“Where are you, Gabriel? Lunch is ready!”

  Aminara called out loudly, having just prepared a delicious meal for her son. As she set the table, she muttered to herself,

  “There he goes again… He must be exactly where I told him not to be. What am I going to do with this boy?”

  Gabriel stood right at the edge of his home’s land, facing the vast field that stretched out toward a deep and wide valley. The place, forbidden by his mother, had an almost magnetic pull. He dreamed of discovering what lay beyond.

  Every day, at the same hour, he would stand there, silently observing, as if trying to figure out a way to cross. Perhaps with a clever plan... or the stubborn determination of a dreaming child.

  “How many times have I told you not to be here alone, son? It’s dangerous for a child your age,” Aminara said, approaching him.

  “Mom, one day I’m going to cross that valley. You’ll see. I know I’ll discover what lies beyond the city’s limits.”

  There was such conviction in his voice that Aminara couldn’t help but reflect. Something deep inside told her… he was right. And she wondered how one could stop the dreams of an eight-year-old child.

  “Alright, son… but the only thing I want you to cross right now is the food I made,” she said, smiling warmly.

  “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you more, son. And after lunch, I want you to sit down and study.”

  “Yes, Mom… but after that, can you tell me more stories about our planet? About the castle’s secrets? I dream of going inside and seeing it for myself!”

  “Oh, this boy… He wants to know everything! You’ll drive me crazy,” she replied, laughing.

  As time passed, Aminara and her son continued their quiet life.

  But as Gabriel grew, so did his natural abilities. Eventually, his mother began to feel that she could no longer contain him, and feared that soon the townspeople would realize he wasn’t… an ordinary child.

  By the time he turned twelve, Gabriel began experiencing the awakening of a strange and thrilling force inside him. The more he discovered it, the more he wanted to test it.

  “Mom! Mom! Come quickly!” he yelled from the backyard.

  Aminara dropped what she was doing and rushed to him, alarmed.

  “What is it, Gabriel? Are you okay?”

  But when she arrived, she froze.

  “Son… what are you doing?” she asked with a trembling voice, seeing him holding a massive rock in his hands—as if it weighed nothing.

  “Look, Mom! Look how strong I am! I’m not even tired… and that’s not all. I can also jump super far and run incredibly fast! Look!” he exclaimed, showing off his abilities.

  “Mom… can all kids my age do this?”

  Aminara, unable to hide her astonishment, became serious. She stared at him intensely and said:

  “Come. Put that down and let’s go inside. We need to talk.”

  “Yes, Mom…” Gabriel replied, slightly confused, thinking maybe he had done something wrong.

  Inside the house, Aminara looked him straight in the eyes and said:

  “Listen to me carefully, son. Never—and I mean never—tell anyone about what you can do. You must keep it a secret, because people could get scared. They wouldn’t understand, and that could cause a lot of trouble in the city. Do you understand?”

  When Gabriel didn’t answer, she repeated herself with more urgency:

  “Do you understand me? Answer me! …Oh no! Don’t tell me you already told someone!” she gasped, placing her hands on her head.

  “I’m sorry, Mom… it’s just—”

  “Who did you tell? Tell me right now!”

  “I’m trying to tell you, but you won’t let me speak!” Gabriel retorted.

  “Speak!” she demanded.

  “It was at school… during recess. A strange girl caught my attention. She was sitting alone, away from everyone, holding a stone. I went up to her and asked what she was doing. Without turning around, she said ‘nothing.’ She looked kind of sad… I asked her name, but instead of answering, she said: ‘Do you think our world is alone in the universe?’ I told her I didn’t think so, but that there was no way to know for sure. I told her my name, but she just replied, ‘Good for you. Now leave me alone.’

  Then, without thinking, I lifted a larger rock and told her I’d give anything to find out. I crushed it without realizing my strength and walked away. But just as I was leaving, she shouted her name: ‘Uriel! That’s my name!’ And that’s how we became friends. Later, she asked me to show her my strength again… and I did.”

  Aminara let out a deep sigh, feeling things were getting out of hand.

  “Son… I understand you felt sorry for the girl, but… why did you do it? Can’t you see she might tell someone? That could bring us serious problems. I want you to stay away from her. If she asks anything, just tell her you’re sick and can’t see her anymore.”

  “But Mom, I can’t say that… You taught me not to lie. Besides, I already invited her to our house. Well… actually, she invited herself, but I said yes…”

  “What were you thinking?! Why would she want to come here?”

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  “Because… she’s like me, Mom.”

  “What are you talking about? What do you mean?”

  “She can fly! She said she’d teach me and show me more of what she can do.”

  “She can fly?!” Aminara gasped, clutching her chest. “This can’t be happening… When is she coming?”

  “What’s worrying you so much, Mom? What is it you have to tell me?”

  “When she arrives… we’ll talk.”

  “Okay, Mom,” Gabriel agreed.

  At that moment, a strange wind began to flow through the house. A jolt of unfamiliar energy swept through Aminara’s body, sending an intense chill down her spine.

  “What is this… feeling?” she murmured, unsettled.

  “Don’t be scared, Mom… it’s Uriel.”

  “Wh-where is she?”

  Then, a sweet voice spoke behind her:

  “Hello, ma’am. How are you? I’m right here, behind you. Did you like my entrance? I wanted to surprise you.”

  “Ahhh!” Aminara screamed, startled. “Child! What are you thinking, showing up like that? Do you want to give me a heart attack? And how did you even do that? I felt some kind of electricity—it paralyzed me and shook me at the same time!”

  “Mom, are you okay?”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am…” Uriel apologized with a smile. “I just wanted to show you what I can do. My name is Uriel, I was born with these abilities, and I live in the western village. So? Did you like it?”

  “Incredible…” Aminara answered, still catching her breath. “Come in, sit down, child. I imagine no one else knows what you can do, right? You do understand how dangerous it would be if anyone found out?”

  “Don’t worry, ma’am. No one knows. At home, they taught me to hide it well. But since I met your son, I feel free to show who I am without fear. And now, I can show you too. I’m happy we’re three now…”

  “Wait—three? You mean my son and me, right?”

  “Uh… actually, I meant Gabriel and a friend who came with me,” Uriel replied with a shy laugh.

  “A friend?” Gabriel asked, confused. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “What are you talking about, girl? Explain yourself,” Aminara demanded, frowning.

  “I’m not crazy, ma’am. He’s here with us,” Uriel said, then turned toward a corner of the room and shouted,

  “Rafael! Stop hiding and show yourself already! You’re ruining your dramatic entrance!”

  “Uriel, you ruined my moment…” a young man said, suddenly appearing from thin air.

  “Hello, ma’am. Hello, Gabriel. My name is Rafael, and I’m from the northern village of Portcan.”

  Aminara covered her face with her hands, sweating, unable to believe what she was seeing.

  “This can’t be happening…” she whispered.

  “Hi, Rafael,” Gabriel greeted, fascinated. “It’s amazing to meet you. How did you do that? Teach me, please!”

  “Gladly,” Rafael replied. “But first… do you have anything to eat? I’m starving!”

  “Gabriel, I think your mom’s about to faint,” Uriel noted with a grin.

  Aminara had gone completely pale from everything she had just witnessed.

  “Mom? Are you okay? Come, sit down. Do you want water?”

  “You sit down right now! And you two as well!” she commanded, her voice firm.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the three children replied in unison.

  “You, girl—Uriel, or whatever your name is—tell me: how did you get your powers? How long have you known about them?... No, don’t say anything. Nothing makes sense anymore,” she said, throwing up her hands. Then she took a deep breath and continued,

  “All I want to know now is—are there more children like you? And I want the truth.”

  “Well…” Rafael hesitated, “I’m not completely sure. I still don’t know why we have these abilities…”

  “Listen closely,” Aminara said, her tone more serious now. “There was a time in Portcan when children were born with great powers. When that happened, people said they had been chosen by the will of the King. Then, the Patriarch would send his messengers to collect them when they turned thirteen, and take them to Arcan, where they would be trained to become the most powerful soldiers in the world. That time was known as The Era of Gathering. But that was more than three hundred years ago... It never happened again. No one talks about it anymore. Many think it was just a legend.”

  The children sat in absolute silence.

  “That’s why,” she continued, “if you’re here, and if you have these powers… it means something big is coming. But one thing worries me: the Patriarch’s messengers haven’t come—and that’s not normal.”

  “You mean… we were chosen for something important?” Uriel asked.

  “Chosen? For what?” Rafael added, still confused.

  “Are you sure, Mom?” Gabriel asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

  “Let me think… For now, you must stay hidden. Yes, that’s what we’ll do. The Arcanians should’ve sensed you by now. But for some unknown reason, they haven’t. So I’m asking you from the bottom of my heart: don’t show this to anyone else. Understood?”

  They all nodded.

  “Eat well now,” she said. “Then go home and come back tomorrow morning. We’re going to train. You’ll master your powers, and together, we’ll figure out what this is all about. If this is really happening, then surely it’s a message from the King.”

  The kids were so excited they couldn’t sleep that night, dreaming of becoming stronger, wiser… and discovering what fate had in store for them.

  Six months later…

  Determined to understand what was happening, Aminara searched through her old records for any information that could help her guide and train the children. She remembered an ancient legend about a man named Daniel, a great teacher who lived outside the cities. It was said that his home lay in a hidden place… a forbidden valley.

  Desperate for answers, she visited an elder priest in the village, known for his wisdom. His name was Qubel—an old man who had personally witnessed the final days of the Era of Gathering.

  She arrived at his humble home and knocked on the door. A strange young man answered.

  “Are you here to see the elder?” he asked.

  “Yes, it’s urgent.”

  “Then please come in. I’ll fetch him right away.”

  The young man went to the corner where the elder usually rested. Upon seeing him, he said:

  “Master, there’s a woman here to see you. She says it’s important.”

  Qubel slowly opened his eyes.

  “I knew it…” he murmured. “I knew this day would come.”

  “Excuse me? What are you talking about?” the young man asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. Go finish what you were doing. I’ll go.”

  The old man slowly walked to the entrance. When he saw Aminara, he smiled.

  “I knew you would come. How are you? And how is your son?”

  “That’s exactly what I came to talk about. You know that Gabriel was never an ordinary child… but now, it’s impossible to ignore.”

  “When you brought him to me as a baby, I knew,” Qubel said. “I told you back then: when he grew up, you’d return to me. And here you are. But listen carefully… It’s been a long time since the last Gathering. It stopped unexpectedly. Since then, we’ve heard nothing from the King. No one’s been chosen.

  Until Gabriel appeared…”

  Aminara told him everything in detail: the children, their powers, the absence of messengers, and the signs she’d seen.

  The elder began to tremble. Then he took her to his library.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked.

  “A map. This… this is bigger than you think.”

  “A map? Of what?”

  “This map shows the way to a forgotten place. That’s where Daniel, the master, lives. The children must go to him. They must be trained.”

  “What?! Are you insane? They’re just children! How can I send them somewhere like that?”

  “I understand. But listen: you come from a line of warriors. You know what this means. Besides, they won’t be alone. Sariel will go with them.”

  “Sariel? Who is that?”

  “The young man who lives here. You’ve seen him. I’ve trained him for years. He is one of them.”

  “No way…”

  “Sariel!” the elder called.

  “I’m ready,” said the young man, entering with firm steps.

  “You knew?” Aminara asked, stunned.

  “Yes. The elder prepared me for this moment.”

  “Sariel, take this map. Find the others and leave as soon as possible. When you find Daniel, tell him Qubel sent you. He’ll know what to do.”

  “Thank you, master. I won’t forget this.”

  “Take care of your new companions. They will be like brothers and sisters to you. This is your destiny. May the King’s light guide you all.”

  “Come, ma’am,” Sariel said.

  “Thank you, elder. I just hope you’re right…”

  “There’s no turning back now. Destiny is already in motion.”