After the intense confrontation between Aria and Ragna, the air was charged with residual energy from the battle. The echoes of the lightning storm still resonated in my ears, and the image of the ghosts dispersing remained etched in my mind. The Great Elder Eldric had intervened just in time, preventing a larger catastrophe.
Aria approached us, along with Zephyr, who had returned to his human form after following her as his Qi Beast self. Eldric was talking with the leader of the Bone Mask Clan, and tension filled the atmosphere.
“Kaion, are you alright?” Aria asked, her voice a mixture of concern and relief.
I nodded, though I could still feel the tremor in my hands from the Death Qi pressure. “I’m fine, Aria. But that pressure… it was awful. It felt like the very air was being sucked from my lungs.”
Thalor, always the pragmatic one, chimed in with his characteristically gruff but protective tone. “That miserable Ragna has no limits. Using Death Qi in a town… what was he thinking?”
Zephyr, still in human form but with a touch of his beastly air, added, “He’s dangerous. We can’t let him continue like this.”
Eldric, having concluded his conversation, joined us. “Kaion, Thalor, Aria, Zephyr. We must return home. There is much to discuss.”
We headed back, our path lined with the curious glances and murmurs of the townsfolk. When we arrived, we found Lysa anxiously waiting at the entrance, her eyes reflecting a blend of fear and relief upon seeing us all safe.
Eldric raised a hand, calling for silence. “Everyone, inside. We have important matters to address.”
We settled into the main hall, the atmosphere tense. Eldric began to speak, his voice resonant and authoritative.
“What happened today cannot go without consequences. Ragna crossed a dangerous line by unleashing Death Qi in a populated area. But I must also say, Aria, your reaction was reckless. Though your intentions were to protect, you put many at risk.”
Aria lowered her head, the anger still visible in her eyes, though there was also a hint of remorse. “I’m sorry, Elder Eldric. But I couldn’t just stand by.”
“I understand your impulse, Aria. But we must act with wisdom and restraint,” Eldric replied, his tone softening slightly. “For that reason, I’ve decided that both you and Ragna will be punished. This isn’t just for today’s battle, but to remind you both of the responsibility your power entails.”
Aria clenched her fists but nodded silently. Zephyr looked at Eldric with a serious expression. “And what will the punishment be, Great Elder?”
Eldric sighed, crossing his arms. “Ragna will be confined to his clan and forbidden from using Qi until further notice. As for you, Aria, you will train under my direct supervision to learn better control over your powers and emotions. During this time, you will not be allowed to teach Kaion.”
Lysa, who had been silent, finally spoke up. “And what about my son? He was the one who discovered the specter spying on us and had to withstand that Death Qi pressure. What will be done to protect him?”
Eldric looked at me, his eyes filled with an unfathomable wisdom. “Kaion, you’ve shown great courage and potential. While Aria is under my supervision, Lysa will take over your training. She will work half-days at the Council and dedicate the rest of her time to your development, preparing you for the elemental affinity test and your advancement to First Circle mage in a few months.”
I felt a knot in my stomach, but also a renewed determination. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect our family and our town.”
Thalor, with a crooked smile, clapped me on the back. “That’s the spirit, boy. Don’t worry; we’ll be here to back you up.”
Eldric, in good humor and with a playful smile, added jokingly, “And Kaion, about that wall in your room… I heard what happened. Be careful with your experiments.”
I flushed instantly, catching the hint. “Sorry, Elder. I’ll be more careful.”
The meeting concluded with a sense of resolve. Though the road ahead would be difficult, I knew I wasn’t alone. With Eldric, Lysa, Aria, Thalor, and Zephyr by my side, we would face any challenge that came our way.
That night, unable to use my room due to the broken wall, I found myself in the courtyard, lost in thought. Thalor, with his construction knowledge, had promised to repair it, but until then, I’d have to sleep with Aria or Lysa. The cool night air and calm offered a reprieve, though my mind kept replaying the events of the day.
Suddenly, a shadow crossed the sky, and Zephyr landed softly before me, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that hinted at something important.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
“Kaion, you need to come with me to Triumph Hill,” Zephyr said urgently. “Aria and Thalor are waiting for you. It’s about something related to your last lesson.”
Without hesitation, I climbed onto Zephyr’s beast form, holding onto his feathers as he took flight toward the hill. The wind rushed against my face, and the nighttime landscape of Profundia stretched below us—a vast network of caverns and tunnels lit by magical lights and glimmering crystals. Flying like this for the first time filled me with an indescribable thrill, a feeling of freedom and adventure.
When we landed on the hill, I saw Aria waiting for me with Thalor, who was wearing his armor and carrying a large shield. Their presence filled me with a sense of safety and anticipation.
Aria stepped forward, her face illuminated by the faint glow of mana crystals hanging in the air. “Kaion, this will be your last lesson with me for a while. Eldric has decided I need to train with him as punishment, so I want to take this chance to teach you something crucial: Intention.”
Curiosity filled me. “Intention?”
“Yes,” Aria replied, with a seriousness she rarely displayed. “Intention is the power you give to your spell and how you direct it toward your target. Magic takes shape in the mind, and intention defines whether a spell will simply hit or kill. This concept applies to both Qi and Mana.”
Thalor stepped forward, his armor glinting under the crystal light. With his characteristic snort, he activated his Battle Aura. A faint, silvery light enveloped his silhouette and body, making him appear more powerful and intimidating.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/bvsNYpzL/Whats-App-Image-2024-06-26-at-00-30-59.jpg]
“We’ll use my Battle Aura to demonstrate,” Thalor said, his deep voice resonating across the hill. “I can defend myself just fine against anything you throw at me.”
Aria nodded and raised a hand, focusing. “Watch closely, Kaion. This is the Intention of Lightning.”
A flash of electricity shot from her hand toward Thalor, who raised his aura-imbued shield to defend himself. The force of the lightning pushed him back several steps. Then, Aria adjusted her intention, and a gentler current of electricity shocked him slightly, drawing a grunt from Thalor.
“Well done, Aria!” Thalor exclaimed, shaking off the light shock.
Zephyr, in his human form, took the lead. “Now, observe the Intention of Wind.”
With a quick movement of his hands, Zephyr summoned a powerful gust, pushing Thalor back. He then directed a wind blade at a nearby tree, slicing it cleanly.
The concept of intention resonated deeply with me. It was something I’d understood well in my past life as a lawyer, albeit in a different context. The idea of channeling purpose and energy toward a specific objective made perfect sense.
Aria approached me, her gaze firm and resolute. “Kaion, I want you to try. Use your mana and focus on the intention behind your spell. It’s not just about throwing energy but directing it with a clear purpose.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. I closed my eyes and channeled my mana, visualizing the target and the intention behind my spell. I knew I needed to compress the mana and make it spin like a bullet. When I opened my eyes, I directed my enhanced mana shot toward Thalor, intending to push him back. The shot was so powerful that his shield went flying, leaving everyone speechless.
“Wow!” Thalor exclaimed, surprised. “That was impressive!”
Trying to deflect the attention from what had just happened since it seemed unintended, I responded with irony. “So, Sister, how will you handle Eldric if he finds out you’re disobeying?”
Aria snapped out of her surprise and gave a wry smile. “I’ll manage. Eldric has his ways, but he also knows when to look the other way.”
Just then, a dimensional portal opened, and Eldric appeared, his imposing presence making us all break into a cold sweat at his sudden arrival. “It seems I don’t need to find out, since I’m here to reprimand all of you.”
His tone was one of feigned annoyance, but there was an amused gleam in his eyes. “Thalor, Zephyr, if you don’t obey, I’ll have to report you to your respective clans. Your grandfathers are very good friends of mine, so I hope you’ll follow my instructions.”
Thalor huffed, crossing his arms with a defiant look. “No need to tell me twice, Eldric. But don’t think I’ll leave without a good fight first.”
Zephyr grinned, transforming back into his beast form. “Same goes for me. Nothing like a good challenge to get warmed up.”
Eldric looked at them with a mischievous smile. “Now, go train with Aria. You both need to improve your skills.”
With a smile, I realized Eldric was handling the situation with a combination of discipline and humor—an approach I found incredibly effective and amusing.
Aria glanced at me with a spark in her eyes. “And you, Kaion, don’t think you’ll get out of this training. Mom will take over your instruction while I’m with Eldric, and she’s stricter than I am. We need to prepare you for the elemental affinity test and your advancement to First Circle mage.”
I nodded firmly, determined to move forward and face any challenge. I knew that with the support of my family and friends, I was ready for anything the future held.
Eldric raised his hand and opened a dimensional portal leading directly back to our home. Without hesitation, I stepped through, leaving Eldric to lead Aria, Thalor, and Zephyr.
On the other side of the portal, Lysa was waiting with open arms, her face lined with worry.
“Kaion,” she said, hugging me tightly. “You won’t see Aria for a while until she completes her punishment, but I want you to know that both she and I love you unconditionally.”
Her warmth and love comforted me, but one question lingered in my mind. “Mother, what happened to my father?”
Lysa looked at me, sadness in her eyes, but also determination. “Your father, Kaion, had to leave on a very important mission when I was pregnant with you. I can’t speak of it, but know that he, like your sister and I, loves you unconditionally. His name is Seraphiel.”
I nodded, feeling a swirl of emotions. The shadow of my father loomed over my mind, but I also felt a renewed determination to be worthy of his love and sacrifice. With Lysa’s guidance and the training from Aria and Eldric, I knew I had a clear path ahead.