Elementals

Chapter 33-Red-Haired Hero

However, beyond the setting sun and the ten worlds, resides the one to end the rule of corruption forever
An elemental of untold strength, hidden away in the shadow is his flame
An elemental who knows not of his magical world or of the power that resides
An elemental who's all but frightened by the trials and tribulations he may need to face
A young, curious, red-headed hero, just like the last, who will finally cure the plague of corruption

The elemental who will bring the end to the deadly cycle of corruption, once and for all

I stared at the translation in confusion. I paged back and read through the first half again then turned the page over to read the second half. Still, it didn't make much sense.

"What could this mean...?" I muttered. If only Damian were here, he'd be able to interoperate this easily. But I knew that I had to act alone. I couldn't let my friends get in trouble again. I wouldn't.

I read over the second translation again and again, trying to make sense of it. And the more I read, the more certain lines started to stand out.

"Beyond the ten worlds..." I muttered. "The shadow is his flame...?"

I finally started to piece together what this second half of the prophecy meant. After reading through the first half one more time. If the first half was about the Corrupted King making his return, then the second half must've been about his defeat, and the elemental who would do it. And it didn't take too ling to start piecing together who it was either.

"Shadow of his flame... that makes this person a fire elemental, and a male... Beyond the ten realms... Hmm, could it be that this elemental isn't from the elemental realm? Maybe his parents were born here, and he was born somewhere else but then came to live here? An elemental who knows not of his magical world or of the power that resides...?" I let out a chuckle. "This elemental actually sounds a little like me."

That's when the realization struck.

It all started to make sense. The elemental in the second half of the prophecy was a male fire elemental, just like me. It spoke of how the elemental was young and curious, both of which were traits that I had. It also spoke about how this elemental knew nothing about the elemental realm, or that they were from there, just like me...

All at once the pieces finally started to fit together, and the picture that they formed was clear as day.

"The elemental in the prophecy... the one who's destined to end corruption once and for all..." I muttered, still letting the realization sink in. Thoughts suddenly started to pound at my skull, echoing as they did. The sounds of crickets chirping and the soft howling of wind outside seemed to dissipate, the entire world around me started to grow silent.

"...that elemental, is me."

About a million other thoughts started to flood my mind almost instantly. I was the elemental in the second half of the prophecy. I was destined to end corruption. But, if that's the case, am I gonna fight the Corrupted King? Does the fate of the entire realm rest on my shoulders now? Am I gonna get corrupted? Are the innocent elementals of this realm gonna get corrupted? What if I fail? Can I fail? No, I can't fail. Can I...? Is everything on me now...?

"God, your mind moves at the same speed that Zappers run."

The candle went out suddenly. My head whipped around behind me, my eyes quickly examining the dark room to find the source of the voice that just spoke to me. I jumped over the table and found myself in the middle of the room, going into one of the fighting stances that Silva taught me. I looked around frantically, a small flame sputtering in my hand. The voice rang again.