Queen Victoria gazed at me for a long time, as if weighing something unseen. Then, she turned and began walking slowly, leaving a trail of light among the glowing grass. "Come with me," she said softly, "you must see it with your own eyes."
I stood and followed her without many questions. My steps felt light, but my thoughts remained heavy. I still didn't fully understand what was happening—everything felt like a dream, yet far too vivid to be an illusion.
We walked through natural corridors formed by the roots of colossal trees, intertwined to shape walls and archways. Along the path, the tiny elves reappeared, this time with curious faces. They flew beside me—some laughing joyfully, others dancing in the air, and a few perched on my shoulders, brushing my hair. It felt like being welcomed by a family I never knew I had.
Queen Victoria glanced back from time to time, smiling as she watched their interactions with me. "They sense something in you," she said gently. "A soul that is foreign… yet not threatening. You are a mystery waiting to be unraveled."
Soon, the path opened into a vast field encircled by pillars of light. At its center stood a palace—magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful, and seemingly alive. Its walls shimmered like frozen nebulae, its roofs towering like crowns of stars, and every corner adorned with glowing plants that swayed with the breeze.
I stood at the edge of the field, frozen in disbelief.
"This… is your home?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Queen Victoria nodded. "The place where the elemental guardians gather. And now, your place too."
We stepped into the palace. As we passed through its gates, the air shifted—warmer, deeper. Each of my footsteps echoed softly against the crystal floor. Inside, the palace was no less stunning: the ceiling stretched endlessly above, adorned with moving murals of light—telling the story of the universe, the elements, and the great destruction that once occurred.
At the center of the main hall stood a circular altar, surrounded by blue flames that did not burn. Queen Victoria stood there, then turned to face me.
"You want to know what happens next, Hiro?" she asked. "That depends on you."
I swallowed. "What do you mean?"
"Your choice today will shape tomorrow's fate. But remember… your power is not just a gift—it is also a responsibility. Your element is waiting to be discovered, mastered, and protected."
I nodded slowly, though confusion still clouded my mind. Yet in my heart, something had begun to grow—a resolve I had not yet realized.
Queen Victoria walked slowly around the glowing altar, her long cloak glittering every time it brushed against the light from the ancient symbols encircling the room.
"Eighteen elements, Hiro," she said, her voice soft yet echoing, "not mere powers. They are the lifeblood of the universe. Each one has its own will… and not all wish to be found."
I watched the tiny lights swirling in the air. Their shapes were now clearer—some looked like small flames, ripples of water, shards of stone, whirlwinds, even dueling shadows and light.
"The ones that fell to Earth... the seven primary elements," she continued. "Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Ice, and Love. They merged with the human world. The other eleven remain in the cosmos."
"They are the essence of cosmic harmony—Time, Space, Soul, Light, Darkness, Sound, Gravity, Poison, Shadow, Metal, and Telekinesis."
I said nothing. The words felt enormous. Too vast to grasp in an instant.
"And… I was granted one of them?" I asked quietly.
"Yes," Queen Victoria said with pride in her voice, "among them, only one is noble—the Noble Element of Earth. And you are the one destined to wield it."
I stared at my hands, as if hoping to see something hidden within them.
"Then… who chose me? Why me?" I whispered, sadness returning to my chest.
She stepped closer and placed one hand over my heart.
"The universe does not choose randomly, Hiro. When the world needs balance, it calls upon those who are broken—those who have been shattered, so they may rebuild. You were once broken, Hiro. But from brokenness, the purest strength is born."
My heart pounded. My eyes burned. I didn't know how to respond.
"And this… is only the beginning," Queen Victoria said, slowly withdrawing her hand. "You must be ready. For when one element awakens, the others will seek each other—either to unite or to challenge."
I took a deep breath. For the first time, the word "destiny" felt real. Not a fairytale... but a reality waiting for me to shape.