But that peace was only momentary.
Not long after the earth calmed and my soul felt united with the power dwelling within me, my body suddenly froze. A searing heat spread from my chest—slowly, but surely—crawling through my body. It felt like embers trailing through my veins, burning from the inside.
"Agh…!" I clenched my teeth, but the pain could not be contained.
My chest throbbed violently, as if every emotional wound I had ever endured was now reliving itself. Memories long buried surfaced mercilessly—cries in the silent night, screams of loss, wounds that never closed. My whole body trembled uncontrollably. My knees gave way. My breath caught in my throat.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs, until it felt like my throat was torn apart. But no one heard. No echo. No reflection. Only thick silence. This space… smothered everything.
In the distance, Queen Victoria stood motionless. Her face was lowered, her shoulders lightly trembling. She hugged herself, bearing a weight she could not help lift.
"I know this," she whispered inwardly. "Everyone goes through it. But I never knew… the pain could go this deep."
I hunched over, hugging myself. My chest felt ablaze—not from power, but from old wounds erupting as if they had never healed. My hand ran across my chest, trying to calm the burning heart that felt as though it might explode.
"I… I can't take it…" I whispered, before the world around me blurred.
My vision darkened. My breath faded. And finally… I collapsed. Fainted from exhaustion, from the lingering, unbearable pain.
Queen Victoria slowly approached, kneeling beside my unmoving body. She touched my forehead gently, eyes glistening.
"Son… I didn't know your past was this painful. Forgive me… everyone must go through this. I can't change fate…"
She drew a vial of clear liquid from her cloak—a remedy prepared not to erase the past, but simply to ease its pain.
Carefully, she let the liquid touch my lips.
"Let go of the pain for now, son," she whispered. "But the trauma… that's something you must face alone… until the end."
All around, silence still reigned. But slowly, the air grew a little lighter. The fire in Hiro's chest faded. For now… just for now… he could rest.
And the curtain fell.
The next morning, I felt better. The pain had gone. Only the trauma remained—one I would have to face to the end.
"I'm ready," I said softly.
She nodded. "You have come to understand who you are, Hiro. But remember… mastery is not the end. This is only the beginning."
I bowed my head. "Thank you, Queen Victoria. For everything… for guiding me. For not forcing me, and for letting me discover myself."
She stepped closer, touching my chest with the tip of her fingers. "The earth is here, and it will always answer your call—if you keep listening to it."
Then she handed me a small, dark brown stone—an earth crystal formed during my training.
"Keep this. Not to fight, but to remind you where your strength comes from."
I held it tightly. I knew... I would miss this place. But the world outside was waiting.
I looked toward the beam of light in the tree. Then stepped through.
My steps were heavy as I emerged from the old tree's passage.
The light from the outside world was blinding. The wind felt rougher. The sounds of birds, rustling trees, and the scent of damp earth were all so real... and so different from the Elven world that had become my home.
I walked upon the land I had once left behind. A brown cloak wrapped my body, concealing my face. But nothing could hide the fact that I had changed.
I followed the path leading to the village I once only saw from afar. The houses still stood, but the faces were new. Older. Worn. As if time had never stopped in this place.
At the market, I saw Violet. She was taller now, her hair longer. The way she looked at the world had shifted—more cautious, more mature.
I stood before her, but she didn't recognize me.
Her eyes glanced over me quickly, then turned away... before locking back onto mine.
"Sorry… have we met before?"
I lowered my hood, revealing my eyes.
She froze, and then her eyes widened.
"H-Hiro…?"
I gave a small smile and nodded.
It took a few seconds… before she finally hugged me. Awkward. Confused. But warm.
Elsewhere, a Sorcerer and another figure stood.
Before them, a crystal orb hanging in the dark room began to tremble violently. The old Sorcerer touched its surface, and an earthy aura burst forth.
"His soul has awakened," he whispered. "The Earth element no longer sleeps…"
Then, like an invisible wave, the news rippled across the world.
Jester, the name of the other person in the room, burst out laughing.
"Finally. That kid's finally crawled out of his hole."
Four other figures stood behind him, silent.
They didn't need to speak. Every eye was now focused on one soul:
The Next Earth Element User, Is me.