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“Which one?”

“The one about the Kindred” It was his favorite story, and it always helped hihts

“Very well” She smiled as she took her son’s small hand in hers “There were once four crystal orbs that were carefully guarded by the iic that ic could be seen swirling, endlessly, inside, and that you could feel their pohen you held theic In the aquamarine, water In the ic When the ioddesses Valoria and Cleiona fled their eneht with theave them incredible powers Which ones did Valoria possess and protect, ?”

“Earth and Water”

“And Cleiona?”

“Fire and Air”

“Yes But soon the goddesses were not satisfied to possess only half of the elementia each Each wantedin her way” Whenever his et a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes “Alas, this lust for power transformed these two immortals, ere once sisters, into the fiercest of eneainst each other In the end, neither was victorious They were both destroyed and the crystals were lost Ever since,in this world—and it will continue to fade until soic

“An ancient prophecy states that one day, a mortal child will be born with the power of a sorceress, ill be able to coth unseen in a thousand years” There was no way a witch like his h to light candles, and a little earth ic that helped heal his cuts and scrapes, but that was all “This prophesized child will be the key to finding the Kindred—and unlocking the ic within them” Her face had flushed with exciteend”

“But you believe it’s real”

“With all my heart and all my soul” She squeezed his hand “And I also believe that you will be the one to find this iical child, and that you will claim this treasure for yourself I knew it from the very moment you were born”

He felt very special whenever she told hi until doubt set in and that feeling fled

As if sensing his uncertainty, she cupped his face in her hands and stared deeply into his eyes “You will not always be afraid of the dark One day you will be strong and brave, growing more and more so with each year to co will scare you And without fear holding you back, you’ll take your place upon the throne and achieve your destiny”

“Like Father?”

Her expression shadowed “No You will be er than he could ever hope to be”

Her vision for hiht now “When will I change?”