Midnight Rescue

  Unknown's POV:

  The forest was quiet, bathed in the silvery glow of the moon, as my brothers and I moved through the dense undergrowth. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying a sense of urgency I couldn’t ignore. I’d seen a vision earlier—a water elemental in trouble, calling for help through the bond that connected us. He was somewhere out here, trapped, and I couldn’t rest knowing he needed me.

  I was the youngest of four siblings, each with their own unique connection to the water elemental dragon.

  Adrian, my eldest brother, was calm and composed, the future king of Aquara. His connection to his water dragon was the strongest, and he carried his responsibility with a quiet strength.

  Thiago, the second eldest, was full of energy and always ready with a joke. His connection to the water dragon was powerful, but his boldness sometimes led him to take risks others might hesitate to.

  Luca, the third eldest, was thoughtful and steady. He was the quietest of us, but his patience and reliability made him a solid presence in the family. Like the others, he shared the bond with his water dragon.

  And then there was me—Arvanya, the youngest, with not one, but five elemental dragons: water, fire, earth, air, and nature.

  Luca grumbled, yawning as he trudged beside me. "I still can't believe we're doing this in the middle of the night. Couldn't he have gotten himself trapped at a more reasonable hour?"

  I nudged him with a grin. "You know, if you're so tired, maybe you should have stayed behind. I would've been fine on my own."

  Adrian, ever the watchful eldest, shot me a look. "No chance. You know Dad would never let you wander out here alone, especially not at night."

  I didn't respond right away. My dad's words echoed in my mind, a warning that had been drilled into me since I was a child. "Never reveal your powers, Arvanya. The world isn't ready for what you can do, and revealing them would put you and our family in grave danger."

  King Thalor Morisson, Our father, was the ruler of Aquara Kingdom, a powerful and ancient land known for its mastery over water. He had always been protective of our family, especially me. He had raised me with the belief that my powers were something to be kept hidden from the world. I had never fully understood why, but he believed my powers were too rare, too dangerous to be known. He had warned me countless times, yet he had never explained exactly what kind of danger he feared. The vague warnings always left me more confused than reassured.

  Thiago leaned in, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Come on, Arvi, don't you think it's a bit suspicious? Middle of the night, mysterious message from the forest... Almost feels like a trap."

  I laughed softly. "Relax, Thiago. If it were a trap, I'd let you handle it for me."

  "Oh, sure," he replied, grinning. "Let the unprepared, non-multi-elemental brother face the danger."

  I rolled my eyes. "I don't have to use my powers to help him, you know. I'm not always relying on them."

  Adrian glanced over his shoulder, giving us both a stern look. "Quiet, you two. If we don't get a move on, we'll be out here till sunrise."

  We pressed on, following the subtle signs I'd picked up from my vision. The boy's presence was close, but I could feel his energy weakening.

  Soon, we spotted him—the young elemental, trapped in the thick, gnarly roots and brambles of the forest. The forest itself seemed to conspire against him, as if it were alive, wrapping him up in its grasp. He wasn't just stuck; he was ensnared.

  His limbs were tangled in roots that grew like snakes, pulling tighter with every attempt to free himself. Vines lashed out like whips, keeping him bound in place. It was as though the earth itself was holding him prisoner. He lay there, unconscious, as if the struggle had drained every ounce of energy from him.

  The boy wasn't just an ordinary human; like the rest of us, he was connected to an elemental dragon. But this wasn't like most elemental bonds. His situation felt strange, almost as though the forest itself had created this trap to test him. I could feel it—a raw, pulsing energy in the air. It was as though his dragon was reaching out for help, but I could also sense something deeper, something desperate.

  In our world, every person is born with a connection to an elemental dragon. But these aren't the fire-breathing beasts from old stories. Instead, they're living forces of nature, pure elemental power embedded in our souls. For most people, their connection is with just one elemental dragon, which grants them the ability to control the forces of that element.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  But in my case, it's different. I have five dragons—each one tied to an element: water, fire, earth, air, and nature. They don't just exist within me; they are me, and I am them. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. This gift, or curse, is unique to my family, and it's a secret that must remain hidden. But why? How is it that I have five dragons while no one else does except one?

  And how is it that the dragons can reach out to me through my visions? I don't fully understand it, but I know that whenever an elemental is in danger—whether it's one of my own kind or someone I've never met before—I always reach out to them through the visions .

  I can feel it, like a pull in my chest, a whisper in my mind that tells me where to go, what to do. It's a strange and overwhelming feeling, but it's something I've come to accept.

  Adrian knelt beside him, assessing the situation. "Looks like he's tangled pretty badly. Let's see if we can get him loose without—"

  "Without my help?" I interjected, arching a brow. "And what, big brother, is your plan exactly?"

  Adrian tried to look confident. "I'll use my water dragon to try loosening the roots. Watch and learn."

  "Right." I crossed my arms, trying to hide my smirk. "Because a bit of water will make those roots just... let go?"

  Thiago chuckled, clapping Adrian on the back. "Come on, let Arvi handle it. She's the one with the magic plant-whispering powers."

  Luca shrugged. "If it means getting this done faster, I say we let her show off a little."

  I glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby. Using my nature dragon openly was a risk, but we were alone, deep in the forest. Dad's warning echoed in my mind again— "Never reveal your powers." I took a deep breath, willing myself to be cautious.

  "Alright, keep an eye out for anyone nearby," I whispered, "and I'll do the rest."

  Closing my eyes, I called to the nature dragon within me, feeling its energy awaken and flow through my veins. With a gentle wave of my hand, I urged the roots to release their grip. Slowly, they loosened, sliding back into the ground and freeing the boy from their hold. His face was pale, his breaths shallow.

  Luca watched in awe, his voice a soft murmur. "Sometimes, Arvi, I forget how powerful you really are."

  I gave him a playful nudge. "Trust me, I'm not forgetting anytime soon. Not with Dad's constant reminders."

  Adrian lifted the boy carefully, supporting him. "We need to wake him up, see if he's alright."

  I called on my water dragon, conjuring a few droplets to sprinkle onto his face. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and he blinked up at us, disoriented.

  "Are you alright?" I asked gently, helping him sit up.

  The boy looked at us, gratitude and exhaustion in his gaze. "Thank you... I don't know how I got caught up like that. I live just outside the palace grounds—I must have wandered too far."

  Adrian nodded, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Just be careful next time. It's easy to get lost in these woods, especially after dark."

  Luca, already fully awake and grinning, chimed in. "Lucky for you, you've got the royal rescue squad here, willing to brave the night."

  The boy laughed softly, then thanked us again before making his way back toward his home. Once he was safely on his way, we turned and began our own trek back to the palace.

  Thiago stretched, yawning. "Alright, mission accomplished. Now let's see if we can get back to bed without Dad finding out."

  Luca laughed. "Or Mom, for that matter. I don't want to sit through another 'midnight adventure' lecture."

  Adrian raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at me. "And especially if Dad knew you used your powers, Arvi. He'd probably have all our heads for allowing it."

  I shrugged, attempting innocence. "I'll remind him that you lot insisted on me tagging along. I had no choice but to help."

  Thiago snickered. "Right, right—nothing to do with you wanting to play hero."

  I nudged him with my elbow. "Hey, if anything, I saved us from wandering around out there all night."

  Our laughter was hushed as we neared the palace, careful to avoid any stray servants or guards who might report our nighttime excursion. The palace loomed ahead, its towering walls outlined in the soft glow of moonlight. We slipped through the side entrance, trying to mask our footsteps on the polished floors.

  Adrian gave us a stern look as we reached the hallway to our rooms. "Alright, everyone, quiet as mice. If anyone sees us, we'll be in for it."

  "Relax," Luca whispered, giving him a cheeky grin. "If anyone's getting caught, it's you. You've got the biggest conscience."

  I snorted, holding back my laughter. "Yeah, you're practically glowing with responsibility."

  Thiago added, "It's a wonder you're not the one with five dragons, Adrian. You'd probably get a talking-to every time you thought about using one."

  "Shh," Adrian whispered, rolling his eyes. "Just get to bed, all of you."

  As we finally slipped into the safety of our rooms, Adrian paused at my door, a familiar look of concern mixed with a gentle smile on his face.

  "Tomorrow's your first day at the academy, Arvi," he reminded me. "I know how much you love helping others—it's just who you are. But be careful with your powers, alright? Remember what Father said."

  I nodded, feeling the weight of his words but also the warmth of his support. Adrian understood me better than anyone, and his reminder, though cautious, felt more like encouragement.

  As I closed the door behind me, I felt a quiet thrill from the night's events linger. Though I couldn't reveal the full extent of my powers to the world, I was grateful to use them—even in these secret, small ways—to make a difference.

  Helping others with my unique gifts brought a satisfaction nothing else could match, and even if the world was never ready to understand them, I would always cherish the chance to use them for good.

  And now, with the dawn of a new day, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement for my first day at Aetheria Academy. It was the beginning of something new, something where I could learn and grow, maybe even find a place where I truly belonged.