Elements: Age of Creation

A Vision of Despair

A world consumed by darkness. Cries of anguish filled the air. Bodies of warriors lay strewn across the ruined battlefield, their weapons shattered, their hopes crushed. The sky, once blue, was now an abyss of swirling void, where the sun and moon had long been devoured by an unseen force.

In the heart of this devastation stood Hikaru Nozomi, his body battered, his clothes torn, and his sword barely clinging to its radiant glow. Around him, his allies – friends, comrades, people he had sworn to protect – lay motionless.

And before him, atop a throne of fire and shadow, loomed the one responsible.

The Tyrannical Ruler.

Clad in obsidian armour, eyes glowing like molten gold, the figure exuded a presence that suffocated the air itself. With am ere flick of his hand, Hikaru felt an unseen force tighten around his throat, lifting him into the air like a ragdoll. His body burned, his soul felt as if it were being ripped apart.

"Is this the light you so desperately clung to?" The ruler's voice was deep, hollow, and unyielding. "It was always destined to be extinguished."

Hikaru struggled, reaching out – toward what, he wasn't sure. The warmth of a memory? A promise? Hope?

Then, darkness consumed him.

A Morning Like Any Other

Hikaru gasped as his eyes shot open, his body jerking upright in bed. His heart pounded against his chest as if it were trying to break free. Sweat dripped down his forehead, dampening his dark brown hair.

"A dream…" he muttered, trying to steady his breath.

It felt too real. The pain, the fear, the overwhelming despair – it lingered even now, clinging to his skin like a second layer.

Shaking his head, he glanced at his alarm clock. 6:45 AM. His classes started in an hour.

Brushing off the unease, he threw the blankets aside and swung his legs over the bed. His dorm room was neat, with books stacked on his desk and a single framed photo of his family beside his lamp. It was his final year of college, and the pressure of graduation was already weighing on him.

But today, something else felt… different.

The Nozomi Family

As Hikaru entered the kitchen of his family's home later that morning, the familiar warmth of home greeted him. The scent of fresh coffee and miso soup filled the air, mingling with the quiet hum of morning television.

His father, Sasuke Nozomi, sat at the dining table, dressed in a casual white shirt and reading the newspaper. A man in his early fifties, Sasuke had the same sharp eyes as his son, though his gaze carried years of experience and wisdom.

Across from him, Hikaru's mother, Sayaka Nozomi, hummed to herself as she placed a plate of rice and grilled fish on the table. She was a kind woman, always wearing a warm smile despite how much work she did every day.

"Morning, Hikaru!" Sayaka greeted, glancing at him. "You look tired. Did you stap up studying again?"

"Something like that…" Hikaru rubbed the back of his neck, hesitating. Should he mention the dream?

Before he could say another word, a blur of motion suddenly lunged at him.

"Hikaru!"

He barely had time to react before a pair of arms wrapped around him in a crushing hug.

"Morning, Hikari," Hikaru groaned, patting his sister's head in exasperation.

Hikari Nozomi, his younger twin, beamed up at him with her usual infectious energy. Unlike Hikaru, who was reserved and thoughtful, Hikari was full of life, her golden eyes always shining with excitement. Dressed in her volleyball uniform, she looked ready to take on the world.

"You're back home? What's the occasion?" Hikaru asked, finally prying himself free.

"I've got a tournament this weekend, and Coach said I should take the day off to rest. But I figured, why rest when I can beat you at our morning sprint?" She smirked.

Hikaru sighed. "You never changed, do you?"

Sayaka chuckled. "You two should eat first before you start competing."

As the family settled in for breakfast, the lingering weight of Hikaru's dream still pressed against the back of his mind.

The Watchful Eyes

Outside, a shadowed figure perched atop a rooftop across the street, gazing down at the Nozomi household.

The figure's hood concealed their face, but their eyes – glowing faintly with an unnatural hue – remained locked on Hikaru through the kitchen window.

"So… the heir to the Element of Light has begun to awaken," the figure murmured to themselves.

A breeze passed, and in the blink of an eye, the figure was gone – vanishing into the morning light.