Elyan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Zenith's words. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, his heart and mind steeled with newfound strength and determination.
"Hey Zenith, is it normal to have this many skills?" Elyan asked, showing Zenith his system.
SYSTEM
Name: Elyan ####
Level: 13
Race: Human
Status: "Forsaken" (Fortune's favor eludes you)
Blessing: 813$5i^& 0f @!!
Health: 100
Mana: 50
Strength: 16
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 30
Endurance: 35
Skills:
• [Keen Senses] (D+)
• [Enhanced Reflexes] (C)
• [Indomitable Spirit] (C)
• [Knife Mastery] (C+)
• [Bow Mastery] (C)
• [Flame Magic Mastery] (C-)
"Hmmm. Seems normal to me. Oh, look at that! You can see your level, health, and mana now. I wonder why we didn't see that before," replied Zenith, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm not sure either. I never got a chance to ask the adults in my village, and the other adults I met tried to sell me off to a slave trader," answered Elyan, creating several small fireballs at his fingertips and playing with them like marbles in his hand.
Zenith's eyes narrowed as he observed Elyan's newfound control over fire. "Elyan, what will you do if you run into them later on your journey?" he questioned, noting the slight change in Elyan's demeanour when the adventurers were mentioned.
Elyan sighed, extinguishing the fireballs with a flick of his wrist. "I'm not entirely sure. I'm definitely not strong enough to beat any of them, but my first plan is to go back to Eldergrove and warn the villagers, just in case they try to find their next victim."
"Do you have any idea or clue when they might do that?" Zenith asked, floating in a seated position, his eyes locked on Elyan.
Elyan slowly pushed himself up from the ground, his muscles slightly aching from the day's intense training. He stretched his body, alleviating the stiffness in his limbs. His joints popped as he flexed his arms and arched his back in a satisfying curve.
"Hmm... soon, but not as soon as the next Blessing Ceremony. Quite possibly around Drakonian month, the eleventh month. Zephyrian, the tenth month, is the time for the Blessing Ceremony, so they won't be looking for any Forsaken then since it's quite rare. Gaian, the twelfth month, is too close to winter, and they don't want to travel during winter. My guess is around Elarian, the fourth month right after winter has passed. Knowing the animals and monsters around Eldergrove, they likely thought the villagers wouldn't find my body."
"That intelligence stat of yours is useful. Hah! I guess you have a date for departure," Zenith said with a hint of amusement.
"Yes, I plan to travel next month while it's still spring season," replied Elyan, cleaning the eating area near the campfire.
"That's too soon, Elyan. Hmmm. You know what? There is a way for you to warn the villagers about what happened without going there. Plus, you can train your control over fire to the extreme!" explained Zenith excitedly.
Elyan's eyes widened with curiosity. "Really? How can I warn them without going there?"
Zenith floated closer; his expression serious yet excited. "We'll use a combination of your flame magic and a special communication spell. But first, you need to master your control over fire. This will not only help you send the message but also strengthen your magical abilities."
Elyan nodded; determination etched on his face. "I'm ready, Zenith. Let's do this."
Zenith smiled, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. "Good. We'll start with intense flame control exercises tomorrow. Get some rest tonight, Elyan. You'll need all your strength for what's to come."
Zenith smiled, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. "Good. We'll start with intense flame control exercises tomorrow. Get some rest tonight, Elyan. You'll need all your strength for what's to come."
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Elyan nodded and settled down for the night, his thoughts racing with anticipation and a hint of worry about the training that lay ahead. He closed his eyes, the warmth of the fire seeping into his bones, and drifted into a restless sleep.
The next morning, Elyan woke early and found Zenith already preparing for the day's training. Zenith's demeanor was focused and intense, signaling the seriousness of the lessons to come.
"We'll begin with flame control," Zenith announced. "It's not just about creating powerful fire. You need to master every aspect of it—temperature, movement, accuracy, speed, shape, and duration."
Elyan took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."
The training was grueling. Elyan conjured flames at his fingertips, trying to shape them into delicate forms while maintaining precise control. Whenever his mana pool neared depletion, Zenith had him rest before continuing with stamina and physical training.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into a month. Elyan's muscles ached from the constant strain, but he pushed through, driven by a deep-seated determination to master his skills. Zenith's lessons on flame control were meticulous, demanding finesse over raw power. Elyan learned to create small, controlled flames, adjusting their temperature and manipulating them with precision.
In addition to flame control, Zenith introduced Elyan to a communication spell. Elyan practiced making the spell visible and audible, his progress slow but steady. As the sixth month, Itharian, approached, Elyan realized it was the month he had initially planned to return to Eldergrove.
Despite his progress, a nagging doubt lingered in Elyan's mind. He worried about mastering the basics of what Zenith was teaching him and whether his deduction about the adventurers' timing was accurate. As he lay in bed one night, he muttered to himself, "It's just a mere deduction of a 12-year-old boy." He buried his worries deep inside, as he had always done with his fears and anger.
The next day, Elyan continued his training as usual. He focused on mastering flame magic control, aware that the next Blessing Ceremony was fast approaching, and the adventurers might return soon after. He noticed his progress becoming more apparent and felt a surge of happiness that showed on his face.
Zenith observed Elyan's improvement and smiled. "So, you've noticed your control over flame magic improving. That's partly because of the changing season. We're entering summer now. Of course, your hard work plays a significant role too."
"Huh? You mean seasons can affect our magic?" Elyan asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"Yes, not many know about this except those who are attuned to nature. Mana that we use to create spells is borrowed from the environment around us," Zenith explained. "In summer, fire elemental spirits become lively. The heat from the sun assimilates with the mana in the land, energizing fire elemental mana more than usual. Sunlight provides energy to plants, and it affects the mana in the environment as well."
"So, you're saying that my progress only seems faster because it's almost summer?" Elyan questioned, his confusion turning into slight disappointment.
Zenith floated closer and flicked Elyan's head playfully to clear his bad mood. "Not really. You will progress faster, yes, but think of it like the enchanted cave that supports your physical training. The season aids your progress, but your effort and dedication are the real driving forces."
"Really? Well, I guess I'll just keep going with my training then," Elyan replied, determination rekindled as he continued his rigorous practice.
Summer arrived, and Elyan's progress soared. Zenith, however, constantly increased the difficulty of the exercises. He had no choice; time was running out. Yet, he maintained a calm demeanor, ensuring Elyan focused on his training instead of the looming deadline.
One particularly hot day, Zenith noticed a significant improvement in Elyan's flame control. Elyan moved flames with precision, altering their temperature and shape with ease. Zenith decided it was time for a break, much to Elyan's surprise.
"Take a rest," Zenith instructed, flicking his hand to summon a canteen of water from the cave entrance. He also retrieved a piece of dried meat Elyan had stored for emergencies.
Elyan gratefully accepted the water, quenching his thirst and silencing his growling stomach. As he took a bite of the dried meat, Zenith lit a small campfire using dry sticks and leaves, the flames crackling merrily.
"Whoa, Zenith! It's already hot with the sun overhead. What's this for?" Elyan asked, moving back from the campfire's heat.
Zenith didn't answer immediately. Instead, he deftly wrapped a piece of Elyan's dried meat in dry leaves and tossed it into the flames. The smell of burning leaves and roasting meat filled the air.
"Pay attention, Elyan. This is how you make contact with a fire elemental spirit." Zenith's voice took on a ceremonial tone as he began to chant:
"Flame that dances, light that gleams,
By ancient power and fiery dreams,
Ignite the spark within the night,
Elemental spirit, heed my sight.
From ember's glow to blazing sun,
By my will, let it be done.
Rise, oh spirit of the flame,
By this call, I speak your name.
Inferno's heart and ember's grace,
Come forth now, take your place.
Spirit of fire, wild and free,
I summon thee, I summon thee."
As the final words of the chant echoed, the flames in the campfire roared higher, twisting and turning in an almost dance-like rhythm. Elyan watched in awe as the fire seemed to pulse with a life of its own. The air shimmered with heat, and within the flames, a shape began to form.
Elyan's heart pounded in anticipation. He steadied his breathing, focusing on the dancing flames, ready to face whatever emerged from the fire.