Chapter 18: Potential Unveiled

The afternoon daylight spilled in through the kitchen windows. The smell of herbs hung faintly in the air from Lilibeth’s earlier cooking. Lea leaned on the counter, watching the elf move her knife with startling speed, slicing carrots so smoothly that they looked like coins.

Leo stood atop a stool at the other end of the counter, stirring a bowl with a long wooden spoon. He hadn't stopped thinking about his recently awakened power and how it felt to finally wield real strength.

“Careful, Miss Lea,” Lilibeth said gently, noticing the girl leaning in too close.

Lea laughed softly and backed away. “I won’t, don’t worry.” But her gaze lingered. She moves so fast… faster than any chef I've seen. Is it because she’s an elf?

She glanced at her brother, who seemed equally captivated. At last, she spoke up, her voice timid. “Um, Lili… how do you do that? With the knife? You’re so fast.”

The elf chuckled, her long ears twitching slightly. “Practice. Many years of it. I’ve had plenty of time to perfect my skill.”

Lea’s curiosity sparked brighter. “I haven't seen other elves like you before so how did you get here?.”

For a moment, Lilibeth’s knife paused. She gave a faint, almost wistful smile. “Well I came here from a far away land well before you two were born then ended up working for your Mother and Father. But you’ll learn that story another time, young ones.”

Before the twins could press her, she changed the subject. “Now, how is that cake mix coming along master Leo?”

“We can add the rice flour now!”

“Good,” Lilibeth nodded. “Let me help you”

Lea’s shining emerald eyes lit up. “I can't wait to try it!”

Leo perked up. “Can I light the oven with my magic?”

Lilibeth tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled. “If you can manage it without burning the kitchen down.” She smiled.

Leo stood proudly. He held his palm toward the wood in the stone oven. Heat pooled in his chest, then rushed down his arm until a burst of flame came forth. It licked across the logs, catching in a burning glow. He grinned wide. Proud of his recent progress.

“Look, I'm much better than last time”

Lilibeth clapped her hands together. “Come let's finish up”

The three of them worked together finishing the cake. Earlier they had boiled some left over rice and mixed it in with sugar and dried fruit, then layered it into a round tin. Some of the flour dusted Lea’s cheeks, while Leo sneezed after adding some spices to it. For the first time in a while the kitchen was filled with laughter and fun, and the twins forgot about their worries for the time being.

When the cake was finally pulled out, golden and steaming, Lilibeth cut a few slices with her ever-steady hands. Then took the portions to the dining hall with the children following behind.

“Mhm! It's different from bread,” Lea mused, licking a crumb from her lip. “Softer… and sweeter but I like it!.”

“And I like the crunchy edges,” Leo added.

Lilibeth smiled, her gray eyes warm with care. “It can be our special recipe to make. ”

Later that night after the children had gone to bed, Lucina was sat in the quiet of her chamber, a candle flickering at her side. Solan stood near the window, arms crossed, his sword leaning against the wall.

“They’re asking questions,” Lucina muttered. “About Lilibeth, and this place’s history.”

Solan’s jaw tightened. “They’ll need to know one day. But not just yet. Not while they’re still so young. I feel telling them now it would be something too dark at that age, but soon if they truly wish to know the full past.”

Lucina lowered her gaze, eyes shadowed. The memories stirred of the days when her own parents met their deaths, the grief that had led her to inherit the Kazantria estate. And Solan… the man who had sworn to protect her, even before love bloomed between them.

“Perhaps,” she murmured, “we should tell them a little. Enough to understand why Lilibeth is here at least? And why the house is the way it is.”

Solan turned from the window, his ocean blue irises glinting in the moonlight. “If they ask again… we’ll answer. But carefully.”

A few days later in the training yard, Solan and Lucina stood with the twins once more.

Leo extended his arm toward one of the wooden targets. He took a breath in, feeling the rush of power shoot through his arm. “Flare arrow!” A flicker appeared, then a small rod of fire manifested.

Fwoosh!

The flame erupted too quickly, bursting toward the target and then when it collided a part of the flame came back towards Leo with the breeze. He yelped, dodging just as a singe of heat swiped past his hair.

Lucina gasped from her chair, slamming her book shut. “Leo!”

“I’m fine!” he shouted quickly, patting the top of his head. The faint smell of burnt hair hung in the air.

Solan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Control, Leo. Not reckless force. Fire is not your plaything. It obeys, but only if you command it properly. Try again but concentrate and take your time.”

Lea, who had been watching nearby as she practiced trying to grow a section of grass, burst into laughter. “You nearly made yourself bald haha”

“It wasn’t that bad!” Leo snapped, cheeks flushing red.

“It smells pretty bad.” She smirked.

Lucina tried, and failed, to hide her smile. “Enough teasing. Your brother is learning.”

“Alright, Lea,” Lucina said softly. “Your turn, try to get better control of your water spells.”

Lea rose, brushing grass off her skirt. “Focus,” her mother urged. “Draw your mana from within. And after the water gently.”

Lea raised both her hands over head. She tried to imagine a steady sphere forming above her. Moisture collected, glimmering in the sunlight. The droplets clotted together into a wobbling floating ball… then before she could hurl it towards the target suddenly it collapsed.

Splash!

The water ball fell directly onto her, soaking her from head to toe

Everyone stood there in silence for a moment,

Leo snickered at the sight, Lea’s drenched golden hair wrapped around her face “not a word” she mumbled.

“Okay maybe that's enough for today's spell casting.”

Solan took out from his pouch a small crystalline black tool, like a smaller version of the Tablet of Discernment. He had brought it back from Attalon Village earlier that day.

The stone shimmered faintly in the light.

“Here, place your hand on it, Leo,” Solan instructed.

The boy obeyed. Numbers flickered into the crystal, glowing faintly:

Fire – 10/90
Wind – 10/80
Earth – 10/70
Darkness – 10/100

Leo’s mouth fell open. “What are these numbers?”

“Yes,” Lucina responded. “These numbers… they show your maximum magic potential for each element. But don’t mistake them for power. You start at ten. To climb higher, you must work hard throughout your life, and then you may become one of the most powerful to walk the land.”

Lea placed her hands next. Her list appeared in dazzling light:

Light – 10/100
Water – 10/70
Ice – 10/80
Nature – 10/90

She bit her lip, her breath uneasy. “So I really have all that?”

Lucina knelt. “Yes. But power is not what defines you. It’s how you use it.”

“You also can use light magic so what are your stats at mother? Why would we be some of the most powerful people around?”

Lucina rested her palm on the stone tablet, then numbers and symbols again appeared on its surface.

Light – 40/50

Fire – 20/40

The twins exchanged a look, half fear, half confusion. Oh we’re really different… Lea’s mind sounded.

“As you see my blessings are sufficiently strong and I'm happy with my level but you two are special and hold a very high potential for all your elements”

Solan took the stone tablet and placed it back in the wooden case, Leo’s sapphire blue eyes lingered on it for a moment before Solan began;

“Listen both of you,” the tone of his voice firm. “These numbers don't mean anything without years of training and discipline, they're not a guarantee of greatness. Potential is nothing if you don't hone it. The same as a sword that's left to rust is no true weapon.”

Leo stood proudly, puffing out his chest and trying to look older than his mere eight years of age. “Then I’ll keep training, every day Father, and grow big and strong like sister Linae”

Solan‘s lips quivered into a smirk, “Your spirit is strong son, but do not mistake this enthusiasm for discipline. Strength must be tempered, like steel.”

Lea rubbed her hands together nervously. “But… What if I can't live up to what I'm supposed to? Even with all that potential, what if I can’t reach my limit?” Lucina knelt beside her, brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear.

“My darling, you do not need to reach the peak to be extraordinary. Even a candle can guide the lost in darkness. Do not measure yourself by a number but instead by the good you accomplish.

"The words soothed, though doubt still wavered in Lea’s chest. She nodded, whispering, “I’ll try.”

Solan rose, glancing at the darkening sky. “That’s enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll put your spells to practice again. For now let's eat, rest, and stay children while you still can.”

As the family made their way back inside the manor, a breeze rushed through the yard, scattering petals from the garden trees. The twins glanced up at the twilight sky, one heart brimming with anticipation, the other weighed with uncertainty. 

Yet both felt the sense that the seed of something vast had been planted within them, a path that reached far beyond the safety of the manor walls. They could not see where it led, only that one day, the world itself would call to them, and they would have no choice but to respond to its call.