That night, Arez told Ryu, "Next week we will start your training"

Ryu, filled with anticipation, agreed with a simple "OK."

The following morning, Ryu awoke early and felt the need to visit the bathroom. However, Amara, the Goddess of Rebirth, decided to play a small prank on him. As Ryu entered the bathroom, he looked up to find Arez about to leave Still very unclothed. They locked eyes, frozen for a long thirty seconds. Eventually, Ryu apologized, shut the door quickly, and retreated to his room. Arez followed, knocking on his door with a demand to be let in. Ryu complied, and Arez, looking quite upset, approached him and struck him in the gut, causing him to collapse to the floor and lose consciousness. Later, Ryu awoke in his bed, puzzled over the events that had transpired.

Ryu stands at the edge of a rocky cliff, his hands trembling as he attempts to summon fire from the tips of his fingers. The sun is high in the sky, and his master, Arez, watches from a distance, arms crossed, his eyes sharp as steel.

“Focus, Ryu,” Arez calls out. “You are not forcing the element into submission. You are guiding it.”

Ryu grits his teeth, feeling the warmth in his palms, but the fire remains elusive. A flicker, then nothing. Sweat drips down his forehead, and frustration simmers just beneath the surface. He closes his eyes, tuning into the sounds around him— the wind whipping through the valley below, the faint trickle of water from a distant stream, and the steady pulse of his own heart.

Arez, sensing his student’s struggle, walks up to him. “Fire is wild, Ryu. It does not respond to anger or frustration. You must meet it halfway.”

With a deep breath, Ryu opens his eyes, trying again. This time, instead of forcing the magic, he invites it. A flame, small but steady, bursts to life in the palm of his hand. Ryu stares at it, awe and excitement filling him. But in his exhilaration, the flame grows out of control, expanding beyond what he can manage.

“Stay calm,” Arez warns, stepping back as the fire spirals out of Ryu’s grasp, scorching the ground.

Panic surges through Ryu, and he instinctively raises his other hand to summon water. A stream of water gushes from his fingertips, dousing the flame but soaking himself in the process. He gasps for breath, trembling with the effort.

Arez chuckles. “A good effort. You’ll learn balance in time.”

The next few weeks are grueling. Arez introduces Ryu to elemental shields, a defensive technique using each element. The shields require precision and patience, something Ryu struggles with. Earth comes easiest to him—a solid, dependable wall that he can summon without much effort. Water is next, forming a fluid, flexible barrier that shifts and bends with ease.

Air and fire, however, present greater challenges. Air is too unpredictable, slipping through his control like sand, while fire still reacts violently to his emotions, flaring up whenever his concentration falters. Arez reminds him again and again: “It’s not about power, Ryu. It’s about understanding.”

One day, as Ryu stands in the training yard, a storm begins to roll in. The clouds darken, and thunder rumbles ominously in the distance. Arez seizes the opportunity.

“Let’s see how you fare against nature itself.”

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Ryu’s task is to form an air shield strong enough to deflect the storm’s wind and rain. He stands in the center of the yard, arms outstretched, feeling the wind push against him. He closes his eyes, focusing on the air around him, trying to mold it into a protective barrier.

The first gust of wind slams into him, nearly knocking him off his feet. His shield is too weak, too flimsy. Rain begins to pour, soaking him within seconds. Frustration bubbles up again, but Ryu forces it down. He takes a deep breath, focusing on the rhythm of the wind, the way it moves and shifts. He imagines it bending to his will, forming a dome around him.

Slowly, the wind begins to obey. The shield takes shape, thin but present. It holds, just barely, as the storm rages on. For a brief moment, Ryu feels a surge of triumph.

Then, a particularly strong gust tears through his shield, sending him flying backward into the mud.

Arez approaches, offering him a hand. “Not bad for your first real storm. But you’ll need to do better.”

Despite his exhaustion, Ryu grins. He’s getting closer.

After several weeks of elemental training, Arez shifts Ryu’s focus. “You can’t rely on magic alone,” Arez explains one morning, as they stand in the dense forest surrounding the training grounds. “A true mage must be able to endure physically. Spells take energy—more than you realize.”

The training is brutal from the start. Ryu is made to run through the forest, navigating treacherous terrain. His legs burn as he leaps over fallen logs, dodges low-hanging branches, and sprints through thick undergrowth. Arez follows closely behind, never letting Ryu rest for more than a moment. It’s not just a test of speed—it’s a test of awareness and agility.

On the third day, Arez increases the difficulty. “Use your magic,” he instructs. “It’s not just about running—it’s about using every tool at your disposal.”

Ryu focuses, summoning air to give him a boost of speed. The wind pushes him forward, allowing him to move faster, but the drain on his energy is immediate. His steps falter, and he trips over a root, crashing into the dirt.

“You rely too heavily on one thing at a time,” Arez says, helping him to his feet. “Magic and physical strength are not separate. They must work together.”

The next challenge is a series of obstacle courses designed to test both his strength and his control over the elements. Ryu is forced to climb sheer rock walls, using earth magic to create handholds. He swims across rivers, using water magic to part the currents. Every task is physically demanding, and each one pushes him to the edge of his endurance.

By the end of the week, Ryu is exhausted, his muscles sore and his magic drained. But he is also stronger, both physically and mentally. He can feel his body adapting, growing tougher with each passing day.

One afternoon, Arez challenges Ryu to a sparring match. Armed with nothing but wooden swords, Ryu and his master face off in the training yard. The match is intense, with Ryu using his magic to enhance his movements—fire to distract, air to quicken his strikes, earth to ground himself. But Arez is relentless, always a step ahead, always testing Ryu’s ability to think on his feet.

After a particularly fierce exchange, Ryu manages to land a blow, knocking Arez’s sword out of his hand.

Panting, Ryu lowers his weapon, expecting Arez to call an end to the fight.

But Arez smiles. “You’re learning. But don’t get cocky.”

With a flick of his wrist, Arez summons a gust of wind, sending Ryu flying backward. Before Ryu can react, Arez is on him, pressing the wooden sword to his throat.

Ryu groans, lying in the dirt. “I thought I had you…”

“You did,” Arez replies, offering him a hand. “For a moment. But remember, a fight can change in an instant.”

The lesson sticks with Ryu. Magic and physical strength must be intertwined, and he learns to weave the two seamlessly into his training. By the end of the second chapter, Ryu has not only grown in his understanding of elemental control but also developed the physical endurance necessary to support his growing magical abilities. He is not the same novice who struggled with fire—he is becoming something more, something stronger.