THE Birth of a Storm

The rain fell in heavy sheets, and thunder roared through the night, echoing through the dense woods. In the heart of this storm, an old house stood as a lone sentinel. Inside, the air was thick with anticipation and fear. A man, a woman, and a Healing Mage were gathered around a bed where the woman lay, her face flushed with fever.

"It is a boy," said the Mage, his voice cutting through the storm's fury. The man, filled with joy, jumped around the room with unrestrained happiness.

"Really!" he exclaimed, tears of relief and happiness streaming down his face.

The Mage handed the newborn to the woman. Despite her obvious illness, she managed a weak smile, gazing lovingly at her child. "Look, the kid is healthy," the Mage began, his tone turning somber, "but he has too much energy in him."

The man's expression shifted from joy to confusion. "What does that mean?"

The Mage sighed, his face lined with concern. "We need to call for the fourth-class Mage in the village. This amount of energy could attract unwanted attention."

The man's eyes widened with surprise and a touch of fear. His dreams of his son becoming a powerful Mage, perhaps even a fifth or sixth class, suddenly seemed fraught with danger. "Why do we need the fourth-class Mage here?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"We need him to place a barrier around this house, to protect you and your child from black Mages or strong demon beasts," the Mage replied urgently, his panic rising. "Hurry, we don't have much time!"

Without another word, the man dashed out into the storm, unprotected from the rain that soaked him to the skin within seconds. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, desperation fueling his every step. After what felt like an eternity, but was only ten minutes, he arrived at the village Mage's house. He pounded on the door, shouting, "Please open the door! I need your help!"

The door creaked open, revealing a grumpy Mage, his expression softening when he saw the state of the man before him—drenched, filthy, and trembling with exhaustion.

"What's the matter? Why are you knocking at my door and shouting so late at night?" the Mage demanded, his voice stern but concerned.

"Please, come with me to my house," the man pleaded, his voice barely more than a whisper. "The Healing Mage said we need you to protect my baby with a barrier, so that other black Mages or demon beasts don't notice him."

Understanding the urgency, the Mage quickly helped the man inside, laying him down on a bed to recover. "Rest here," he commanded. Then, invoking a spell to hasten his journey, he whispered, "O Wind, speed myself up."