A couple of days had passed since Cael and Lyros's first session with Mirana. The lessons they had learned were still fresh in their minds as they continued to adapt to their new roles as Blessed. Thanks to Mirana, who had kindly provided them with some lunars for food, both young men appeared healthier and less malnourished than before, their physical conditions slowly improving as they embraced their new identities.
Cael had gained significantly better control over his gift, "True Vision." He could now use his enhanced sight for about five minutes at a time before the strain induced headaches and a sense of fatigue. 'True Vision' gave Cael the ability to see mana with his eyes, he found himself understanding the essence of mana more deeply, appreciating its flow and structure from a unique perspective. Cael realized that this newfound ability allowed him to gain a better understanding of mana in comparison to his counterparts. Cael could now crudely channel mana to other parts of his body to enhance his physical capabilities.
On this particular morning, Cael and Lyros woke early, heading to a secluded spot at the town's border, away from prying eyes, to have a friendly spar. As they prepared, Cael had to admit that Lyros had always been a much more talented fighter when Garrick taught them.
With a competitive grin, Cael looked at Lyros and said, "I'm not going to lose to you today."
Lyros laughed, shaking his head. "You say that every time," he mocked playfully, squaring off against his friend.
The early morning air was crisp, and the ground beneath their feet was damp with dew, setting the stage for what was more than just a routine spar at the town's border. As Cael and Lyros faced each other, the first rays of dawn cast long, dramatic shadows that seemed to dance around them, heightening the atmosphere of their impending duel.
As they stood opposite each other, a palpable tension filled the space between them. It was a friendly spar, but the seriousness of their training was unmistakable. Each was keenly aware of the other's newfound powers, and this spar was an opportunity to test their limits and control. They locked eyes, both sets shifting in color as their Gifts activated—Cael's eyes turned a deep, cosmic reflective silver, revealing layers and currents of mana around them, while Lyros's eyes sparkled with threads of gold pulsating around his iris.
Cael, his stance low and eyes narrowed, felt the pulse of his newfound mana flowing subtly within him. His hands gripped an old, dull dagger, its blade nicked from countless practice sessions. The metal felt cold and heavy, a stark contrast to the lightness he felt from his enhanced abilities.
Cael initiated the duel with a swift dash forward, his movements fast and concise but meticulously calculated through his "True Vision." Each step was purposeful, his eyes not only on Lyros but also on the slight tensing of muscles and the minute shifts in weight that preceded Lyros's reactions. The world around him seemed to slow, details sharpening: the slight upward curl of Lyros's lip, the tightening of his fingers, the preparatory widen of his stance.
Lyros, anticipating the charge, channeled his gift "Sol" to conjure light around him. He conjured a series of intense, dazzling flashes designed to disorient Cael and obscure his vision. The light twisted in the air, forming brilliant arcs that swirled around Lyros, making him appear as if surrounded by a storm of glowing embers. As Cael neared, Lyros sidestepped gracefully, the light bending fluidly with his movements, creating barriers of blinding brilliance that Cael had to navigate through.
Cael, fully aware of Lyros's capabilities, recognized the strategic use of Sol. Over the time they had trained together, Cael had come to know Lyros's gift quite well. Sol allowed Lyros to manipulate light to such an extent that he could create beams so dense they became physical, a property that made his gift exceptionally versatile and powerful both offensively and defensively.
As Cael adjusted his approach to counter the brilliant barriers Lyros erected, a wry smile tugged at his lips, Why is it so damn strong? he thought, a mix of admiration and mock annoyance flickering through his mind. Even as he strategized his next move, Cael appreciated the challenge.
Cael, pushing through the disorientation, adapted quickly. His enhanced sight adjusted, allowing him to see past the mere physical spectrum. He began to perceive the underlying currents of mana that Lyros manipulated, predicting where the next burst of light would originate. With a grunt, he pivoted, using the momentum to swing his dagger in a wide arc, aiming not to strike but to force Lyros into a defensive position.
Lyros countered by intensifying the light around him, the beams now sharper and more focused. He created a lattice of radiant energy that acted both as shield and weapon, the light slicing through the air with a hiss. Every time Cael tried to breach the luminous barrier, he was met with resistance, the light nipping at his skin like cold fire.
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As the spar progressed, the intensity between Cael and Lyros escalated, with each maneuver drawing them closer into a tightly contested battle.
Lyros continued to manipulate light to create dazzling barriers and disorienting flashes, his control over his gift was remarkably impressive for someone who had only received his gift a few days ago. If anyone had been watching the spar, they would have been thoroughly shocked by his demonstration.
Cael's mastery over his gift was manifesting in unique ways, particularly in his ability to manipulate mana throughout his body—an advanced technique that many beginners, including Lyros, hadn't yet started to explore. This skill gave Cael a significant advantage in close combat, allowing him to enhance his physical capabilities in subtle but impactful ways. His movements were fluid and responsive, akin to a slippery snake, making him exceptionally agile and difficult to pin down.
During the spar, Cael's enhanced agility and reflexes, powered by his adept mana manipulation, allowed him to dodge Lyros's light-based attacks with impressive dexterity. His "True Vision" played a crucial role as well, enabling him to anticipate Lyros's movements by detecting the subtle shifts in muscle and the flow of mana. This combination of abilities made Cael a formidable opponent in close quarters.
As they moved through their combat dance, Cael exploited tiny openings that would be invisible to most, striking at near-perfect moments. His attacks were timed not just with physical cues but enhanced by his supernatural perception, allowing him to react to and counter Lyros's strategies effectively. Each dodge and counterattack by Cael was calculated, taking full advantage of his unique insights and mana control.
With the ground beneath them littered with dew and the echoes of their exertions hanging in the air, both fighters were visibly fatigued but undeterred. Recognizing that Lyros's light manipulations were draining his mana rapidly, Cael knew that close combat would be his best chance to leverage his remaining strength and enhanced perception.
Cael closed the distance, narrowing the space between them, forcing Lyros to shift his strategy from ranged light attacks to more immediate defensive maneuvers. The light around Lyros intensified, forming a shimmering shield. Yet, Cael, guided by his "True Vision," detected subtle shifts in the light's pattern—tiny imperfections in the otherwise seamless defense.
Seizing the moment, Cael feinted to the left, drawing a reactionary burst of light from Lyros that he narrowly dodged by ducking low and rolling forward. This brought him within arm's reach of Lyros, now momentarily exposed without enough time to gather light for another defensive barrier.
Cael, though nearly spent from the exertion and the constant focus required by his gift, gathered his remaining mana. He channeled it, not broadly as before, but pinpointing it to enhance his speed for just a moment. This burst allowed him to slip past Lyros's guard, coming up beside him.
With the quickness granted by his temporarily enhanced agility, Cael tapped Lyros lightly on the shoulder with the flat of his dagger. "Dead," Cael said, gasping for air from the exertion. Exhausted but triumphant, he let his body collapse to the ground, lying back to gaze up at the clear sky, his chest heaving with each breath.
Lyros, a bit shocked by the sudden conclusion of their intense spar, dropped to the ground next to Cael. "How did you just do that? Did you cheat somehow?" he asked, half-joking but also genuinely puzzled by Cael's unexpected victory, his own breath ragged from the effort.
Cael turned his head to look at Lyros, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "Who knew you'd be such a sore loser," he teased, enjoying the rare moment of having the upper hand in their friendly rivalry.
Lyros couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "What's the score now, 10-1?" he asked, highlighting that this was Cael's first win against him.
"Yeah, but who's counting?" Cael replied with a laugh
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A few hours after Cael and Lyros completed their intense spar, they gathered along with the other newly Blessed at the previous meeting spot at the town's border. It was midday, and the sun was high in the sky, casting sharp shadows around them. Mirana, poised as ever, stood ready to impart the final lesson before her scheduled departure in three days.
"As you have all begun to learn, practical experience is the essence of growing stronger," Mirana started, her voice carrying clearly to each of the Blessed. "To truly understand and harness your gifts, you need to face real challenges. Therefore, I want each of you to spend a day and a night in the Ember Woods."
The mention of the Ember Woods stirred a variety of reactions among the group. Some faces were etched with traces of fear, while others lit up with excitement, eager to test their newfound abilities. Cael and Lyros shared a more nuanced reaction. Having grown up near the forest, they were no strangers to its dangers and mysteries. Their experiences had taught them respect and caution for the dense and enigmatic woods.
Beasts and monsters from the Ember Woods rarely ventured out, but when they did, the encounters were nothing short of horrifying. Cael remembered the chilling howls at night and the tales from adventures describing creatures with eyes that glowed like hot coals, bodies shrouded in shadows, capable of moving silently despite their terrifying forms.
Mirana continued, addressing the group with a stern tone. "Stay near the edges of the forest. Venturing too far in is a death sentence for the newly Blessed. Even I, as a low priest, must be cautious in the depths of those woods."
She then added an incentive, "All who come out alive and reach the designated point within the forest will be rewarded with a low-grade mana shard. These shards are not just valuable; they can help further enhance your mana capacities."
The announcement of the mana shards added a new layer of determination to the task. The shards were a rare resource, known for their ability to boost a person's mana when used correctly, a significant aid for any Blessed looking to advance their abilities.
Mirana's voice carried a final note of solemnity as she concluded her instructions. "All those interested, please arrive at this location tomorrow morning at dawn."