Darkness lurked where the light couldn't reach. Leo sensed it from within, waiting. He resisted, but its pull was stronger than that of tempered steel. The ambient spiritual energy stimulated the darkness to come out and devour everything in its path.

“Are you feeling well, son?” His father, Victor, questioned Leo, who was in a haze, shaking him out of his thoughts.

They were having dinner, but Leo barely ate anything and only stared at his plate blankly.

“I'm fine.”

It was a lousy lie, and no one bought it for a second. Luke gave him a concerned look, and so did his parents. They were all worried for his health, like it was just a normal day in a normal family.

Would they keep this expression if they discovered who you truly were? A doubting voice whispered in his ears. What would you do once the love they have for you is replaced by hatred?

Shut up.

“Do you have a fever, Leo? You look pale.” His mother, Senera Allard, reached out her hand to his forehead.

Leo jerked away, knocking down his chair.

This was bad. Now is definitely not the time to be acting strangely, especially as he needs to keep a low profile. Leo found himself almost wishing he was neglected over Luke.

“I just need some fresh air!” He bolted away before anyone could speak.

Great job, me, he thought to himself. Why don't you be more suspicious?

He needed to get his act together before they realized what he was hiding.

Because no one can know, no matter what.

He sighed heavily. “How did I get into this situation?”

Darkness was the element that belonged to the Malevolent One. It was a power that had disappeared from the world for millenia, until now.

The element still existed, so it isn't impossible for it to choose a new avatar. But then, why after such a long time? And why is it Leo, who was a descendant of the Master of Light, the opposite of darkness?

Obviously, there was no way to answer any of that right now. First, Leo needed to learn as much as possible about the Malevolent One. Secondly, he must conceal his power from everyone. Sealed under a tight lock.

He took out a crystal from his pocket.

It was brand new and was shining brightly just a few hours ago, but now the glow is gone.

Eaten by the darkness.

“Why the long face? Don't tell me you got bullied again.”

A clear voice, followed by light-green energy giving a radiant glister in the dark night, appeared.

“Sky,” he called.

“Yes, Leo. I'm right here.” Coming out of a storm of green energy, Sky, the Master of Wind, revealed herself.

What a grand entrance.

Sky Zephyr. She was the daughter of Katherine and the current Master of Wind, inheriting the power in its entirety at the age of 14. She had light green hair and eyes matching the aura, with the long, straight hair tied in a ponytail.

“Are you not going to react? You usually react right away.”

“I'm not in the mood, Sky. Go back.”

“But I came all the way here! You know it's hard sneaking past my mom, so make a better mood for me!”

So she snuck out to meet him. Leo was afraid Katherine would double the assignments as revenge if she found out.

He knew Sky was very free-spirited, and she wouldn't care what her mother would do. Leo realized he was stuck with her for a while.

“Don't sigh like I'm a bother!”

“Then don't say I'm getting bullied. Also, it's not 'like', you are.”

“You got brave, Leo. Would you remain so brave after I spin you with a tornado?”

“There she goes, straight to threats. Can you not be annoying for three seconds?”

As they quarreled with their words, Leo found himself relaxing from the tension he had been subjected to all this time. They started laughing.

The two were childhood friends, and they would often come to play at each other's house. They got along, to say the least, and this sort of banter made Leo forget his troubles.

The darkness subsided.

“It seems you finally calmed down a little,” Sky said with an insightful gaze.

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“You noticed?”

“Don't be an idiot.” She rolled her eyes. “You are obvious, Leo. You won't be able to keep a secret, even if your life depends on it.”

The words made him twitch. Sky was right, but it wasn't comforting to hear this truth, especially since he now had a secret with his life depending on it.

“You can trust me, Leo.”

Could he?

You can't. She will betray you and leave you, just like everyone else.

“Not here.” He looked at the forest.

Smiling brightly, Sky takes Leo by hand and envelops them in a flurry of green energy, carrying them away.

“Isn't it the man's job to take the princess away?”

“But look at those round eyes. You are the most princess-like person I know, Leo.”

“Not a compliment.”

He didn't joke around just for the fun of it. The darkness reacted strongly to his inner turmoil, so being calm is crucial to avoid outbursts.

When they landed, Leo took a deep breath. Sky gave him a curious look, and he reaffirmed his decision once more before speaking.

“I... became an Elemental Master.”

The world stood still.

He watched Sky's every movement and every change in expression, no matter how subtle.

“Oh, I see.”

Sky, on the other hand, gave a know-it-all look.

“I heard from mom that Luke awakened the element of light. You also awakened that power, which means you two will share your powers. And you feel like you stole it from Luke, right? Silly Leo.”

That was terribly wrong. Even Sky couldn't come up with the truth with just that one sentence.

But that would have made sense. If the situation was how she thought it was, Leo would probably have acted and thought the exact same way.

“It's not the light.”

“Not light... then, was there any other element mixed in your family?”

“It's...”

She will abandon you. No one would ever accept you. You are their enemy. Their purpose is to destroy you. You are evil!

You can trust me, Leo.

“...Darkness”

Sky blinks several times before pacing around, immersed in her own thoughts. Her hair whipped at every turn, and her mutters were the only source of sound in the vicinity.

Standing perfectly still, Leo tried not to think of anything.

“...Prove it,” she says at last.

With a sigh of relief, Leo hands her the dead crystal. “It was glowing just this morning.”

Sky looks at the dim crystal doubtfully. A crystal won't lose its glow for centuries without messing with the energy inside. She charged it with green energy and handed it back.

As soon as he grasps it, the darkness churns, dimming the glow once more.

“Can you do more?”

“I don't want to try more.”

Leo was taught about Elemental Powers from a young age, alongside Luke. He knew how to tap into the power and how to use it. But darkness was of a different nature. It didn't act like other elements he had seen all his life, and he was afraid to take it too far. To lose control.

Incidentally, they were never taught how to suppress their powers. It was unthinkable.

“This element of darkness is one of the seven elements the Malevolent One had. The others were both unique and powerful, way stronger than the average Elemental Master. We know of five: time, destruction, fiend, death, and... darkness. Darkness is the opposite of light, so it was believed to be the main source of strength for the Malevolent One.”

None of that sounded good for Leo, but it was also nothing new. That's why he freaked out earlier, and clearly, Sky was now freaking out.

It's the first time he got to see her like that. If not for the situation, Leo might have been able to enjoy it.

“But you're not him! I've known you since we were little, and there's no one more awkward than you. As if you could be the evil tyrant, Leo.”

He ignored the insults. “But... I have no idea what it means.”

“Me neither, but we will figure it out. Together.”

Her words brought wramth to Leo's heart, soothing the darkness.

Its presence was large enough to shake off balance for someone who meditates regularly, like Leo. His mental strength isn't enough compared to the raw power hiding beneath, signifying the might of darkness.

So the calmer his heart became, the calmer the darkness became, allowing Leo to regain composure and become more optimistic.

“Anyways, there is a place we need to go to.” Sky leapt deeper into the forest. “Follow me!”

Free-spirited and changing paces according to her mood. Sky was truly the prodigy who is the best Master of Wind in a thousand years. Her personality matched what the wind element represented the most.

Actually, most of the Zephyrs were like that to some extent.

“We are here,” she declares as they arrive at an empty glade.

It was not close by. Sky had used wind to propel herself forward, and Leo was... running.

Just running.

“I think darkness gives its user a superhuman level of strength, so be careful in the future.”

Leo panted. Sky was still faster than him, and he struggled to keep up as the wind from her behind blew strongly and slowed him down. “Noted.”

He looked at the clearing they arrived at. It was an empty space without anything out of the ordinary, except for a weird mushroom here and there. But that bland appearance didn't fool Leo, especially the current him, who had become hypersensitive to spiritual energy.

This clearing was charged with overflowing levels of spiritual energy. It was so much, swirling and gathering in the dead center.

Sky unleashed her green aura, swirling thin energy resembling a storm donned on a person. She weaved characters in the air, the energy taking shape and spinning and dancing around her.

The characters pulsated, and she took a step forward.

“Sky... what in the world...?”

A stone arc appeared, with a green light identical to Sky's color contained in between. Characters, similar to the ones that were drawn earlier, were engraved on the carved stones.

“This is the gate,” Sky said over her rough breathing, “leading to the outside world.”

“That's... only Elemental Masters...”

He was speechless.

Only those who had fully become Elemental Masters could know the location of the gate. It was the greatest secret of the Holy Land, meant to defend itself from the outside. Even normal Elemetal Masters needed permission and a valid reason for each use.

“You are an Elemental Master, Leo. And if something goes terribly wrong and you need to escape, this is how.”

She was thinking of him so much, even divulging classified information without hesitation. Leo was deeply touched.

You can trust me, Leo.

He really could. Knowing that dispelled all the doubt that had erroded him until now.

“Is it open right now?”

“As if. Only the Master of Light could open the gate by himself. It takes three of the four fundamental elements, unless I'm included.” She puffed her chest in pride. “Then it takes two, including myself. I'm strong, you see.”

“I see.”

Certainly, Sky was indeed powerful.

“But since you are an Allard as well, you should be able to power the gate.”

“Will it really work? Maybe because of the nature of darkness, but there's no aura to form characters with.”

“Right now, it's most important you remember this location. We'll practice together later on after school, so cancel all the plans you didn't have.”

Leo was stuck in his room all day. That much is common knowledge. But Sky just had to phrase it as if he didn't do anything, which was very irksome.

They were about to leave, arguing in a good heart, before a figure emerged from the gate.

“Is that normal?”

“Of course not!”

The two were in panic. It was a stranger who did not belong to the Holy Land. No stranger had ever visited since its birth.

“Danger... we are all in grave danger...”

The figure collapsed, revealing a young man with black hair.