The clan’s main training grounds were never quiet.
Even before sunrise, the sound of steel striking steel could be heard echoing between the stone buildings. Warriors trained in formation. Children practiced their elemental techniques under the watchful eyes of instructors. Servants moved between the various buildings, carrying supplies, weapons, and food.
The clan had existed for generations.
Its name was respected.
Its lightning techniques were feared.
And at the center of it all stood Lawrence.
He was already awake before the sun rose.
He stood alone in the middle of the training grounds, wearing little more than simple training clothes. His hands were empty.
That didn’t make him harmless.
Lightning danced across his arms.
The air around him crackled.
Then he moved.
His first step shattered the stone beneath his foot.
The second carried him across the training grounds.
By the third, he had already struck the wooden training dummy standing at the opposite end.
There was no explosion.
No dramatic flash.
Just a single, precise impact.
The dummy split in half.
Lawrence stopped.
He stared at it for a moment.
“Still too much.”
A voice came from behind him.
“You destroyed another one.”
Lawrence turned.
Corrine stood there holding two cups of tea.
She wore a loose training robe, her long hair tied behind her head.
Lawrence smiled.
“I barely touched it.”
“You barely touched it hard enough to destroy it.”
He accepted one of the cups.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
She walked over to the ruined dummy.
“You know, most people would simply use a training dummy.”
“I was using a training dummy.”
“Then perhaps use one that isn’t made of paper.”
Lawrence chuckled.
Corrine leaned against one of the nearby posts.
“You’ve been training since before dawn.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why?”
Lawrence looked toward the eastern wall.
“The beast reports.”
Corrine’s expression changed.
“So you’ve heard.”
“Three sightings in the northern territories.”
“Four.”
Lawrence looked at her.
“Four?”
“One was reported late last night.”
“How close?”
“Closer than I like.”
Lawrence became quiet.
The beast population had always been a problem.
It was part of life in their world.
Most beasts lived far from human settlements. The strongest ones occupied remote regions, while weaker creatures occasionally wandered toward civilization.
A beast wave, however, was different.
A large number of creatures moving together could overwhelm even well-defended settlements.
“Do you think it’s connected?” Lawrence asked.
Corrine shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
Lawrence stared toward the mountains.
“Neither do I.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Corrine smiled.
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you’re worrying too much.”
“I’ve been told that before.”
“By me.”
“Repeatedly.”
“And yet you never listen.”
“I listen.”
“No. You hear me.”
Lawrence laughed.
Corrine smiled.
For all their strength, moments like these were what made their lives worthwhile.
They had spent years fighting.
Years protecting the clan.
Years proving themselves.
But neither had ever expected to become what they were.
Lawrence had been born into the clan.
Corrine had come from a family renowned for fire affinity.
Their marriage had originally been viewed as a powerful alliance.
Over time, however, it had become something more.
They genuinely loved one another.
And then they had Leo.
Their son had changed everything.
Corrine still remembered the day he was born.
The healers had expected a normal elemental reading.
One affinity.
Perhaps two, if they were exceptionally fortunate.
Instead, the crystal had reacted to lightning.
Then fire.
Then something neither healer could identify.
The crystal had cracked.
The entire room had gone silent.
The final reading had taken days to confirm.
Three affinities.
Lightning.
Fire.
And the strange fusion that would later be called plasma.
Leo had been barely old enough to walk when people began predicting his future.
Some said he would become the next clan patriarch.
Others believed he could surpass Lawrence.
A few had even suggested that he might eventually become one of the strongest people alive.
Lawrence had hated those conversations.
Not because he doubted Leo.
Because he knew what expectations could do to a child.
He wanted Leo to have a childhood.
He wanted him to play.
To make mistakes.
To learn.
To fall down and get back up.
He didn’t want his son to grow up believing that his value depended on how powerful he was.
Unfortunately, not everyone shared that philosophy.
Lawrence glanced toward the edge of the training grounds.
Several clan members were watching.
Among them was Lance.
Lawrence’s younger brother.
Lance was dressed formally, rather than for training.
He stood with his two sons.
Lawrence noticed them.
His expression softened.
“They’re improving.”
Corrine followed his gaze.
“They are.”
“Lance has been training them hard.”
“He has.”
Lawrence took another sip of tea.
“They’re good boys.”
Corrine didn’t answer.
Lawrence looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You have the face.”
“What face?”
“The one that means you’re thinking something you don’t want to say.”
Corrine sighed.
“I don’t trust Lance.”
Lawrence frowned.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not much of a reason.”
“I know.”
She looked toward Lance.
“There’s something about the way he looks at Leo.”
Lawrence followed her gaze.
Lance was smiling.
Leo had just entered the training grounds.
He was carrying a wooden practice sword.
Celine and Catherine were walking beside him.
Leo was talking animatedly about something.
Celine laughed.
Catherine shook her head.
Lance watched them.
Lawrence frowned.
“He loves Leo.”
Corrine looked at him.
“Does he?”
Lawrence didn’t answer.
He didn’t want to believe otherwise.
Lance had always been competitive.
That much was true.
But competition between brothers was normal.
Lawrence had beaten Lance at almost everything when they were younger.
Lance had always resented it.
But resentment wasn’t betrayal.
At least, Lawrence didn’t believe it was.
Leo spotted his father.
“Father!”
He ran across the training grounds.
Lawrence smiled.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
“Eat breakfast?”
Leo hesitated.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes.
“Leo.”
“I was going to.”
Corrine walked over.
“You were going to?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After training.”
Corrine gave him a look.
Leo sighed.
“Fine.”
She handed him a small piece of bread from the basket she had brought.
“Eat.”
Leo took it.
“Thank you.”
Celine approached.
“Your mother is terrifying.”
Corrine smiled.
“I heard that.”
Celine immediately straightened.
“I meant wonderful.”
Catherine laughed.
Leo looked between them.
“You should eat too.”
Celine shook her head.
“I already did.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Leo.”
“Yes?”
“Stop worrying.”
“Okay.”
He smiled.
Celine smiled back.
Lawrence watched the two of them.
There was something comforting about their relationship.
The arrangement between their families had been made years ago.
An arranged marriage was hardly unusual among the great clans.
Political alliances mattered.
Bloodlines mattered.
Elemental affinities mattered.
But Lawrence had always worried that Leo might grow up resenting the arrangement.
Instead, Leo seemed perfectly happy.
Celine did too.
That was all that mattered.
At least to him.
Unfortunately, Lance saw things differently.
Later that morning, Lance entered the clan council chamber.
Several elders were already seated.
The room was large, circular, and decorated with portraits of previous patriarchs.
Lawrence’s portrait hung near the center.
Lance’s gaze lingered on it.
He looked away.
“You’re late,” one of the elders said.
“I apologize.”
Lance took his seat.
The meeting began.
Reports were discussed.
Resources.
Training.
Clan finances.
Beast activity.
Eventually, the conversation turned toward the younger generation.
“Leo’s progress continues to exceed expectations,” one elder said.
Lance’s jaw tightened.
Another elder nodded.
“His plasma affinity is extraordinary.”
“Indeed.”
“With proper training, he could become one of the greatest warriors we’ve produced.”
Lance remained silent.
Then one elder looked at him.
“Your sons are talented as well.”
Lance smiled.
“Thank you.”
“They’ve improved considerably.”
“They have.”
“But Leo remains ahead.”
The room went quiet.
Lance’s smile remained.
“He’s younger.”
“Yes.”
“Talent manifests differently in every child.”
“Of course.”
Lance’s hands tightened beneath the table.
The meeting moved on.
But the words remained.
Leo remains ahead.
Leo is extraordinary.
Leo could become one of the greatest.
Always Leo.
Never his sons.
Never him.
Never anything Lance had accomplished.
Only Lawrence.
Only Lawrence’s family.
Only Lawrence’s son.
When the meeting finally ended, Lance remained behind.
One of the elders approached him.
“You’re troubled.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve always been a poor liar.”
Lance smiled.
“Perhaps.”
The elder studied him.
“Leo’s future doesn’t diminish your sons.”
Lance looked at him.
“Doesn’t it?”
“No.”
“My sons have spent their entire lives being compared to him.”
“They are still children.”
“So is Leo.”
The elder sighed.
“Don’t let pride poison your family.”
Lance’s expression hardened.
“I’m not.”
The elder left.
Lance remained alone.
His eyes drifted toward Lawrence’s portrait.
For years, he had stood behind his brother.
For years, Lawrence had been the stronger warrior.
The more respected brother.
The better leader.
The better husband.
And now Lawrence’s son was receiving the same attention.
Lance had spent his life believing that someday his chance would come.
Now it seemed Leo had taken it from him before he was even old enough to understand what it meant.
Outside, a bell rang.
Lance looked toward the window.
A messenger was running across the courtyard.
Another followed.
Then another.
Something was wrong.
Lance left the chamber.
By the time he reached the courtyard, Lawrence was already there.
“What happened?” Lawrence asked.
The messenger bowed.
“Patriarch.”
“Speak.”
“We’ve received another report.”
“Another beast sighting?”
“No.”
The messenger swallowed.
“A town in the northern valley has been attacked.”
Lawrence’s expression changed.
“How many?”
“We don’t know.”
“Who is fighting?”
“The town guard.”
“Any reinforcements?”
“None.”
Lawrence looked toward Corrine.
She had arrived behind him.
They didn’t need to speak.
Both knew what had to happen.
“We’re going,” Lawrence said.
Corrine nodded.
Lance stepped forward.
“I’ll organize the clan.”
Lawrence looked at him.
“Good.”
Lance smiled.
“Leave the rest to me.”
Lawrence turned.
Leo was standing near the courtyard entrance.
He had heard everything.
“Father.”
Lawrence walked toward him.
“Stay here.”
Leo frowned.
“I can help.”
“Not this time.”
“But—”
“Leo.”
Lawrence placed a hand on his shoulder.
“This isn’t training.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Leo looked frustrated.
Lawrence softened.
“You have nothing to prove.”
Leo looked down.
“I want to protect people.”
“I know.”
“Then let me come.”
“No.”
Leo’s fists tightened.
Lawrence crouched.
“When you’re older, there will be plenty of battles.”
“But—”
“Listen to me.”
Leo looked into his father’s eyes.
“Your mother and I are going because we’re strong enough to help.”
Lawrence smiled.
“Your job is to stay here. Protect Celine and Catherine.”
Leo reluctantly nodded.
“Okay.”
Corrine stepped forward.
She hugged him tightly.
“We’ll be back soon.”
Leo hugged her.
“Promise?”
Corrine smiled.
“Promise.”
Lawrence stood.
He placed a hand on Leo’s head.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Lawrence looked at him for another moment.
Then he turned away.
He and Corrine walked toward the gates.
Leo watched them leave.
Celine came to stand beside him.
Catherine followed.
“You’ll see them again soon,” Celine said.
Leo nodded.
“I know.”
Catherine looked toward the distant road.
For some reason, she felt uneasy.
She couldn’t explain why.
She simply watched the road.
Something about the moment felt wrong.
Behind them, Lance stood silently.
His expression was impossible to read.
The gates closed.
Lawrence and Corrine disappeared from sight.
Leo remained standing there long after they were gone.
He didn’t know that he had just watched his parents leave for the final time.
He didn’t know that the next few days would change his life forever.
He didn’t know that the clan would soon belong to someone else.
And he certainly didn’t know that the family he trusted would begin tearing itself apart.
All Leo knew was that his father had promised to return.
And Leo believed him.
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