In a bustling market town within the Kingdom of Calderon, a scrawny boy darted through narrow alleys, his heart racing with fear and excitement. Young Kael, no older than ten, was nothing but skin and bones, with messy hair and clothes that barely fit. He had learned early on that survival often meant doing things he wasn't proud of, and today was no different. With a furtive glance over his shoulder, he reached into a stall, snatching a loaf of bread before sprinting away, the baker’s angry shouts echoing behind him.

Bread was a rare luxury for a child like him—an orphan in a kingdom that barely acknowledged his existence. The taste of stale bread was the only comfort he had, and as he squeezed into a dark alley, the shadows embracing him like an old friend, Kael felt the familiar sting of guilt. He knew stealing was wrong, but survival was his only priority. He tore into the bread, the crust hard and the inside warm, savoring the momentary escape from hunger.

From the alley, Kael could hear the lively chatter of the marketplace—children laughing, families bustling through the crowded streets. They had what he didn’t: comfort, protection, love. In his world, those things were just distant dreams.

Days turned into months, and months into years. Young Kael became adept at staying hidden, mastering the art of stealing just enough to get by. He was small, fast, and invisible. But no matter how much he stole, it never filled the void inside him. He longed for more—strength, purpose, a way out of his lonely existence.

One fateful day, while rummaging through the remains of a discarded meal in the alley, Kael heard a commotion in the street. Curious, he peeked around the corner and saw a group of older boys surrounding a young girl. They taunted her, pushing her to the ground, their laughter cruel and echoing in the alley.

Something inside Kael snapped. Rage—born of years of powerlessness—surged through him. He charged at them, fists clenched, without thinking. “Leave her alone!” he shouted, his voice cracking but filled with defiance.

The boys turned to him and burst out laughing. One of them, a burly teenager, shoved Kael to the ground with ease. “And what’s a little rat like you gonna do about it?”

Kael’s heart pounded in his chest, fear mixing with anger. But as he lay in the dirt, he locked eyes with the terrified girl, and something within him refused to back down. “I won’t let you hurt her!” he declared, drawing on every ounce of courage.

Before the situation could escalate, the sky above rumbled, and a flash of lightning lit the narrow street. Out of the shadows stepped a tall man with silver hair, his presence commanding the very air around him. The boys froze as the air crackled with energy. With a mere gesture, the man sent a bolt of lightning crashing into the ground at their feet. Terrified, the bullies scattered, leaving Kael and the girl behind.

The man looked down at Kael, his gaze both stern and curious. “Do you know why they ran?” he asked, his voice calm and steady.

Kael, wide-eyed, shook his head. “Because… you scared them?”

The man chuckled softly. “No. They ran because they could sense my power. And you, despite your size, stood up when they didn’t. Courage is a power of its own.”

The man introduced himself as Master Elion, renowned across Calderon as the strongest lightning mage of his era. Stories of his battles defending the kingdom were legendary, and his wisdom was sought by many. But instead of just a legendary mage, Elion saw potential in the scrappy boy who had dared to stand up for someone else.

Elion adopted Kael, taking him to live in his home at the heart of Calderon. For the first time in his life, Kael had a mentor—and a family. Elion was strict but kind, teaching Kael not just how to survive, but how to thrive. He pushed Kael hard, emphasizing that true strength wasn’t just about power, but about protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves.

“Strength,” Elion would say during their training sessions, “is about knowing your limits and exceeding them for the sake of others.”

Under Elion's mentorship, Kael trained relentlessly. At first, the discipline was overwhelming, but as the years passed, Kael began to grasp the basics of lightning magic. Every strike, every bolt he conjured reminded him of the lightning that had first saved him. Elion taught him the intricacies of controlling lightning, honing not just his magical prowess but also his instincts and reflexes.

Years passed, and Kael transformed from a scrawny, orphaned thief into a formidable mage. His affinity for lightning magic bloomed under Elion’s teachings, and he became known for his incredible speed and control over the storm. He dedicated himself to rigorous training, pushing beyond his limits time and again. But even as he grew stronger, Kael could never forget the boy he used to be. The memories of stealing bread and the loneliness of the streets stayed with him, fueling his determination to never return to that life.

But darkness loomed on the horizon. Word spread through Calderon that Akuma, a dark sorcerer with a hunger for power, had resurfaced. The stories of Akuma were whispered in fear across the kingdom, for he was a man who sought to conquer through destruction, amassing power by any means necessary. His legend was a harbinger of doom.

Elion had faced Akuma years before, managing to severely injure him in a legendary duel that had left the dark sorcerer scarred and seething with rage. But now, Akuma had returned, more powerful and more dangerous than ever.

The night the kingdom fell came without warning. The skies above Calderon darkened unnaturally, and the air thickened with dread. Akuma’s forces swept through the kingdom like a plague, and soon, the capital itself was under siege. Kael, now a young man, fought alongside the mages of Calderon, doing everything he could to protect the people he had once watched from the shadows.

In the heart of the chaos, Kael knew where the real battle would take place—between Akuma and Elion. The air crackled with tension as Kael raced toward the royal palace, where Elion had gone to confront the dark sorcerer.

When Kael arrived, the scene before him was one he would never forget. The once-grand hall was now a battlefield. Elion and Akuma clashed, their magic lighting up the darkness like a storm. Lightning crackled from Elion’s hands, while Akuma’s dark energy warped and twisted the air around him.

“Stay back, Kael!” Elion shouted as he fought, his voice strained but resolute. “This is my fight!”

But Kael couldn’t stand by and watch. “I won’t let you face him alone!” he cried, charging forward, lightning magic surging through him.

Akuma’s cold eyes flicked toward Kael, and with a mere flick of his wrist, a wave of dark energy struck him, sending Kael crashing into a marble pillar. Pain seared through his body as he struggled to rise, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the battle before him.

Elion, despite his age, fought with the fury of a storm, lightning and thunder echoing through the halls as he clashed with Akuma. Each clash of their powers sent shockwaves through the palace, causing walls to tremble and the very foundation to quake. The air filled with the scent of burnt stone and ozone as the two mages fought with everything they had.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

But Akuma was relentless, his dark magic twisting and coiling around him like a serpent, absorbing Elion's lightning strikes and returning them with ferocious counterattacks. The hall erupted with explosions, each blast sending debris flying and creating craters in the floor. Chunks of stone fell from the ceiling, and flames erupted in their wake, illuminating the chaotic scene.

Kael, reeling from the impact, managed to push himself up, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the determination etched on Elion’s face, and the sight filled him with resolve. “I’ll help you!” he shouted, his voice hoarse.

“Stay back!” Elion barked, but the weight of his words fell on deaf ears. Kael was already summoning his own lightning magic, feeling the raw energy crackling in his veins. He refused to let Elion fight alone.

Kael charged into the fray, casting bolts of lightning toward Akuma, but the dark sorcerer merely laughed, deflecting the strikes with a wave of his hand. “You think you can challenge me, boy?” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “You’re nothing but a shadow of your master!”

Fueled by the pain of Elion’s situation, Kael pressed forward, feeling the surge of magic within him. But as he moved to strike again, Akuma’s dark energy hit him squarely in the chest, sending him crashing against the wall with a sickening thud. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, and he gasped for air, his vision swimming.

Kael struggled to rise, desperation clawing at him as he watched Elion fight with everything he had. The clash of their powers echoed through the hall like thunder, but Kael could see Elion beginning to tire. Akuma’s dark energy was overwhelming, and with each passing moment, it became clear that Elion was struggling to maintain his strength.

“Kael, listen to me!” Elion shouted, his voice strained. “You must protect the kingdom. If I fall, you must continue the fight!”

“No! I won’t let you lose!” Kael roared, summoning every ounce of lightning he could muster. He felt the energy crackling around him, igniting the very air as he pushed himself to his limit. “I won’t let him take you!”

As if hearing his determination, the storm raged outside, and Kael felt the magic of the kingdom itself responding to his call. Lightning surged from his fingertips, arcing across the room in brilliant flashes. Kael charged at Akuma one last time, fueled by a fierce resolve to protect the only father he had ever known.

Elion, sensing Kael's intention, channeled the last of his strength into a powerful strike. “Together, Kael! Now!” he cried, unleashing a torrent of lightning magic that merged with Kael’s own.

The combined force was breathtaking, a massive explosion of light and power that illuminated the entire palace. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the energy crackled and surged through the air, creating a brilliant storm of lightning that engulfed Akuma.

But the dark sorcerer, fueled by his own dark magic, retaliated with a wave of shadow energy, clashing violently with their combined strike. The collision sent a shockwave rippling through the hall, and Kael was thrown backward, his vision blurred as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the battle around him.

In that moment, amidst the chaos and destruction, Kael saw Akuma, his dark figure wreathed in shadows, laughing maniacally. “You think you can defeat me?” he bellowed, his voice echoing ominously through the crumbling hall. “I am eternal!”

And then, with a wave of his hand, Akuma unleashed a wave of dark energy that washed over Elion. The light dimmed, and Kael could only watch in horror as the very fabric of their magic unraveled, leaving only a chilling silence.

Elion staggered, blood trickling from his mouth, his strength waning. In that moment of vulnerability, Kael felt a chill grip his heart. “No!” he screamed, his voice raw with desperation as he watched the man who had saved him—Calderon’s strongest mage—collapse to the ground, lifeless. Yet, even in his final moments, Elion had not gone quietly into the abyss. With a surge of will, he unleashed a devastating bolt of lightning, striking Akuma squarely in the chest. The dark sorcerer howled in rage, stumbling backward as the crackling energy seared into his flesh, leaving a deep, charred wound that would mark him forever.

The palace quaked under the weight of their battle, and Akuma’s laughter, laced with both fury and pain, echoed ominously around them. “You cannot stop me!” he sneered, the darkness swirling around him. Kael felt a crushing wave of despair wash over him as time seemed to slow, every heartbeat resonating with the finality of loss. He lay on the cold stone floor, broken and alone, surrounded by the remnants of what had once been a bastion of hope and strength.

From that day forward, Kael was no longer the boy who had stolen bread in the streets. He was a man forged in loss, a vessel of vengeance. With Elion’s death weighing heavily on his soul, Kael vowed to grow stronger—not just for himself, but to avenge his master and protect the kingdom that had taken him in and that Elion had fought to defend.

A decade later, Kael stood outside the gates of Calderon Academy, the place that had once seemed like a distant dream. The academy was prestigious, known throughout the kingdom for producing the finest mages, warriors, and protectors of Calderon. Its towering spires and gleaming walls stood as a symbol of knowledge, discipline, and power—everything Kael had come to master through years of relentless training and sacrifice.

But Kael was no longer an idealistic boy filled with dreams of becoming a hero. He was a man scarred by battle, with a resolve hardened by the brutal reality of what it meant to be truly strong. He had traveled far and wide, pushing his limits, seeking to refine his lightning magic and uncover the true depths of his power. Yet, despite all he had accomplished, the loss of Master Elion weighed heavily on him, a constant reminder of his unfinished mission.

Now, at the gates of Calderon Academy, Kael had come to offer his services—not as a student, but as a teacher. The halls of Calderon Academy buzzed with activity. Students of all ages and abilities moved between classes, their faces filled with excitement and curiosity. Some showed off their newly learned spells, others whispered about upcoming exams. It was a place of growth and ambition, and as Kael made his way through the corridors, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. Memories of his own training with Master Elion resurfaced, but they were quickly pushed aside by the weight of his current task.

Kael approached the academy’s headmaster’s office, his footsteps steady and resolute. He had sent a letter weeks prior, detailing his experience and skills, and was now here to finalize the terms of his employment. Calderon Academy had always been in need of capable instructors, and with his expertise in lightning magic and battle experience, Kael was an ideal candidate.

As he reached the heavy wooden doors of the headmaster’s office, he paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. This wasn’t just about getting a job; it was about honoring Elion’s legacy and positioning himself in a place of influence—a place where he could watch for signs of Akuma's return and train the next generation of mages to be ready for what he knew was coming.

The door creaked open, and Kael stepped inside the headmaster's office. The room was filled with bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling, each shelf packed with ancient tomes on magic and combat. The air smelled of parchment and ink, and at the far end of the room, behind a large desk, sat Miss Himeko—a formidable woman with sharp eyes and an air of authority.

"Kael," she said, her voice firm yet welcoming. "I’ve read your letter, and I must say, your experience is impressive. Master Elion spoke highly of you before… well, before he passed. He trained you well, it seems."

Kael’s heart tightened at the mention of his mentor, but he kept his composure. "Elion was the best. Everything I am today, I owe to him."

Headmaster Himeko studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The academy could use someone like you. Our students need more than just theory—they need practical experience. They need someone who understands what it means to fight for survival. But before we proceed, I need to ask… why do you want to teach here, Kael?"

Kael hesitated for a brief moment, the memories of Akuma flashing through his mind. He couldn’t tell the full truth—not yet. "I want to pass on what I’ve learned. To prepare these students for the challenges they'll face in the real world. This academy was always part of my dream, and I want to give back."

The headmaster nodded slowly, as though weighing his words. "Very well. You’ll start by teaching combat strategy and lightning magic. The academy will provide you with a living quarter and a training space. Your official duties begin next week." She stood, extending her hand. "Welcome to Calderon Academy, Master Kael."