"Three weeks into this Air affinity training, and it's been a wild ride, both literally and figuratively. So, here's the scoop from my diary."

Week 1: Mister Cedric suggested a fun activity called 'Boulder Freefall.' Yeah, 'fun.' Picture this, I climb this massive boulder, and then he says, 'Jump, Noah!' I'm supposed to trust that the air will catch me or something. Reality check: the air doesn't always catch you, but the ground surely does. Ouch.

Week 2: 'Breeze Bungee.' Sounds cool, right? Nah, not really. Tied to a bungee, and Cedric's like, 'Take the leap.' Wondering if there's an easier way to catch some wind without risking my neck.

Week 3: 'Cloud Cliffhanger.' Sounds grand, but it's just me on a cliff edge, hoping the air will be kind. Spoiler: Air's not into gentleness. I've mastered the art of flailing.

So, three weeks into this air thing, and I've learned two things: One, air magic is... well, hard. Two, I've got more bumps than magic skills. Until next time, pretend diary. May the air be with me, especially when I'm free falling."

Cedric's voice cut through the air, breaking the calm silence that enveloped Noah's emotions. "Noah, you ready?"

Standing at the precipice of the extremely tall cliff, the vast expanse of space beneath them, Noah's confusion painted his face with a bewildered look. "Eh? Eh?" he stammered, pointing to himself as if questioning the possibility of what Cedric was proposing.

"You heard me!" Cedric's easy-going smile greeted Noah's gaze, innocent yet mischievous. With a sudden push, Noah was sent plummeting from the cliff, his startled scream echoing through the air.

In Cedric's mind, a subtle concern lingered. *If he fails, I'll have to put up a barrier. I better follow.* Without missing a beat, Cedric nonchalantly walked backward, leaning into the descent as he let himself fall, mirroring Noah's descent into the open sky.

Amidst the continuous screams, Noah's terrified voice echoed through the open air. "Ahh! Ah! Mommy!"

Suddenly, a voice resonated in his mind, calming the chaotic symphony of fear. "Quiet down, Noah." Following the guidance, he turned his teary eyes to the left, only to find Cedric, mirroring his descent upside down, a peculiar calmness in the mentor's demeanor.

My apologies for the confusion. Let's revise that.

As they hurtled down the towering cliff, Noah's screams echoed through the vast expanse, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration. In the midst of the descent, Cedric's voice resonated in Noah's mind, urging him to calm down.

*Settle down, Noah.*

Startled, Noah's teary eyes darted to the left, finding Cedric effortlessly mirroring his descent. The air rushed past them, and the countdown began.

"Noah, you have approximately 12 seconds, do what you have to do."

Cedric's words echoed in Noah's mind as he wrestled with the panic. His instincts kicked in, and in a desperate attempt to control the situation, he focused on the element around him. Time seemed to stretch as Noah mustered the courage to confront the free fall.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Flicker"

Cedric's command reached Noah's ears, however it was not for him. Cedric had vanished, leaving Noah still in midair, plummeting toward the ground with a newfound ‘connection’ to the element of air.

The imaginary clock ticked away - 8 seconds left, an eternity in the face of gravity's pull. In the cocoon of air, Noah's inner voice repeated, "Fly. Fly. Fly." His mind struggled to grasp the concept, panic surfacing in the lines etched across his young face.

"4 seconds," the invisible countdown persisted. Noah's desperation heightened, the seconds slipping away like sand through his trembling fingers. "Fly. Fly. Fly." The mantra grew more urgent, a plea to the very forces of nature.

Finally, the imaginary clock reached its inevitable conclusion: 3, 2, 1. "FLY. FLY. FLY." Unaware that the countdown had already expired, Noah continued his frenzied appeal, his eyes squeezed shut against the imminent danger, his body may have realised, but his eyes we're close shut after all.

Cedric, poised to intervene with a water barrier, observed the unfolding scene. The realization dawned that Noah had succeeded, yet the boy, lost in his own panic, remained oblivious. *This kid, he's got great potential.*

In the next moment, concern crept into Cedric's thoughts. *Will he be okay though? His mana is draining itself quite rapidly, no wait, does he even realise?.* As Noah continued his frantic repetition of "Fly," Cedric couldn't help but marvel at the untapped potential of magic within the young mage.

"Noah, you can stop now."

The booming voice cut through Noah's frantic mental loop, prompting him to halt his desperate repetition of "Fly. Fly. Fly." Opening his eyes, he found himself suspended in mid-air, the realization dawning upon him.

"I-i, I did it! I can fly, I can fly!"

Joy and disbelief mingled in Noah's exclamations as he marveled at his newfound ability. Ecstatic, he scanned his own body, confirming that he was indeed soaring through the air. The thrill of accomplishment surged through him, a mixture of elation and pride as he zoomed through the air like a superhero.

However, as quickly as the triumph came, a twist unfolded. Noah's mana, drained from the intense mana exertion, reached a critical low. In a turn of events, he descended abruptly, falling straight to the ground. Fortunately, the drop was a mere three meters, and Noah landed safely with an undignified thud. The irony of the situation didn't escape Cedric, who couldn't help but chuckle at Noah's unintentional descent from the sky.

Cedric extended a helping hand to Noah, lifting him in a piggyback carry as they began to walk. Amidst the post-flying excitement, Cedric couldn't resist a teasing question.

"How was it, Noah?" Noah, still slightly miffed about being pushed off the cliff, scowled but couldn't hide the gleam of wonder in his eyes. "It was... it was kinda cool, I guess. But you didn't have to push me like that, Mister Cedric!"

Cedric grinned, maintaining his playful tone. "My apologies, Noah. I just thought a little nudge might help you find the air element faster. Next time, we can try a gentler approach, like, maybe a ladder or something."

Noah scowled at Cedric, his frustration evident. "That wasn't funny, Mister Cedric! You scared me half to death! What if I didn't figure it out in time? What if I really fell?"

Cedric chuckled, ruffling Noah's hair. "Easy there, young mage. I had a water barrier ready just in case. No harm done, and now you can brag about mastering the air element with a grand fall."

He extended a helping hand, pulling Noah up and then carrying him in a pack strap carry.

"Brag to who?! It's only you and me," Noah retorted in anger.

Cedric grinned. "You'll know once we get there." He pulled out a map from his bag, and Noah, still fuming, asked, "Where are we going though, Mister?"

"Eldoria, the ruling kingdom of humans. I'm sure you've heard?"

Noah's curiosity sparked another question. "Humans? Are there other people that are not human, Mister?"

Cedric nodded approvingly. "Good question, Noah. Indeed, our world is home to various races. There are elves, orcs, dwarves, beastmen, and devils, each with their unique things and homes. Humans, like us, are just one piece of this diverse world."

Noah, in "shock" of just how vast the world was, commented. "El-elve-s?!"

Cedric chuckled at Noah's excitement. In his mind, Cedric made a light-hearted comment about Noah being into elves. *Seems like someone's a fan.*

Returning to the conversation, Cedric explained, "Elves, Noah, are like magical guardians of the forests. They've got those pointy long ears you often see in storybooks, and their magic revolves around the natural elements."

"Now, orcs, they're like the strong, mighty tribes you might have heard about. They're all about raw strength and power, refining it through a combination of magic and combat. Orcs live in close-knit communities, where strength is highly valued."

He continued, "Dwarves are a bit different. They're shorter in height but make up for it with incredible craftsmanship. Skilled in blacksmithing, jewelry, and even creating magical items, dwarves are like the master artisans of our world."

"Beastmen, Noah, are quite unique. Imagine humans with animal features—tails, ears, and sometimes more. Each beastman's appearance varies based on their family, and they can embody traits of almost any animal, from sheep to dragon, though you won't find a dragon-human just anywhere."

"And lastly, devils. Some of them can be quite demonic, much like the monster we faced the past few weeks ago. But, others may have horns or other devilish traits. It's a diverse group with a wide range of appearances and abilities."

Noah, absorbing all the information, produced sounds of surprise and excitement, "Waaaawww."

As Cedric wrapped up his explanations to Noah, a nagging thought crossed his mind. *Could that monster have been a devil? It exhibited demonic traits... Whatever, I'll delve into that puzzle later.* Cedric mused internally, as he chose to focus on the path ahead for now.