The night had settled quietly over the Castle, its ancient halls bathed in the soft glow of Astralis' six moons. The air was cool, and the world outside seemed to hum with a deep, ancient rhythm. But Aiden wasn’t in bed, like the rest of the Castle’s inhabitants. He was slipping silently through the corridors, his footsteps barely audible against the stone floors, making his way back to the library.

There was something about the magic that had sparked an insatiable curiosity in him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was on the verge of discovering something incredible, something that had been waiting for him all along. The words in the book had resonated deeply within him, stirring something he hadn’t fully realized existed.

As he entered the library, the towering shelves of books greeted him like old friends, their presence comforting in the quiet of the night. The room was dimly lit by the enchanted candles that flickered softly, casting long shadows across the floor. Aiden made his way to the table where The Fundamentals of Magic still lay open. He had been reading it earlier but felt there was so much more to learn.

He sat down, his fingers tracing the elegant gold-etched lettering on the pages before him. With a deep breath, he turned to the next section, eager to uncover more about how magic worked. The next part was detailed, explaining the ways magic could be drawn from the world and the individual.

Magic exists in two forms: external and internal. External magic flows through the world—through the earth, the air, the stars, and the very fabric of space and time itself. This magic can be collected by those attuned to it. Internal magic, however, resides within the individual, born of their own spirit. To master magic, one must learn to balance both forms, collecting and harnessing the energy that surrounds them as well as the energy within.

Aiden read the words carefully, his heart racing with the possibilities. Collecting magic from the world around him? It sounded almost too grand to be real, but after everything he had experienced in Astralis, he was willing to believe it.

The book continued, diving into the subject of elemental magic.

Once collected, magic can be manifested into one of ten elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Light, Darkness, Space, Time, Spirit, and Cosmo. Each element is governed by its own set of rules, and each individual will find that they have a natural proficiency for one or more elements. Most individuals may control one or two elements, while a rare few can master three or even four. Mastering Spirit and Cosmo, however, is nearly impossible, even for the most powerful.

Aiden’s pulse quickened. He had no idea how many elements he might be proficient in—he had never even considered the possibility that there were so many different types of magic, let alone that he might be able to wield them.

To discover your element, you must attune yourself to each in turn. Close your eyes and call upon the element, feel its energy, and let it respond to you. If the connection is strong, the element is part of your essence. The more elements you are proficient in, the greater your potential.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Aiden could feel the anticipation building within him. He had to try it. This was his chance to see what kind of magic he could truly harness. Glancing around to make sure no one had followed him, he stood up and moved to the center of the library, where there was more space to experiment.

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he tried to focus. He thought about what the book had said—about feeling the magic within him and the magic around him. Slowly, he reached out with his mind, trying to sense the presence of the elements.

The first element he called upon was Fire.

At first, there was nothing. Just silence and the soft rustling of the pages behind him. But then, as he concentrated harder, he felt a warmth—a faint flicker, like a tiny flame sparking to life inside his chest. The warmth grew, spreading through his veins, and suddenly, the air around him felt different, charged with a heat that didn’t come from the room itself. Aiden’s eyes flew open, and for a split second, he thought he saw a tiny flame dance at the edge of his fingers before it vanished.

He stared at his hand in disbelief. "Fire…" he whispered to himself.

But he didn’t stop there. He had to know more. What other elements could he control?

Next, he focused on Water. This time, the sensation was cooler, gentler, like the soft ripple of a stream running through his mind. He felt a coolness in the air around him, and when he opened his eyes again, a small droplet of water hovered just above his palm before dissolving into mist.

His heart raced with excitement as he moved on to the next elements. Earth brought a steady, grounding force that seemed to hum through his body, while Air made the room feel lighter, as if a breeze had suddenly blown through the library. Each element responded to him, each one felt as natural as breathing.

Light and Darkness came next—two opposing forces that pulsed through him with equal strength. Light filled him with warmth and clarity, while Darkness was cold and quiet, but neither felt foreign or out of reach.

Aiden was amazed, but he didn’t stop. He called upon Space next, and for a moment, he felt the world stretch around him, the very air expanding and contracting as if the boundaries of reality were flexible. Time followed, its flow subtle yet powerful, like the ticking of an invisible clock that only he could sense. He could feel time bending around him, slowing, speeding up, but always in motion.

Finally, Aiden focused on Spirit and Cosmo—two elements that the book had described as nearly impossible to master. As he reached for Spirit, there was a strange pull, a deep resonance within him, as if he were touching the very essence of life itself. It was overwhelming, but he felt the connection. And then Cosmo—a vast, incomprehensible energy that flowed through the universe, far beyond his understanding. For a brief moment, Aiden felt it, but it slipped through his grasp as quickly as it had come.

When Aiden opened his eyes, he stood in the center of the library, his chest heaving with the realization of what he had just discovered. He had felt the connection to every single element.

"All of them," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the night. "I can use all of them."

He didn’t know what it meant—whether it was a gift, a curse, or something else entirely—but one thing was certain. His grandfather had left him more than just a world to inherit. He had left him a power unlike anything Aiden had ever imagined.