RISE OF THE ELEMENTAL HERO

FESTIVAL FIASCO

Shiro lay in bed, still dazed from sleep. The little power he displayed in the training ground made him so tired and he couldn't understand why.

“Shiro?” Korin murmured,as his small hands tapped Shiro's arms. “Wake up, sleepyhead! Come and see!” Korin said, excitement in his voice. He then climbed curtains and pulled on them letting in bright sunlight.

Shiro squinted as he stood up and looked outside the window. His eyes widened in surprise. The streets of Serevaal were filled with supernaturals. Colorful decorations adorned every corner, and laughter echoed in the air, the sky as purple as ever signaling it was a bright day.

“What’s happening?” Shiro asked, rubbing his eyes.

“It’s the Elemental Festival! It happens once every month. All the protectors, helpers, and guardians are here to celebrate our powers!” Korin exclaimed, grinning widely.

“And you didn't tell me?” Shiro smiled, adrenaline coursing through him.

“Come on, let’s go!” Korin said, heading for the door.

As they stepped outside, Shiro was amazed by the sights and sounds. Brightly colored stalls lined the streets, showcasing their food, crafts, and performances. The excitement was contagious. Shiro felt his heart race. He's not seen so much togetherness.

“I’m going to find my people,” Korin said, glancing around. “I don't want you to go far, okay? If possible, don't go anywhere!”

“Okay,” Shiro replied, chuckling.

Korin's tiny body disappeared into the crowd, and Shiro stood there, taking everything in. Suddenly, he heard a noise nearby. He turned to see a crowd gathered around a stage where a boy with striking blue skin was performing.

The boy was demonstrating his water abilities, manipulating the water into different shapes. He made it swirl and move in the air, creating beautiful fountains. The audience clapped and cheered, and Shiro found himself captivated. He couldn’t take his eyes off the display.

But as soon as the boy glanced in his direction, Shiro quickly looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring.

After the boy finished, he stepped off the stage, a confident smile on his face. He spotted Shiro standing alone and walked over, his blue skin complementing his bright blue eyes.

“You look different,” the boy said, his deep voice smooth. “You’re not from here, are you?”

Shiro felt a mix of shyness and excitement. “No, I’m human. Elro's reborn.....”

“... oh I heard about you” the boy replied, tilting his head slightly. “You seem a bit lost. Enjoying the festival?”

“I think its amazing! I've never seen anything like this” Shiro said, his eyes lighting up. “I didn’t know it would be this lively. I’m just trying to take it all in.”

“I’m Yuki, by the way,” he introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Shiro. Your water skills are awesome,” Shiro complimented him.

“It’s nothing, Shiro. I bet you can do better. I heard you can control all four elements. Isn’t that cool?”

Shiro chuckled, not sure of what to say. “I… I really can’t control my elements,” Shiro admitted. “But I’m learning at the Elemental School.”

Yuki nodded, intrigued. “I didn’t learn how to control my elements in school. My father taught me, but he passed away some years ago. His lessons are still with me, though.”

“Sorry about that,” Shiro said.

“Its okay, what about your family?” Yuki asked Shiro.

Shiro's smile faded slowly. “They... they are back in the human world,” he said, not wanting to tell him much. “ Complicated” he added.

“I get it,” Yuki said softly, his tone understanding. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk about family. You know, when my dad died, i didn't come out for a long time, I shut down my powers, it was hard for me”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Shiro replied, feeling a connection with Yuki. “It sounds like he was important to you.”

“Yeah, he was,” Yuki said, his smile returning slightly. “ Uhmm, want to check out the festival together?” Yuki suggested. “I can show you the best food stalls!”

“My guardian…” Shiro replied but was cut off.

“We not going too far, Shiro" Yuki said.

“Okay then” he said as he followed Yuki.

As they walked through the festival, Shiro felt a warmth growing in his chest, he was glad to have made a new friend.

******************************

The night was drawing near, so Shiro and Korin after saying bye to Yuki were heading back to the council quarters when they heard the first scream. It wasn’t a scream of fear—it was something primal, raw with power. The air shifted unnaturally, as if the elements themselves had taken offense.

"Did you hear that?" Shiro asked, his heart pounding.

Before Korin could respond, a figure rushed past them—a supernatural boy, wide-eyed and out of breath.

"Get inside! Something’s wrong—someone is losing it!" A woman shouted to them before running into the shadows.

Korin and Shiro exchanged a glance. "We need to see what’s going on," Korin said, already moving towards the source of the commotion.

Shiro wasn't sure but followed anyway.

When they arrived at the courtyard, the scene was pure chaos. In the center stood a male student, barely older than Shiro, his body trembling with unstable power. His eyes glowed with a strange mix of silver and green as wind and earth elements swirled violently around him. Debris and dust spun in a whirlpool, and stones shot from the ground, threatening to hit anyone too close.

“Help!” someone shouted from the sidelines—a girl with a streak of white in her dark hair, she was paralyzed by the storm-like energy surrounding the boy.

Shiro and Korin ducked as a chunk of stone crashed against a nearby statue, splitting it in half.

Someone then tapped Shiro at his back, it was Miss Rena

“What are you doing here??, You should be inside, this is dangerous for you, Shiro”

Shiro was scared but didn't say anything.

"This is getting out of hand," Rena muttered, his voice sharp. "He’s lost control of his elements”

“Help me!!” The girl shouted again. No one could get close to her, the force was strong.

Next to Rena, a man appeared as well, his skin red and his golden eyes narrowing. "He’s channeling too much power at once. We have to stop him, or he’ll cause harm here."

Shiro wanted to save the girl, he didn't know how but he needed to. Korin quickly grabbed Shiro with his little hands "Stay here," he warned. "This isn’t your fight."

But Shiro shook his head. He couldn’t look away from the chaos. The girl was clearly hurting and the boy at the center of it all—a stranger to Shiro but somehow familiar—was clearly suffering, trapped inside the raging storm of his own power.

The man raised his hand, summoning his fire but the boy’s elements resisted, exploding in waves of dirt and wind that sent several students flying. Rena swore under her breath as she summoned a wall to block and shield people around, Rena was an Air Mage.

And then, just when it seemed like the boy would be consumed by his own magic, his gaze locked with Shiro’s. For a moment, everything slowed. Shiro felt something—a connection, a sense that this wasn’t just an accident. The boy knew him.

Before anyone could react, the storm surged again. Rena staggered, the wall unraveling. "He’s going to break through!"