Chat of Elements
A whole day passed in murmurs and soft whispers throughout the Duchy of Ashford, all centered around the newborn child of Duchess Bethany Von Ashford.
People spoke in hushed tones—not just about how the child had yet to open her eyes since birth, but also about the more scandalous rumor: that the heir to the greatest Duke family of Ashford was born without even a trace of mana.
In Bethany's chamber, she sat silently on the bed, the baby swaddled in a white shawl resting in her arms. Her gaze was distant, shadowed with worry.
Edward sat close beside her, gently holding her hand. "She's alright, isn't she?" he asked softly, his voice laced with concern.
A man seated in the armchair adjusted his round glasses before speaking. His long green hair shimmered in the light, and his emerald eyes were heavy with thought. "I can't say anything for sure… If she doesn't wake by morning, her life could be in danger," said Lord Helen Everhart.
"What about her mana?" Bethany asked with a deep frown. "Why doesn't she have any?"
Lord Helen fell silent, his gaze lingering on the child's serene face. Of course, how could he know? Something like this was nearly impossible.
There were four kingdoms in the Empire of Roman:
The Fire Kingdom — Ignorian, Land of Eternal Flame
The Water Kingdom — Aqualis, Graceful Realm Beneath the Tide
The Earth Kingdom — Terravorn, Land of Unshakable Might
The Air Kingdom — Valoeria, Realm of Soaring Castles
And at the heart of it all stood Roman itself, the empire that ruled over them all.
In Roman, the Ashford family held the highest Duke rank. Edward Von Ashford was a master of water, and Bethany Von Ashford was renowned as the greatest earth wielder of her era.
Ashford, a duchy traditionally ruled by women, had always produced daughters of immense power. So the birth of a child without a flicker of mana spread through the empire like wildfire.
Lord Helen Everhart, Duke of his house and head of the famous family blessed by water and healing, sat quietly, his gaze still fixed on the sleeping infant. Her calm face, unbothered by the murmurs outside, made him forget his worries for a moment.
"I believe it's best for Lord Edward to request an audience with His Majesty," Helen said at last, turning to Edward. "The royal family possesses ancient miracle herbs—relics passed down for generations."
He looked back at the child. "Perhaps something like this has happened before. If so, His Majesty would be the only one who could help."
Bethany and Edward exchanged a glance, both nodding.
"I'll write to His Majesty and request a private meeting," Edward said firmly.
"I'm going with you," Bethany added at once.
Edward frowned. "Don't joke, Beth. You know I won't let you go anywhere in your condition."
"Ed," Bethany whispered, clutching his hand tighter, "I'm just as worried about her as you are. If I stay behind, I'll only fall deeper into anxiety."
"But what about—"
Before he could finish, Jain, who had stood quietly in the corner all this time, spoke up. "Don't worry about the young lady. I'll take care of her."
Edward glanced downward, his thoughts clearly churning, then sighed. "Alright… But only if you promise not to beat anyone up. Deal?"
Bethany forced a smile. Yeah… unless someone gives her a reason to.
Night fell. The balcony doors remained open, letting the cool breeze swirl into the room, fluttering the sheer white curtains.
Edward and Bethany lay sleeping on either side of their baby, who rested quietly in the middle.
"Hey, it's her," a faint whisper stirred the stillness. "You guys can come out now."
In an instant, the air shimmered and twisted. A woman appeared, floating mid-air, her form wispy like smoke and wind. "Greetings, everyone," she said with a graceful smile.
A flame flickered in the candle, and from it emerged a bulky man, his body glowing like molten fire. He crossed his arms and let out a gruff growl. "Hmph…"
The water in a nearby glass rippled, and a woman of flowing liquid form materialized, her hair cascading like a waterfall and wrapping around her like a shimmering shawl. "Are we sure this is the right place?" she asked softly.
The ground trembled, and an elderly man rose from the floor, his body thin and frail, bald head gleaming, dark sunglasses perched on his nose. He held a wooden staff and chuckled. "Ho ho ho… Seems like everyone's finally gathered. Feels good to see you all again after a century."
Everyone let out a collective sigh. Even as the God of Earth, his frail appearance never failed to draw the same reaction.
He glanced around and grinned proudly. "What? Still can't accept me as I am?"
The Wind Goddess zipped around him like a rabbit, giggling. "Well, well, it's not our fault—your appearance is always… something."
The room's air began to ripple with heat until the Water Goddess cooled it with a graceful wave of her hand. "This space can't contain us for long. If we linger, our presence alone could bring this duchy to ruin."
"Then let's take the child with us," said the Earth God. Everyone turned toward him at once.
"If I hold her, she'll get wet and catch a cold," said the Water Goddess.
The Air Goddess jumped up. "Me, me, me—I'll carry her!"
The Fire God grabbed her by the collar with a frown.
"If she holds the baby, she might accidentally catapult her with that speed," the Water Goddess added, deadpan. The Air Goddess sulked.
"If I hold her… she burns," grumbled the Fire God, releasing a puff of flame from his mouth.
At last, all eyes turned to the Earth God, whose skin looked most human.
He beamed running hand on his bald head. "Ah, finally you recognize my worth."
He picked up the child, and in a blink, they vanished into another dimension.
Unlike the night behind them, here the sun shone brightly over vast fields blooming with wildflowers. Deer roamed freely, and a towering tree stretched so high its branches pierced the sky. Its roots pulsed like a beating heart, nourishing the entire land.
As they entered this realm, the elemental gods transformed into human forms—well, mostly. The Water Goddess, true to her nature, still stood bare.
The Fire God removed his coat and handed it to her. "Why don't you wear clothes?"
"I don't need them. My hair is enough," she replied calmly, wrapping herself in the offered jacket.
The Air Goddess bounced excitedly around the enormous tree. "Home! Home! Home!"
They all took a deep breath, soaking in the beauty of their homeland.
Sitting on the soft grass, they gently placed the baby in the center.
"She's unaffected by the dimensional shift," the Earth God noted, resting his staff beside him. "Just look at her—sleeping so peacefully, like she didn't just become the first human to ever cross dimensions."
"Alright, enough chit-chat," the Fire God clapped. "Let's get to work—we still need to return soon."
The Air Goddess whined and clung to the Water Goddess. The rest sighed but focused.
One by one, they discussed, debated, and finally fell into thoughtful silence.
"So… we can't bless her?" the Water Goddess asked quietly.
The Fire God sighed. "Why would the Mother Tree create a human without mana?"
"She always has her reasons," the Earth God replied.
"But if she's born so different… how will she survive in a world that won't understand her?" the Water Goddess murmured, her gaze fixed on the child. "It could lead to her downfall."
"That's the real danger," the Fire God nodded.
"Then someone has to protect her at all times," the Earth God declared, prompting anxious glances.
"No one's free for that," the Water Goddess said.
"I'll protect her," came a quiet voice—cold, distant, like the whisper of the wind itself.