The Forgotten Hero's Rise

The first rays of dawn barely touched the castle walls when Ren and his companions arrived at the Royal Training Grounds. The open courtyard stretched before them, surrounded by towering stone walls engraved with ancient runes. It was a sacred place where heroes of old once honed their abilities.

Ren tightened his grip around the sword Vaelin had lent him. The weight felt familiar now, yet somehow insufficient. If he truly carried the blood of a Celestial Hero, then ordinary weapons wouldn't be enough.

Elric stood at the center of the courtyard, his long robes swaying slightly in the morning breeze. He tapped his staff against the ground, and shimmering magic pulsed outward, forming a barrier around them.

"This space is now sealed," Elric announced. "No one can interrupt. And no energy will escape so no matter how destructive your power becomes, the kingdom will remain unharmed."

Ren shivered. Destructive?

Vaelin crossed his arms. "Alright, Grand Magus. How exactly are we supposed to make Ren control his power?"

Elric turned his gaze to Ren. "That depends on whether he is ready to face the truth of who he is."

Ren inhaled sharply. "I'm ready."

Elric's violet eyes gleamed. "Then let's begin."

With a flick of his wrist, Elric conjured three floating orbs of fire, wind, and lightning. They hovered around Ren, humming with raw energy.

"You wield an ancient force, but right now, it is locked deep within you. To awaken it, you must break past your limits."

The orbs suddenly shot toward Ren, faster than he could react.

He barely dodged the first one, feeling the intense heat scorch the air beside him. The second orb of wind struck his chest, sending him flying backward. The third, crackling with lightning, aimed straight for him.

Move!

Ren raised his arm instinctively and something inside him snapped.

A shockwave of pure energy erupted from his palm, colliding with the lightning orb and shattering it. Sparks crackled around his body, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Elric nodded approvingly. "Good. Your instincts are beginning to surface. But that was only a fraction of what lies within you."

Ren's heart pounded. The power he just used it didn't feel like magic. It felt primal, like something buried deep in his very soul.

Lyra stepped forward, gripping her twin daggers. "Enough talking. If we're gonna make him stronger, we need to go all out."

Before Ren could protest, she vanished reappearing behind him with blinding speed.

"Let's see if that power of yours works under pressure!" she shouted, swinging her dagger toward his side.

Ren barely had time to react. He twisted away, raising his sword, but Lyra was faster. She struck his weapon, sending vibrations down his arm.

Vaelin smirked. "Guess I'll join in."

With one smooth motion, he summoned a wave of water, forcing Ren to jump back.

Sylph moved silently, raising a hand. Shadows swirled around her as she whispered, "Bind."

Black chains of darkness shot toward Ren, wrapping around his arms and legs.

I'm going to lose!

Something inside Ren roared in defiance.

No. Not again.

Power surged through him. His vision sharpened. Every muscle in his body screamed with energy. He clenched his fists, and the chains shattered.

A pulse of blue and gold light burst outward, forcing Lyra, Vaelin, and Sylph to retreat.

Ren stood at the center of it all, his eyes now glowing with a faint golden hue. He wasn't just reacting anymore he was controlling it.

Elric watched carefully. "There it is. The power of a Celestial Hero."

Ren stared at his hands, still trembling from the energy coursing through him. He felt different as if a door had been unlocked inside him.

But he also felt something else.

A presence. A voice whispering in the back of his mind.

"You are not ready yet… but soon, you will remember everything."

Ren's breath caught in his throat.

What… was that?

Elric's voice snapped him back to reality. "That's enough for today. Any more, and your body won't withstand it."

Lyra sheathed her daggers, looking at Ren with newfound curiosity. "Not bad. You might actually stand a chance out there."

Vaelin grinned. "I'd say he's halfway to being a real warrior."

Sylph said nothing, but there was an approving nod in her expression.

Ren exhaled, his heart still racing. This was just the beginning but one thing was certain.

He was no longer the same person who had been summoned to this world.

He was something else entirely.

And whatever that meant, he had no choice but to find out.