A distant hum, soft and melodic, danced in his ears, like wind caught in hollow glass. Warm air surrounded him, feathered with a cool breeze, carrying a faint scent of crushed mint and smoldering pine.

  Pressure coursed through his body, intense, as if the mountain itself came crashing down upon him.

  Fluttering his eyes open, he squinted at the pale, silver light trickling through translucent leaves. Above him, the ceiling seemed to sway like a slow tide, akin to moonlight on a flowing river.

  InuShin attempted to sit up, but a firm hand pressed against his uninjured shoulder.

  “Rest,” his mother’s voice soothed, quiet but unyielding. “You’ve done enough, my son.” Her tone carried the same stillness as the wind after a storm.

  Under the bioluminescent glow, she appeared different: her eyes softer, hair braided loosely, and small crevices marking her experience. Around them, pale ribbons of air twisted in slow spirals, responding to her control as she guided the healing energy of his wounds.

  “But the pending war…” he coughed.

  “Not important at the moment,” Edirmar interrupted, voice was gruff, standing at the entrance to the den, the scar across his face appeared deeper in the dim light.

  Humming softly, sadly, Syelira grinded herbs with water drawn from a bowl carved of crystal. Her face, focused, was soft and gentle. Once mixed, she shifted to her feet and stepped towards InuShin. “Brannlaith Thorn for blood loss, Silfra Mossflower for nerves.”

  As she carefully poured the thick liquid over his wounds, it shimmered, not like ordinary water, but living silver.

  His muscles twitched from the coolness as it seeped into his skin, leaving trails of faint luminescence that pulsed in time with his heartbeat.

  “Will this heal me completely?”

  “Healing will take time, but this will ease the pain. Make the process smoother.”

  “You’ve danced with death, but death lost her footing this time.” Edrimar’s voice was lower and weathered. “Next time, she might not.”

  His mother tightened the wrap around InuShin’s arm. “Edrimar, he doesn’t need your shadow right now.”

  Despite her firm words, there was no anger in it.

  Edrimar grunted, but lingered for a moment, his intense eyes scanning InuShin’s condition before disappearing from the room. His footsteps echoing softer and softer until they’re gone.

  The Skifulv’s healing den felt alive.

  Delicate charms of bone and silver hung from the branches, whispering softly when stirred. The walls, glowing faintly with a pulse of their own.

  Each breath he took carried the taste of the mountain; earthy, crispy, and cool.

  “He confuses me. Sometimes he’s harsh, other times, he feels encouraging?” InuShin slowed his breath as the medicine eased the tension within him.

  “Edrimar… carries a wall within himself,” his mother started, sorrow lacing her words. “A constant battle with his past.”

  “Did it happen during the war?”

  His mother nodded. “But it is not my place to tell. Give him time, he’s never been too good with words, ever since we were children. So be patient with him.”

  I wonder what happened to him? Maybe it has something to do with his scar. The weight of the trial lingered on his shoulders. “How’s Leif, Sigrid, and Vetr? They looked much worse than me.”

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  “They’re going to make it, although Leif is going to have to work harder to gain proper use of his arm, but it’ll never be the same as before. The others will make a full recovery.”

  “I’m glad.” A small smile crept across his lips.

  Meekly, Syelira joined. “InuShin…”

  “Huh?” He shifted his gaze towards her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Her shoulders slumped, head lowered and ears flattened. “Your injuries looked really bad.”

  “I’m okay,” he inhaled slowly. “Painful, but I’ll make it.” He forced a brave smile. “Where are the other S?lvcù?”

  “Zarien and Dravien are seeing which Skifulv will be joining us to meet the Kobrrev.” His mother answered.

  “They wanted us to tend to your wounds,” Syelira added. “And Edrimar wanted to keep an eye on you as well.”

  “Oh…” Shifting once more, he sat up on the cot, wincing slightly.

  “Son, I have to ask you.”

  “What is it?”

  “The other Skifulv said you weren’t with them during the second trial and Chieftain Soravell said the mirror takes everyone to the same place. Can you explain what happened?”

  “I’m not exactly sure…” his gaze fell to his hands as he started to fiddle with his bracelet. “I stepped into the mirror and when the light faded, I was in this cavern, except it felt like it was breathing. I tried to call for the others but heard nothing. After I stepped out of the forest, there was a bright light in the sky and inside the light was a crystal. It spoke to me.”

  “It… spoke to you?” Syelira cocked her head, ears perked up in interest.

  “Yeah. It said for me to claim it, I had to surrender my thoughts. Survive by who I am, not by what I think.” Turning his palm upward, he examined his hand. “And then I fought myself. Five different versions of me. Each one controlled one of the elements.”

  InuShin glanced around him. “Where’s my satchel?”

  “Over here,” his mother retrieved his bag from a table carved from the mountain and handed it over. “Why do you need it?”

  “Well, after the other versions merged with me, the crystal lowered itself and I was able to grab it, so I put it in here.” Unravelling the thin string, he opened the back and sifted through it. “Huh? What’s this?”

  Pulling out a wolf totem, he noticed it was made from Vecrium, a metal of this realm. Faint patterns of leaf veins and natural growth rings. Etched into the wolf’s chest, a rune of protection with a slight cyan glow.

  “A gift from Leif’s parents, for saving him and helping him grow.” His mother answered. “They wanted to leave you with a gift to remember the Full Moon Trial.”

  A small smile tugged at his lips. “I couldn’t just let him die, it’s not the S?lvcù way. You two taught me that.” Setting the wolf totem down, he dug into his satchel and pulled out the crystal.

  Claw-shaped, its deep green and amber color reflected in the soft room light. The golden threaded edge emitted a comforting warmth. As he held the crystal, a slow pulse-like glow came from within, a rune symbolizing necessity.

  “This is the crystal that spoke to me. I thought I was supposed to earn it for the trial, but I don’t know anymore. Chieftain Soravell never said anything about it, so I’m confused.”

  “Can I see it?” Syelira asked.

  “Sure,” InuShin extended his arm towards her.

  As Syelira reached for the crystal, a small static charge jolted from it, forcing her to jerk her hand away. “Ouch.” She rubbed her hand, staring at the mysterious object. “Did it do that to you?”

  Footsteps echoed from outside the room. Quick. Urgent.

  Shaking his head, InuShin held the crystal up towards the light, peering deep inside it. “No. But, I think it’s because I can control the other elements now. Well, at least I’m able to. I don’t exactly understand how to control them like I can with water.”

  Stepping into the room, Edrimar’s gaze shifted between Syelira and InuShin. Concerned for a split second, he composed himself, returning to his calm expression. “What do you mean by being able to control the other elements?”

  “I don’t know how to explain it, but after I accepted the other elements as a part of me, I felt the elements resonate inside me, like we were becoming one.” His shoulders slumped as he exhaled heavily. “And while we were on the mountain’s edge, the freezing air almost put out Vetr’s flame. So I tried to put a barrier to protect us, but it still slipped through.”

  “I didn’t know what I was doing, I just knew I wanted to keep them alive. I put all my focus on the wind barrier and keeping myself warm. But I don’t understand how to use the other elements.”

  “You can learn from the others in the group,” Edrimar said. “Maelira and Syelira control Air, I control Fire, and Dravien controls Earth. Each of us can teach you how we connect with our element.”

  “What about Electricity?”

  “We’ll have to think of another time to focus on it,” Edrimar answered. “Because you are the first who is capable of controlling all five elements, you have the potential to become a great warrior. Possibly the best this land will ever see.”

  “Can we get started now?”

  “Absolutely not,” his mother said, her voice stern. “Your body is in no condition to train right now. You are to remain in bed until you’re fully healed.”

  “But what if the Gr?nnage attack soon?”

  “We’ll deal with them if needed,” Edrimar countered, arms folded over his chest. “You won’t be of any use if you’re not capable of holding your own. You’ll just end up getting in the way.”

  “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Syelira asked, eyebrows furrowed in frustration. “Because that’s what it looks like you’re trying to do.”

  “No. I just want to get stronger, so I can help protect everyone.” A weight grew in his chest. Tight. Suffocating. “I don’t want to be a hindrance to us maintaining peace. I want to show everyone that I’m capable of doing something good.”

  “But why?” Syelira asked. “Why is it so important to show everyone?”

  “Because I abandoned my Dad, and I carry the weight of it,” InuShin shouted, tears forming. “I left him behind because I wasn’t strong enough to protect him from the villagers. I don’t know if he’s alive or not, and I don’t think I’ll ever know. So to make up for it, I want to help everyone here. No matter the cost.”

  A heavy silence clung to the air.

  InuShin’s chest heaved and he clutched the crystal, swallowing a bit.

  “Shin, you didn’t abandon…”

  “But I feel like I did. The thought is there in my mind. I’m here and he’s there. It’s the uncertainty. The unknown.” His jaw tightened, a static charge dancing through his veins. “I don’t want that to happen to any of you. I want to help keep you all safe, so I need to get stronger.” His shoulders shook as he took short, sharp breaths.

  Syelira’s hand rested on his arm. Calming. Comforting. She stared at him with soft, compassionate eyes, but remained silent.

  “Admirable reason to want to get stronger,” Edrimar stated, a faint smirk appearing. “But you can’t just rush into things. Mistakes are bound to happen. In the meantime, rest. And once you’re recovered, we’ll train you.”