Rin Kosen, a 13-year-old boy with striking white hair and crimson eyes, lived a quiet life in a lakeside town that had thrived for over a century thanks to the water's bounty. He resided with his orphaned parents, Kenya and Riku Kosen, who ran the town's bakery. Kenya, a strong, jovial man, spent his days fishing and hunting, while Riku, a warm-hearted woman, baked and socialized with the neighbors. Rin loved them deeply, grateful for the home they'd provided since his mother left him on their doorstep as a newborn. Riku told stories of how they were good friends for many years before she disappeared and how she looked just like him. He bore a strange birthmark on his ankle and a faded white amulet—its color leaching away over time.
Despite his frail constitution, Rin enjoyed his daily chores and walks with Kenya and Riku. The air hung thick with the scent of pine and lake water, mingled with the sweet aroma of bread wafting from their bakery.
The rhythmic lapping of water against the docks and the distant chatter of townsfolk filled the air. However, a sense of unease had begun to creep into their peaceful lives. Riku mentioned overhearing rumors from her neighbor, Mitsu, who ran the local inn, about mysterious figures frequenting the establishment at night. Whispers of the Kingdom of Alpeas's upcoming Trials of Chaos—a brutal test for 14-year-old boys who've discovered that they had elemental affinities—added to the growing tension. Mitsu mentioned that the trials would commence in two months at the main Shrine of Longevity.
Most towns in the area had no worry due to their small population. It's stated that for every 1000 people, less than five of those children would have some sort of affinity to any of the elements. In Rin's town, there hadn't been a child who's had affinity for any elements for over 20 years. The fact of having elemental abilities was somewhat rare and was mainly found in people who bore strong connections to the gods and or are descendants of royal blood or in sum rare circumstances consumed elixirs to forcefully draw its power out. Most, if not all, of the parents in the town had no worries due to the town only harboring a few 100 citizens.
Rin, often lost in thought, immersed himself in books, eager to learn about the world beyond his town. He knew little of the Trials of Chaos, but the fear in the voices of some of the boys was scary. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the town, Rin couldn't shake the feeling that their quiet life was about to change
As Rin continued to immerse himself into his books, he dozed off. Rin found himself in a beautiful forest. As he looked around and observed his surroundings, he was scared and curious . As he looked around and listened, he heard someone singing, and the soft, peaceful voice drew him in. He soon discovered that a young, beautiful white-haired girl was singing on a tall rock next to a river with a butterfly resting on her soft, pale finger. He accidentally made a noise by stepping on a branch, causing the girl to notice his presence.
She smiled at him, quickly hopped off the tall rock, softly landed on the green grass, and began to run away. Rin chased after her, desperate to find out where he was, and yelled in a young weak voice , "Wait, wait! Where am I? I'm not going to hurt you." He began to hear an unfamiliar voice in his head, saying, "it begins now." Suddenly, a white streak of lightning shot down at blinding speed and caught Rin.
Okay, here's the updated story with the new section added:
Rin wakes up from an unfamiliar dream filled with a confusing mix of images and sensations.
Rin looks down at his hand and his amulet and begins to notice a small crack on it, wondering if the dream had any connection with it.
Rin begins to descend down the steps of his home to the bakery where Riku was preparing dinner. Riku says out loud, "Come eat, eat Rin, dinner's ready." Rin responds, "Where's father?" Riku says, "He should be coming back from fishing soon." She adds, "You look unwell, are you getting sick?" she says worriedly. Rin hesitates, then quickly responds, "No mother, I just had a dream and feel a bit tired because of it." Riku says, "Okay, eat up first, then head to bed." Rin responds, "Yes mother, thank you for the meal."
After Rin finishes his meal, he then walks up the stairs, making his way to his room, turns on his lamp, and begins to place his books he was reading in their respected order until suddenly hearing a loud voice in his head say, "Why did you tell her?" Rin, shocked, drops his book and falls down on the wooden floor. The voice speaks again, "You hesitated, how come?"