"My dear," the olddy whispered, "I''d love to talk more with you, but I need to go back to my grandchild. He must be starving by now".


    Elliot gently smiled towards the olddy, "Of course. Would it be alright if we apany you? We can help you carry your things, too".??


    The olddy smiled back. "Ahh … I''ve been blessed to meet such kind people. Just like my little grandson".


    And so, they went to apany the olddy back to her home. Elliot carried the olddy on his back since she was having troubles walking. The olddy was touched and she kept on thanking them along the way while she pointed out the direction to their house. Being unable to use magic, they had to walk a long way to reach it. Too long actually, that it was alreadyte in the afternoon when they arrived. Elliot and Rania began wondering how in the world did this olddy managed to walk that far of a distance all by herself. Their hearts sank at the very thought of it.


    Finally, they arrived at the olddy''s house. It was a shack - very small and old looking, made of plywoods all over, with two windows and a door. Even the woods itself looked weak and may copse any moment. It was in no state of being called a proper home. Yet she was so happy toe back since her grandson was waiting for her. Upon arriving, a small but lively child with white hair and blue eyes, peeked out from the window when he heard footsteps.


    "Granny! You''re back," the child eagerly shouted as he came running towards his grandmother. "Are you okay? I told you I can do it next time! I''m big enough!" Then, noticing the people with his grandmother, he stepped back and asked, "Ahm … who are they, granny? Are they good or bad?"


    "Oho! No need to worry my child, they are kind people," the olddy smiled towards him and patted his head. "They even gave me this -," she lifted the bag with lunch boxes and water.


    "Oh, I see!," the child smiled and turned towards Elliot and the others. "Thank you misters and ma''ams!" His smile belonged to that of an angel. The child was very adorable to look at and his speech was so energetic and enthusiastic.


    Rania leaned over to him and patted his head, "My, my, aren''t you a sweet child? What''s your name? And how old are you?"


    "My name is Elijah! And I''m three years old!" the child proudly answered and tapped his chest.


    "What a beautiful name, Elijah".


    "My granny gave it to me, she''s the best!" Elijah nodded with all his might.


    Elliot, Luna and Ducis chuckled at them.


    "May we know your name as well, madam?'''' Elliot turned to the olddy.


    "Oh, yes, how rude can I be?" the olddy jolted. "I am no madam, my dear, you are so polite. My name is Elin, but you may just call me granny. I''m too old to be called by my name".


    "Elin, such a beautiful name as well," Elliot smiled. "But sure, we''ll call you granny if you insist".


    Elinughed. "Now, now, why don''t we go inside and take some rest? We don''t have much but feel free toe in and sit down for a moment".


    They all agreed to the grandmother''s invitation and came inside. Though the shack looked depressing on the outside, it looked so warm on the inside. There were barely any furnitures inside - just one rustic bed with tattered clothes pieced together to form a nket, a wooden table partnered with two wooden chairs, a small area for cooking with just two pots and adle, some bowls on the side, and at the very middle of the house was small, square area that served as a firece - but the ce looked warm because of the little decorations that could be found all around.


    It was probably the work of the genius, lively child, Elijah. It must have been him who ced flowers on the table, some nts on the side of the bed, and a little tree on the countertop of the kitchen. There were papers with drawings on the wall, too, and folded papers hanging on the vines that adorned the windows.


    Rania, Elliot, Luna and Ducis sat around the firece as Elin and Elijah boiled some water to prepare tea for their guests. Rania and Elliot told them there was no need but the grandmother insisted, it was the least she could do. Once settled, they joined them at the firece and passed on the cups of tea. Everyone thanked Elin and slowly sipped in the tea.


    "Wow! This is tasty!" Luna cheered up. "What leaves did you use?"


    "Fufufu, those are the leaves that this little one nted," Elin chuckled and patted Elijah''s head.


    "Woah! Amazing Elijah! You''re blessed to be able to grow a nt magnificently! It has healing and calming properties, too! Simply amazing," Luna''s face was filled with zen.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Elijah blushed and shyly said, "Thank you ahm …," he didn''t know their names so he hesitated.


    "Oh my, I''m so sorry!" Rania quickly apologized. They all forgot to introduce themselves. "I''m Rania, and this is Elliot, Luna and Ducis," she introduced everyone and they bowed as Rania pointed at them and mentioned their names.


    "I see! Thank you Rania, Elliot, Luna and Ducis!" Elijah sweetly smiled.


    "G-Granny," Elliot shyly called the grandmother, "Is it alright to ask? We''d like to know more about this vige".


    "Of course my dear," Elin nodded her head. She lowered her hands and gazed at everyone dearly. "I noticed you must havee from a different ce, or a different since you know nothing of what was happening here".


    Everyone was shocked. They looked at each other, then decided to peer in closer and listened attentively to her.


    "This is called Gaia … and this vige is known as ''Pius Vige'', located in the continent of Terra. We used to be a bustling and lively vige … but in thest twenty years, war started toe one after another. Since we''re located in the center of the continent, we have be a constant victim of wars - just like what happened a few months back. And it all started when people learned magic".


    Elijah looked up to Elin and hugged her tofort her. Elin smiled back at him and embraced him as well. Rania, Elliot and Luna gripped their cups tight as they listened to the olddy.


    "Hundreds of years ago, everyone in Gaia were simple, non-magic people. Life was simple and normal … until a group of people discovered the existence of spiritual energy and how to use them and bend it to their will. It turned out that the whole was overflowing with spiritual energy, and our bodies were perfect containers of such energy. We actually had it since the moment we were born, we just never knew. Thus, magic was formed and the knowledge of it scattered everywhere until every single person knew how to use it. From then on, we began calling ourselves - Magi".


    Rania and Elliot were alerted. "Could this be …?" they thought in their minds.


    Elin continued her story. "Everyone was happy since magic immensely helped in our daily lives and in improving ournds. Magic is indeed a blessing to everyone … a blessing … and a curse". Her eyes turned sullen after. "Sometimes, having more leads people to greed. Few generations passed and many Magi beganpeting with each other. What started as a friendlypetition, grew bigger and bigger, until it became an issue between nations.


    You see, not all Magi have been given the same capacity for spiritual energy. Some had little capacity, only able to cast magic once a day, while some were brimming with it that they could cast magic nonstop and still be okay. Then, we also discovered that if our bodies were to bepletely depleted of spiritual energy, we will die. So the weaker ones decided not to use it anymore unless they needed it. On the other hand, the stronger ones used it to their heart''s content. Noticing the difference in power, some people began to greed - for morends, more people, more power, titles, and many things I cannotprehend".


    "I-is that … what started the war?" Rania asked as she clenched her chest.


    Elin nodded. "Yes. Each country had their own kings, and each with their own set of beliefs and opinions on things and how the world should run. Their different ideas led to conflicts, now they want to rule over each other and run the whole world the way they want it to. And we, the weaker Magi, couldn''t do anything but watch them as they wage their wars and be a victim of it. Even the king that we used to have, and his whole family, were all ughtered in the hands of the enemy country. Killing our king was not enough, they even plundered everything that we have. Now, our vige was left in ruins, as what you can all see now".


    Feeling his grandmother''s loneliness, Elijah stood up from his seat.


    "Don''t worry granny! And don''t be sad. When I grow up, I promise, I will defeat all those nasty kings and turn this to the way it was!"


    Funny it might be, to hear such brave words from a small child, but his blue eyes didn''t lie.


    As if fire ignited from Elliot''s soul, his heart thumped wildly in his chest as he stared towards the little child.