RISE OF THE ELEMENTAL HERO

SHIRO'S ARRIVAL IN SEREVAAL

As Korin extended his small hand, a huge portal appeared in his room, it's energy crackled in the air. "Ready?" Korin asked, his eyes glowing with excitement.

Shiro hesitated but nodded, and they both entered the portal. Before he could blink, the world around him twisted. The air shimmered, and the familiar walls of his room faded. He felt like he was being pulled through a thick veil, a sudden rush of air whipping past his face. His heartbeat quickened as everything went dark for a split second. When the darkness lifted, Shiro stood on unfamiliar ground. His breath caught in his throat as he gazed out at a world like nothing he had ever seen before.

As he took his first steps in this strange, mesmerizing world, everything felt overwhelming. The ground beneath him wasn’t like anything he had ever stepped on—it seemed soft but firm, almost like walking on clouds. He looked up and saw bird-like creatures flying through the air, their wings glowing in colors he couldn’t describe. The trees were different in structure with leaves that seemed to whisper secrets to each other as the wind passed through them. They were at the top of a hill and he could see people more like creatures walking around.

"Welcome to Serevaal," Korin said proudly, standing beside him. "A place that is more than meets the eye. A place of supernaturals. This is where you belong, where others have powers like you."

As Shiro stood there, still taking in the strange beauty of Serevaal, he heard a soft crackling in the air, like the gentle snap of a flame. Looking up, he saw something moving toward them through the sky—a figure surrounded by a warm, pulsing glow. It wasn’t a vehicle; it was a person. A fire mage, gliding smoothly through the air with flames curling around them like wings, illuminating the space around them.

Korin grinned, his small body standing proudly beside Shiro. "That," he pointed, "is our ride."

Shiro's eyes widened, still a bit overwhelmed by everything. "Whoa," he muttered, “I have never seen such before!!."

Korin chuckled. "We’re heading to the council. It’s where everything important happens in Serevaal. The protectors of this world stay there, and Guardians like me have our own quarters too and so does every other very important supernaturals in Serevaal."

The fire mage landed with a graceful sweep, flames dimming as it touched the ground. With a nod to Korin, he extended a hand to Shiro. Shiro hesitated, watching the faint embers still flickering around the mage’s form, but Korin went forward confidently. With a deep breath, Shiro took the mage's warm hand, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nervousness as the flames reignited, swirling protectively around them.

In an instant, they were lifted into the air, the fire mage guiding them forward with an effortless grace, the world below becoming a blur of color and light as they journeyed toward the heart of Serevaa

Shiro blinked, still trying to make sense of everything. "This... this is real?" His voice was shaky as he looked around, feeling a mix of fear and awe.

"Very real," Korin assured him as he laughed.

"We’ll be there soon," Korin said. "The council is like the heart of Serevaal , Shiro. And they want to see you."

Shiro simply nodded as he was still in awe of Serevaal. He glanced down as the landscape of Serevaal rushed by, his thoughts racing. The birds, the people, everything was amazing to him? He had no idea what was waiting for him next.

The mage soared smoothly through the air, heading toward a large structure in the distance, growing bigger with every second.

As Shiro and Korin stepped, the tall figure of Zerix came into view. Standing at the entrance of the grand building, Zerix was hard to miss. His blue skin shone under the Serevaal sky, his royal wear, and his tall frame added to his imposing presence. His deep, rumbling voice filled the air as he spoke.

“Welcome to Serevaal, Elro” Zerix said, his tone both warm and commanding. Shiro wasn't sure how he felt being called Elro but he was feeling a little overwhelmed by everything to comprehend, so he shifted nervously beside Korin. He wasn’t used to such attention, especially from someone as intimidating as Zerix.

With a slight smile, Zerix gestured toward the entrance. “ We've been waiting for you. You’ve had a long journey, and you’ll need to rest before you meet the council.”

Shiro simply nodded, unsure of what to say. As they walked through the halls of the grand building, Shiro’s eyes skimmed around, taking in the new surroundings. The architecture was unlike anything he had seen before.

Along the way, Shiro noticed small creatures that looked like Korin, scurrying about, talking in hushed tones. He also saw the supernatural beings, all had their different colors. He didn't need anyone to tell him what that indicated. They seemed to dress in sort of a royal attire, it was different from what he saw others wearing

As they passed, he caught whispers.

“Is he the one?” one murmured.

“Could this really be him?” another whispered.

Shiro’s face flushed slightly. He leaned toward Korin. “Does everyone know who I am?” he asked quietly, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Korin gave him a reassuring glance. "Well, not a lot of supernaturals know but it's nothing. Information doesn’t go far beyond these walls, just a little.”

Shiro wasn’t entirely convinced, but he kept quiet as they continued walking. Eventually, they reached a cozy, well-furnished room. Zerix opened the door and gestured for Shiro to step inside.

“Rest here for now,” Zerix said in his deep voice. “You’ll be called when the council is ready.”

Shiro nodded, stepping into the room. The bed looked inviting, and after everything that had happened, he felt the weight of exhaustion settling in.

“Thank you,” Shiro muttered, still feeling out of place in this strange new world. Zerix nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave, with Korin following after him.

As the door closed behind him, Shiro sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a deep breath. He was in Serevaal now, he didn't say goodbye to anyone at home but at least he left a note and he knew nothing would ever be the same again