Akin blinked, his vision still swimming as he struggled to stay upright. The pain in his shoulder was sharp, a constant reminder of how close he'd come to death. The damp air of the cave felt like a weight pressing down on his chest as he leaned against the stone wall, trying to catch his breath.
It didn't make sense—any of it. The last thing he remembered was falling into the river, the cold water swallowing him whole, and now he was here, in some strange cave with glowing crystals that pulsed with an unnatural light. His head throbbed, his body felt like it had been torn apart and stitched back together, and his thoughts were a jumbled mess.
Maybe he'd hit his head harder than he realized. Maybe this was all a dream. Or worse, maybe he was dead.
The soft glow of the crystals intensified, casting the chamber in an ethereal light, and Akin took a cautious step forward. His body ached with every movement, but something compelled him to approach the stone altar in the center of the room. There was a presence here, something ancient, something powerful.
But what?
Just as Akin's fingers brushed the cold stone of the altar, a sudden gust of wind swept through the cave. He stumbled back, eyes widening as the air around him seemed to shimmer, swirling with energy. And then, out of the misty glow, a figure began to take shape.
A tall man, dressed in flowing robes that shimmered with every color of the rainbow, stood before him. His long, silvery hair floated in an invisible breeze, and his sharp, angular features were both intimidating and oddly… youthful? He grinned at Akin, his emerald eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Well, well, well!" the man said, clapping his hands together with excitement. "Look at what we have here. A Valion? And not just any Valion—oh, this is rich!"
Akin blinked. Of all the things he was expecting, a strange, playful spirit wasn't one of them. He stared at the man, his hand going instinctively to his sword, though he wasn't sure what good it would do in this situation.
"Who… who are you?" Akin managed, his voice rough with disbelief.
The man's grin widened, and he leaned in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm Alarion! You know, the Alarion, Sage of the Eternal Blade, master of all things magic, wielder of the coolest sword you'll ever lay eyes on!"
Akin blinked again, his mind struggling to keep up with this sudden barrage of information. His headache worsened. "Am I… dead? Is this some kind of fever dream?"
Alarion snorted with laughter, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh, please. You wish it were that simple. No, no, you're very much alive. And as for a dream—well, I guess I am kind of dreamy, but no, this is all real."
Akin's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "I don't believe you."
Alarion raised an eyebrow, looking mock-offended. "Really? You're going to question the floating, glowing man in a magical cave surrounded by crystals that are older than your ancestors? Come on, kid. Use that head of yours!"
Akin winced, his fingers brushing the back of his head where a large bump had formed. "Pretty sure I hit my head."
The Sage chuckled again, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, no. You're not concussed. You're just overwhelmed. Here, let me help you with that."
With a snap of his fingers, Alarion waved his hand, and the air around them shifted. Akin watched in stunned silence as the crystals pulsed with a sudden surge of energy, their light intensifying. A strange warmth flooded the room, and then, without warning, the very air seemed to shimmer.
The cave disappeared. Or rather, it shifted. Akin blinked, looking around in shock. The walls of the cave were now transparent, as if they had melted away, revealing a vast landscape outside—a world bathed in light and shadow, with towering mountains, glowing forests, and rivers that sparkled like starlight. In the distance, he could see creatures—gigantic creatures, ones he had never seen before—roaming across the land.
Akin's heart raced as the magic crackled in the air, leaving him awestruck. He could feel the power coursing through the very stones beneath his feet, and it was undeniable.
"Still think you're dreaming?" Alarion asked, his voice smug.
Akin turned back to face the Sage, still shaken. "How… what…?"
Alarion snapped his fingers again, and the cave returned to its original state, the visions fading as quickly as they had appeared. He crossed his arms, smirking as he floated slightly above the ground. "See? Real. Now do you believe me, or do you want to keep questioning my vast, magical awesomeness?"
Akin, still reeling from what he'd just seen, exhaled sharply. "Okay. You've got my attention. But why me? What's all this about?"
Alarion's playful demeanor shifted slightly, his expression growing more serious—though still with a hint of that cheeky charm. "Because, kid, you're special. You've got something no one else has. Something that shouldn't even be possible."
Akin frowned. "What do you mean?"
The Sage hovered closer, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You're attuned to all the elements. Every single one. Fire, water, earth, air, even the tricky ones like lightning and shadow. Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
Akin blinked, taken aback. "I… no, I didn't even know that was a thing."
"It's not!" Alarion laughed, floating around Akin as if inspecting him from all angles. "No one should be able to control all the elements. One, maybe two if you're a prodigy. Four, if you're the stuff of legends. But you? You're off the charts!"
Akin stared at him, stunned. "That can't be right. I barely know how to control any magic."
Alarion grinned, tapping his temple with one finger. "That's because no one's taught you yet. You've got the potential, but you're raw. Untapped. And that's where I come in!"
Akin opened his mouth to speak, but Alarion cut him off with a raised hand. "You've got questions. I know. I get it. But let me break it down for you, because we don't have a lot of time. I'm going to teach you. For a few weeks, we'll get you started on the basics of magic, swordsmanship, and everything in between. But then… well, then I'm going to run out of time."
Akin frowned. "What do you mean?"
The Sage's expression softened, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "I'm just a spirit, Akin. The last remnant of who I was. I've been here for centuries, waiting for someone like you. But I'm fading. I don't have much longer."
Akin felt a strange pang of regret, though he barely knew this eccentric, playful spirit. "So what happens when you… fade?"
Alarion smiled wistfully. "I leave you with a gift. The Eternal Blade."
With a wave of his hand, the altar in the center of the cave shifted, revealing a sword unlike any Akin had ever seen. The blade was long and sleek, its surface glowing faintly with runes that seemed to pulse with life. The hilt was adorned with intricate designs, and the pommel gleamed with a jewel that glowed faintly with power.
"The Eternal Blade is bound by five seals," Alarion explained, his voice soft with reverence. "Each seal can only be broken as you grow in power, as you learn to master the elements and unlock your true potential. The sword will guide you, protect you. But you're going to have to earn it."
Akin stared at the blade, awe and disbelief warring in his mind. He could feel the power radiating from it, calling to him. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."
Alarion chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "No one ever is, kid. But you'll figure it out. And before I go, I'll teach you a few more tricks—like how to use your eyes to gauge someone's power. Ocular arts, they're called. Useful in a fight when you don't know what you're up against."
Akin nodded, his mind still racing with everything he had learned. He was attuned to all the elements. He was being trained by the spirit of a legendary Sage. And soon, he would inherit a blade that held power beyond his understanding.
"Time's running short," Alarion said, his playful smile returning. "Let's get to work."
And so, with the knowledge of his destiny beginning to unfold, Akin's journey toward mastering the elements and unlocking the seals of the Eternal Blade began.