Chapter 10 — A Vision Ignites
Three years had passed.
The wind still flowed through Mondstadt just as gently as it always had, carrying the scent of apples and dandelions through the streets.
But Aiden was no longer the same boy who once struggled with a wooden spear.
At thirteen, his body had grown taller and stronger, the result of constant training under his mother's harsh but effective guidance. His bright ginger hair remained impossible to ignore, and his sharp western features had already begun forming the kind of handsome face people tended to remember.
That morning he stood outside the city gates stretching his shoulders while rotating a steel spear through his hands.
Not wood anymore.
Real steel.
Behind him, a cheerful voice called out.
"Whoa! Careful where you swing that thing!"
Aiden stopped immediately.
Turning around, he saw a familiar face approaching.
Amber.
The energetic outrider of the Knights of Favonius jogged toward him with her usual bright smile.
Amber tilted her head slightly as she examined him.
"You've gotten taller again."
Aiden shrugged.
"Training does that."
Amber laughed.
"Most kids your age are still figuring out how to hold a sword."
She crossed her arms and nodded toward the spear.
"But I've heard rumors about you."
Aiden sighed.
"Rumors?"
"You know… the tavern kid who keeps clearing monster commissions."
She grinned.
"Adventurers are talking about it."
Aiden scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"That's embarrassing."
Amber waved a hand dismissively.
"It's impressive!"
She suddenly leaned closer.
"But if you want to fight monsters seriously…"
She pointed toward the forests outside Mondstadt.
"…be careful around Stormbearer Mountains today."
Aiden frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Amber's cheerful expression faded just a little.
"Scouts spotted abyss creatures this morning."
That made Aiden pause.
Abyss.
Those enemies were far more dangerous than hilichurls or wolves.
Amber straightened again.
"Anyway!"
She pointed toward the city.
"I've got patrol duties."
Then she started jogging away before turning back and shouting,
"Try not to get eaten!"
Aiden chuckled.
"I'll try!"
Later that afternoon, Aiden found himself near Stormbearer Mountains.
The wind here was stronger than around the city.
Tall cliffs cast long shadows across the grassy fields below.
Aiden crouched near a rock while studying the terrain ahead.
Two hilichurls.
A mage.
And—
His eyes narrowed slightly.
An Abyss creature.
A dark, twisted humanoid figure stood near the campfire.
Abyss Mage.
Aiden tightened his grip on the spear.
"…That's new."
Normally he would have turned around.
But something inside him refused.
Instead he moved forward quietly.
The first hilichurl fell quickly.
Aiden struck it from behind before it could react.
The second turned—
Too late.
The spear swept its legs and knocked it unconscious.
But the mage noticed immediately.
A dark purple barrier formed around its body.
"Graaah!"
The creature raised its staff.
Energy gathered in the air.
Aiden sprinted forward.
The spear struck the barrier.
CLANG.
The magical shield held firm.
The Abyss Mage fired a burst of energy.
Aiden barely dodged.
The attack blasted the ground behind him.
He rolled across the grass and stood again.
"…That shield is annoying."
The mage floated slightly above the ground while chanting something in the abyss language.
Dark energy gathered again.
Aiden attacked repeatedly.
Strike.
Spin.
Strike.
But the barrier refused to break.
Then the mage raised both hands.
A powerful surge of abyss energy erupted outward.
Aiden was thrown backward across the field.
The spear slid from his grip.
Pain shot through his chest as he crashed into the dirt.
The mage slowly approached.
Its mask stared down at him.
Aiden forced himself onto one knee.
"…This is bad."
His body felt heavy.
His muscles screamed in protest.
The Abyss Mage raised its staff again.
Energy gathered for a final attack.
Aiden's vision blurred slightly.
For a moment, everything went quiet.
Then—
Something inside his chest burned.
Not pain.
Heat.
A deep, overwhelming heat spreading through his entire body.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"What…?"
The warmth grew stronger.
Stronger.
Until it felt like a blazing fire inside his veins.
The Abyss Mage released its attack.
But before it could strike—
A sudden burst of flame exploded around Aiden.
BOOM.
The mage recoiled in surprise.
Aiden slowly stood.
Fire flickered in the air around him.
And in his hand—
A small gemstone glowed with brilliant red light.
A Pyro Vision.
Aiden stared at it in disbelief.
"…Seriously?"
The warmth in his chest settled into something stable.
Controlled.
For the first time in his life—
He could feel elemental energy responding to him.
The Abyss Mage attacked again.
Aiden raised his hand instinctively.
Flames surged forward.
A wave of fire slammed into the mage's barrier.
CRACK.
The shield shattered instantly.
The mage shrieked.
Aiden grabbed his spear.
This time the weapon burned with blazing flames.
He stepped forward.
Thrust.
The spear pierced through the mage's defense.
The creature collapsed and dissolved into dark energy.
Silence returned to the field.
Aiden stood there breathing heavily.
Small flames danced along the spear's tip before fading away.
He looked down at the gemstone now attached to his belt.
The Pyro Vision glowed warmly.
"…So this is what it feels like."
After a moment he began walking back toward Mondstadt.
The sun had nearly set when he reached the city gates.
Amber stood nearby finishing her patrol.
The moment she saw him, she waved.
"Hey!"
Then she stopped mid-step.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
She pointed at his belt.
"Is that—"
Aiden nodded.
"Yeah."
Amber rushed over.
"You got a Vision?!"
A few nearby knights glanced over curiously.
Aiden smiled awkwardly.
"It just happened."
Amber laughed in amazement.
"That's incredible!"
She clapped him on the shoulder.
"Looks like Mondstadt has another Pyro user."
Aiden glanced at the glowing gemstone again.
The warmth it gave off felt strangely familiar.
Like a fire that had been waiting a long time to awaken.
And now—
It finally had.