No Path Chosen

"Alright, Leon—ready to become a grown man?" Eva asked playfully, her voice teasing with just enough edge to spark excitement.

"Yes, ma'am! I was born ready!" Leon grinned, his fists clenched in excitement.

Claire stood beside him, arms folded and eyes sharp. "Let's hope your brain's as ready as your mouth."

Before Leon could fire back, Eva crouched and began drawing lines in the dirt with a stick. "Before we get to fire, you need to understand the basics—abilities, and the paths they lead to."

She marked a large circle, then branched lines outward. "In this world, some people are born with unique powers. We call them potencborn. Those without powers are normborn. The most common elemental abilities are fire, water, wind, nature, earth, and thunder."

Claire elbowed Leon. "Come on, even a toddler knows that. Don't tell me you didn't?"

"Shut up—I'm trying to focus," Leon muttered, leaning closer to the diagram.

Eva continued, her voice calm and practiced. "Some abilities evolve over time. There was a thunderborn who became so attuned to lightning that his body emitted light. And a waterborn whose eyes turned into lenses—he could see across oceans."

Leon blinked. "Wait... that's real?"

"Oh, very real," Eva replied with a smile. "As powers evolve, they can change so drastically that the original element becomes unrecognizable."

She finished her diagram, now resembling a tree with nine major branches.

"There are nine known ascension paths. Each element connects to a few. Once you awaken or choose a path, it becomes permanent."

She began listing them, ticking them off on her fingers. "There's Cogmaster representing engineers and inventors, Voice of the Throne representing rulers and leaders, Pathseeker representing explorers, Wavewalker representing sailors, Greenwarden representing nature-bonded, Swordhand representing warriors, Elementarch representing elemental specialists, Alchemy representing artificers, and Aestharion representing those who wield beauty itself as power."

"Fireborns," she added, looking at Leon, "can ascend into Voice of the Throne, Swordhand, Elementarch, or Alchemy."

Leon's eyes lit up. "Swordhand sounds awesome! I want a flaming sword!"

Claire rolled her eyes. "You'd probably burn your boots off before you hit anything."

Eva laughed. "Each class enhances your powers in unique ways. But ascending isn't easy. Most students ascend only after graduating from elite academies—like Silas."

"Silas?" Leon looked surprised. "He's that strong?"

"Of course," Claire replied, arms crossed with pride. "He's the oldest from our orphanage."

"What path did he choose?" Leon turned to Eva eagerly.

"Greenwarden," she answered. "He's a windborn and awakened early. Now he studies at Griven Academy—the top school in the city."

Leon puffed his cheeks. "No wonder he's never home during holidays."

"Yeah," Claire said, lifting her chin. "He's with the elites. And I'm going there next year too."

"Wait—I thought you were already at that school?"

Claire gave him a long look. "Didn't pass the middle school entrance five years ago. But I'll be nineteen next year. I'll enter as a high schooler."

Leon scratched his head. "I thought all schools were the same..."

"You're hopeless," Claire muttered with a smirk.

Leon turned to Eva. "What about you? What path did you choose?"

"I'm earthborn. For us, the eligible paths are Elementarch, Cogmaster, Swordhand, and Alchemy. But my ability evolved—it's no longer pure earth. So I could only ascend into Cogmaster. Once you understand your ability, you can register it, and the examiners will tell you which paths you qualify for."

Leon nodded slowly. "And normborns? They don't have powers, right?"

"Not naturally," Eva said. "But thanks to alchemy and tech, normborns can still ascend. A skilled gunner can take the Voice of the Throne path. An archer could become a Greenwarden. Mastering a skill opens paths, even without elemental power."

She looked at both of them with a spark in her eyes. "That's why I want to go to Griven High. To master my control."

Claire nodded in agreement, her posture softening.

Leon looked down at his hands. His chest thumped with a rising, fiery ambition.

Eva rose and dusted off her skirt. "Alright, let's find out the truth. Are you really a fireborn?"

Leon stepped forward without hesitation. "What do I do?"

"Think back to your dreams. Any memory of fire."

"I dream of fire all the time. Is that enough?"

"It might be. Close your eyes. Picture the flames. Raise your hands. Focus."

Leon obeyed. The breeze around them faded. Silence.

He breathed in. Something stirred deep in his chest—a slow, viscous warmth. It slid through his veins, curling into his arms like a coiling snake made of molten light.

His knees trembled under the pressure.

A buzz hissed in the air. Sparks danced around his fingers. Flames emerged, wrapping around his arms in glowing spirals.

"You did it, Leon! Open your eyes!" Eva exclaimed.

But Leon didn't move.

He was somewhere else.

Darkness.

"This fire... I see it," he whispered into the void. "Eva? Where are you? Why does my chest feel tight?"

Her voice cut through the dark. "Leon! Breathe! You need to breathe!"

He gasped. The world returned in a rush.

His arms were encased in flame—spiraling like golden gears.

"Whoa—I'm on fire! Am I dying?!"

Eva touched his shoulder. "No. You're a fireborn. You're immune."

The fear drained from his face. "You're right... I don't feel any pain at all."

His lips curled into a wide smile.

"Look, Claire! Fire! I have fire! Bet you're jealous."

Claire scoffed. "I don't need fire to be amazing. I'll beat you with brains alone."

Leon spun with joy. "We'll see!"

Eva clapped her hands. "Alright, settle down. Awakening is just the first step. Now comes control."

Leon stood tall. "Let's do it."

"You need to train properly. Without control, powers are dangerous. That's why only licensed individuals can use them in public. Ascender School accepts students from age ten onward. Next year, you'll be eligible."

Leon's face fell. "Next year? So I have to wait?"

"Yes. But once you graduate, you'll earn your license. Be patient. You're only beginning."

Leon nodded solemnly, then clenched his fists. "I'll wait. I'll work hard. I'll be the most famous student there—like Taranis Slitther!"

Later that day, Eva brought out a wooden dummy shaped like a human, padded with worn-out pillows and copper joints.

"You made that?" Leon asked, amazed.

"You're finally using it?" Claire asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yup. Silas used it before. I upgraded it. Now it moves."

"How?"

Eva lifted her hand. The dummy twitched and stepped forward.

"The copper joints. I can manipulate them with my evolved ability."

"Let's test your fire. Aim at it."

Leon raised a hand, cupped the other, and focused. Fire gathered—but fizzled short of launching.

"Urgh... just a bit more!"

Eva watched. "Looks like your fire's not ranged. It's kinetic."

"Kinetic?"

"Channel the flame through a punch. Try that."

Leon lit up. "Now you're speaking my language."

He took a stance—feet planted, eyes sharp. The fire spiraled around his arm, glowing like a fiery blade.

"Focus," Eva warned. "Control the energy. Let it obey you."

Leon nodded. Pressure built inside him like a rising tide.

He surged forward.

With a shout, he punched the dummy. Fire erupted in a burst of orange and gold. The dummy staggered, smoke curling from its chest. One arm drooped, unhinged.

Claire covered her face. "That actually worked!"

Leon blinked. "Did I... do that?"

Eva examined the burn mark. "You didn't just hit it. You ignited it. That was combustion."

Leon stared at his tingling hand. The flames had faded, but the warmth remained.

He looked at Claire, beaming. "Still think I'm hopeless?"

Claire frowned, but her lips twitched. "Less hopeless than before. Maybe."

Eva smiled. "You've got raw power, Leon. But raw means untamed. This is just the start."

Leon looked up. The setting sun painted the yard in amber hues. The dummy still smoked, joints creaking in the wind—like it bowed to him.

"For the first time," Leon whispered, "I feel like I matter."

Claire stepped beside him. "You always mattered, dummy. Now you're just... on fire too."

Leon laughed. His heart soared.

Eva crossed her arms. "Tomorrow, real training begins. Better get some stamina... and maybe some burn-proof clothes."

Leon pumped his fists. "I'll train harder than anyone!"