From then on, fatigue had taken an entirely new meaning. Jin was completely exhausted physically, albeit still trying his best not to show it. It would be a great lack of respect for the training he has just been part of. He knew best. To hide his fatigue behind the desire to learn and carefully listen. He knew from a young age that Alaric and Vendrick had become elemental warriors passing through Sanctum. But the very method and training itself that each of them had to go through was not made clear to him. That was something Jin would have to experience by himself.
Brand-new outfits provided by Ionna who luckily had a handful of clothes within her reach for Jin to wear. And then he continued to listen intently, this time on top of a wooden platform. And from up there her voice could travel far in between the plains, easily ready to reach many. Ionna waited with her arms crossed and rising impatience. Footsteps grew in sound near the large platform facing Jin and a few others who had joined him, about five or six warriors, their clothes drenched in sweat and full of dust. Jin kept his brown eyes glazed over at the instructions, as did many of other elemental warriors who were standing in rows beside and about.
“Congratulations to all of you. As of today you have all earned the right to train with me. Since we have a new addition to our ranks today, I want you to welcome Jin, son of Alaric.”
“Welcome friend,” someone beside him warmly said while others clapped from further distance.
"Since we have a newcomer joining us today, I'd like to give him the basic introduction with the same principles that you must follow under my guidance," Ionna said, her cold gaze freezing the warmth welcome; clearly ceasing the wave of claps purely by a raised hand.
Jin felt a tap on his shoulder consecutively followed by a whisper, “Listen intently to what master Ionna has to say, we rarely get newcomers to training duties around here. I doubt you’ll get the chance of hearing it again.”
"I like to condense a share of knowledge for the newcomer and those who need reminder. The advancement training which I'll give you, they can be theoretically divided into three separate stages," Ionna said, standing tall above everyone on a wooden platform, built in a hill close to the Aracanthus Tree. Her bell-like voice was so clear and inviting for even the birds on the skies to curiously approach. Closing the distance from the branches around her and promptly joining along to listen to her enlightened guidance. As if even the animals themselves could not turn away their eyes from her words imbued with knowledge.
Even at that moment, the elemental warriors who stood with Jin aroused a great sense of curiosity in him. Each of them donned different types of light armor and robes specially designed for physical exercising. As if prioritizing agility had been deemed far valuable than protection in combat. The complexity in the sea of
faces, however, did not look familiar to Jin. In almost a dozen heads, not a single one was recognizable.
The companions who had performed the elemental warrior ritual with him weren't training with Ionna, he figured. Standing out among the group of listeners, however, was a boy with brown skin and dark curly hair. With his shoulder hunched and palm outstretched, he silently drew the instructor's attention as she continued talking. Gesturing with his hands; respectfully waiting for the right moment to clear a doubt from his mind.
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“Master Ionna,” he said after casually bowing, “You mentioned three stages that we must go through, but as I've heard the difference between Elemental Warriors and Disciples is merely one step.” he said with a husky voice.
“Agron, the difference between Elemental Warriors and Disciples is much more than a title. In fact, it would be much closer to compare elemental warriors to ignorant brutes than Disciples. Albeit you have broken through your inner blockades after going through the ritual in the Hall of Trials; you must have realized the price you had to pay to call forth the elemental technique that you’ve acquired. And while that indeed sets you apart from regular men, that Inner Technique comes with a serious price, your Vital Aura.”
Many of the men in the front row where Jin was between looked at each other.
“There is no need to question the authenticity of my claim, as I am sure you've had companions or heard of cases of elemental warriors needing medical assistance due to unleashing their Inner Techniques more than once. Once you advance to Disciple however, you will be able to harvest the elemental toward your inner nucleus. Hence protecting your vital aura and surrounding it all with elemental energy that came outwards, and for that you will no longer need to worry about wasting your lifespan to use your techniques. That is what you will achieve once we are done with training.”
Jin had seen his mate at the Battle of Ferris, Eliza completely drained. But the exhaustion she had felt was very different from any kind of physical fatigue, it seemed to have affected her at the level of her own being, in order to show the changes in her skin tone as if it were an elemental disease.
“As I was saying, the training that we offer for you to advance to Disciple can be summarized into stages, three in total. The length of the training is extensive for most, ranging from one day to a full moon's turn depending on how fast you individually manage to sharpen your resilience, stamina and body strength. This method was improved over and outlined by many. Accordingly, it is the best and fastest method that the Ancient Elders have found to work over hundreds of years. The first stage is Endurance Training, which is to get your legs and arms working as one over a long period of time. The more weight you carry, the more prepared you will be for the second stage.
The second stage is Strength Training, we will prepare your body to be physically fit. Some of you are more obese than pings they hunt for food. While others give the look of a starving and frail fool. To remain with such a lack of form is unacceptable. A setback must needs be vanquished. For every inch of your bodies that is slowing you down might be lethal in battle, and for that reason the first and second stages are incredibly important for each and every one of you. Every day you will have to go through different tasks, since the body shall become strong through rigorous challenges that you were never prepared for.
And in due time, pushing you further and further toward the Disciple Step. At this stage your bodies will be physically fit and visually ready to be able to harvest the elemental. Only then you will be ready for the third stage. Renowned as the Disciple Tribulation, it is the moment when your physical endurance and strength are sufficient to draw the elemental and feel it awaken within. For learning how to harvest the elemental however, it is to accept the very possibility of not seeing your loved ones ever again.
"Where will we be heading to then, when we deem ourselves ready for the final stage?" asked a worried female voice coming from the back.
"The Hall of Trials?"
“Not this time. It is known, the advancement to Disciple shall only flourish where the elemental energy is thickest in the air, where no civilization of men dares to settle since Azazel's heirs'd forsaken Ravnos.” announced Ionna as darkness and fear took hold of their hearts.
"And that is where you must all travel next, if you desire ascendance. Not only to dare the unknown, but to learn its ways and struggles."