A faint whistle could be heard in the room tucked into the corner of the second floor. Childlike laughter rose, filling the space with innocent joy.
"Aha! Found you!" shouted the little girl, peeking at her brother hiding in the abandoned corner. The boy burst into laughter as the girl, on the brink of adolescence, smiled.
Their mother's voice echoed from downstairs, calling them to breakfast.
The Reilord family, led by Mr. Howell Reilord, lived a modest life in the north of Revor City, located in the nation of Droxil. A two-story home, a quiet rural town, and a wave of overflowing happiness echoed from the walls and windows of their house. A couple and two children—what could be more perfect?
Mr. Howell, a man of great wealth from the prestigious Reilord clan, carried the legacy of the fire element passed down through generations. However, his strained relationship with his family—due to his forbidden marriage to Maria Gourmy, a woman from a working-class background—led to the complete severance of familial ties. As a result, neither of their children, Asinat and Jack, had ever met their grandparents—Howell's parents.
At the breakfast table, warm voices and sweet talk filled the air.
"How was school, Asinat?" the father asked.
The 11-year-old girl stretched and replied indifferently, "Great."
A smile of amusement spread across her father's face, and the family continued enjoying their lavish breakfast.
"And then, the dragon appeared! Its massive wings shimmered in crimson red, burnt orange, and a touch of golden bronze. Between its razor-sharp teeth, it held a bundle of gold it had stolen to decorate its scaly skin—"
"Kill it!!" Jack interrupted, leaping up.
"Jack, I'm reading!" Asinat said, annoyed.
"But I wanna read too!"
She picked him up, only for him to scream as she dropped him on the floor and shut her door. "Don't come back! I'm busy, and don't bother me!"
Jack sighed loudly, then pretended to walk away. Moments later, he dramatically burst back into the room.
"The dragon killed me! Ahhh, help me!" he cried.
Asinat rolled her eyes and ignored him. After a lengthy back-and-forth, Their parents finally stepped in, ending the squabble with tired smiles
The previous night hadn't been peaceful for Asinat. Despite loving her 7-year-old brother Jack, he could be extremely annoying when she was trying to prepare for school.
Asinat didn't like going to that so-called "place of learning." It seemed like everyone only wanted to befriend her because she was from the Reilord clan.
After just three hours of boring lectures, her teacher's whining, and the usual school chaos, Asinat finally exited the building—today was her lucky day. The math teacher had been absent, so the school released them early.
She wandered through the alleys of the rural neighborhoods until something caught her eye: a narrow staircase leading downward. Two guards stood in front of it, so still they might as well have been dead.
"Sleeping while standing... what a powerful security force" she whispered sarcastically.
She slipped past them as if she had done it a hundred times before, quickly descending the stairs.
What she found was a hidden city beneath the earth—but rather than being mysterious or magical, it was miserable. Cracked walls, broken stone, and an air heavy with poverty.
Asinat walked slowly. Eyes followed her—rightfully so, as she wore a shimmering dress that screamed excessive wealth.
A group of boys around her age noticed her. One of them shouted, "Ooh! The first to catch the beauty gets rich!"
All eyes locked onto her like hungry animals.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her legs suddenly took off before her mind could react.
"They're fast... way too fast!" she thought, her heart pounding, her eyes tearing, her chest tightening.
Suddenly, a hand yanked her into a blood- and mud-stained alley. A palm clamped over her mouth.
She sobbed as tears streamed from her wide eyes. The boys had lost her trail.
"Let's search the houses!" one of them shouted before running off.
Asinat tried to free herself, but the person released her first. She collapsed to the ground, coughing and gasping.
A deep voice whispered, "Calm down. Stop making noise, or they'll hear you."
She slowly looked up.
A boy, little older, stood before her—pale skin, stained with blood. His hazel eyes reflected survival and weariness. His long brown hair reached down to his collarbone.
"Don't even try to hurt me!" she said, defiant. "You'll regret it once you know who I am!"
He burst into laughter.
"What kind of thing is that to say to your savior?" he asked, smirking. "Let me make it clear, Candy Girl. No one here gives a damn even if you are Howell Reilord."
She scowled, stood up, her blood boiling.
"I am Asinat Reilord, the daughter of mr howell !" she said firmly.
He stepped closer with a twisted smile. "Nobody cares. They'll slice you to pieces, strip your clothes, assault you... then eat you for dinner."
A chill ran down her spine. Her body trembled.
"Where am I? What are you trying to do?" she asked, her voice tight with fear.
Leaning against a crumbling wall, he casually replied, "Relax. I'm not into minors. Besides, you're not really my type. This is the Underground Revor District—a slum where the poor, the illegitimate, and the unwanted end up."
She gulped, looking at him while he smiled.
"Damn it... he's enjoying this," she thought.
She gathered her composure and said, "Alright... thank you for helping me. But I want to go home—without being seen by those guys again."
He gave her a playful smile. "Everyone here fears me. I'll take you to the stairs myself... but I have one condition: give me a piece of your jewelry."
Asinat stared at him for a moment, then sighed. She tossed him her necklace. "Take it. Now get me out."
He examined it closely. "Nice," he murmured. Then he extended his hand. "After you."
With a loud exhale, she followed him back to the staircase.
"I can feel them… their eyes. They're piercing me," she thought as they passed.
But no one dared approach her.
"You have influence here," she whispered.
He pinched her hand and replied, "Of course. Everyone knows who I am, darling."
She reached the staircase safely. As she ascended, she turned around with a soft smile, tossing him a bracelet.
"Thank you. I appreciate it, friend."
He caught it in surprise, then smiled, waving at her.
She disappeared up the stairs, slipping past the same motionless guards, and made her way back home.
The return wasn't pleasant.
Mrs. Maria thoroughly examined her daughter—her dress, the missing jewelry. But Asinat insisted she had simply fallen and lost them.
The day ended peacefully. At dinner, Mr. Howell excitedly announced that the Cedric Festival was approaching. It was an annual event where all clans gathered to receive blessings from Prostate Giomatti— who awakened the elemental powers in children Asinat's age.
The family rejoiced. Especially Asinat.
Elemental Information:
There are 10 clans, each tied to a unique elemental affinity. The Reilord clan's element is fire, but each person manifests it differently. One might shape fire into a blazing sword; another, into fireballs. The element remains the same, but the style of manifestation varies by individual.