RISE OF THE ELEMENTAL HERO

SHIRO AND KORIN BONDING

Shiro and Korin had become good friends over the past few days. They spent time talking and laughing, which helped Shiro forget about the heavy feelings inside him. As they sat in Shiro's dimly lit room, Korin shared stories about Elro to him.

"You really cared about Elro, didn’t you?" Shiro asked, looking at Korin. The small creature nodded, his eyes shining with memories.

"He was like a brother to me, he was my best friend." Korin said, his tiny body leaning against a desk. "We did a lot together even though I am really small…. but let's focus on you now!"

Shiro sighed. He hadn't gone out much since what happened in school. People felt far away, and his parents seemed more worried about his strange behavior than about him. He just wanted to be alone.

"Look at this," Korin said, pointing to a pencil on Shiro’s desk. "Can you try to melt this pencil?"

"Me?" Shiro raised an eyebrow. "I don’t think I can."

"But I'm sure you've broken a cup before!" Korin said,.

"Yeah, but that was because I was angry," Shiro replied, feeling frustrated. "If I don’t feel something strong, I can’t use my powers."

"That’s not true!" Korin insisted, shaking his head. "Everyone can learn to control their powers. I might not have elements like you, but I know some things. Just focus and try again."

Shiro stared at the pencil, trying to make it melt. He took a deep breath, hoping to feel something happen. His heart raced, and he felt a little warmth in his hands, but nothing changed.

"Just concentrate!" Korin encouraged.

Shiro tried harder, imagining the pencil melting away. He felt some energy building inside him, but then it faded. Instead, a cup that was on the desk started to shake, a faint glow surrounding it.

"No, not a cup again!" Shiro exclaimed, feeling panic rise.

Korin laughed, "It seems your powers have a mind of their own! But that’s a good sign, hey; it means you’re starting to connect with them!"

Frustrated, Shiro ran a hand through his hair. "But I want to control it! I don’t want random things happening."

Time passed and they had been sitting in silence, Shiro was lost in his thoughts and Korin, as usual, remained nearby, a little less talkative than normal.

“Why are you helping me?” Shiro finally asked, his tone soft, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Korin’s ears twitched, his small, glowing form hovering near. “I’m your guardian, Shiro—” Korin began, but Shiro cut him off.

“All this time, why now? Why do you show up now?” Shiro’s voice trembled slightly. “All…. my….. life, I’ve had this power I never asked for. This curse that made people avoid me, treat me like I’m some kind of freak.” His hands clenched as he spoke, his emotions bubbling to the surface. “And yet, you never even showed up to tell me I wasn’t a monster...that I wasn’t the thing people said I was.”

Korin’s fur turned brown in disapproval of what Shiro said. He floated closer, his eyes filled with understanding. "You’re right, Shiro. You’ve been through so much alone, and I am sorry. But it's not because I didn’t want to help you. The truth is... you weren’t ready. You needed to accept your powers before I could reach you. You hid them all those years, accepting what people said you were. But that moment you stood up to your bullies, that moment you felt the anger bubbling up ready to explode, you had to let me in, you had also let the elements in.”

Shiro wiped his eyes, a mixture of frustration and sorrow in his expression. “I wonder why me? I don’t want any of this. I never asked for it.”

Korin hovered in front of him, his voice gentle but firm. “You were born into this, Shiro. The elements chose you. Your connection to Elro is part of something big. Whether you want it or not, you have a huge role to play. And no matter what others have said, you know you're not a monster dear Shiro. You're more like, a savior” Korin teased. “ because you accepted that this power is part of who you are.”

Shiro looked away, shaking his head. “I can’t even control it. I can’t help anyone if I can’t even focus. How can I save anyone when I’m barely holding it together?”

“That’s why you’re going to learn,” Korin said calmly. He paused, then added, “You need to come to Serevaal. That’s where Elro and I come from. There, you’ll see others like you, people who struggle to control their powers just as you do. Some of them can’t control their abilities either, but they learn. Just like you will.”

Shiro blinked, surprised. “Really?”

“Yes,” Korin nodded. “You’re not the only one who struggles, Shiro. Everybody does. You just need to be determined. In Serevaal, you’ll find others working to harness their gifts. You are really special, Shiro, and the world you’re living in now... it’s only a small part of a much bigger picture. They are waiting for you.”

Shiro sat quietly, trying to process everything Korin was saying. “Do you think they're going to accept me?? Am i ready for this.”

“You’ll be just fine,” Korin assured him, his small lips curling into a smile. “You’ll see.”

Shiro let out a heavy breath, still unsure but feeling a flicker of hope for the first time.

Just then, there was a sharp knock on his door.

"Shiro!" His aunt’s voice was sharp, as if she had been standing there listening for a while. She pushed the door open and walked in, frowning as she looked around the empty room. Her eyes landed on Shiro, sitting on the floor, seemingly talking to no one.

"Who are you talking to?" she asked, as if accusing him.

“No one” Shiro muttered as Korin had already floated to a corner.

"You’re just sitting here alone, mumbling. You're acting strange again."

His aunt's eyes narrowed still suspicious.

"You're talking to yourself now, huh?" she scoffed. “You are really cursed, you know. You are bringing a lot of curse in the family too."

Shiro’s heart sank at her words, the sting making him clench his fists.

"I’m not cursed," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

His aunt raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Could have fooled me. You're always locked up in here, acting weird. Honestly, Shiro, you should be grateful your parents are so kind. Left to me, I would have thrown you out." She spat the word out like it disgusted her. "Because people are right about you."

The room fell silent as her words lingered, cold and cutting.

Korin’s soft glow brightened slightly, as if angered by her words, but he remained silent. Shiro, however, stared at the floor, swallowing the lump in his throat. His aunt, with one last disapproving glare, turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Shiro sat there, trying to fight the growing frustration and sadness. Korin floated over to him once more. “Wish I could bite her ” he said as his little hands held Shiro's

Korin’s voice was calm, soothing. “People will always misunderstand you, Shiro. But that doesn’t make them right.”

Shiro nodded slightly, he was still hurt nevertheless.