"In the face of the arcane, I stood humbled. The walls that once stood strong and unyielding, now flowed like rivers of stone beneath the might of their magic."
Tvies Estro, Witness to the Melting of the Castle Blackthrone.
1092 MA.
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4522 MA
Auberon Institute, Rovos, Kartas
Vyas's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the arena, designed to challenge and test the limits of any mage. The air buzzed with anticipation, the hum of the excited crowd echoing through the vast space. This was Vyas's moment, his chance to prove himself, and he knew he couldn't afford to falter.
The examiner, a rotund man with a mottled face, approached Vyas and explained the task. "You must face the constructs we've crafted for this trial. Individually, they may be weak, but their strength lies in their numbers. Demonstrate your strategic thinking, your magical prowess, and your understanding of magic."
As Vyas listened, a flicker of hope ignited within him. This trial played to his strengths, pitting him against numerous, albeit unintelligent, creatures, much like the mystic beasts he had faced in the Aviera mountains. However, he knew the second trial would demand more precision and control, areas where he felt less confident. Excelling in this first trial was crucial, and Vyas was determined to dazzle the instructors to offset any shortcomings he might have in the subsequent trials.
Determined, Vyas nodded in acknowledgment of the examiner's instructions. He raised his hands, fingers spread, and began to channel mana. Elemental power crackled to life, creating a tempestuous dance between his fingertips. The air around him vibrated with energy, his eyes gleaming with focus and resolve.
The constructs began to emerge from the shadowy corners of the arena, taking form with a mesmerizing fluidity. Vyas furrowed his brow, focusing on the peculiar sight before him. Like quicksilver, they swirled, twisted, and solidified into a variety of shapes: some standing tall on two slender legs, and others slithering with agile serpentine forms, while others crawled with multiple sets of limbs that skittered and scrambled. The gallery around him filled with gasps and murmurs as the onlookers beheld the mystifying and unpredictable adversaries that had been summoned for the trial.
As Vyas faced the encroaching challenge, he initially counted twelve constructs, and felt a fleeting sense of relief. But that relief turned to concern as swiftly as a lightning strike: two more appeared. And then another pair. And another. The number of opponents seemed to follow no discernible pattern, but he realized that each new arrival only increased the complexity of this already intricate and unorthodox trial.
The constructs continued to appear, until he tallied two dozen now shifting and shimmering like a mirage before his eyes. Vyas swallowed hard, the knot in his chest tightening as he considered the magnitude of his task. Even with the elemental power coursing through his veins, he understood that brute force was not the answer. These mysterious and potentially versatile foes could be unlike any he had faced before.
He gazed upon the constructs, scrutinizing their quicksilver forms for any weakness or pattern that he might exploit. With a deep, cleansing breath to still his racing thoughts, Vyas resolved to incorporate a more cunning, tactical approach to this challenge.
In his mind, Vyas devised a plan: divide and conquer. He would use his mastery over the elements to separate the constructs and tackle them in smaller, more manageable groups.
With swift movements, Vyas manipulated the air currents around the constructs, subtly directing them away from one another to create small pockets of isolation. With the constructs separated, he focused on the element of fire, feeling the heat of the flames as they surged through him.
His strategy was to weaken their defenses with targeted fire attacks, aiming for the joints and connections to disrupt their movements without causing them to split into smaller adversaries. However, as the constructs reeled from his assault, Vyas saw one of them split into two smaller constructs, each retaining the same speed and strength as the original. He had underestimated their adaptability and now faced even more opponents.
Thinking quickly, Vyas adapted to the unexpected development, shifting his focus to the power of water. He condensed moisture from the air and wrapped it around the ankles of the constructs. The bindings of water slowed their movements, providing Vyas with the opportunity to exploit their momentary vulnerability.
He channeled the power of earth, summoning a series of small, needle-like spikes that shot up from the ground, targeting the weakened areas he had previously struck with fire. Some constructs managed to dodge, their quicksilver forms twisting and contorting to avoid the deadly attack.
The constructs that evaded Vyas's earth spikes retaliated with a sudden surge of offensive power. Streams of scorching flame and crackling electricity shot out from their shimmering forms, aimed directly at Vyas. He realized he had underestimated their capabilities, and a pang of fear clenched his chest.
Vyas quickly summoned a gust of wind to deflect the incoming elemental projectiles, causing them to veer off course and dissipate harmlessly. Sweat beaded on his brow as he focused on evasion, trying to maintain control over the separated constructs.
The terrain of the arena added another layer of complexity to the trial. Vyas found himself dashing between pillars of stone, leaping over bogs of mud, and navigating patches of slippery ice. The constructs displayed an uncanny ability to adapt to their surroundings, using the terrain to their advantage.
One construct pushed the stone pillars, causing them to rise and fall like massive hammers, attempting to crush Vyas. Another sent burst of water across the surface of a pool of water, seeking to cause him to stumble and fall. A third used the ice to create a slick surface, hoping to send Vyas careening off balance.
Vyas knew that he couldn't keep dodging and evading the constructs forever. He needed to find a way to turn the terrain to his advantage and use it against his enemies.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Spotting a dense cluster of constructs near a pond of water, he seized the opportunity. Drawing upon his mastery of the earth element, Vyas caused the ground beneath the constructs to shift, forcing them to stumble and lose their footing. As they struggled to regain their balance, he called upon his control of water, rapidly cooling the pond into a solid sheet of ice.
With a final surge of power, Vyas channeled mana to manipulate the wind, sending a gust of air to push the off-balance constructs onto the newly formed ice. The constructs slid uncontrollably, crashing into one another and shattering under the force of their own momentum.
Despite his success, Vyas knew that he couldn't keep up this battle of attrition for much longer. His stamina was waning, and he needed to finish the trial with a decisive blow.
Gathering his strength, he began channeling mana again, feeling it course through him like a torrent. He needed to be smarter about his approach and exploit the weaknesses he had observed. He recalled that the constructs seemed to struggle with quick changes in temperature and terrain, and devised a plan accordingly.
First, he sent small, intense flames at the feet of the constructs. As their quicksilver forms recoiled from the heat, he summoned a localized downpour, dousing the constructs in that area in a deluge of water.
A cloud of steam began to envelop the constructs, obscuring their vision and hindering their movements. Vyas then created a series of jagged rocks beneath the steam. The constructs, unable to see the obstacles in their path, stumbled and tripped over the rocks, further disorienting them.
With the constructs at a significant disadvantage, Vyas changed his focus and manipulated the currents to gather the steam, swirling it into a dense, impenetrable fog that trapped the constructs within. Their quicksilver forms flickered and wavered, unable to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions.
The constructs were weakest when they could not properly perceive their environment. His carefully planned sequence disoriented and weakened them.
As the constructs stumbled blindly within the fog, Vyas steeled himself for his grand finale. He concentrated deeply, gathering his waning energy as he prepared to unleash a multi-elemental attack. First, he connected with the earth, causing the ground to tremble and crack, yielding a number of razor-sharp stones of various sizes. He focused on the fire elemental, channeling the searing flames to flow through his veins and into the stones, imbuing them with extreme heat, turning them into deadly, molten projectiles.
Deep breaths steadied his aim as he honed in on each construct hidden within the fog. Vyas then connected with the wind elemental, swiftly summoning a vortex of air. With the precision of a master mage, he manipulated the whirlwind to target each construct, the vortex building in speed and intensity as it swallowed the burning-hot shrapnel. The tornado roared through the fog, its force so immense that it pierced their protective screen.
The disoriented constructs stood no chance against the onslaught, the deadly amalgam of molten stone and wind tearing through their quicksilver forms, shredding them into a shower of molten metal that rained down upon the earth. The constructs wailed as their forms were torn apart, collapsing into pools of liquid metal that quickly solidified on the arena floor. The intensity of the attack causing even the hidden constructs within the fog to wail and dissipate, leaving nothing but the shredded remains of their once-menacing presence.
Vyas, exhausted and panting, took a moment to catch his breath, his heart pounding as he surveyed the aftermath of his calculated assault. The arena, once a pristine battleground, now bore the scars of their intense struggle. Fires still flickered amidst puddles of water, and the shattered remains of quicksilver constructs lay scattered upon the uneven terrain.
The examiner, his eyes wide with astonishment and approval, stepped forward from the edge of the arena. His voice boomed out, echoing through the now hushed crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, behold our triumphant competitor, the master of elements, Vyas!" Applause and cheers filled the air as Vyas stood tall, basking in the adoration.
With a nod of acknowledgment to Vyas, the examiner slowly extended his hand for a congratulatory shake. Vyas too, feeling an overwhelming surge of pride and satisfaction, took a confident step forward to meet him. But in his haste, Vyas failed to notice the extremely wet mud beneath his feet and slipped, his triumphant moment rapidly spiraling into disaster. The crowd offered a collective gasp, as Vyas fell face up onto the mud, his arms flailing before he descended into darkness and promptly passed out.
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Vyas awoke with a groan, his eyes fluttering open to reveal the familiar surroundings of his room. He was lying on his bed, the sheets tangled around his limbs. At his desk, Maya sat with a book in hand and a playful smirk on her face.
Gingerly, Vyas pushed himself into a sitting position, rubbing his temples. "What happened? I remember passing out, but... how'd I end up here?"
Maya's smirk widened, and she closed her book, placing it on the desk. "Ah, you're finally awake! Well, let me entertain you with the tale of my daring rescue," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Vyas raised an eyebrow but motioned for her to continue. "Alright, let's hear it. I'm all ears."
"Well, after you so valiantly defeated those constructs only to comically slip and fall in the mud," she began, drawing out the word "comically" with a teasing lilt.
Vyas's cheeks flushed slightly at the reminder of his less than graceful finish. "Yes, let's not dwell on that part, please," he muttered.
"Oh, but it's crucial to the story!" Maya insisted, her voice taking on a theatrical flair. "In any case, I sprang into action without a moment's hesitation."
"Please, do tell," Vyas said, leaning back against the headboard, resigning himself to listen to the embellished account.
"First, I had to navigate the crowd of awestruck onlookers who had gathered to witness your incredible display of power. It was no small feat, I assure you," Maya continued, gesturing dramatically.
Vyas shook his head, grinning. "I can only imagine."
"Then, mustering the strength of a thousand warriors," she said, flexing her arms to emphasize her point, "I valiantly hoisted your heavy body and carried you back home."
Vyas chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm sure I was quite the burden for someone as mighty as you."
"It was an incredible task!" Maya retorted. "And once we arrived home, I spent hours tirelessly nursing you back to health, attending to your every need like the devoted friend I am."
Vyas laughed, shaking his head. "You really are something else, you know that?"
Maya grinned, standing up and stretching. "Of course! Now, how are you feeling? Are you fine, or do you require more of my expert care?"
Vyas rolled his eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "I think I'm good for now, thanks. But seriously, thank you.."
Maya waved a hand dismissively. "It's what friends are for, right? Besides, it's not every day I get to save the great Vyas from certain doom."
Vyas smiled as he swung his legs off the bed and stood up. "You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"
Maya shook her head, grinning mischievously. "Not a chance. For the rest of our days, I’ll be regaling people with the story of your heroic victory... and your equally heroic face-plant into the mud."
Vyas groaned in abject misery as he wondered just why life could be so cruel.