Elemental Blitz

15

Rael stood in the center of what was left of Assex, the bodies of his enemies strewn across the burning ruins of his childhood home. His fists crackled with residual energy—shadow and prismatic magic flowing in tandem, both destructive forces he had barely begun to understand. He could hear it now. The voice. Not an echo, but a direct, calm whisper that settled into his mind like it had always been there, waiting for the right moment.

You are my chosen, Rael Phaze. Unlike the others, you are not here to be corrupted. You are the vessel of balance, destruction, and life.

It wasn’t menacing, but it wasn’t kind either. It was… inevitable. Like it had always known he would reach this point.

Rael’s chest heaved, his breath ragged from the sheer force of the magic he’d just unleashed. Around him lay the corpses of both Vael’Thor agents and Azure Sky soldiers, their bodies broken, some reduced to ash by the force of his storm. The Vael’Thor had tried to subdue him, assuming they could manipulate him. The Azure Sky had tried to eliminate him, branding him as a threat like his mother before him.

Now, they were nothing but dust.

They believed you were either a weapon or a threat. But you are more. Let me show you…

The Shadow’s voice guided him. It didn’t demand or overpower him; it worked with his thoughts, shaping his anger into purpose. The shadows around him coiled and danced, but not with the destructive hunger he expected. Instead, they shifted, moving with intention, crafting complex shapes. The prismatic energy followed, bright and alive, intertwining with the darkness.

As Rael stepped forward, a wave of realization crashed over him. His Prismatic Cognition wasn’t just a weapon—it was a tool of creation. His powers didn’t have to be limited to destruction. He had the ability to shape the world around him, to manipulate the elements in ways others could never comprehend.

Rael raised his hand, and the air itself responded, weaving together patterns of elemental force that flickered with both prismatic light and shadow. The first construct took shape—a figure born of lightning and stone, its form towering and solid, yet agile, like a sentinel of nature itself.

You can create life, Rael. Sentient constructs bound to your will. They will protect, build, and fight for you.

The construct, glowing with energy, bowed before him, awaiting its first command. Rael’s lips curled into a grim smile. He could feel the sentience within it—an awareness connected to his own, waiting for his direction.

“Go,” Rael ordered, his voice steady as the full weight of his power settled into place. “Find the survivors. Bring them to me.”

The sentinel moved with purpose, striding across the battlefield, lifting debris and guiding any surviving villagers from their hiding places. Despite the devastation, Rael could see flashes of hope in their eyes as they watched this being of light and shadow obey his command without hesitation.

With a wave of his hand, Rael raised another construct—this one made of water and earth, its flowing form moving with grace and purpose. It followed its companion, quietly aiding the injured.

Healing is as much a part of this power as destruction, Rael. Use it.

Rael knelt by his father’s body, the Shadow’s whisper still in his mind. He could feel its temptation, the pull to heal the dead. But he knew better. That way lay madness. Instead, Rael gently closed Jerman’s eyes and stood. He couldn’t bring his father back, but he would honor his last wish—to be stronger, to forge his own path.

Rael turned, looking over the village square, seeing the few remaining survivors who had gathered near his constructs. He stretched out his hand, summoning the raw energy within him. The shadow and prismatic forces intertwined, creating a pulsating orb of pure elemental magic.

The buildings that had been reduced to rubble began to shift and repair themselves, stones lifting into place as Rael’s power washed over the village. Walls re-formed, roofs grew back into place, and the town began to rebuild itself, piece by piece. It wasn’t perfect, but it was whole. The power also flows through the survivors healing their wounds as if they never happened.

Rael glanced at the villagers, who stared at him in awe and fear. He wasn’t the same boy who had left Assex to join the academy. He was something more now. Something they didn’t understand—and probably never would.

“They’re coming back,” Rael said, his voice calm but edged with warning. “Both the Vael’Thor and the Azure Sky. They won’t stop. This village needs protection. So, I’m leaving sentinels behind.”

He gestured, and more constructs rose—beings made of wind, water, fire, and earth. Each one standing tall, their forms shifting with the elements. They were alive, but loyal only to him.

“These are the first of my army,” Rael said, meeting the gaze of the villagers. “The Elemental Blitz. They will guard this place while I’m gone. Any hostile actions against you will be met with lethal force. I will never let them harm you again. If any of you wish to leave, they will not stop you.”

The villagers didn’t respond. They didn’t need to. They had seen what Rael was capable of, and the devastation he had wrought. They would trust his creations because they had no choice.

Rael turned his back on the village and began walking toward the edge of town. Behind him, the sentinels moved to their posts, standing like silent guardians over the rebuilt homes.

He stopped briefly at the spot where Jerman lay. With a deep breath, Rael summoned a gentle swirl of wind and earth, forming a grave beneath his father. The ground closed up, and flowers began to bloom over the newly formed earth—a simple, final tribute.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Rael whispered again. “But I won’t let them control me. I’ll make sure they never touch this village again.”

The wind picked up around him as Rael stepped away, his eyes narrowing toward the horizon. He could feel the pull of his destiny—the Vael’Thor, the Azure Sky. They had both made their moves. Now it was his turn. The Academy and the mystery faction would not be fae behind.

We have only just begun, the Shadow whispered, no longer an external force but something deeply entwined with his very being. They will all learn to fear us.

Rael smiled, his mind focused. He would hunt them all down. And when he was finished, they wouldn’t just fear him—they’d understand what true power was.