The next morning, Aiden felt an urgency to share what he had discovered the previous night. His heart raced as he made his way through the Castle, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. Charlie padded along beside him, tail wagging happily, oblivious to the storm of thoughts brewing in Aiden’s head.

When he reached the grand hall, Regis, Seren, Garrick, and Lyla were already there, engaged in a casual conversation. As soon as Aiden approached, Lyla spotted him and bounced over excitedly.

"Aiden! Aiden! Did you practice more magic last night?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Aiden nodded, trying to remain calm, though inside, his nerves were thrumming with excitement. "I did, actually. I… I think I’ve figured out something big."

The room quieted as everyone turned their attention to him. Garrick raised an eyebrow, while Regis, ever calm, simply waited for Aiden to continue. Seren looked at him expectantly, her expression softer than usual.

"I… I’m able to manifest all the elements," Aiden finally said, the words hanging in the air.

There was a moment of stunned silence before anyone reacted. Garrick blinked, his normally stoic face showing a rare flicker of surprise. Regis’s usual calm demeanor faltered ever so slightly, his charcoal-black eyes widening in genuine astonishment.

Lyla, however, broke the silence with an excited squeal, immediately jumping up and down. "I knew you could do it! You’re amazing!" she cheered, her energy infectious.

Seren, on the other hand, smiled knowingly, her violet eyes twinkling. "Of course, you’re a genius, Master Aiden," she said smoothly, as if she had always expected nothing less.

Garrick crossed his arms over his broad chest, his deep voice breaking through the excitement. "All the elements?" he asked, disbelief tinging his words. "That’s … unheard of. Could you show me?"

Aiden hesitated for a second, still not entirely sure of what he was capable of. But seeing the curiosity in their eyes, he nodded. "Sure, I’ll try."

They made their way to an open space in the garden, where Aiden took a deep breath, feeling the pressure of their gazes. He closed his eyes, focusing on the familiar sensations of magic that he had tapped into the night before. One by one, he summoned the elements.

First, Fire—the warmth bloomed from his chest, and a small flame flickered to life in his palm. Then, Water—a droplet hovered in the air, suspended in front of them. A gust of Wind stirred the leaves, followed by Earth, which made the ground tremble softly beneath their feet. Light and Darkness came next, two opposing forces swirling around him like a dance of balance.

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Finally, he called upon the most elusive elements—Space and Time. The world seemed to stretch and contract for a moment, the air warping ever so slightly. Spirit brought a wave of calm and a sense of connection, as though everything around him was alive, and Cosmo felt like touching the vastness of the universe itself, incomprehensible but real.

When Aiden opened his eyes, everyone was staring, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. Even Regis, ever composed, looked genuinely impressed.

"Remarkable," Regis murmured, stepping closer. "Your grandfather… Master Arthur… he could only manifest eight elements. What you’ve just done…" He paused, clearly at a loss for words. "He would be proud. You’ve inherited something truly extraordinary."

Garrick, who rarely showed much emotion, let out a low whistle. "That’s something else, Master Aiden. I’ve never seen anything like it."

Seren gave a small nod, her smile still present. "I knew there was greatness in you."

Lyla, practically bouncing on the spot, clapped her hands. "That was awesome! You’re going to be the best mage ever!"

Aiden, feeling a bit embarrassed by all the praise, grinned sheepishly. "Thanks, but I still have a lot to learn."

Regis nodded, his expression returning to its usual calm. "Yes, and there are still many rules to understand. Magic is powerful, but it must be wielded carefully. If you intend to explore your abilities further, I recommend researching deeper into the origins of magic."

Aiden, eager to learn more, nodded. "I was just about to head back to the library. There’s so much more to figure out."

He spent the rest of the morning in the library, pouring over more books. As he read, new rules about magic became clearer.

Magic must never be forced. Attempting to manipulate too much power without proper control can lead to dangerous consequences.

Combining elements can be powerful, but unpredictable. Always ensure that the elements are compatible before attempting fusion.

Aiden paused, his eyes narrowing at the mention of combining elements. The idea intrigued him—what would happen if he could combine two elements? Could it create something entirely new? His curiosity piqued, he decided to try.

Later, he wandered back into the garden, the wide open space perfect for his experiment. He focused first on Fire, feeling the warmth in his chest once again, then called upon Air, imagining how the two might combine.

He wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but he figured he’d take it slowly. Focusing on the two elements, Aiden began to guide them together, willing them to merge.

At first, it seemed to work. The fire began to twist and move with the wind, creating a swirling vortex of flame. But then, something shifted. The magic grew unstable, and before Aiden could stop it, a loud BOOM echoed through the garden.

A blast of energy erupted from where the elements had combined, sending a wave of heat and force through the air. Aiden was thrown backward, his vision spinning as he hit the ground hard.

"Oops," he mumbled, the last thing he remembered before everything went black.