RISE OF THE ELEMENTAL HERO

SHIRO MEETS THE COUNCIL

After Korin and Shiro returned to his room in the council quarters, they barely had a moment to settle before there was a knock at the door. Shiro opened it to find a figure—a tall man with glowing eyes and a calm but powerful presence standing there, his expression serious.

It was Ralph, a messenger. His dark cloak shimmered faintly, his facial expression void.

"The council is summoning you, Shiro," Ralph said, his voice firm. "You’ll need to come alone."

Shiro blinked, his stomach tightening at the thought of facing the council by himself. "Alone?"

Korin stepped forward, patting Shiro's shoulder reassuringly. “You'll be fine,"

Shiro tried to push down the nervousness rising in his chest and gave a small shrug. "I guess so."

"Don't worry too much," Korin said. “The protectors won't bite."

With that, Ralph motioned for Shiro to follow him. Shiro glanced back at Korin, who gave him a thumbs-up before leaning back against the doorframe casually.

The heavy doors of the council room creaked open, the sound echoing down the long hallway. Shiro’s heart raced as he followed Ralph inside. The space was big, with high ceilings that seemed to stretch forever. Rays of light streamed through thin windows, creating bright lines on the shiny floor. There was a strange hum, like the walls were alive with quiet energy.

Everything about this place felt ancient, like it held stories and memories from hundreds of years ago.

In the middle of the room, Shiro sighted the glowing orb in the center of the chamber, it was the Stone of Elements, with Protectors of the council seated around it. Each of the protectors gave off a strong presence, like they were connected to it. Shiro clocked that it was the orb that the Helpers were sending energy to.

Zerix in his deep blue robes, sat at one of the chairs in the chambers. He looked calm, like the smooth surface of a lake,

“Welcome to the Council, ” Zerix said.

Shiro nodded slightly and gave a small, awkward smile, but the nervousness in his chest didn’t go away.

On another side of the table, a woman with bright red hair leaned forward. Her hair flickered like flames, and her sharp amber eyes seemed to see right through Shiro. It was Cora, the leader of the council,the Descendant of the first Protector to exist. There was a smoky aura around her, as if she had just stepped away from a burning fire pit.

“So, this is the human boy that the prophecy was talking about,” Cora said with a smirk.

Shiro shifted, feeling awkward.

Cora gave a small laugh. “You’re not the first to feel out of place when in front of the council,” she said.

Shiro nodded, unsure of what else to say.

Next to Cora sat Alaric, the member connected to Air. His dark cloak moved slightly, like a breeze passed through it, though the air in the room was still. His brown eyes were serious, and his presence felt calm but heavy, like the silence before a storm.

“Being here is a privilege, you are the chosen one and you have a huge task ahead of you, little one” Alaric said, his deep voice steady. “Being a savior comes with responsibility. You’ll need to prove yourself.”

“I understand,” Shiro replied quietly, even though doubt filled him.

“You’ll need more than understanding,” Alaric added. “ We know you're scared but fear will help sharpen your instincts, but if it controls you, it will break you.”

Shiro swallowed hard, trying to hold onto what little confidence he had.

Then a soft, gentle voice cut through the tension. Liora, the member tied to Water, smiled warmly at Shiro. Her pale blue robes glowed faintly, and her silver hair flowed.

“Don’t be too hard on him,” Liora said kindly. “It takes time to find one's place. We all had to start somewhere.”

Shiro gave a small nod. Her kind words made him feel a little better.

But then came a low, grumbling voice that made the room feel heavier. Rexar, the council member connected to Earth, sat at the far end of the table. His green robes clung to his large frame, and his skin looked like rough stone. Rexar’s sharp gaze locked onto Shiro, making him feel small and out of place.

“I don’t trust this–this whole thing” Rexar said, his voice like the rumble of a landslide. “How can a human save us? Do we actually know what's at stake here? This feels like a mistake already.”

Shiro froze under the weight of Rexar’s words.

“I-I’ll try” Shiro stammered, though the words felt weak in his mouth.

Rexar leaned forward, his green eyes full of doubt. “Try?” he scoffed. “Trying isn’t enough. Prove it. Show us your power.”

Shiro’s heart sank.

“ Go on, show us your power” Rexar urged.

“Rexar–” Liora wanted to interrupt.

“Liora, let's see what he can do” Cora insisted. Shiro's palms grew sweaty as the room went silent, all eyes now on him. Zerix gave him an encouraging nod, and Shiro knew he had to do this.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on the strange power inside him, the one he barely understood. He stretched out his hand, willing the energy to come to life. He didn't know what he was doing but he did anyways

For a moment, a light breeze stirred around his fingers. But just as quickly, it disappeared, leaving nothing behind.

Rexar let out a harsh laugh that echoed through the chamber. “Is that it?” he said with a sneer. “Tsk tsk tsk , we’re in deep trouble.” Rexar said, looking at the council members.

Shiro was filled with shame. He clenched his fists, feeling like he had failed before he even started.

“That’s enough, Rexar,” Cora said, her voice gentle but firm. “ I think he needs time to learn. We can’t expect him to master his powers in a single day.”

Zerix gave a small nod. “ Exactly, control takes time. Let him train, and we’ll see what he can do.”

Rexar scoffed, folding his arms, but he didn’t argue. It was clear he still didn’t trust Shiro.

Shiro let out a slow breath, the tension easing a bit.

Cora leaned forward slightly, her fiery gaze softening just enough to make her words sound genuine.

"I personally believe in you, Shiro," she said with a small smile. "All you need is training, and your guardian, Korin will show you where to start. You are strong, and—whether you realize it or not—you are one of us."

Her words felt like a spark of warmth in the cold tension of the room. Shiro looked at her, surprised by the sudden kindness, and for a moment, the pressure on his chest eased.

"When you walk out of here," Cora continued, "don’t let the stares bother you. Don’t see yourself as an outsider. I believe in the power within you. I’m looking forward to seeing what you can do."

Shiro blinked, unsure how to respond, but it stirred something inside him—a touch of hope.

Rexar grunted, unimpressed. "Believing doesn’t make it so," he muttered under his breath, though he didn’t push further.

Liora glanced at Rexar to Shiro, her silver eyes calm. "You’ll find your way, Shiro" she said softly. “Don't rush."

Alaric stood, signaling that the meeting was now to a close. "You may leave now, Shiro.”

Ralph gave Shiro a small nudge from where he stood by the door, motioning for him to follow.