Chapter 2: Dreams of Magic and Ancient Graves

Elias walked slowly through the village, the scent of bread still lingering in the air as he made his way back home. The sun was now fully risen, casting a warm golden light over the village of Barnes. It was a place full of quiet harmony, where people greeted him with familiar smiles, a village where everyone knew everyone. Still, there was always a sense of distance Elias couldn’t shake off—a distance between him and the world of magic.

He stepped up to his family's small farmhouse, nestled at the edge of the village, near the outskirts where the **Ancient Graveyard** forest loomed. The wind rustled through the thick, towering trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Despite its dark name, the forest was rich with life, its massive trees and thick undergrowth fed by legends of fallen warriors buried beneath the soil. Some believed that the dead from a great ancient battle still roamed the woods, their bodies acting as fertile ground for the vast forest.

As Elias approached, his father, **Griffin**, was sitting outside on a sturdy wooden chair, sharpening a large hunting knife. Griffin was a broad-shouldered man, his hair streaked with grey, though he moved with the strength and precision of someone half his age. His magic was tied to the **Earth**—he could shift the very ground beneath his feet, a skill useful both in hunting and in helping maintain the farmland. Earth was the most solid of elements, much like Griffin himself.

“Morning, Elias,” Griffin called out, not looking up from his blade. "Been to the village?"

“Yeah, saw Lina on the way. She gave me some bread,” Elias replied as he leaned against the doorframe.

Inside the house, Elias’s mother, **Mira**, hummed softly as she prepared vegetables at the table. Her **Plant** magic was what had kept their family farm thriving. Crops flourished under her touch, and she always seemed at peace in the fields, coaxing life from the earth. Her eyes lifted as she caught sight of Elias in the doorway, her gentle smile warm and welcoming.

“Back already? I thought you’d be off into the woods again,” Mira teased lightly. “Looking for more ancient artifacts?”

Elias chuckled. “Not today, Mom. I’ll leave the ancient mysteries alone for a bit.”

He and his parents both knew why Elias ventured so often into the **Ancient Graveyard**. Though they never spoke it aloud, they all shared the same hope—that maybe, just maybe, something from the past could awaken his magic. Legends of old relics, ancient warriors’ treasures, or forgotten spells had fueled Elias’s hopes for years. If magic wouldn’t come to him like it did for everyone else, maybe he could find something that would unlock it.

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Griffin stood up, wiping his blade clean before sliding it back into its sheath. "I’ve been thinking, Elias. How about we go on a hunting trip tomorrow? Just you and me. You’ve gotten stronger, and it’s time you learned how to really track. You might not have magic, but you’ve got the skills. A man’s gotta make a living, and hunting’s as good as any. The village could use the extra game."

Elias nodded, though his heart wasn’t in it. His father had been patient, trying to teach him everything he knew about hunting, tracking, and survival. It was Griffin’s way of preparing Elias for life—if magic wasn’t an option, then at least he could become a skilled hunter, someone who could contribute to the village.

His parents loved him deeply. He never doubted that. But there was something inside Elias that longed for more. He dreamed of the **Great Academies**, the towering cities where the most talented magic users were trained, where people from all over the land gathered to learn, to harness their powers, and to become something more than a farmer or hunter. He had heard stories of the brilliant magic students who came from small villages like his, chosen by fate to do great things.

Griffin saw the distant look in his son’s eyes. He put a hand on Elias’s shoulder, his voice softening. "I know you dream of more than this, son. But you can’t always wait for something to happen. Sometimes, you have to make your own way in the world. Magic or not, you’ll find your path."

“I know, Dad,” Elias replied, though deep down, he didn’t want to accept it. He wanted magic. He needed it. “I’ll be ready for the hunt tomorrow.”

Mira walked over, wiping her hands on her apron as she looked between her husband and son. "Don’t push him too hard, Griffin. Let him find his way in his own time."

Griffin chuckled softly. "I’m not pushing. Just guiding."

Elias smiled faintly at their easy banter. His parents had always supported him, no matter how often he ventured into the **Ancient Graveyard** hoping to find a forgotten relic. Yet the forest never yielded anything beyond its trees and soil. The stories about the dead warriors might have been true, but whatever magic they had, if any, had long since faded into the earth.

“Well,” Elias said, stepping away from the door, “I’d better start my training.”

He left his parents and headed toward the open space behind their house, a small clearing where he had set up his training area. There, he practiced every day, hoping to strengthen his body, to make up for the magic he lacked. He might not be able to cast spells, but he would be strong. That was something no one could take away from him.

Elias began his exercises, starting with basic stretches, then moving into more intense movements—push-ups, running, and climbing the nearby trees. His muscles burned with each repetition, but he didn’t stop. He needed to be ready, for anything. As noon approached, sweat poured down his face, and his hands shook from exertion.

Yet, as always, there was a spark inside him—a belief that if he trained hard enough, if he searched long enough, something would change. He would find something in that forest, something that would change his life forever.

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