The old man—KA Wizard—leaned heavily on his gnarled walking stick as he studied Cedric with those unsettlingly clear eyes. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor.
"Listen well, boy," the old man rasped. "Every soul in this world is born with cores—vessels that hold elemental power. Most have one. Some, by rare fortune, have two. Three is a blessing. Four?" He chuckled, the sound like dry leaves scraping stone. "Four is the stuff of legends."
Cedric's fingers instinctively pressed against his chest where he had seen the five glowing spheres. "And five?"
The old man's grin widened. "Five is impossible. Or should be." He tapped his stick against the ground, and the earth trembled faintly. "Your dark element fills one core. The water pearl awakened another. That leaves three empty. But be warned—the more elements you bind, the harder your body will fight the next."
Cedric frowned. "Why?"
"Balance," the old man said simply. "The elements are jealous things. Fire rages against water. Earth smothers wind. Darkness… well, darkness consumes all. To host multiple elements is to wage war within your own soul."
The Disappearing Act
As the old man turned to leave, Cedric called out, "Wait! Who are you?"
The KA Wizard paused, his tattered robes fluttering in a breeze that didn't touch the trees. "Names are funny things. Some call me a hermit. Others, a liar. Most… don't see me at all." He glanced back, his eyes glinting. "But 'KA Wizard' will do."
Then—between one blink and the next—he was gone.
No rustle of leaves. No footprints in the soft earth.
Just… gone.
Monster Hunt: Water's Trial
Shaken but determined, Cedric pressed deeper into the forest, his newly awakened water core humming beneath his ribs. He needed to test it—now.
His chance came when a B-ranked Ironhide Boar crashed through the undergrowth, its tusks gleaming like polished steel.
"Perfect," Cedric muttered, raising his spear.
Experiment: Water Infusion
First Attempt:
Cedric channeled water energy into his spear thrust.
The wood splintered on impact, the boar's hide repelling the poorly controlled force.
Adjustment:
He switched to his sword, focusing on flow rather than brute power.
Water energy coiled around the blade like a river current.
The Technique:
Fluid Feint – A spear jab to draw the boar's charge.
Tidal Sidestep – Water energy enhanced his evasion, leaving afterimages.
Torrent Strike – His sword lashed out, the edge sheathed in pressurized water that cut through the boar's armored hide.
The beast collapsed, its blood mixing with the water still dripping from Cedric's blade.
It worked.
New Technique: Riptide Fang
Building on his Shadowfang Vortex, Cedric adapted the move for his water element:
Initiation – Begin with a dark-energy-enhanced spear thrust to disorient.
Fluid Pivot – Use water to slick his footwork, spinning faster than before.
Dual Release – At the rotation's peak, unleash both elements:
A whip of water to entangle the enemy.
A shadow-cloaked sword slash for the finishing blow.
He tested it against a pack of C-ranked Thornfang Wolves, leaving the clearing littered with corpses.
The Cost
As the sun dipped below the trees, Cedric collapsed against a mossy log, his body screaming in protest.
Dark Energy Depletion – His veins felt scraped raw.
Water Fatigue – His muscles ached as if he'd swum upstream for miles.
Mental Daze – The conflicting elements left his thoughts murky.
This is what the old man warned about, he realized. The elements fight each other.
Yet beneath the exhaustion, something thrilled in his chest.
I can get stronger.
The Healing Waters
Cedric knelt at the edge of the secluded lake, his body aching from the brutal training session. The Moonwater Pearl's energy still hummed within him, its cool pulse soothing his bruises and cuts.
"Water element enhances natural healing," the KA Wizard had said. "No spells needed—just patience."
Cedric waded into the shallows, the water glowing faintly where it touched his skin. The deeper he went, the stronger the effect—his fatigue ebbed away, his muscles unwound, and even the dark energy exhaustion from his Umbra training lessened.
If only I had a healing spell…
But grimoires were rare, especially ones attuned to water. For now, this passive recovery would have to suffice.
He submerged himself completely, letting the lake's energy work its magic.
The Return
Dusk painted the sky in shades of violet by the time Cedric trudged back toward Leonheart Manor, his clothes still damp. He had stayed too long—Aveline would be furious.
Sure enough, the moment he slipped through the servants' entrance, a familiar voice hissed from the shadows:
"Where in the seven hells have you been?!"
Aveline stood with her arms crossed, her light blue eyes burning with suspicion. Her foot tapped an impatient rhythm against the stone floor.
Cedric froze. "I was… helping the farmers. Monster patrol."
"Liar." She stepped closer, her nose wrinkling. "You smell like lake water. Were you meeting Vivienne?"
Cedric blinked. "What? No!"
"Then why were you—"
"Aveline." Hugo's calm voice cut through the tension as he appeared at the end of the hall. "Father's looking for you. Something about the Ashford report."
Aveline shot Cedric one last glare. "This isn't over."
As she stormed away, Hugo lingered, his gaze knowing. "Farmers, huh?"
Cedric said nothing.
Hugo sighed. "Just clean up before dinner. You're dripping everywhere."
The Secret Held
That night, as Cedric lay in his small chamber, he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the two active cores—darkness and water—pulsing in tandem. The other three remained dormant, waiting.
Five cores.
If anyone discovered the truth, the consequences would be unimaginable. The Leonhearts might dissect him for study. The Stirlings would try to buy him. The Ashfords would lock him in a library for experiments.
No. This secret was his alone.
For now.