departure 01

The next day, I woke up feeling full of energy.

Having a child's body is the best, I thought to myself.

"Good morning, dearest host!" came Bobo's cheerful voice as he snuggled into my embrace. After playing with him for a bit, he reminded me about the conversation I had missed yesterday.

I really need to improve myself, I sighed inwardly.

"You're amazing just the way you are. No need to change anything," Bobo chimed in, his voice filled with sincerity.

I hugged him tightly again, unable to resist the charm of this little creature of pure cuteness. After enjoying our morning together, I left my room and headed to the kitchen.

There, I found Mom and Dad having a lighthearted chat about the weather and the flowers blooming outside.

"Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad," I greeted them, planting a quick kiss on each of their cheeks, as was our usual routine.

"Morning, sweetie," Mom replied warmly.

"Morning, big guy," Dad said with a grin.

"I made your favorite pear pie. Come and give it a taste," Mom added, her voice brimming with love as she gestured to the freshly baked treat on the counter.

They were acting completely normal, as if yesterday's conversation had never happened.

As I sat down and started eating, the aroma of the warm pear pie filling the room, I heard a noise coming from the stairs. I looked up to see James stumbling down, scratching his stomach with one hand and rubbing his barely open eyes with the other. His hair stuck out in all directions, a perfect picture of someone who had just dragged themselves out of bed.

"Why do you wake up so early every day?" he mumbled groggily. But his half-closed eyes lit up the moment they landed on the pie sitting on the table. "Mmm, pie! Give me a slice," he said, already reaching for a knife and fork like a soldier armed for battle.

Before he could even get close, the pie was swiftly pulled away by Mom, leaving him standing there stunned.

"This pie is for my baby," she said firmly, placing the dish protectively in front of me. "He'll eat his fill first, and then we'll see if there's anything left to share."

"What? Don't be stingy,Sarah! Just one slice!" James protested, his face a mix of disbelief and betrayal.

"I said no, and no means no," she replied with a tone that brooked no argument, her expression dead serious.

James turned to me, his eyes pleading as if I were his last hope. I couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. They were just too funny sometimes.

"It's okay, Mom," I said with a small laugh, trying to ease the tension. "I can't eat the whole thing anyway. Let him have a piece."

Only then did Mom relent, cutting a small slice and handing it over with a warning glance. James accepted it with exaggerated gratitude, muttering something about favoritism under his breath as he finally sat down to eat.

The morning started off with light-hearted chaos, but I didn't mind. These little moments made everything feel so normal and warm.

After finishing breakfast, everyone scattered to their respective places. The house bustled briefly with movement before falling silent as we stepped out into the morning light.

As we approached the gate, Mom suddenly turned to Dad and asked, "Are you going to tell that man about accepting the offer?"

"Yeah," Dad replied, adjusting the strap of his bag. "He's probably still at the guild. I'll give him my answer and decide on a day for our departure. After that, I'll swing by to give you an update."

"Alright," Mom said with a nod. She didn't linger on the topic, her steps steady as she continued down the road ahead of us.

Our paths soon diverged. Mom's destination was different, so we parted ways halfway. She turned back briefly, waving with a warm smile. "Don't forget to behave," she called out, her voice teasing but affectionate.

"Got it!" James and I replied in unison, though his tone was more exasperated than mine.

Once she was out of sight, Dad veered off toward the guild, his pace quick and purposeful. James and I, meanwhile, headed in the opposite direction toward the library.

The morning air was crisp, and the streets were just beginning to hum with life.

As we walked, The library soon came into view, its tall wooden doors welcoming us into a quiet haven.

As we arrived at the library, James wasted no time. He gestured for me to grab a chair while he disappeared among the towering shelves. Moments later, he returned, carrying another enormous book—easily 2 kilograms—and covered in a thick layer of dust.

"Alright," he said, brushing off the dust and setting the book on the table with a heavy thud. "Since you're coming with us on this mission, we need to speed up some of your learning. There are things you need to know."

He pulled out the chair beside me and sat down, flipping open the book to the first chapter. I glanced at the title on the cover, my fingers tracing over the embossed letters.

"The Trees of Life," I murmured, reading the name aloud.

"That's right," James said, his tone slightly more serious than usual. "This book has everything you need to know about elves—or at least the most important stuff. Usually, elves don't show up in person to collect their merchandise, but... you never know."

"They send someone else?" I asked, curious. "Other creatures?"

"Sometimes, yeah. They've got magical creatures to do their bidding. Elves are deeply connected to nature, so spirits are always ready to act on their behalf. Oh, and in case you don't know, spirits are magical entities bound to nature. Their powers vary depending on their rank—lower spirits, mediums, high spirits, and even spirit kings. They're mysterious beings, hard to predict or understand."

James leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "You'll probably get to see some when we reach the Green City. That place is famous for its earth spirits working on behalf of the elves. It's kind of their territory."

"Earth spirits?" I asked, intrigued.

James tilted his head, studying me for a moment. "Did your parents ever explain anything to you about awakening powers?"

"Not really," I admitted. "They only told me that I'd awaken when I turned five years old."

"That's about right," James said with a nod, leaning back in his chair. "Awakening is something every child goes through, but it's more than just hitting an age milestone. It's the moment when your inner power aligns with the world's natural forces. When it happens, you're bound to one of the elemental spirits—earth, fire, water, air, or sometimes something much rarer. This connection will shape your abilities, and in some cases, even your future."

I leaned forward, captivated. "What do you mean by shaping abilities?"

"Well," James began, gesturing with his hands for emphasis, "sometimes the manifestation is direct and obvious, like controlling fire. A flame-bound person could summon fireballs or build protective walls out of earth if their element is earth-bound. But for others, the awakening serves as a guide, nudging them toward their true talents. For example, my ancestor had green power—the power of plants. Instead of growing forests, they became renowned healers, using herbs to revolutionize medicine."

He paused, then pointed to his hair with a small grin. "Hair color often hints at elemental affinity. Your dad has that fiery red hair because of his flame-bound power. The same goes for me. It runs in our family. But awakening doesn't always mean mastering flashy abilities. Your dad, for instance, has flame power, but his true awakening manifested in swordsmanship."

"Wait," I interjected, trying to piece it all together. "So... what's mine?"

James shrugged casually, but I noticed a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. Then, as if struck by a thought, he continued, "Well, as I mentioned, red is for flame, green is usually for earth or plants, blue can indicate air or water, and purple's tied to mystical or dimensional powers like teleportation. White tends to be associated with ice or frost."

He paused dramatically, his gaze flickering toward my hair. "But blonde... blonde is a mystery. It's never been recorded in any of the books I've read. No one's seen it before, at least not in our time."

I blinked in surprise. "Really? Then why doesn't anyone talk about it? Shouldn't that make me stand out?"

James chuckled softly. "That's probably because of two reasons. First, you live among commoners. They wouldn't think much of your hair color or understand its significance. Second, most people probably assume it's because you're a hybrid—a mix of someone with noble colors and a commoner. It's easy to dismiss things they don't understand."

I frowned, processing this new information. "So, the hair color theory isn't always right?"

"Exactly," James said, nodding. "Commoners all have the same hair color, but their powers can vary wildly. Hair color hints at elemental affinity, but it's not a rule. Your awakening could still surprise everyone, including you. The key is to wait for the moment your true power reveals itself. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out along the way."

James smiled reassuringly, but I couldn't help feeling a mixture of curiosity and unease. If my hair color had no precedent, what kind of power might I awaken to?

Hello, Sunshines! 🌞

I hope you're all doing well! I'm excited to bring you this new update, and as always, thank you for your unwavering support. I'm beyond grateful to each and every one of you.

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And by the way, I've started a new project called "Echoes of a Lost World." I'm still on the fence about whether it'll be a BL story or not—still figuring that out—but I'd love for you to check it out and share your thoughts with me. Your feedback means the world!

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