaned in response.

"Is that even a good idea? You're giving the kid the idea to try it himself," the tree expressed concern.

"It's better than letting him try it on his own and get hurt," Avianna replied firmly to the tree. The tree accepted it as she heard her reasoning.

Avianna began stretching her arms and legs, jumping around gracefully. Then, she knelt again, forming her hand into a fist. Pressure built up in her arm as she said, "Gaia's Hand," and unleashed a powerful punch into the air. The ground responded by morphing into a fist, mirroring her movement at incredible speed.

Arlo was both shocked and excited by the display. "I want to do that!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.

After Avianna finished her display of magic, the ground morphed back into its natural state. ''You can't. You're too young,'' Avianna replied to Arlo's request.

Arlo stood there momentarily, realizing that even if he used his charm, his grandmother would still decline his request. 'Maybe I can train myself?' he thought to himself, his eyes brightening with a newfound idea.

"Okay, grandmother, you win. I won't do it just like you said," Arlo said, accepting her decision. "But can I at least forage for different types of seeds? Please?" he asked excitedly.

Aviana glanced at him, considering his proposal. "All right, find me some different seeds this time," she agreed, allowing him this task. Without hesitation, Arlo immediately ran into the woods to begin his search. "Arlo! Remember my warning!" Avianna shouted after him.

He paused for a moment, turning back to respond, "Okay, Grandma! Love you!" His voice echoed faintly as he resumed his sprint through the forest happily.

A hint of blush crept across Avianna's cheeks at his affectionate words, but she quickly regained her composure when she noticed Malek's gaze upon her.

''Never thought I see you become like that to a child. Especially to a human.'' Malek's remark on the perception of her emotion.

She scoffed, attempting to dismiss the observation. "Do your job, Malek. Follow him and protect him," she instructed, trying to appear unfazed by Arlo's departure.

Malek wasted no time, extending one of its roots to gracefully follow Arlo's path through the forest, connecting itself to nearby trees as it observed the young boy running effortlessly, jumping through rocks, and keenly noticing seeds from afar. "He did become like her," Malek thought, reminiscing about Avianna's childhood and how she used to enjoy nature just like Arlo.

As Arlo grabbed a seed from a nearby tree, he suddenly detected a familiar presence watching him. Scanning the area, he could see nothing but the lush trees around him. "Feels like I'm being watched," Arlo muttered to himself, shaking off the strange feeling and continuing to collect seeds. However, his senses tingled again, and he stopped in his tracks when he came across a giant tree adorned with carvings. The memory of his grandmother's warning echoed in his mind.

"Danger…" he thought, his curiosity urging him to explore further. Climbing up a massive rock, he mimicked his grandmother's stance and attempted to use "Gaia's Hand." But nothing happened, leaving him puzzled. Suddenly, the feeling of being watched intensified, and Arlo saw a silhouette beyond the sacred forest in the distance, a figure of a person pointing at him.

In an instant, a sharp sound pierced the air, and he sensed an incoming projectile headed his way. Reacting swiftly, he leaped behind the large rock, avoiding an arrow that almost hit him.

"What was that—" Arlo's words were cut short as another arrow pierced through the thick rock, making him realize the gravity of the situation. This mere arrow could pierce through such a massive obstacle from a considerable distance. Not even her grandmother is not even capable of that.

Fear surged on him like he never felt before. He knew the concept of death because his grandmother taught him that the cycle of life and death is part of nature, and he knew that it was over when he got hit by that arrow.

Beside him, a flower sprouted, and he heard Malek's voice. "Don't panic." The ancient oak tree was there to guide and reassure him. Arlo calmed himself, recalling the lessons he learned from his grandmother. 'Be one with nature,' he repeated in his mind. He closed his eyes and slowly calm himself once again, he slowly blended into his surroundings, camouflaging his presence, and making it difficult to spot him.

Arlo's senses heightened as he could feel the arrows. As the arrows came raining down, they missed him each time. He slowly stood up, but suddenly vines pulled him back, and an arrow pierced to the rock above him. The vines helped him evade danger and it suddenly pulled him further away from the area.

As he was being dragged to safety, he caught a glimpse of a figure—an elf woman with a longbow pointed in his direction, similar to her grandmother's appearance. This mysterious elf had been watching him, and Arlo wondered about her intentions.