the carriage rocked gently as it moved along the Royal Road, its wooden wheels crunching over the dirt path. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant pines from the Great Forest.
Alex sat by the window, watching the endless stretch of towering trees pass by. The deeper they traveled, the darker the landscape seemed to become, as if the world itself were changing.
He barely noticed Olana watching him.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her voice light but curious.
Alex hesitated, then sighed, his fingers brushing against the cool glass of the window.
"That maybe they made a mistake."
Olana raised an eyebrow. "Who did?"
"Whoever chose me to be the Fire Heir."
He turned away from the window, his voice quieter. "Anyone would have been a better pick than me."
For a moment, Olana didn't respond.
Then, instead of reassuring him right away, she asked, "Why do you say that?"
Alex looked down at his hands. "I'm not strong, or smart like the people in the Church. I don't know anything beyond reading, writing, and casting Sparks."
Olana leaned back slightly, watching him with a thoughtful expression.
"You're not a bad person, are you?"
Alex's head snapped up. "No! Of course not!"
Olana smiled. "Then that means you were chosen for a reason."
He frowned. "But—"
"Listen, Alex." She rested her elbow against the side of the carriage, her tone calm but firm. "Strength isn't just about power. The greatest warriors I know aren't the ones who punch the hardest. They're the ones who stand back up, even when everything tells them to stay down."
Alex swallowed, shifting uncomfortably.
"I… guess."
Olana grinned. "You want to learn more about the world?"
Alex blinked. "Huh?"
"You said you only know reading, writing, and casting Sparks." She tilted her head. "Then why don't we change that?"
For the first time since the conversation started, Alex's expression brightened.
"You'd teach me?"
Olana smirked. "I'd be a terrible mentor if I didn't."
the carriage swayed gently as it rolled along the Royal Road, the sound of dirt crunching beneath the wheels mixing with the occasional rustling of leaves from the dense forest surrounding them.
Inside, the dim light of the carriage lantern cast a soft glow over its occupants.
Olana leaned against the cushioned seat, watching Alex, who sat across from her. His eyes were wide with curiosity, his mind racing with questions.
She smirked.
"Alright," she said, stretching slightly. "Since you seem so eager, let's talk about history."
Alex straightened, ready to absorb every word.
"Humans once ruled these lands," Olana began, her voice carrying the weight of ancient tales. "Cities spanned from coast to coast, their armies vast, their influence unmatched. But then… everything changed."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"The teras appeared."
Alex felt a chill crawl up his spine at the name.
"What happened?"
Olana's gaze darkened.
"They came like a storm—sudden, overwhelming. Villages vanished overnight. Cities fell. Humans, once the dominant race, were nearly wiped out. We lost 80% of our population before we could even understand what was happening."
Alex swallowed hard.
"What do they look like?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
Olana's lips pressed into a thin line.
"They take many forms." Her eyes flickered toward the forest outside, as if searching for something in the darkness. "Some are beasts—massive bears covered in ice, their claws like jagged blades. Some are birds, wreathed in flames, scorching everything in their path. And then… there are the ones that look almost human."
Alex felt his stomach tighten. "Almost?"
"They walk like us. But they're… wrong. Unnatural. Their strength is beyond anything human, and they hunger for destruction."
For a moment, silence settled over them. Even Max, usually relaxed, had an unreadable look on his face.
Alex exhaled, trying to steady himself.
"So how do people fight them?"
Olana's expression softened slightly.
"The Church of the Elements has always been our strongest shield. Trained soldiers and magicians—people like me—dedicate their lives to protecting the cities. But there are others, too."
Alex tilted his head. "Others?"
"Hunters. Mercenaries. Some go into the wilderness to track teras, gathering resources from their bodies. It's dangerous work, but the materials they bring back…"
She smiled slightly.
"They can change lives."
Max leaned forward, and asked.
"Like what?"
Olana grinned, clearly pleased by their curiosity.
"Depends on the tera. Ice shards from frost creatures, fire stones from infernal beasts. Some teras even have cores—pulsing with raw elemental power, Some of the rarest plants in the world only grow in places where teras have been. Alchemists pay small fortunes for them."
Alex absorbed the information, realizing just how deeply intertwined these creatures were with human survival.
After a brief silence, Alex turned back to Olana.
"What about the Four Heroes?" he asked, his curiosity burning brighter now. "What role did they play in all this?"
Olana's expression shifted, becoming almost reverent.
"The heroes appeared when we needed them most. Each came from a different corner of the continent, each wielding one of the four elements—Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. They were more than warriors. They were symbols of hope."
Alex leaned in.
"And they built the cities?"
Olana nodded.
"Lotardale, the city of Earth. Arindale, the city of Air. And to the north, beside the great sea, Azurdale, the city of Water. They united humanity, led the charge against the teras, and helped build the walls that still protect us today."
Alex paused, noticing something.
"You didn't mention Fire."
The mood in the carriage shifted instantly.
Olana's smile faded, and Max's expression turned unreadable.
The sound of the carriage wheels against the dirt felt louder.
Alex hesitated. "Is there no city of Fire?"
Olana let out a slow breath before finally speaking.
"There was."
Alex felt his heart skip a beat.
"Was?"
Olana's voice lowered.
"Govirdale. The lost city of Fire. South of the other three, deep in the mountains."
Alex's hands clenched slightly. "What happened to it?"
Olana hesitated.
Then, softly, she said, "According to legend, the Fire Hero destroyed it."
Alex froze.
"What?"
Olana's gaze remained steady.
"Some say it was greed. Others say envy. That he wanted more power, lost control, and—" she snapped her fingers. "The city was gone."
A heavy silence filled the space.
Alex felt his stomach churn.
"That can't be true." His voice was quiet.
Olana sighed. "It's just a legend, Alex. No one knows what really happened."
But the words lingered in his mind.
Was that the legacy he had inherited?
As the sky darkened, the thick trees of the Great Forest grew taller, their twisted branches reaching towards the road like clawed hands.
Olana suddenly sat up straighter.
"We're close."
Alex looked outside, expecting to see a towering fortress. Instead, he saw nothing.
Just more trees, the darkness growing thicker.
Confused, he turned to Max.
"I don't see anything. Where is it?"
Max grinned.
"You're looking right at it."
Alex blinked, then squinted harder.
And then, he saw it.
A fortress so black, so perfectly camouflaged against the night, it blended with the shadows.
A sea of darkness broken only by the occasional torchlight flickering from within.
His breath caught.
"It's… invisible."
Max smirked.
"That's the idea. Welcome to Blackwood Stronghold."
As the carriage approached, the massive iron gates groaned open, revealing soldiers lined in formation. Their armor, dark and practical, gleamed faintly under the torches.
This wasn't just a city.
This was a fortress built for war.
And for the first time since they left home, Alex truly felt the weight of what he was stepping into.
The entire structure is cloaked in a coat of deep black, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the darkness and evade the notice of formidable terms." After concerted searching, Alex's eyes widened as he finally saw the hidden fortress.
Overwhelmed by its stealth and grandeur, a sense of awe washed over him.
As they reached the entrance, a sturdy metal gate swung open, and Olana conversed briefly with the soldier stationed there.
The carriage was granted access, and they entered the stronghold. After a short while, a soldier escorted them to their assigned rooms. They were generously provided three separate rooms, allowing each their own space to settle in. Olana claimed one room, while Alex's parents took another. Excitement filled Alex's heart as he realized he would share a room with Max. Deep down, he had always felt a sense of loneliness, but with Max by his side, that feeling seemed to fade away.
Entering the room, Max turned to Alex and asked with a friendly smile, "Do you prefer the bunk bed?" Alex, feeling a genuine sense of trust, replied, "I don't know. I've never slept on a bunk bed before, so you can choose." Max's eyes lit up, and he cheerfully declared, "Then I'll take the top bunk!" Alex nodded in agreement, appreciating Max's enthusiasm. He then headed to the bathroom to prepare for bed, feeling nervous and anticipation for the days ahead.
As they settled into their respective bunks, surrounded by the comforting silence of the room, Max broke the silence.
"Alex, are you still awake?" he asked softly.
Alex, looking up, replied, "Yes, why?" Max hesitated momentarily before gently inquiring, "Are you feeling nervous?"
Alex took a moment to reflect before saying.
"Yes, I am. But even though I don't know what awaits us, I strongly feel that everything will turn out alright. My parents are by my side, and you and Olana will be there too. So, I think I'll be fine," he confided, his voice filled with uncertainty and determination.
Listening intently, Max closed his eyes and said. "I guess we'll be fine, then," he replied, a hint of reassurance in his voice. With those comforting words, they both allowed themselves to succumb to sleep, their minds filled with dreams of the adventures and challenges that awaited them in the days to come.