The aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering stew wafted through the air as Daichi skipped happily down the familiar path towards his home in Cloud Hamlet. The sun peeked through the gaps in the bamboo roofs and danced playfully on the cobblestone streets. Laughter sounded from nearby houses as children played and adults chatted. The distant chirping of birds and gentle hum of wind chimes served as a backdrop to their conversations.

"Daichi! Hurry up, slowpoke!" A voice called out to him.

Turning his head, he saw Mari, her short hair bouncing as she waved him over.

“Coming!” he yelled back excitedly.

A group of excited children were gathered in a circle in the centre of the district. They were playing "Cloud Hopper," a popular game among the Aerithran youth that involved leaping from one floating cloud platform to another, attempting to reach the highest point without falling into the swirling mists below.

"Come on, Daichi, it's your turn!" a boy with a mischievous grin urged.

Daichi stepped onto the first cloud platform, a small, disc-shaped formation of condensed air that hovered a few feet above the ground. He took a deep breath, focusing his intent as he channelled his newfound air affinity.

Whoosh!

With a burst of wind energy, the cloud platform beneath his feet surged upwards, carrying him towards the next platform. He leaped gracefully, his body light and agile as he soared through the air.

The other children cheered as Daichi progressed through the game effortlessly. He was a natural at Cloud Hopper. His air affinity and his martial arts training gave him an edge over the other players.

"He's going to win!" a girl with pigtails exclaimed excitedly.

"No way!" another retorted. "I'm going to beat him!"

Daichi grinned as he reached the final platform, a small, unstable cloud that hovered precariously at the highest point of the game. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepared to make the final leap.

Just then, a voice called out from behind him.

"Daichi! Dinner's ready!"

It was his mother calling out to him.

"Coming, Mama!" Daichi yelled back. With a final burst of wind energy, he leaped onto the final platform and claimed victory in the game.

"I win!" he exclaimed triumphantly.

The other children groaned in disappointment, but they also couldn't help but admire Daichi's skill and determination.

"He's amazing!" one boy muttered.

"I wish I could control the wind like that," another added.

"You'll get there," Daichi said reassuringly. "Just keep practicing."

He waved goodbye to his friends and hurried towards his home. As he entered the house, he was greeted by the delicious aroma of his mother's cooking. His father sat at the table, reading a scroll and his face lit up as Daichi entered the room.

"There's my champion!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet and ruffling Daichi's hair affectionately. "I hear you won the Cloud Hopper game again."

Daichi grinned. "Of course, Papa! I'm the best!"

"That's my boy," his father chuckled, pulling out a chair for Daichi. "Now, come and eat. Your mother has prepared a feast."

Daichi sat down at the table and began devouring the delicious food. His mother watched him with a loving smile.

"Daichi, slow down," she said gently. "You'll choke."

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Daichi swallowed a mouthful of rice and meat. "But it's so good, Mama!"

Tap! Tap!

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted their meal. Daichi's father rose to his feet and answered the door.

"Ah, brother, welcome!" he exclaimed, stepping aside to allow a tall, muscular man to enter the house. "Come in, come in."

Daichi's eyes widened in excitement as he recognized the man. It was his uncle, the one he had heard so many stories about, the one who was a Squad Captain in the Ignis Kingdom's Pyro Warriors.

"Uncle Hiroshi!" Daichi rose to his feet and hurried over to greet his uncle, his heart pounding with excitement.

Hiroshi smiled and ruffled Daichi's hair. "Well, well, well. Look at you, all grown up! You're almost a man now."

“Uncle, it’s true… you’re… you’re a Fire Elementalist? You’re a Squad Captain?”

Hiroshi chuckled and said, "That's right, nephew. I've been serving the Ignis Kingdom for over twenty years now. I've fought in countless battles, and I've seen things that would make your hair stand on end."

He paused and added with a wink, "But don't worry, I won't bore you with those tales. Instead, I'll tell you about the time I single-handedly defeated a Terravolt Sand Devil using nothing but my bare hands and my trusty Flame Burst technique."

Daichi’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow... that's amazing, Uncle! I wish I could be like you someday."

Hiroshi smiled and clapped Daichi on the shoulder. "You will, nephew. You have the potential to be a great Fire Elementalist, just like me."

He then turned to Daichi's parents. "Sister, brother-in-law, I have brought a gift for Daichi." He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, leather-bound pouch. "Open it, nephew."

Daichi took the pouch and opened it carefully. Inside, nestled on a bed of soft, red velvet, was a small, fiery-red stone. It pulsed with a faint warmth, and Daichi could feel a strange energy emanating from it.

"What is it, Uncle?" he asked curiously, his fingers tracing the smooth surface of the stone.

"It's a Fire Stone, nephew," Hiroshi explained. "A rare and powerful artifact that can help to awaken and amplify one's fire affinity."

He added, "Keep it close, Daichi. It will serve you well on your journey to becoming a Fire Elementalist."

Daichi grinned and clutched the Fire Stone tightly. "Thank you, Uncle! I will treasure it always."

…

Later that night, as Daichi lay in bed, he couldn't sleep. His mind was racing with excitement and anticipation. He couldn't wait to start training with the Fire Stone, to awaken his fire affinity, and to become a powerful Fire Elementalist like his uncle.

'I'll be the best Fire Elementalist ever,' he thought as he drifted off to sleep. 'I'll be even better than Uncle Hiroshi.'

…

Daichi’s dreams were filled with images of fire and power. He saw himself summoning a mighty Fire Titan Avatar, its body sculpted from molten lava and its eyes blazing with an inferno. He saw himself battling Sand Devils and Pyro Warriors, defeating them with ease using his powerful fire-based techniques. He saw himself standing triumphantly on a battlefield, surrounded by the cheers of his comrades.

But then... something changed.

The dream took a dark turn. The vibrant colours of fire and lava faded, replaced by a dull, oppressive grey. The cheers of his comrades were replaced by screams of terror.

And then, he saw him.

Kahless.

The Vice-Marshal Commander stood before him with a twisted face and a cruel smile and his eyes burning with an emerald fire.

"You are mine now, boy," Kahless’s malignant tone boomed.

Daichi tried to run, but his legs were like lead. He tried to fight back, but his arms were weak and useless.

"No..." he whispered, feeling a surge of fear that chilled him to his core.

“Kuhahahaha!”

Kahless laughed, a cold, humourless sound that echoed through Daichi's mind. "You cannot escape your destiny, boy. You are destined to serve the Dune Empire. You are destined to be my slave."

He reached out and grabbed Daichi by the throat, squeezing tightly.

"No..." Daichi gasped for air as his vision blurred.

"You will witness the true meaning of suffering," Kahless hissed.

Suddenly, Kahless's form began to shift and change. His body elongated and thickened, his skin turned a sickly green, and scales sprouted from his flesh. His head transformed into that of a dragon, with sharp teeth and glowing emerald eyes.

Roar!

Kahless had transformed into a colossal dragon that was ravaging Cloud Hamlet. He breathed fire and brimstone, destroying everything in his path.

Daichi’s parents were screaming and running for their lives. But it was too late. The dragon opened its jaws and swallowed them whole.

"Mama! Papa!" Daichi screamed. Making known his anguish and despair.

"Kuhahahaha!" The dragon’s laughter echoed through the ruins of Cloud Hamlet. "You are next, boy!"

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

Daichi's heart pounded with terror as he watched the dragon approach. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the end.

And then...

"Gah!" Daichi shot up from his sleep, gasping for air and clutching his chest. His heart was pounding like a drum, and his body was drenched in sweat.

"It... it was just a dream," he whispered, trying to calm himself down.

He glanced around, noting his surroundings. He was lying on a bed of soft grass, leaning back against the trunk of a large ironwood tree. The forest around him was still and silent, the only sounds were the chirping of birds and the distant rustling of leaves.

“SNORE! SNORE!”

Above him, a large, silken cocoon hung from a branch, swaying gently in the breeze. Daichi recognized the cocoon as Woodworm's rough-and-ready bed. The creature was still asleep, oblivious to the world around it, its rhythmic snoring showed its carefree attitude.

"Lazy fat worm," Daichi muttered under his breath, shaking his head in annoyance. He couldn't understand how Woodworm could sleep so soundly, especially after the events of the previous day.