Arcane Bonds

In the Kingdom of Drakhelm, the name Eve Emberheart was spoken with pride and admiration. By the time she was just three years old, Eve had already made waves in the capital. She was the pride of the House of Emberheart, the prodigious child who spoke fluently before most toddlers had mastered their first words. At age three, she theorized about the unification of elemental magic, and even assisted her older sister Eden in mastering the rare dual attributes of ice and fire. Eve's groundbreaking theories in mana circulation and elemental fusion were the talk of the prestigious Arcadium Academy, the most revered magical institution in the capital. Scholars and mages alike eagerly awaited her future contributions to the magical world.

The day of Eve’s ceremony at the Arcadium Academy arrived with great anticipation. The kingdom's elite gathered to witness the young girl’s magical talent being officially tested. At the age of four, every noble child was evaluated, not just for their aptitude in magic, but for their potential capacity to absorb mana into their brain, a key factor in the cultivation of magical power. The Emberheart family boasted confidently, knowing that Eve would pass with flying colors.

But when Eve stood on the dais, the atmosphere shifted. A strange stillness filled the room as the evaluators struggled to get a reading on her mana capacity. Hours passed, and finally, the shocking truth was revealed: Eve possessed a special constitution that made it impossible for her brain to absorb mana like other mages. The announcement sent ripples through the capital, becoming the talk of every noble household.

A girl once hailed as a prodigy had now become the subject of pity and ridicule. Eve Emberheart, the genius child, was suddenly cast aside. No longer did the Arcadium Academy send invitations for her to attend its prestigious halls. Her former teachers at the junior academy began to ignore her, and the bullying from her peers became relentless. The capital's elite, who once praised her, now whispered behind her back, calling her a failure, a disappointment, Eve’s descent into darkness.

The isolation and ridicule took its toll on Eve. Her once bright eyes dimmed, and the spark of creativity that had made her a genius began to fade. She fell into depression, crushed by the weight of expectations and the sudden fall from grace. Her family, though supportive, could not shield her from the harshness of the capital's judgment.

Yet, in her darkest moments, Eve found solace in the most unexpected place—her baby sister, Joy. Believing Joy to be too young to understand, Eve often sat by her crib, venting her frustrations and sadness to the infant. She spoke of her theories, her dreams, and her fears. Unknown to her, Joy, with her past life's memories intact, understood everything. She sympathized with her sister’s plight but remained silent, knowing that her own powers were yet to manifest.

One day, while Eve was pouring out her feelings to Joy, she began talking aloud about a new theory she had developed—one that combined elemental forces in a new way. It was just a way to release her stress, a moment of intellectual escape, as she spoke to the air. But to Eve’s shock, Joy suddenly reacted. As if following her sister’s instructions, the tiny infant began to move her fingers, mimicking the steps of a spell Eve had described. Before either could fully grasp what was happening, a surge of electricity crackled through the air, filling the room with the scent of ozone. An explosion of thunderous energy rocked the nursery, sending Eve stumbling back in surprise.

When the dust settled, Eve looked up to see her baby sister’s eyes glowing with electric currents. The realization hit her like a thunderclap—Joy had just performed magic. Not just any magic, but an incredibly powerful manifestation of thunder magic, one of the most offensive and rare forms of magic in the world. Eve screamed in disbelief, startling Joy, who panicked, sending wild bolts of electricity arcing through the room. One bolt flew directly toward Eve, but at the last second, a rune on her robes activated, casting a protective light shield around her.

As the lightning dissipated, Eve sat in stunned silence, her heart racing. She stared at her tiny sister, whose eyes now returned to their normal state, filled with fear and confusion. But rather than scolding or fearing Joy, Eve smiled—a grim, determined smile.

"If I can’t become the genius mage they wanted me to be," Eve muttered, her eyes gleaming with newfound resolve, "then I’ll make sure you become the strongest in history."

Joy, still trembling from the incident, looked up at her sister with wide, panicked eyes. Inside her mind, she groaned, "Oh no, not again… another crazy soul in my life."