Chapter 16 Elemental Affinity (2)
In ancient times when humankind didn’t know much about magic and mana, the first war between Demons and Humans was fought.
Being masters of demonic magic, they made an unfathomable bloodbath.
Not knowing much about the Magic, humanity was on the verge of destruction.
When all hopes were collapsing, a gigantic figure descended on the middle of the battlefield.
A mountain shining with different colors. With every color, you can think of on his ethereal body.
A huge frame was as big as a mountain. With a large pair of wings on his back, it spoke in an angry voice crushing the small ones only with his voice.
[Pathetic worms… this great and mighty dragon do not give a damn about the likes of you but, the balance of the world will be at risk. Watching a one-sided slaughter is no fun at all.]
It was a [Dragon].
A being of nature and ruler of magic.
Member of a selfish race who only desire amusement and looked down upon even their own kind.
He said with a roaring voice.
[Those who wish to die for the sake of others, come forward!]
Choosing the individuals with the greatest potential among mankind the dragon gave them the knowledge required to protect themselves.
They were the first ones to ever practice magic among mankind. People called them [First ones’]
But, one person strangely stood out of them. Higher beings first liked him, as an amusing one.
He was powerful but… he mastered nothing.
In the truest sense, ‘jack of all trades and master of none’ depicted him.
He couldn’t do so because of the many choices in presented front of him.
‘At the end, he became a fool who could have done greatest deeds, but ended up with nothing of sort.’
And one of the reasons for that being… in front of me.
In a quiet room, I was standing in front of a large crystal orb that… was shining with 6 bright colors.
The whole room was silent with only the buzzing electrical sound from the orb ringing from time to time.
‘Should I cry or… laugh?’
I asked myself as I looked at the colors in the orb.
A bright red like fire; A light blue like an ocean; A earthly brown; A fresh green like morning wind; A Devine yellow and A lonely black.
All of them… shining with great intensity.
I was a (Hexa Elemental) mage.
Someone who can not master one particular type of element.
‘It’s not that I won’t able to do it but… I can’t do it.’
All of the people throughout history with all six elemental affinities either became a hero or gave up on magic entirety. And the reason for that is…
‘If not balanced properly… only death awaits me.’
The opposite properties of elements are the reason that (Fire) is weak against (Water) and (Water) is weak against (Earth).
If any of them grows too much or declines compared to its opposite one then the unbalance could lead to a <Core destruction>, which means certain death.
But then…
“No, wait… Ah! Yes! That’s it.”
Dad suddenly shouted and a bright expression appeared on his face. He ran towards me and hugged me joyfully.
Startled, I looked at him with confused eyes.
Mom was the same as me, as she too looked very confused.
Just a moment ago, she looked like she was going to shout in fear. The look in her eyes was as though she had seen myself dyeing.
But, dad’s behavior confused her.
“Don’t worry Nolen. Eon will be alright.”
He assured her with a confident look and pulled mom by her hand. The surprise was visible on her face by these actions.
“What the hell are you saying!?”
She shouted and pulled herself back, enraged by his actions. This was probably the first time I had seen her angry.
Take a deep breath and sit down for a moment.”
He held mom and tried to calm her down.
Mom retorted refusing to listen.
It took a long time to calm her down.
After who knows how much time, mom calmed down a bit.
“Huuuu…”
Taking a deep breath she looked at dad and demanded an explanation.
“You better explain thoroughly or else…”
I was shocked and speechless. The pressure I was currently feeling… was beyond anything I had ever felt.
But it was only for a moment, as she regained herself after looking at the pale me.
I again reminded myself to not go on her bad side.
‘Never.’
Dad looked at me after he was finished with mom.
“Eon will be able to maintain the balance of all six elements normally. All by himself and without doing anything.”
A bewildered expression appeared on mom and my face. He saw this and started the explanation.
“First of all, look back at the crystal orb. It is intact and fine which is quite weird as it should have shattered into particles if there was a disturbance or unbalance in elemental properties.
But it DID NOT.
That only means that every one of them is in perfect harmony. .
And the reason behind that should be [Energy Circulation]. Eon’s one and only <Innate skill>.
This type of case had occurred in history a few times.
Individuals with polar opposite elemental affinities have lived longer than most people thanks to their some type of <Innate Skill>.
They are mostly called [Irregulars].
I was already surprised and confused when I first saw the perfectly balanced six elementals, which looked stunning at first glance.”
After a VERY thorough explanation, dad breathed out a small sigh.
Looking at my mom, who looked calm after he finished speaking, he held her hand.
“Don’t worry… instead, let’s celebrate. It’s a good thing, you know. More reason for him to learn magic.”
She looked at him with a bit shacking eyes. There was fear.
“Y-you sure about that…?”
She asked in a shaky voice. Looking at me for a moment, she closed her eyes.
“I won’t let him get even a scratch. I swear.”
She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him.
Slowly moving her head forward she kissed his hand which was holding hers.
Nodding, she replied with a small but still worried smile on her beautiful face.
“Ok.”
That short answer was enough for dad as he looked at me.
All this time, they hadn’t said anything to me.
Sitting on the chair, I was just looking at them. It was like a T.V. drama so it was quite fun to watch.
“Eon. I will ask you this only once. Do you really want to learn magic even after knowing that your mom will be worried for you forever?”
For the first time, dad warned me about something.
Knowing this will be a big decision and possibly the biggest one in my life, I wanted to think but instead, answered instantly.
“Yes. I want to do it. Or more like, I have to.”
He was stunned by my answer. Mom, on the other hand, was surprised and shocked.
‘His eyes have a certainty that shouldn’t be possible for just a 5-year-old. No, it’s more than that.
It’s like HE doesn’t want something to repeat. How can my little baby be so much… special!?’
She thought deeply and asked him a question.
“Eon. Why do you want that? Not only magic but also archery.
Why are you so fixated on learning that.
You can have a totally free life without doing anything.
Why… just why do you want to struggle so much.”
She was dead serious. The look in her eyes was not only that of a mother but also a guardian who want to protect something.
“Honey? You can’t ask him something so-”
Dad tried to talk to mom but I instantly cut him off and said the one thing I had longed to say.
“I… want to protect you from anything. When I get hurt you take care of me but, I even can’t see you getting hurt. So, I want to get stronger.”
These words came from the bottom of my heart.
The weight of the words that I spoke was visible in my eyes. It wasn’t some kid speaking to them but, someone who has lived possibly more than them.
Both of them were stunned and speechless. Just from the heaviness of the words, they could feel the high level of determination.
‘How can a child… no. He isn’t any ordinary kid. But, he is… my son. And I am proud of that.’
He thought as he looked at his son.
“Huuu…”
Mom took a deep breath and returned to her normal self. Smiling at me she said in her cheerful self.
“Oh? My baby will protect mom and dad.
How thoughtful! Indeed, my baby is special~.”
Dad, on the other hand, fell deep in thought.
Not saying anything, he was lost in his own thoughts.
“Honey~. Let’s celebrate as you said.”
She slapped his back to call him back to reality.
“Ouch! Why’d you do that.”
Back to reality, he screamed and looked at her, rubbing his back.
Then, calming himself and recalling what had happened, he shook his head and said happily.
“Yes. Ok. Let’s celebrate!
I will make the ice cream too. So just wait here.”
Saying that… he took off to the kitchen.
“So, Eon. How about we play together until your dad is finished.”
I understood that they had put the whole matter to a side so, I also did the same.
Walking out with mom, we climbed the stairs.