As the sun's first rays struck the ancient stones of the Ancestral Lands, a flurry of whispers echoed among the millennium-old oak trees. As every year, the youngest members of our family gathered for the Blood Ceremony, where their destinies would be determined. For me, this year was no ordinary Blood Ceremony. I had spent seventeen years awaiting this day; countless scenarios had spun in my mind, and my heart held both immense excitement and an indescribable anxiety.
The legacy of our ancestors, beyond the Blood Ceremony, was shaped by the elemental power flowing through each of our veins. Earth, water, fire, air… These were not merely cycles of nature but also the cornerstones that determined our family's hierarchy, building our respect and position. One possessing the Earth Element was known for their steadfastness and strength, an unshakeable figure like a deeply rooted oak. Those with the Water Element stood out for their grace and adaptability, overcoming even the most challenging obstacles with fluidity. Bearers of the Fire Element were known for their passion and determination, influencing those around them like a storm. And those with the Air Element had sharp and swift minds, reaching everywhere like invisible winds. Every member of our family eagerly awaited which element would manifest within them from birth, and from childhood, they were referred to by names reflecting the characteristics of that element.
My name is Auren. Since I never displayed a distinct elemental trait, I never had an adjective appended to my name. Other children in my family, even before they could walk, exhibited movements reflecting the patience of Earth, the tranquility of Water, the ambition of Fire, or the lightness of Air. But me… I was just Auren. When I buried my finger in the soil, no flowers bloomed; when I touched water, no waves calmed; when I approached fire, no flames danced; and when my hair billowed in the wind, I felt nothing special. This situation had been a silent burden growing within me since childhood. It was as if everyone else had a color, and I was a colorless scribble.
The Blood Ceremony, occurring every 500 years, was one of our lineage's oldest traditions. The ceremony took place at the sacred altar located in the heart of the Ancestral Temple, encircled by the branches of a centuries-old oak tree. At this altar, the elemental symbol of each family was combined through a special ritual, and the resulting sacred blood was transferred into the veins of the young participants. Although this ritual seemed mystical and somewhat eerie, it was the most critical step in awakening elemental power in young individuals. Preparations for the ceremony began days in advance. Our home was meticulously decorated for the ceremony, sacred herbs were burned, and prayers and hymns of gratitude echoed. This year's ceremony was even more significant than previous years because an unprecedented number of youths in our clan were coming of age.
My mother, Lira, was a Water Element. Her hair flowed like a waterfall, and her eyes were lake-blue. Her movements were graceful, and her voice was as soothing as the ripple of water. She earned her place in our family through her diplomatic skills and ability to calm people. My father, Kael, was a Fire Element. With his thick red beard, thundering voice, and resolute stance, he was a true leader. He was one of our clan's protectors and always championed justice. Their union represented both peace and strength in our family. As their only son, I had always felt under great expectation. Even if I didn't possess an elemental power as distinct as theirs, I hoped at least an inclination towards an element would emerge.
In the early morning, as the sun's first golden rays filtered through my window, my heart fluttered like a bird in my chest. Today was the day. When I woke up, my mother was already in my room. Her face held both a slight smile and a touch of concern.
"Good morning, Auren," she whispered, stroking my hair. "The big day has come, hasn't it?"
I nodded, my throat tight. "Yes, Mother. I'm so excited… and a little scared."
She smiled, gently placing her hand on my cheek. "It's natural to be scared. This is a turning point in everyone's life. But I know that the power within you will reveal itself when you least expect it."
My mother's words always soothed me. She had always believed in my potential, unlike everyone else. She often told me, "Remember, Auren, even the quietest water wears away the strongest rock." These words had been a comfort to me. Perhaps my strength wasn't as distinct as others', but it could still exist.
That day, everything moved slowly yet quickly. I put on a specially woven, embroidered white robe for the ceremony. The delicate texture of the fabric sent a slight shiver down my spine. My hair was carefully combed by my mother and adorned with small braided details. When I looked in the mirror, the silhouette before me, despite the storms raging inside, appeared calm and serene on the outside.
At breakfast, all members of our family gathered. On the table were the sacred foods of the ceremony: fresh vegetables grown with the bounty of Earth, fruits representing the purity of Water, spicy breads reflecting the warmth of Fire, and dried nuts symbolizing the lightness of Air. Everyone, especially the youths participating in the ceremony, whispered excitedly while humming traditional hymns. Uncle Koushin, an Earth Element, was our most solid and strong. With his broad shoulders and posture rooted to the ground, he always gave us confidence. My cousin Lyra, like my mother, was a Water Element. Her blue dress for the ceremony harmonized wonderfully with her delicate and fluid movements. A brightness reflecting the clarity of water shone in her eyes, and it was clear she was eager to feel the power of her element. My cousin Eren, a Fire Element of my age, fidgeted constantly at the table, unable to control his excitement. His red hair further emphasized his fiery temperament. A sparkle in his eyes showed he longed for the flames to dance. As I saw that distinct elemental sparkle in their eyes, I felt a silent ache somewhere inside me. They knew who they were; I was just a question mark.
My father sat at the head of the table, observing us with a serious yet proud expression. "Today will be an unforgettable day for all of us," he said in his booming voice, drawing everyone's attention. "The spirits of our ancestors will be with us, guiding us. Remember, whatever your power, what matters is how you use it. And always remember that you are part of our family."
My father's words, as always, touched my heart. His devotion to the family was always paramount. But still, the knot of anxiety within me didn't dissipate. What if no elemental power emerged in me? What if I couldn't even be a branch of our family's great tree?
As the ceremony approached, the crowd of people walking towards the Ancestral Temple grew. The temple's large, carved wooden doors slowly opened to the accompaniment of sacred hymns. As we entered, the scent of incense in the air and the tranquility of the ancient stones enveloped me. The inside of the temple was lit by hundreds of torches; dim lights danced on the ancient carvings on the walls. In the center, beneath the centuries-old oak tree, stood the sacred altar. The altar was inscribed with the symbols of each element: a rock representing the solidity of earth, a wave symbolizing the flow of water, a flame showing the power of fire, and a feather expressing the freedom of air.
At the altar stood the elderly sage, Grandmother Elara, Kael's mother and the most respected sage of our family. Her white hair cascaded over her shoulders from beneath her pure white gown. She herself was an Air Element and the one who knew the history and traditions of our clan best.
The youths came to the altar one by one. Each placed their hands on the altar, waiting for the power within them to awaken. The first youth, an Earth Element, revealed himself. As soon as he placed his hand on the altar, the ground around it slightly trembled, and a green light emanating from him illuminated the temple. Then, a young girl, a Water Element, came. With her touch, the water bowl on the altar rippled, and a blue glow emanating from her filled the temple. As each youth unleashed the power of their element, the temple filled with sounds of joy and celebration.
My turn was approaching. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would burst from my chest. My hands were sweating, and I tried to take deep breaths. My mother and father watched me from among the crowd. Their faces held supportive expressions, but I thought I caught a slight flicker of concern in their eyes regarding me.
Finally, I heard Grandmother Elara's voice. "Auren, it's your turn."
My name echoed in the silence of the temple. With trembling steps, I moved towards the altar. I knelt and placed my hands on the cold stone of the altar. I closed my eyes and focused all the hopes and wishes that had accumulated within me on this moment. An element, any element… I just wished for one to be with me.
A minute passed. Two minutes… Nothing happened. The altar was silent. The stone was as cold and motionless as when I touched it. No tremor, no ripple, no glow, no breeze… Nothing. The silence in the temple slowly turned into a whisper of anxiety. People started looking at each other. The hardest part for me was seeing the expressions on my mother's and father's faces. Their hopeful looks slowly gave way to disappointment and astonishment.
A wrinkle also appeared on Grandmother Elara's wise face. She gently placed her hand on my shoulder. "Keep trying, Auren," her voice was kind but also filled with some uncertainty. "Perhaps your power is hidden a bit deeper."
I closed my eyes again. I focused even more intensely. I tried to feel the Earth, wished for the blood in my veins to flow like water, yearned for a fire to rise within me, imagined becoming one with the air. But again, nothing. I felt no tingling, no energy flow in my body. Inside me was emptiness and silence.
The silence in the temple grew heavier. The whispers intensified. Some whispered, 'he has no element.' These words pierced my heart like a knife.
Finally, Grandmother Elara took a deep breath. "My dear people," she said, her voice calm yet holding sorrow, "Auren has not yet shown any elemental power."
These words sent a shockwave through the temple. Astonishment, sadness, and even, for some, pity could be read on people's faces. At that moment, I felt as if the whole world had collapsed on me. My future in our family… what would it be? For me, the Blood Ceremony wasn't a turning point, but the edge of a precipice. My eyes welled up, but I struggled to hold back my tears. I felt my face burn. The Blood Ceremony, one of my family's most respected traditions, had turned into a disaster for me.
Grandmother Elara gently gestured for me to stand. Her expression reflected deep thought. "Auren," she said, with a somewhat enigmatic tone in her voice, "Perhaps your power will manifest in a different way than others. But for now, the ceremony is over."
These words made me feel even worse. "Perhaps in a different way…" This was just another polite way of saying I had no element. Bowing my head, I exited the temple. Outside, the sun was still shining, but for me, everything had darkened. Even the lush nature of the Ancestral Lands seemed gray and lifeless to me at that moment.
My father and mother came to my side as soon as I left the temple. My father placed his hand on my shoulder. "Auren, it doesn't matter, my son," he said, his voice far from its usual determination, slightly broken. "You are still our son."
My mother put her arms around me. "We love you no matter what, Auren," she whispered.
While their words alleviated some of the pain inside me, the main question still echoed in my mind: What now? Our family hierarchy was determined by elemental power. Where would I, who was not an Earth, Water, Fire, or Air Element, fit into this hierarchy? What kind of future could there be for me? Did I have a place in this large family that harbored healers, trained warriors, and acted as guardians of our clan?
I found myself walking towards our family's vast estate. My feet automatically led me to the old willow tree at the edge of a hidden pond, a place I often visited in my childhood, a secluded corner of our family lands. The pond's water was as clear as my mother's eyes. The willow tree's branches gently touched the water in a soothing manner. This place had always been an escape for me, a place where I calmed the storms within and thought alone.
I sat under the willow tree, wrapped my arms around my knees, and rested my head on them. Tears began to stream from my eyes; I couldn't hold them back any longer. I was thinking about how someone like me, without elemental power, could exist in this family. In our clan's history, there was no record of a single person without any elemental power. I was a first, and this first felt like a curse to me.
"What will I do?" I whispered to myself, my voice hoarse. "Who am I?"
The pond's water silently reflected my image. My face was wet and desperate. It was as if my reflection in the water was telling me, 'You are empty, you are nothing.' Inside me, there was a feeling of emptiness. The ceremony had completely destroyed the crumbs of hope within me.
I sat there for a long time, unaware of how time passed. The sun began to set, casting red and purple hues over the pond. The air had grown cool, but I was still under the influence of that burning question inside me: What would my future be? Would my family still love me? Or would I be cast aside like a withered branch of this great family tree?
Suddenly, I felt a small ripple on the surface of the pond. I lifted my head. There was no wind, no animal had touched the water. It was just a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor. I squinted and looked more closely at the water. The ripple slowly grew, and in the center of the pond, a faint glow appeared in the water. At first, I thought it was just a reflection of the setting sun, but as the glow intensified, I realized it was something different.
The water continued to glow. The light was neither the green of Earth, the blue of Water, the red of Fire, nor the white of Air. It was a color I had never seen, an indescribable hue. It was a pure, clear light that felt as if it contained all colors within it. With curiosity, I reached out my hand and touched the water.
As soon as my hand touched the water, I felt a wave of energy envelop my entire body, something I had never felt before. This energy was neither cold nor hot; neither heavy nor light. It was a familiar yet foreign sensation that permeated every cell. It was as if the emptiness within me was filling with this light. The pond's water glowed even more intensely with this energy emanating from my hand. And then, from beneath the water, tiny, sparkling specks began to rise, dancing in the air and swirling around me. They were like stardust, thousands of tiny particles of light.
My breath hitched. What was this? This was something I had never seen or heard of before. None of the elements had manifested in this way. With my hand still in the water, I looked up at where the stardust was rising. At the bottom of the pond, within the clarity of the water, something glowing was visible. As I got closer, I realized it wasn't just a sparkle. At the bottom of the water, a tiny, luminous, crystalline structure was appearing.
Slowly, I withdrew my hand from the water. The glow gradually diminished, and the stardust disappeared into the air. The pond became calm again, but my insides were no longer calm. Something had happened. While I thought I had no element, here, in a place no one knew about, I had felt something different. Was this an elemental power? Or was it just an illusion?
I was confused, but at the same time, a new spark of hope had ignited within me. This experience, while not erasing the disappointment of the ceremony, offered me a new possibility. Perhaps Grandmother Elara was right. Perhaps my power truly would manifest in a different way. But if so, what kind of power was this? And why hadn't it appeared during the Blood Ceremony?
I looked up at the stars. The sky was filled with countless shining points. Perhaps the answer was somewhere there. Perhaps my element was not Earth, Water, Fire, or Air. Perhaps it was something much different, an undiscovered, unknown element…
This new thought stirred a curiosity within me. If this was a power, how would I understand it? How would I use it? And most importantly, how would my family react to it? How would someone like me be given a place in our clan, in a place where traditions were so deeply rooted?
I continued to sit by the pond, a thousand questions in my mind. The ceremony had plunged my future into uncertainty. But this unexpected event seemed to have opened a new door for me. A door to the unknown, to a power yet to be discovered. Perhaps my future would be much different, much more extraordinary than my family expected. And this thought awakened both fear and a strange excitement within me at the same time. My story was entering a completely different path, beyond merely not having elemental power.