Chapter 16: Whispers of the Storm
Julius stood in the silent training grounds, breathing in the cool morning air as memories of his first training with Crameyus surfaced. He also remembered the day he’d first held his spirit stone, feeling its soft pulse, a faint echo of his own heartbeat, connecting him to the magic that lay dormant within. The elder mage Crameyus had looked on with that enigmatic half-smile, the one that spoke of ancient secrets and the countless trials he had witnessed young mages undergo.
That day, Crameyus had spoken only a single sentence as Julius gripped his spirit stone, unsure if he could even awaken it.
"Magic is not wielded by the hands, Julius, but by the heart."
As the morning sun cast its golden rays across the clearing, Julius took a moment to reflect. It had been two years since his first encounter with Ventus Unda, the spirit he had summoned during his initial training of sword and magic with Crameyus. The ethereal serpent, a shimmering amalgam of blue energy, possessed affinities for both water and wind, making it an unusual hybrid. Under the guidance of his grandfather, Crameyus, Julius had bonded with the spirit, learning to harness its abilities to further develop his own magic.
[The air grew still as a swirl of light and dust began to form above the stone. Slowly, the shape of a spirit emerged—an ethereal being resembling a serpent made of shimmering blue energy. Its eyes glowed with curiosity as it hovered before Julius.
"Salve, magister juvenis," ("Greetings, young master,") the spirit spoke, its voice echoing like the wind through a canyon. "Quid petis a me?" ("What do you seek from me?")
Julius's eyes widened. He could understand it clearly. "I seek to learn," he answered in the ancient tongue. "Teach me what you can about merging magic with the body."] -Chapter 12: Awakening Potential
Those first days were challenging; his control over the elements was still crude, his understanding limited. But Ventus Unda had been patient, guiding him in ways Julius hadn’t anticipated. The spirit's nature—both fluid like water and swift like air—had helped him to adapt, to blend his magic with his sword. Every lesson had been a new discovery, a reminder of his family’s legacy and the power that lay within him. Today, he would face another trial, striving to reach a deeper connection with his affinities.
Crameyus watched as Julius prepared himself, the elder mage's face unreadable. "Remember," Crameyus said, his voice calm, "a true master blends his magic with his intent. You must go beyond casting spells, Julius. Your power must flow like breath."
Nodding, Julius turned his attention to the spirit stone in his hand, feeling the faint hum of energy pulsing within. "Ventus Unda," he whispered, calling out with the reverence he had come to hold for the entity. "Teach me once more."
In an instant, the air rippled, and the spirit emerged, its sinuous form swirling with blue and silver as it hovered before him. Its voice, like a whisper carried on the wind, greeted him with its characteristic blend of formality and warmth. "Salve, discipulus meus," ("Greetings, my student,") it intoned, inclining its head in a way that felt almost regal.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Are you ready to learn?" the spirit asked, its eyes gleaming with an ancient wisdom that still unnerved him at times.
"Yes," Julius replied, taking a steadying breath. "Teach me to merge water and air with my blade, to wield them as one."
The spirit regarded him for a moment before coiling itself closer, its form undulating like waves. "Aquam spiritus, venti corpus. Voca undas simul in gladio tuo." ("Water as spirit, air as body. Summon the waves together in your sword.") Its voice wrapped around him like a gentle breeze, and Julius felt a familiar tingling in his palms as the energy gathered.
Drawing his sword, he focused on his water affinity, feeling the cool essence rise from within. He began to channel it through the blade, the metal shimmering as if coated in liquid. Ventus Unda moved closer, its presence a grounding force as Julius worked to keep his energy stable.
"Good," the spirit murmured approvingly. "Now add air. Visualize it swirling around the water, binding it to the blade. Feel them converge, becoming a single force."
Julius tightened his grip, drawing on his air affinity. He whispered the incantation Ventus Unda had taught him, "Ventus aqua iungitur, unaque gladius fit," ("Air and water join, becoming one with the sword,") feeling the current of energy respond, harmonizing with the flow of water around his blade.
The effect was striking—the blade began to shimmer with a silver-blue glow, mist forming in the air around it. With a smooth swing, he watched as droplets trailed from the sword, dispersing into the air before vanishing altogether.
"More control, Julius," Crameyus said, nodding slightly. "Channeling both affinities together is only the beginning. Practice wielding this energy without dispersing it. Each strike should hold your will without faltering."
Julius took a deep breath, steadying his focus. As he raised the sword again, he pictured the flow of water steady and contained, as if held within the contours of a vessel. The air he imagined as a protective shell, binding the water and giving it shape.
"Melius," ("Better,") Ventus Unda commented, and Julius felt a surge of satisfaction. The spirit hovered around him, observing his form as he repeated the exercise, the blend of elements slowly becoming more stable.
They practiced until the light began to wane, and with every swing, Julius felt his confidence grow. Yet he knew he had only scratched the surface of his potential.
Crameyus stepped forward, watching as the spirit wound itself around Julius’s shoulders. "Now, let us test what you’ve learned with a combination," he suggested. "Try using the elements together, and integrate them into your strikes."
Julius nodded, feeling a ripple of anticipation. Ventus Unda offered him a few words of advice, its voice low and firm. "Aquae et venti potentia, unum efficiunt ictum," ("The power of water and wind, they make a single blow.") He chanted the phrase aloud, focusing on how the words connected with his inner power.
Lifting his sword, Julius took a deep breath and poured both his water and air affinities into a single point. When he swung, the blade released a powerful arc of pressurized water that moved like a gale, slicing through the air with an audible hiss.
"Excellent," Crameyus said, the faintest hint of a smile on his face. "This combination technique will be one of your strongest weapons, Julius. In time, it may even surpass your father’s own skills."
Julius's chest swelled with pride as he looked back at his grandfather and the spirit that had guided him. "Thank you, Ventus Unda," he said quietly, bowing his head in gratitude.
The spirit inclined its head, and for a moment, Julius thought he saw a flash of approval in its eyes. "Your journey is just beginning, young master," it said. "But remember, as powerful as magic is, it is only as strong as the heart that wields it."
As the spirit faded, Julius felt a renewed sense of purpose. He would push forward, learning from every lesson, every trial. And with Crameyus by his side and Ventus Unda as his guide, he knew he would someday master the ancient powers that flowed within him.