Chapter 3

 "...She's breathing."

 "Easy now."

 "Get more water!"

 She blinked against the afternoon sunlight filtering through the leaves. Her head pounded, and every muscle in her body ached as though she had spent days carrying heavy stones.

 "Aunt... Mira?"

 A familiar face appeared above her, relief flooding her eyes.

 "Oh, thank the stars."

 Mira wrapped her in a tight embrace.

 "You scared me half to death."

 Dalira slowly sat up, looking around.

 Several villagers stood nearby, whispering among themselves. The enormous beast was gone, but the clearing bore the scars of the battle. Three ancient trees had been uprooted, the ground was split with deep cracks, and patches of scorched earth steamed beside pools of water that hadn't been there before.

 The villagers stared at the destruction.

 One elderly farmer shook his head.

 "No ordinary mage could do this."

 Dalira's heart sank.

 "I... I don't know what happened."

 Before anyone could respond, a deep horn echoed across the sky.

 BOOOOOOM!

 Everyone looked up.

 A massive vessel drifted through the clouds.

 Its hull gleamed with silver runes, and enormous blue crystals kept it suspended in the air. White sails caught a wind that seemed to exist only for the ship itself.

 "It's a Skyship..." someone whispered.

 "The Arcane Academy..."

 The ship descended gracefully into a nearby field.

 A staircase of shimmering light unfolded from its side.

 Four figures in long robes stepped onto the grass.

 Leading them was an elderly man with silver hair tied neatly behind his head. His blue robes shimmered with embroidered symbols of every known element.

 His sharp eyes settled on Dalira.

 "So," he said calmly, "we finally meet."

 The villagers bowed immediately.

 "Archmage Orion," the village elder breathed.

 Dalira remained frozen.

 The old mage approached until only a few steps separated them.

 "Tell me," Orion said gently, "what happened here?"

 Dalira hesitated.

 "I... I was attacked."

 "By what?"

 "A monster."

 "And then?"

 "I don't remember everything."

 She looked at her hands.

 "There was light... voices... then wind."

 One of the younger mages frowned.

 "Master, she may be hiding something."

 Orion raised a hand, silencing him.

 "No."

 He looked directly into Dalira's eyes.

 "She truly doesn't understand."

 He slowly extended his hand.

 "May I?"

 Dalira nodded.

 The Archmage lightly touched two fingers against her forehead.

 For a heartbeat, brilliant streams of red, blue, green, gold, white, and violet light flashed around them.

 Orion immediately stepped back.

 His calm expression vanished.

 Impossible...

 Not one element.

 Not two.

 Every element.

 Even those believed to be lost.

 He drew a slow breath.

 "What... did you see?" Dalira asked.

 Instead of answering, Orion turned toward the villagers.

 "Leave us."

 Within moments, only Dalira, Mira, Orion, and the three academy mages remained.

 Orion folded his hands behind his back.

 "Dalira, have you ever heard of the Elemental Sovereign?"

 She shook her head.

 "No."

 "I expected as much."

 He looked toward the distant mountains.

 "Long ago, before kingdoms rose and fell, there existed a mage capable of commanding every element. Their power united nations... and nearly destroyed the world."

 Dalira listened in silence.

 "Since that age," Orion continued, "every person has been born with only one elemental affinity."

 He paused.

 "Until today."

 Dalira's stomach tightened.

 "You mean..."

 "You possess a power that should not exist."

 The words struck her harder than any physical blow.

 "I don't understand."

 "You will."

 He smiled faintly.

 "But not here."

 One of the younger mages stepped forward carrying a dark blue envelope sealed with golden wax.

 Orion accepted it and offered it to Dalira.

 "This is an official invitation to the Arcane Academy."

 She stared at the seal.

 "I've never even used magic before today."

 "Precisely why you must come."

 "What if I refuse?"

 Orion's expression became serious.

 "The creature that attacked you was not wandering by chance."

 Dalira looked up.

 "It was searching."

 "For me?"

 "Yes."

 "And now that your power has awakened..."

 His voice grew quiet.

 "Others will come."

 A chill ran down her spine.

 She looked back toward her village—the only home she had ever known.

 Then at the academy's magnificent Skyship waiting in the field.

 Her life had changed forever.

 She simply hadn't realized how much.

 Orion extended his hand.

 "Dalira..."

 "Will you come with us?