Learning_Materials

In the fractured world of Eryndor, elemental affinities define one’s worth. Fire, water, earth, wind — the more affinities you possess, the higher you stand in society. Those born with no affinity are considered useless, condemned to menial labor or exile.

Lucas Dawson, a 17-year-old orphan from the border village of Alderwick, is one of the Affinityless. Bullied, ignored, and barely surviving, Lucas stumbles upon an ancient ruin buried beneath the forest during a storm. There, he discovers the Rainbow Orb — a pulsating relic said to contain the pure essence of all affinities ever known... and a few forgotten ones whispered in myth.

When Lucas touches the orb, it shatters into him, awakening every affinity — fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, ice, shadow, light, chaos, and creation — but also marking him with an ancient curse. Now hunted by kingdoms, cults, and even gods, Lucas must master his powers before the Orb’s chaotic energy consumes him entirely.

Affinity: The Rainbow Orb

Lucas woke to the sound of the Veilways screaming.

Not people — the world. The sky was tearing apart in ribbons of molten light, rivers of air running in reverse, and the ground trembling like something massive was clawing its way out from below.

Seris yanked him to his feet. "It's back. And this time, it's bringing everything."

She wasn't exaggerating. The horizon darkened, then rose, revealing the silhouette of the monster's true form — a titan of jagged obsidian, wings of stormcloud and flame stretching across the whole sky. Every step shattered entire plains into nothing. Its voice rolled over them like a tidal wave:

"Little thief… give me the Orb, or I will unmake you first, and your world second."

Lucas clutched the Rainbow Orb so tightly it cut into his skin. The Ruin affinity still burned inside him like smoldering coal, but he knew using it again alone would kill him. The Orb's voice trembled in his mind:

There is one path left — unite all affinities at once.

Yes, the Orb said flatly. It will either destroy him… or destroy you.

The titan swung an arm the size of a mountain. Lucas dove aside, the shockwave sending both him and Seris tumbling across the fractured ground. When he rose, instinct took over.

He reached into the Orb. This time, he didn't pull one element — he pulled everything.

Fire surged through him first, roaring in his veins. Water followed, cool but relentless, swirling around his arms. Earth anchored him to the ground, while air lifted his steps like wings. Light poured into his chest, filling every shadow, even as darkness curled at the edges of his sight. Chaos spun between them like a wild animal, and deep beneath it all, Ruin whispered hungrily.

It was too much. His skin cracked with glowing veins, his eyes burning with the colors of every affinity. The world around him warped, unable to decide if it was day or night, storm or calm, alive or dead.

The titan froze, its many eyes narrowing. "That is not possible."

"Guess what," Lucas said, his voice layered with echoes, "neither am I."

He moved. One heartbeat he was standing on shattered ground, the next he was in the air, blade of flame and ice striking down. The titan roared as the blow cut a canyon through its shoulder, molten light spilling from the wound.

It countered with a blast of void, but Lucas met it with a wall of earth and light, then shattered it apart with chaos energy that tore the air like paper. Water whips lashed around the monster's legs, freezing instantly, while firestorms ripped across its back.

But the titan was no mere beast. It unleashed a shockwave that tore half the battlefield into the abyss. Lucas and Seris clung to a jagged floating fragment as the world crumbled beneath them.

"You can't hold it forever!" Seris shouted.

"I don't need forever," Lucas said, gripping the Orb tighter. "I just need one opening."

The titan lunged. Lucas let go of control — completely. All affinities surged outward in a single pulse, a blast so bright and dark it seemed to erase color itself. It struck the titan point-blank, ripping its body apart in a chain of explosions that shook the Veilways to its roots.

When the light faded, nothing of the creature remained — except a single black feather, drifting down into Lucas's palm.

The Orb's voice was faint, almost fearful. You've done it… but the cost is coming.

Lucas looked at the feather, feeling its cold weight. "Then we'd better be ready. Because if that thing had a feather left behind… it means it's not over."

When All Affinities Burn