" There is a town up ahead..." Philip beamed, pointing to a town a few metres away from them.

They had been sleeping in the woods for almost a week now.

And he was tired of it.

Surprised Alaric and Raika never once complained, he sometimes questioned who among them were nobility.

"We have to rest and get a new carriage. We might make it in time..." he said excitedly.

Alaric’s birthday was just a few days away.

The loss of the horse and carriage had delayed them drastically; there was no way they would make it to the Capital in time for his coming-of-age ceremony.

It wasn’t dire that he made it on time anyways.

One’s awakening would happen irrespective of where they were.

The coming of age ceremony was largely ceremonial, families gathered to observe their children’s first manifestation.

Though their hair color always gave away what their element was, it was beautiful to see the children practice their first magic.

" Why are you so quiet?" Raika inquired of Alaric, the latter walking calmly beside them as they headed towards the village.

" It’s just I always feel like I have a grasp of the water element, but then the feeling disappears as soon as I try to grab it..." Alaric explained.

He had tried several times to get the feeling back, to control the element as it was, not its variant.

Yet the same result. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

" You will get it, you are the son of the thunder princess and hell flame," Raika tried to comfort, her voice low.

It seemed she was starting to doubt those words herself, the root Alaric’s fire constitution, not to mention the large amount of fire element pumped into his body.

She feared it might have destroyed her son’s path as a water mage.

What kind of mage needed another person to activate their power?

Alaric, ever so observant, noticed the drop in her voice and the guilt in her gaze, though she tried to hide it with a smile.

" Sigh..." He shook his head.

" She blames herself at times like this, I should find a way to control the water element..." He didn’t like seeing his mother sad.

It reminded him of his late mother from his past life, with whom he had barely spent enough time.

He, like most, believed she would be there forever, or at least long enough, and thus didn’t pay attention to what he did, how he spoke, what hurt her, and what didn’t.

And before he realized it, she was forced out of the world, and the worst thing he couldn’t remember their last conversation.

Not an argument or a praise, but something mandune,

don’t leave the fridge open.

He wasn’t sure, barely heard what she said before she left for groceries.

The last time he saw her.

He thus vowed to be more conscious with the family of this world.

...

They passed through the gates with ease, the head guard recognizing Raika.

They were basically in the Kingdom, a few days or a week away from the main estate.

Most warriors around the vicinity would recognize the thunder princess.

The county had remained largely untouched by the distant war.

Children’s laughter rang in the streets, busybody aunties huddled together as they enjoyed their regular gossip.

...

"... If there is any problem, please don’t hesitate to let me know," the captain bowed, as he escorted Alaric and his group to their accommodation, an inn.

He had suggested the count’s manor, but Alaric refused.

He didn’t want people to know they were here.

The count of the land was thus unaware that relatives of the Vulcan Royal family was in their estate.

He was sure someone in the family was after them; it was best to keep those who knew of their presence to a bare minimum.

Only a few warriors had actually seen Raika before, a handful Alaric kept note of.

If anything funny happened, he knew who to blame.

Raika didn’t mind his arrangement; she hated those snobbish nobles anyway.

" Is there a tower in this town?" Alaric inquired.

" Yeah, but..."

" Don’t worry, can you take me there..." He interrupted the warrior, already aware of what he would say.

Even if the tower was closed, he was sure he could enter it as he did the red lotus tower.

" Ok..."

...

The three walked along the streets, Raika, Alaric, and a junior warrior.

Alaric believed if the captain were to accompany them, it would raise stares; a normal warrior, not too much.

And true to his words, people barely threw them a glance.

" Hey, why are your eyes red..." An innocent voice stopped them in their tracks.

A blue-haired girl, about the same age as him, asked.

Her bright innocent blue eyes staring into his.

Alaric taken aback.

Throughout his journey, no one had asked him about his eyes.

And he wasn’t even aware it was an anomaly.

The inhabitants of Red Lotus Village never once mentioned it.

Well, that was understandable as he only spoke with a young boy whose mind was preoccupied with his next meal, and as for the warriors, they wouldn’t dare ask such an insensitive question.

The elves never seemed to mind, Vel and her mom never once bringing it up.

And Raika’s eyes were red, so he believed it was normal to have the same eyes as his mother.

" ... What color should they be..." He smiled back.

The young girl giggled " what a silly question"

" Blue..." She jumped up in excitement, " like mine," pointing to her own eyes.

Blue short hair and equally clear blue eyes.

The eye and hair color matched.

Alaric looked at the excited girl, then at those around.

" Same color of hair and eyes... I knew it..."

He knew he was different from the very beginning, apart from his affinity, physically so.

The elves shared the same features as everyone else, the same color hair and eyes, yet he had different colored hair and eyes.

He had always believed this was due to his forceful change of affinity, and now it was confirmed.

" F*ck, this will put a target on my back..." He thought, unconsciously pulling his bangs to cover his eyes.

" Don’t hide it, it’s nice..." The girl pulled his hand away.

Alaric, sensing a killing intent, turned. Raika was already on high alert, like a guard dog ready to pounce on the little girl.

" Mother, it’s ok..."

Raika backed away, her gaze hostile towards the little girl, who looked back at her with innocence.

" Is that your mom? She is so pretty..." She bobbed up and down.

" Really you think so..." Raika blushing at her words.

She had always been weak to compliments.

" That’s enough, Kai, you are bothering the strangers..." The escorting warrior finally stepped in.

He was familiar with the little girl, the daughter of the flower shop owner, a bright girl who got along with everyone.

As he playfully pulled the girl away, he couldn’t help but glance at Alaric’s eyes.

He too was curious, why a water-bound mage possessed the eyes of a fire mage?

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A/N

10 golden tickets = 1 extra Chapter.

100 power stones = 1 extra Chapter.

Goal: G: 2/10

P: 18/100