Chapter 4: Under the Calm Sky

That morning, the sunlight quietly slipped through the gaps in the leaves in the yard, adding to the peaceful silence. Elysia woke up earlier than usual. The sound of birds and the gentle breeze rustling the leaves made her feel at ease. After stretching for a moment in bed, she got up and walked out of Aunt Ardyn's house. The fresh morning air greeted her.

Her steps halted when she saw Ardyn in the distance, practicing. In the middle of the yard, Ardyn looked focused. He moved his hands with precision, controlling the flow of water that followed his movements. Water droplets hovered in the air as if guided by an invisible force, spinning calmly around his body. However, Elysia knew that beneath that calm exterior was a power not yet fully controlled.

Before she could approach, suddenly, the water swirled wildly and rushed toward Elysia at high speed.

"Aaaa!" Elysia screamed, falling in surprise.

Ardyn was startled and immediately stopped the water flow. "Elysia! What are you doing here? I almost hit you!"

Elysia smiled, slightly shaken but not angry. "I just woke up and saw you practicing, so I came right over." She laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood.

Ardyn rubbed the back of his neck, feeling guilty. "Sorry, I was too focused. This training isn't easy."

Elysia squinted her eyes, filled with curiosity. "I saw you using water and lightning to attack yesterday. And you also used wind to speed up your movements. How many elements can you control?"

Ardyn paused for a moment, appearing to think. He didn't want to reveal everything but also didn't want to lie. "A few elements. Water, wind, lightning... and maybe more."

"More than that?" Elysia looked at him incredulously. "Can you really use more than three elements?"

Ardyn gave a slight nod but didn't elaborate further. "Yes, but controlling all of them is hard. Each element has different characteristics."

Elysia gazed at him in awe. "That's incredible! I can only use two elements, water and plant. Maybe you could teach me to be better."

The challenge made Ardyn smirk. "Alright then, let's try. But be careful. These elements are not to be taken lightly."

The two of them began training. On one side, Ardyn demonstrated his skill in blending elements, like he did yesterday when fighting the hobgoblins. On the other side, Elysia showed her delicate control over plants and water, bringing wild plants around them to life. The plants wrapped and grew according to her will, while the water flow followed her every move.

After a few hours of training, they sat under the shade of a large tree to rest.

"This was so much fun," Elysia said with a smile. However, there was a note of sadness in her voice. "But I have to go back to the elf forest. I can't stay here for long."

Ardyn was silent for a moment, understanding Elysia's feelings. "I understand. You miss your family, don't you?"

Before Elysia could answer, Aunt Ardyn appeared carrying a tray of cold drinks. "If Elysia wants to return to the elf forest, I heard there's a group of adventurers called Camp who will depart there in four days. They could take you."

Elysia looked at Aunt Ardyn with hope. "Really? But is it free? I don't have any gold to pay them."

Aunt Ardyn gave a gentle smile. "They're asking for 55 gold, but don't worry. I'll cover the cost."

Elysia's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you so much, Auntie... I'm truly grateful."

Ardyn saw the relieved smile on Elysia's face, but he could also sense the sadness behind it.

However, before the mood could turn too serious, Kael, Nolan, and Rian arrived with cheerful laughter.

"Ardyn! Elysia! Let's go for a walk! The village is bustling!" Kael shouted, waving his hand.

Aunt Ardyn handed a small pouch of gold to Ardyn. "Don't forget to buy groceries at the market, Ardyn. There are a few things needed for dinner."

Ardyn nodded as he pocketed the gold pouch. They finally set off toward the village market together, enjoying the bright morning atmosphere.

During the walk, Rian, who was always curious, began asking Elysia questions. "So, Elysia, how old are you? And what's your full name? I'm curious why you ended up in a human forest far from the elf kingdom."

Elysia smiled, blushing slightly at the barrage of questions. "My full name is Elysia Starshade, and I'm 9 years old. I... just got lost while training. Coincidentally, those hobgoblins showed up there."

Rian looked at Elysia with sparkling eyes, pleased with her answers. "Wow, you're quite brave too! Ardyn here is also strong. He can master many elements—water, wind, lightning... maybe even all the elements."

Ardyn quickly interrupted with a stiff smile. "Rian, don't exaggerate..."

But their conversation flowed lightly as they strolled around the village, buying groceries and enjoying the lively market scene.

While walking, Elysia asked Ardyn and his friends, "By the way, I don't know your full names or ages yet."

Rian enthusiastically responded, "I'm Rian Galeforce, I'm the same age as you, 9 years old, and I can use wind element powers."

Pointing at Nolan, Rian continued, "And this is Nolan Nightshade, a child of the noble Nightshade family. He's a year older than us, 10 years old. Did you know? The Nightshade family is famous for their powerful shadow element and has a well-known history! Isn't that amazing?"

Nolan, nudging Rian, spoke with his usual cool demeanor. "Don't overdo it."

"Wow, that's impressive," Elysia said with an admiring smile.

Grinning at Rian's antics, Kael introduced himself. "My full name is Kael Aurum. I'm Ardyn's cousin, also 10 years old like Nolan. And for my elemental power, I can—" Before he could finish, Elysia interrupted.

"You must be really strong to emit such a large and powerful mana wave from your body," Elysia exclaimed, surprising both Kael and Ardyn.

"How can you sense that even though—" Kael began but didn't finish his sentence, realizing Elysia might need to be watched carefully.

They continued their journey toward the Mana Festival. After walking for about 20 minutes, they finally arrived at the Mana Festival.