Distorted Reality

Pilgrimage until Sanctum was a learning ritual in itself. For hundreds of years, countless nobles and commoners alike had aspired to awaken their elementary power and risked themselves on that journey.

Sanctum was located at the southernmost point of the Kingdom of Elba, so for most young dreamers, the journey to Sanctum could be fraught with disagreements and conflicts, from caravans being ambushed by beastmen to even simpler obstacles such as fighting cold and hunger along the way.

However, for Jin, any personal learning or maturing that could have been gained from this stage, so revered by most of the High Elders, had been wasted.

Jin had been born in Kambar Village, the village had been traveling for about two days from Sanctum, even less than that when you can afford a carriage.

Such brief adventures are not worth admiring, especially when no heroic act are performed, those of which could increase the intrinsic value and bravery of your own being at its core.

In the eyes of the gods, awakening magical affinity in humans has never been seen as an obligation. It was even known by Jin that since the gods stopped wandering among mortals, the faith had been deeply shaken, causing a degradation in the magical sources of the world.

These days, for every mortal who was able to awaken elemental powers - There were nine who were drowning in sorrow for not being favored by them.

However, Jin was more than convinced of the potential within him. Growing up in Kaban Village, over the years he was constantly reminded not only by the villagers but by his own father that he had his mother's brown eyes. And, above all, his father's blood running through his veins.

Being the only biological son of the legendary Alaric, The 13th member of The Sacred Brotherhood, there would be no one comparable in the Kingdom of Elba with such a powerful bloodline, more deserving of inheriting the elemental powers than he did.

These were Jin's expectations of himself that grew bit with every little comment from neighbors and friends about the genius of his father and brother. Those comments were bound to massage more and more of his ego.

And so they did.

At some point, Jin had realized that it was much easier to look at his own reflection when he started believing into those comments.

How easily and simpler things became when he turned that distorted reality into his own conviction.

Lowering himself slowly in the corner of the long hall, the boy placed his hands on his head, pondering what moment it was.

At what exact moment had he lost himself, what comment had been the first to misrepresent his view of himself, of who he really was ...

Who was he?

What kind of person was he really?

The feeling of frustration and pain was so thick but so tense that…

The three young adventurers in the center of the room hugged and laughed, congratulating the blue-eyed girl and sharing her joy.

"Congratulations!"

"You did it!" Said a red-haired boy while patting the slender back of the one chosen by the gods.

"I'm just as surprised as you guys are!" Replied the girl, shaking her hand elegantly.

"So do you feel any different?" The red-haired boy took the opportunity he saw-poking the girl's ass.

"Ouch! Don't do that, you pervert! I'm still made of flesh and bones! " She continued while smacking the horny boy in the head.

"Huh… Not really?" For Eliza, the hope of acquiring any elementary power was out of the question.

How could she go back to her family saying that she was now chosen by the gods to be an elementary warrior? She was just taking a gap year for tourism in the Kingdom of Elba!

She accepted the invitation to the Trial only because of her great curiosity for the hidden nature of the ritual, which was constantly mentioned in songs and legends in taverns and bars across the continent.

"Close your eyes child." An authoritative voice echoed from above.

On the second floor of the Hall of Trial were two shadows that were watching closely the conclusion of the Trial.

"Close your eyes and take a deep breath."

"Fill your lungs with air and slowly exhale while calming down your mind."

Following the instructions of that voice that came from the upper floors of the Trial room, Eliza closed her eyes and began to pay attention to her breathing.

It was possible to feel the expansion of her lungs as oxygen entered her body.

It was possible to notice a certain flow inside her, an energy that hadn't been noticeable for three, maybe two sighs ago.

But now?

Now she could feel it.

"Extend your arm and visualize the energy in the palm of your hand."

In Eliza's hand, something was starting to happen. The smooth palm of the blue-eyed girl began to act as an energy catalyst.

She could feel her fingertips start to tingle. And as she concentrated more and more, an element began to materialize before her blue eyes that shone with admiration.

In the center of her hand was a concentration of energy flowing in a rotational direction – a whirlwind.

It was not big enough to push her hair backwards, but that was the guarantee that she had been deemed worthy by the gods and favored by the one and only Elemental God Genos himself.

From the corner of his eye, Jin could see that beautiful girl's eyes sparkle with joy.

Most people dreamed of a moment like that when they are recognized as worthy to become an elementary warrior.

It was common for children to play this in childhood, targeting an element as a favorite before they even participated in the ritual.

Jin himself had a dream of having an affinity with Aurora, Elemental Goddess of Light, the same one who had blessed his father as a young man.

A salty taste wetted the corner of his mouth, the disappointment with himself was so great that it leaked from the inside out.

How could he come home and look at his father in the eye after such a failure?

What could his brother possibly be thinking of him? Would he be the target of jokes and mockery for the rest of his life?

At that moment, light steps could be heard and a figure approached him. It was very difficult to interpret someone's face on such an occasion.

Especially Jin, full of tears, with his vision completely blurred, unable to see a span in front of him.

"You're making me concerned all by yourself in this dark corner, shouldn't you also be congratulating me?" A soothing voice made itself known beside Jin.

Wiping tears from his eyes with his shirt sleeve, Jin slowly looked up and …

There it was.

A pair of blue eyes that sparkled in concern for him.