Emerging from the darkened interior, Eiron searched for his parents, dread building as he anticipated their reaction to his lackluster showing. The cheerful light of the bonfire mocked his shame as he scanned the crowd. A Cheer rose up as those behind him were noticed by the crowd. Eiron finally spotted his parents in a quiet corner as they glanced up at the commotion.

Warm smiles beckoned him to approach but his feet felt encased in lead. Dragging his way over, the weight increased with every step. After what felt like an eternity, he stood before them, unable to meet their gaze.

"Let me be the first ta Congratulate you son!" Celum clapped him on the back, a mug in hand. "Was it anything like you imagined?"

Eiron let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "It was more than I ever could have dreamed. I always thought the Elder would just tell us of the laws and our responsibilities as adults. Never once did I imagine this." He held out his hands and stared at them, remembering the initial feeling of controlling the wind for those brief moments.

Veska snapped him out of his trance with the dreaded question. "How did you fare on the test?"

Finding the flagstones infinitely fascinating, Eiron tried to respond but the words just wouldn't form. Mustering every scrap of his waning courage, he forced out an answer.

"Not well. I moved it but all the others managed twice my distance or more. I'm...sorry." The last, just barely made it past his lips. Silence. Each moment more dreadful than the last. Unable to take any more of this torture, Eiron risked the disappointment and shame he was sure awaited him.

He was met with a simple, sad smile from his father. It spoke of shared pain and also regret for what could have been. Pity was surprisingly welcome. In his fragile state, it certainly beat anger or disappointment. The expression on his mother's face confused him. It didn't convey any of the emotions he feared but it instead was oddly indifferent. And for but a moment, it almost seemed satisfied.

"I'm sure it's for the best." Veska glanced about, making sure none of the younger children could overhear. "Those with the highest aptitude often lack restraint. I'm sure with time you will put whatever amount of ability you possess to good use."

Nodding at her own words. Veska ruffled his hair and stepped away to speak with a few of her acquaintances hovering nearby. Turning to his father for answers, all he got was a simple shrug. Silence returned once more, equal parts welcome and awkward. Eiron observed the various reactions other families had to their children's differing levels of aptitude, as his mother called it, and he wondered what could have been. Not even if he was as talented as Mersa, anything besides the worst of the whole lot, but such was his fate. He resorted to counting each individual thread on his sleeve.

"Let's you and I go for a stroll."

"Alright."

The two of them made their way through the streets, the noisy celebration fading into a quaint clamor the farther away they got. Ending up walking along the outskirts of the village, Celum did his best to encourage the gloomy Eiron.

"I also were unable to make the boat fly far along its rotten track. Nary a day went by I didn't wish things ha'gone different." Celum stared up at the stars littering the night sky. "A wishful thinking never did feed anyone you see? All's there's to do is what we can."

Eiron nodded. "I understand. But what's the harm in wishing for more?"

"That's the question isn't it lad? What's the harm indeed? When you find yourself ignoring the weeds at your feet, planning the taking in of a harvest two years hence, there's your harm."

The two walked on, each thinking of many weeds and harvests in their respective lives. The cool breeze blowing across the river, a welcome contrast to the stifling heat and smoke of the bonfire. With how hectic the day had been, Eiron was glad for the comfortable silence.

That vibrant river was the only witness as they strolled on through the night. Few words were said but even fewer needed to be. The preverbal shoulder to lean on was enough for Eiron, he could feel his shame melt into acceptance.

"Thank you father."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Celum's unseen smile in the darkness still was vivid in his voice.

"Always."

The next morning was shockingly dull. As dull as any Eiron could think of...for all of two seconds. With a rush all the memories of the Ortus came pouring back igniting his veins. He was an adult! And he could, quite poorly, control the air! So caught up in the possibilities and experiences, he didn't fully become aware of his surroundings until he was back in the dreary old field.

But what was that? Every sparkle of light from the river illuminated a path yet to be trod. Every pesky weed awash with color. Even the dirt felt more...well...like dirt. Some things never changed. Eiron deftly navigated the rows, tending to plants and hurling weeds away at a prodigious rate. Before he knew it, he stood at the end of a row, halfway across the field. It had only been two hours!

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Coras had stolen a few confused glances across the water but Eiron had been straining for the wind. It was with half of his work complete that he decided to take a break and try in earnest. 'Refrain from practicing anything you have learned?' How else was he supposed to catch up?

He took a seat under a towering tree beside those long rows of Sulcar and tried to slow his hammering heart.

"Deep breaths. Pause. Feel the wind." Eiron mumbled to himself. "If only I can hold some of it, build up a supply. Then I'll launch that boat clear across the room!"

There was just a slight problem. Eiron couldn't feel the wind. Oh, there were moments where a faint gust would softly shake the leaves above him, but there wasn't the thing 'behind' the wind...whatever that meant. Despite this, he persevered. Deep breaths followed after one another, each mirroring the ones he had taken during the elder's instruction, but to no avail.

"It's almost as if the wind..." He looked up trying to recall. "...Essence! The Essence is hiding somewhere far away. Can I pull it closer?"

Reaching out in his mind, he tried to do just that. Straining, flailing, muscles tense, Eiron felt for the Essence. Still nothing. Minutes passed, along with two more increasingly perplexed glances shot his way from across the river, still not even a hint of Essence. In annoyance, Eiron reached out and pulled. He almost choked.

Something cold and slimy touched his skin...he could feel it in his lungs. It was constricting, heavy, sluggish. Nothing like his experience from before. In a panic, Eiron tried to shove whatever it was out of him as he jumped to his feet. His breath came quick as he pushed out this time...and was instantly damp from head to toe. At least the pressure was gone.

"Wait...it's water!"

His mind raced, futilely trying to comprehend

"Rivers usually are!" The call came echoing back to an instantly red-faced Eiron "Are you sure the heat hasn't gotten to you?"

"I'm fine! It was just...it was nothing."

Coras shrugged and bent down again to his own rows of Sulcar, leaving Eiron to ponder his discovery in relative peace. He stood there, still shocked at the revelation. Did everything carry its own Essence? Even the dirt itself? But that didn't make sense...the Elder wouldn't have brought them so far away from the village for no reason. Unless, was he simply maintaining the ruse on behalf of the young children? Or could only things that moved on their own contain these Essences?

Mind overfull, Eiron stiffly sat back down, dirt and leaves clinging to his moist skin. He stared off at a mountain peak barely visible through the afternoon haze. Theories and ideas dashed from ear to ear, many discarded as quickly as they formed. Could it be specific locations? A time of day? Finally, one remained, firmly lodged.

Of course! To even sense the Essence of the wind, you had to feel the wind first. Maybe that's why they were taken to an empty plain, far from obstructions. And after all, he was sitting next to a rushing river. His focus shifted at the thought, never before had water been so fascinating.

Even whispering, he couldn't keep the shaky excitement from his voice.

"Well, I'm already soaked. How dangerous could water really be?"

Eiron leaned back farther and farther before letting himself sprawl out on the ground. Heedless of the sharp twigs mildly digging in, he calmly observed the fluttering of the leaves high above him. Allowing the breath to leave his lungs, he lay in stillness and closed his eyes. This time, he had a new target. Tentatively reaching out with that unknown sense, he recoiled in surprise. He was bobbing along atop an ocean!

There was certainly a deeper area off to his left that swirled and tumbled by but what were these peaceful pools on either side? Shooting his arms out behind him, he bolted upright. His eyes snapped to the field. Sulcar! It had to be! An even more overwhelming surge of questions fought for attention. He could feel his pulse quicken, proving just how alive he really was.

"It doesn't make sense" Still quietly spoken but a fair bit above a whisper. "These are plants, why...oh....oh! They're also holding Essence."

There was Coras, still diligently working away, oblivious to energy flowing through those fragile leaves. Eiron looked in both directions, farther along the river. Field after field as far as he could see until the staggered trees blocked his sight. Each held row upon row of Sulcar tended to by the villagers, albeit mostly the young ones. He also noticed with a start that the shadows had already appeared again and were slowly lengthening.

Lurching to his feet, he strode over to the nearest row and resumed his daily duty. Nothing could hamper his excitement however. Bending down, his fingers trembled as he brushed loose dirt off the oblong Sulcar leaves. Without any effort, he could feel the water within concentrated in the bulb. Or at least, something like water. It was deeper, thicker, but still just as elusive. He sat staring at it for much too long, a silly smile plastered across his face.

Slowly he cupped the blue bulb in both hands, being as delicate as possible. Such funny, pointy bulbs which never bloomed. He could feel the Essence strongly now, a large basin of it slowly swirling. Taking just a little surely wouldn't hurt. Reaching out with all of himself this time, he gave a small pull.

Now that it was expected, the cool flow through his hands and arms didn't break his concentration. However, a brittle crackling did. Stunned he stared at the withered bulb that had snapped off from its stem and hung from the top. The petals, gray and lifeless, crumbling away to fall amongst the dirt. Stronger than the embarrassment and fear, Eiron felt oddly sad. It was as if something had been lost forever.

With hurried movements, Eiron quickly buried the evidence and smoothed out the surrounding area as best he could. A quick glance on all sides seemed to show his oversight had gone unnoticed. He let out a sigh and let the tension dissipate from his shoulders. He also noticed the random debris still clinging to his lower body from his overlong midday break. As he brushed off the dirt, he winced in pain as his fingers ran across a fresh scratch running down one leg.

Shrugging, he strode over towards the river and splashed along the shoal. After dousing his legs all the way to the knees, he also took the opportunity to quench his thirst. Invigorated by the frigid water, he stepped back on shore and continued about his daily tasks. He would proceed with caution for the risks were great. But it did nothing to taint the sheer wonder and potentials of a newly brightened world. This would be a day he never forgot.