Chapter 1: The Origin of Elia

At dawn, the sky was still a faint fish-belly white when Aria's room was gently awakened by the first ray of sunlight. The light seeped through the gaps in the curtains, like slender golden threads, softly brushing across her sleeping face. Aria's eyes slowly opened under the caress of the sunlight, her pupils reflecting the glory of the morning twilight, shimmering with boundless anticipation and curiosity for the future.

She sat up from the wooden bed that had accompanied her for years, the bed creaking slightly with her movements, as if narrating the dreams of the night before. Aria took a deep breath of the morning air, a freshness mingled with the scents of earth, dew, and freshly cut straw, a smell that brought her an indescribable sense of peace and contentment. She quickly dressed in the linen shirt that had been washed to a pale hue and the worn coarse cloth pants, all companions of her daily toil.

Aria walked to the window and pushed open the creaky window, allowing fresh air and the morning chill to flood the room. Her gaze went beyond her own courtyard, settling on the distant golden wheat fields where her father's busy figure was already visible, his broad back appearing particularly sturdy in the morning light. The kitchen chimney was emitting wisps of smoke, a signal that her mother was preparing breakfast for the family. Her younger siblings were still immersed in dreams in the rooms upstairs, their breathing steady and deep.

Aria quickly descended the stairs, passing through the creaky hallway, each step firm and strong. She entered the kitchen, filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the warm scent of fried eggs. She greeted her mother briefly before picking up a piece of bread, taking a bite; the crispy texture and wheat fragrance invigorated her spirit. Then, she put on her straw hat, stepped out of the house, and embarked on the labors of a new day.

On this morning, Aria had no idea that her life was about to undergo a dramatic change due to a chance discovery. She was about to embark on a journey, a journey to explore the mysteries of herself and the world.

Aria's day began with feeding the poultry; she skillfully scattered grain, observing the lively scene of chickens and ducks vying for food. In the sunlight, beside the golden wheat fields, Aria's figure appeared particularly light and graceful. Her movements were light and swift, each revealing her care for these animals. Her fingers gently stroked a particularly close chick, its soft feathers trembling gently under her palm.

"Good morning, little ones," Aria said softly, her voice full of warmth and affection. The chickens and ducks seemed to sense her goodwill, gathering around her and pecking at the food eagerly.

Then, Aria helped her father repair the fence and check the irrigation system of the fields. Her hands were covered with calluses, but she never complained, for these tasks brought her a sense of solidity and satisfaction. Her father, a robust, dark-skinned farmer, praised her work highly.

"Aria, you are such a capable girl," he said, nodding, "your mother and I are very proud."

Aria smiled in response, her eyes sparkling with respect for her father. "I'm just doing what I should, Dad."

During breaks, Aria liked to sit by the fields, gazing at the distant forest, her heart full of curiosity about the unknown world. She often dreamed of one day crossing that forest to explore the mysterious places of legend. The edge of the forest always seemed to hide secrets, and every time the wind blew through the treetops, she could hear whispers calling.

"Aria, you're daydreaming again," her father, a robust, dark-skinned farmer, patted her shoulder, "you always think about those impossible things."

"I'm just curious, Dad," Aria smiled in response, her eyes sparkling with a desire for adventure.

Her father sighed, knowing his daughter was different, but her curiosity sometimes made him worry. "Alright, but don't forget, our work is also important."

Aria nodded, knowing her father was right. She returned to work, but her mind was still on those distant forests and unknown secrets.

The afternoon sun became soft, and Aria picked up the watering can to water the crops in the fields. Water droplets shimmered in the sunlight, like scattered diamonds. Her movements were careful and rhythmic, each drop nourishing the land and her heart. Aria knew that these crops were not only the family's livelihood but also her connection to this land.

"Look, Aria, every seed carries hope," her mother had told her, "they need our care and patience to grow strong."

Aria took a deep breath, the air filled with the scent of earth and new sprouts, her favorite smell. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun, listening to the rustling of the wind through the wheat fields, her heart full of peace and contentment.

However, at this moment, an unusual wind blew from the direction of the forest, bringing a hint of an unusual scent. Aria opened her eyes, and a strong impulse surged in her heart; she knew her life might be about to change.

Sunlight danced among the gaps in the forest, and Aria's steps lightly weaved between the ancient trees. Her mood was both excited and serene, for she knew that every step into this forest was a new adventure. Her gaze swept over the ground, searching for the herbs she knew, her fingers gently touching each leaf, feeling their unique textures.

Suddenly, a faint groan broke the forest's tranquility. Aria's heart raced, and she immediately became alert. She cautiously approached the source of the sound, pushing through the dense shrubbery, and found an injured creature. It was curled up among some ferns, its body trembling, scales faintly shimmering in the sunlight, wings weakly hanging on either side of its body.

A strong sense of compassion welled up in Aria's heart. She squatted down and gently stroked the creature's head. Its eyes were filled with fear and pain, but when her hand touched it, it seemed to feel a bit of comfort. Aria whispered, "Don't be afraid, little one. I won't hurt you. Let me see your wound."

She carefully examined the creature's wound and found that one of its legs was scratched by a sharp branch, the wound deep to the bone. Aria took out some herbs and bandages from her backpack and began to gently dress the creature's wound. Her movements were tender and focused, her heart full of care for this small life.

At this moment, a warm light radiated from Aria's hands. She looked at her hands in surprise, feeling an unknown power flowing within her. The light grew brighter, and the creature's wound began to heal at a visible rate. Aria was shocked and incredulous; she had never realized she possessed such power.

The creature seemed to feel this power too, its eyes sparkling with surprise and gratitude. When the wound was fully healed, the creature tried to flap its wings and then gently took flight. It circled in the air a few times, as if testing its new strength, and then flew to Aria's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately with its small head.

Aria's heart was filled with joy and amazement. She whispered to the creature, "You are free, little one. Go, fly to the sky, fly to your dreams." The creature seemed to understand her words; it took flight again and disappeared deep into the forest.

Aria stood there, watching it disappear into the clouds, her heart full of doubt and amazement. What was her ability? Where did she get such power? These questions swirled in her mind. She knew her life had changed forever. Aria decided she must explore her abilities and understand their origin. She didn't know where this path would lead her, but she knew she must follow her heart to discover the secrets hidden behind the world.

Aria carefully brought the creature back to the farm, bandaging its wounds with herbs and bandages. During this process, she discovered that her hands seemed to emit a warm light, and the wounds actually began to heal. Aria was shocked by her ability; she had never realized she possessed such power. After the creature recovered, it looked at Aria with its twinkling eyes, full of gratitude, and then took flight into the sky. Aria stood there, watching it disappear into the clouds, her heart full of doubt and amazement.

On that lush green meadow, Aria knelt beside the injured mysterious creature, her heart beating rapidly. She had never seen such a strange creature before; its scales shimmered with a faint blue light in the afterglow of the sunset, and although its wings were injured, they remained beautiful and elegant. Aria gently touched its wound, feeling its weak breath and trembling body.

"Do not be afraid, little one," she whispered, her voice full of tenderness and comfort, "I will help you."

She took out some common herbs from the small bag at her waist, skills she had learned in her farm life. Carefully, she applied the herbs to the creature's wound and gently pressed her hand against it. At that moment, she felt a warm force flowing from her palm, a sensation she had never experienced before.

Aria's eyes were filled with surprise as she watched her hand, seeing a soft golden light radiate from her palm and slowly merge into the creature's wound. The wound began to heal at a visible rate,