Two Elements

Ashnard looked at Ozark in astonishment. He assumed that Ozark was trying to play with him because he was just a child who couldn't do anything.

"How does it feel to have two elements?" ask Ozark, approaching the boy with his back to him.

"What do you mean? How can I have two elements? I know you're an adult, but that doesn't mean you can play with me as you please," Ashnard pouted.

"The yellow light means I have an element. As for you ...." Ozark takes off his brooch and put it on Ashnard's chest. Instantly, the color changed. From yellow to orange. "Has two elements. You see! That color change proves that you have two elements in your body."

Ashnard took off his brooch and looked in confusion. The bright color on the glass ball slowly faded. "But how can that be?"

He smirks as he picks up his brooch, "This has never happened before. That is truly a miracle. Did that goddess allow you to eat two fruits while in the valley?"

Ashnard blinked in disbelief, "I don't understand. So, actually, other people have the same experience as I am?"

"All the Elemagnia get their elements through dreams. A quiet place with waterfalls, white meadows, a woman in a white dress, and a tree with golden fruit. Including me," said Ozark. "Could it be that you don't remember because you got two elements?"

Ashnard shrugged his shoulders. "Then what element do you choose?"

"Wind. I am a proud citizen, so I chose wind. Although I wanted to choose more than two, the woman told me, one piece for one person."

Ashnard was completely confused as to what Ozark meant. He didn't remember anything about eating the fruit in the valley. Even though he struggled to remember, but still got nothing.

Ozark as an instructor, directs his students in the right direction, "Instead of thinking about how to have it, it's better to think about how to use it."

Ashnard also agreed with Ozark's opinion, but he didn't know-how. He asked Ozark who gave him the advice to improve his water ball. "How did you know that I have two elements?"

"Just my intuition. When your water ball got bigger when I told you how I guess that's when your second element awakened," he replied.

"So, that's not the way that Elemagnia usually uses?"

"Of course not. The Astral Element is one of those rare elements. Unlike the other Elements, the Astral Element emphasizes the power of your mind and soul. The Astral power cannot be seen but can be felt. As you did before, you can create something imaginary.

Ashnard's brow furrowed again. "Wait, astral? My second element is astral?"

"Yes, I'm sure it's astral. If you want to use the power of fire, then you need your body to channel it, but the astral requires your mentality. With your body amplified by elemental powers like water and astral that strengthens your soul, you can use strong elemental powers," Ozark explained.

While Ashnard grasped every word and power in his body, Ozark opened his case and took out a metal slab. He then placed the slab on the ground quite far ahead.

"With your current level, your water power shouldn't be enough to defeat this metal slab, but try strengthening it using your Astral Element. Just imagine it as you did before. If it's too difficult for you, there's no need for a large volume of water balls."

Ashnard closed his eyes, trying to relax more than before. Then, he repeated creating a water ball that was the size of a pinecone. Ashnard pointed his forefinger forward. With the help of Astral power, the water ball fired. Very fast. Then, succeed to punch a hole in the metal slab in the blink of an eye.

While focusing on his Astral Elements, Ashnard imagined a single form. A weapon that was in his hazy mind, but he didn't know what weapon it was and how he could think of it. He then imagined it and applied it as a water bullet.

The training days passed. The training got tougher with each passing day, but Ashnard got through it. Even though it has quite adapted to its power, he still thought about it. He thought about the two powers in his body, whether it was a good blessing or a mistake that shouldn't have happened. He also asked Ozark not to tell anyone about his powers, including his mother. He didn't want his life to be more complicated because of it.

He was so happy after realizing he have two powers where the other people only have one. He wanted to tell his mother, but Ozarks forbade him. Ozark said that his power had to be kept a secret first. Since this is something that happens very rarely, quite a stir could ensue if anyone finds out. Evil can also emerge to dominate these powers.

"As much as possible don't tell anyone about your elements before we understand the potential of your power." That's what Ozark told to Ashnard.

Snuggled under the covers on a chilly night and with a book to read, Ashnard couldn't think of anything more comfortable than that. He was so excited when reading adventure books. There were all sorts of adventure books he had on his shelf. In fact, almost all of them contain adventure books. But, what he liked more was the book "The Journey of the Star Knight from the Land of Darkness."

The book presents an epic adventure and action that fascinates Ashnard. Because of the book, he desperately dreams of becoming like the Roc-Star Knight of the story. Travel to various places around the world, fight monsters that destroy villages, become a hero of a kingdom, and get a quest from a god.

For him, anyone has the right to imagine the dream they want to feel like in a book.

He is now a nobleman, one step closer to his fantasy becoming a reality like in a book. He realized that he was still a kid and weak. Therefore, he tried to practice earnestly and understand his power. After he finished his training, Ashnard intended to travel like Roc.

"Ah, I wish I could experience an epic and very dramatic adventure story," Ashnard wondered.

Knock! Knock!

A knock shocked Ashnard out of his fantasy. Ashnard immediately got up and opened the door.

Turns out it was his mother who was intruding on his private time. "Not sleeping yet? Ash must be reading that Roc book again, huh?"

"What's wrong, mom? Don't tell me you knocked on the door just to worry about me," Ashnard had already put on an annoyed face.

"That's very clever, my son. But sadly not. I have come to give you this." The woman took out a long wooden box with a red string tied to it. "This is a gift from your father. He told me to give it to you when your element has awakened. Maybe it's too late because you got it from birth."

"From dad?" Ashnard took the box. Untie the string and open it. A sword hilt without a blade. The cross stems are dark blue, like the color of the deep ocean.

However, the hilt without the blade was not a sword. Like a man with his dreams, a tree with his fruit. The hilt without the blade, cannot be called a sword, because it has lost its original purpose. More useless than a dull sword. Ashnard thought, why did his father who was a knight, who should know the sword and all its honors, give him the gift of a hilt instead.

Edda said, "He asked his friend to make the hilt of this sword for you. He said that you must find your blade."

***

"I see now," he muttered as he sat down on his knees. "I should be the main character but instead I'm became a spectator. And now I'm stuck here.

"I should have gotten the body, but you stole it from me." He stared at the illusion of a young boy who was still frozen next to him.

"You've got a noble life, a loving mother figure, a personal teacher, and even has two power that other people don't have. You are very lucky, kiddo. I'm jealous, you know."