"My name… is Jack. Jack Griffith."
He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them back, revealing pale, green mixed with blue eyes.
A hush fell over the throne room.
Murmurs spread like wildfire through the gathered nobles, knights, and civilians.
"A Griffith? Did he say Griffith?"
"Those eyes… only belong to the bloodline," Counselor Charles said.
Anna's eyes widened. "He's… a Griffith?!"
The king, however, remained calm. Slowly, a knowing smile formed on his face.
"Well… what an honor it is to have a Griffith among us. Please forgive the commotion. Everyone's simply surprised."
Jack gave a respectful bow. "It's no problem at all, Your Majesty." He then turned and walked back.
In the crowd, Mike leaned toward Ben. "That's an actual Griffith? Crazy."
Ben, arms crossed, muttered, "I've met him before, but I didn't realize… those glowing green eyes distracted me. Griffiths are known to have a unique eye color."
A group of female knights huddled together, cheeks flushed as they stared at Jack. "Oh my… he's so handsome."
One of them nudged Beatrix. "Isn't he?"
Beatrix's eyes lingered on Jack before she turned away, coughing into her fist as she fixed her hair. "I suppose… he is."
The king's gaze shifted to Jason. "And finally. Come forth, Jason Marquoid."
Jason hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward.
With a warm smile, the king placed the medal around his neck, then held Jason's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Jason. Seeing how far you've come puts a smile on my face."
Jason's heart swelled at the words, but before he could respond, the king continued.
"How would you like… to lead this team?
Jason tensed. His fingers curled slightly as he looked back at his friends. Anna and Connor gave him reassuring nods.
Taking a deep breath, Jason faced the king once more. "Thank you, Your Majesty. But…" He clenched his fist. "I can't."
A hush fell over the room. All eyes were now on him.
Jason took a step forward. "That explosion during the battle? Dreagon didn't cause it. I did."
Commander Elijah's gaze sharpened as Jason continued. "Your Majesty, I'm simply not ready yet. I still have so much to learn. But luckily…" He turned, looking at Anna, Connor, and Jack. A small, confident smile crossed his lips. "I have friends and family who will help guide me until I am."
Anna beamed at him.
Jason turned back to the king. "Until then, I believe Jack should lead us."
Jack blinked, taken aback. "Me?"
Jason nodded. "He's more skilled and experienced than all of us. If anyone should lead, it's him."
Princess Emily watched Jason with newfound admiration, her cheeks faintly pink.
The king chuckled, nodding. "Perhaps I jumped to conclusions too soon. You're right."
He turned to Jack. "Well then, do you accept, Jack Griffith?"
Jack let out a slow breath before answering. "I'll do my best, Your Majesty."
The king grinned. "Then it is settled." He spread his arms wide. "Camelot! I present to you once more… THE ELEMENTIELS!"
Thunderous applause erupted through the hall. The air was filled with cheers, laughter, and admiration.
After the ceremony, Jason, Anna, Connor and Jack walked through the castle courtyard. Anna nudged Jack, hands on her hips. "So… why didn't you tell us you were a Griffith?"
Jack glanced up at the sky. "Didn't feel like it."
"Seriously? You caught us completely off guard." Connor added, shaking his head.
Anna suddenly grabbed Jack's collar, shaking him playfully. "Don't ever surprise us like that again! Got it, mister?!"
Jack sighed. "Alright, alright."
Jason, standing beside them, gave Jack an apologetic look. "Sorry for throwing all of this onto you."
Jack turned to him and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it. Leading isn't exactly my thing, but I'll give it a shot."
He then gave Jason a meaningful look. "Besides, you need time to grow. And when you're ready, I'll hand the role back to you."
Jason met his gaze and smiled. "Yeah."
Anna tilted her head, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So does that mean you're staying in the capital?"
Jack shook his head. "Not exactly. I'll still stay at my uncle's place, but I can get here fast if needed."
Anna clasped her hands behind her back. "Hmm. Alright then. So, what now, fearless leader?"
Jack sighed. "To the bakery, I guess?"
Anna leaped forward, spreading her arms dramatically. "You heard the man! TO THE BAKERRRRYYYY!"
Connor chuckled, shaking his head as they walked off. But Jason suddenly stopped, looking at his friends for a lingering moment.
Connor turned back. "Hey, Jason. What's the hold-up?"
Jason's smile softened. "It's nothing."
He picked up his pace, running to join them.
Anna suddenly gasped, turning to Jack. "Wait a minute! If you're a Griffith, doesn't that mean you're… super rich?!"
Jack walked faster. "Let's keep going."
Laughter rang through the streets as they continued on. Jason took a deep breath, looking at his friends, his heart filled with warmth.
What a journey it's been… There were ups and downs, and I don't expect things to get any easier from here. But…
At the bakery, Grandpa Mark greeted them warmly as customers flooded in. Anna eagerly tied on an apron, ready to serve, while Jason, Jack, and Connor headed to the kitchen.
AslongasIhavetheseguysbymy side, I have nothing to worry about.
Elsewhere, Adam and Frank trained in the sparring grounds, swords clashing. Cynthia, Beatrix, Ben, Victor, and Mike sparred alongside them.
With great power, comes great trials. No matter how strong we are, there will always be greater challenges ahead.
James tended to his farm, hands in the soil, planting new seeds for the future.
We may have godlike powers, but at the end of the day, we're still human.
Miss Claire walks through her shop, her keen eyes scanning the room as her girls worked diligently. A gentle smile graced her lips as she watched them, their focus unwavering. With a satisfied nod, she settled into her own seat, picking up a piece of cloth and threading her needle.
We are not perfect. We'll make mistakes. We'll feel like we're not good enough, and that's okay.
In the palace gardens, Emily sat beneath an oak tree, painting—her brush tracing the image of a glowing red eye.
Because as long as there's something or someone people can count on to save them, they'll be encouraged to keep trying.
Seraphina stepped out of a massive cave, the crisp mountain air brushing against her skin. Above, her dragons soared—wings slicing through the clouds, their roars echoing in the vast sky. Some dived playfully toward the waters, while others circled in silent vigilance. A gentle smile crossed her lips.
I'll use these powers… to create a better future for the people I love and care about. Not just because I have the power to, but because this is what I choose to do.
Jason walked to the back of the bakery, where Belle lay resting. He knelt beside her, running a hand through her soft hair as he gazed at the sky.
So, I'll keep moving forward. I'll accept others for who they are and warm their hearts.
He clenched his fist, determination in his eyes.
For you, Stacey.
In the grand meeting chamber, the air was thick with tension. The king and his counselors sat in a solemn circle, their gazes locked onto one another.
Hilda was the first to speak, her voice calm but firm. "I believe this conversation is necessary."
Arthur exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "Perhaps. But do we really need to?"
Richard scoffed. "Of course, we do, Your Majesty. These young individuals wield enough power to destroy the entire world if they so desired! We must ensure we can keep them under control."
Charles folded his arms. "I personally believe we can handle them. Besides, this is good for us. Helios has the Guardians of the Sun, Luna has the Crescent Knights. Now, Camelot has its own powerhouses."
Counselor Matthew nodded in agreement. "Exactly. With the Elementiels, we won't have to depend so much on the other realms anymore."
The king shook his head. "Do not be so quick to discard alliances. While I am grateful that the Elementiels stand with us, the realms must continue to rely on one another."
Hilda rested her elbows on the table, her voice dropping slightly. "One day, they will have to come together and face a common enemy. Perhaps, they could even defeat… 'HIM'."
A heavy silence fell over the room. The mere mention of HIM sent a cold shiver down their spines.
Arthur stroked his beard. "The Empire hasn't done anything worth our attention for years. Let us pray things stay that way."
Forcing a smile, the king clapped his hands together. "For now, let us enjoy the peace we have. This meeting is adjourned."
One by one, the counselors stood and exited the chamber, murmuring amongst themselves. However, Charles lingered, stepping closer to Arthur and placing a sealed letter on the table.
"Your Majesty, I received word from the governor of the North. She intends to visit soon."
Arthur's lips curled into a fond smile as he took the letter. "It will be good to see her again. It's been far too long."
Charles' expression darkened, his gaze sharp. "Arthur. When do you plan on telling them… the truth?"
The king's smile faded. His eyes lowered, troubled. "Not yet. When the time is right… I will."
Charles studied him for a moment before sighing. "Very well. I shall take my leave."
With a respectful nod, he turned and strode away, disappearing into the dimly lit corridors.
Moments later, Charles arrived at the grand library, its towering shelves filled with the wisdom of ages. Entering his private office, he shut the heavy wooden door behind him, ensuring he was alone.
Seating himself at his desk, he pulled open a drawer, revealing a pulsating crystal. He placed his fingers lightly upon it and whispered, "Can you hear me?"
A voice, smooth and knowing, echoed from within. "Loud and clear."
A slow, wicked smile spread across Charles' face as he leaned back into his chair.
"There's been… a change of plans."