Fourteen years, like a fleeting whisper amidst the heavens, passed by in a mere blink.
Nestled within the tempestuous embrace of Stormhaven's fortress, a lady roamed its grand corridors, enshrouded in shadows cast by walls of darkest obsidian. Golden crystals, akin to stars plucked from the night sky, adorned the passageways, their luminous dance casting an ethereal glow on the exquisite paintings that graced the halls. The woman, with skin pale as the moon's soft light and tresses of the deepest midnight, bore eyes like orbs of the richest umber, unfathomable and resplendent as polished marble. Towering at six feet and four inches, her raven hair cascaded down her back, untouched by the blades of time or battle. Clad in armor the color of the twilight sky, it embraced her ethereal form—a form that might bewitch the hearts of mortals across the cosmos, yet none dared harbor impure thoughts. For her name was Claudia Valtorr—a name that whispered tales of awe and terror. A timeless leviathan of power and an ally of the renowned Orion Stormhaven, she stood as the formidable mentor to Aero.
At present, Claudia feigned a search for her elusive pupil, knowing all too well the games of hide and seek that prefaced their daily ritual of training. He was born in the golden radiance realm, a body cultivation realm where cultivators would exude a golden glow, a testament to their inner vitality. Their skin would become nearly impenetrable, and they would be able to channel their internal energy to heal wounds rapidly or purge foreign toxins. This also allowed extreme control over their body's on a near cellular level. If the world knew this, cultivators would cough blood due to jealousy. This was a realm of cultivation millions sought after but would not be able to touch!
The first realms of body cultivation were respectively, Stone Foundation, Iron Frame, Bronze Vitality, Silver Agility, followed by Golden Radiance. Following Golden Radiance was Platinum Force, Diamond Heart, Titans Ascendance and there are even legends of beings ascending to higher unknown realms.
Stone foundation was the very beginning. Cultivators would focus on making their bodies as resilient as stone. Through rigorous physical training and special resources, body cultivation manuals, and elixirs, they would develop enhanced endurance and toughness. Iron frame furthered the process, cultivators bones and muscles would undergo further strengthening, their bodies becoming as unyielding as iron gaining immense physical strength. They possessed the strength to lift within 5,000-10,000 tons. Bronze vitality focused on enhancing the internal organs. Cultivators would ingest rare herbs and perform unique body cultivation exercises to make their organs robust. The results from this further enhance their strength as well as heightened stamina to 10,00-40,000 tons, prolonged lifespan, and increased resistance to poisons and illnesses. Silver Agility focused on improving everything overall including movement speed, reflexes, and flexibility. Cultivators would be able to move faster than winds, traveling at over 1,000 Km per second. Their physical strength increased to 40,000-100,000 tons. Their blood held a silver sheen and they could recover from life threatening injuries within a short period of time. Golden Radiance calculated a cultivators physical strength to be on a scale between 100,000 to 300,000 tons while being able to move at speeds over 5,000 km per second at maximum speeds.
Aero, at the tender age of fourteen, had already achieved remarkable heights. Slumbering atop a towering tree within a botanical sanctuary, he lay with the innocence of youth, his curly white hair framing his horns in a halo of ivory. Adorned in celestial garments, impervious to time and dirt, he was the embodiment of a young master.
Yet, as his senses stirred, alerting him to the presence of another, he found his master perched close by, her back to him in silent vigil.
"Master, has the hour come so soon?" he queried with a hint of weariness.
With a knowing smile, Claudia responded, her voice a gentle chide that echoed the sentiments he knew all too well. Her gaze, warm yet unwavering, met his as she motioned with a single finger; His eye's widened knowing what was about to happen. His surroundings shifted and before he knew it, he was in the training grounds waiting for the all-encompassing finger to tap his forehead and send him rolling hundreds of feet away. This was nearly a daily situation, and it surely continued.
The sun, perched high upon its midday throne, cast a solemn gaze upon the training grounds of Stormhaven, where the dance of combat was about to unfold. Aeros stood at the ready, his posture a reflection of the tranquil might that his training had instilled within him. His master, Claudia, mirrored his stance, an immovable entity, her presence commanding the air itself to still.
With a sudden explosion of movement, the space between master and pupil collapsed. Aero, his form a blur of white and brown, launched forward, fists cleaving the air with the ferocity of a tempest. Each strike, aimed with the precision of an artisan's brush, was parried by Claudia with an effortless grace, her movements a symphony of fluid power. The sounds of their exchange resonated like the clashing of titans, a rhythm of flesh and spirit woven into the tapestry of their duel. Of course his master was taking it easy on him, her true power could decimate planets with a but a blow.
Claudia's counterattacks were as relentless as the tide, each one an edict of her mastery over countless marital arts. Yet Aeros met them with the resilience of his Golden Vitality, his form bending and flowing like reeds in the wind. The training was not merely a test of strength but a crucible for the spirit, honing not just the body but the will within.
As the tempo of their melee reached its crescendo, Claudia took a step back, her eyes alight with the fire of a warrior-sage. With a gesture silent as a falling leaf, she beckoned the transition from the art of fist to the art of the bow. Aeros, understanding the unspoken command, retreated with grace to retrieve his weapon—a bow of Yew, strung with the silken threads of the celestial silkworm, capable of withstanding the titanic forces his cultivation level could exert.
The training grounds, a vast expanse bordered by ancient trees and the remnants of walls worn by time, now served as their archery range. Aero positioned himself, his back straight as the mighty pines surrounding them. He nocked an arrow, its shaft carved from the heartwood of a thousand-year-old Ironbark, fletched with the feathers of a phoenix, a rare gift given from the creature to him on his 9th birthday, was rumored to catch the winds of destiny itself.
Claudia watched, her eyes as sharp as a hawk's, as Aeros drew the bowstring back. The world fell silent, the tension of the bowstring a whisper of impending release. Then, with the grace of the autumn breeze, he let fly. The arrow tore through the air, a streak of light chasing the horizon, before finding its mark with a resounding thrum that echoed the song of ancient drums.
The practice continued, Claudia offered guidance, her voice the chisel shaping Aero's raw talent into a masterpiece of bow discipline. This was his favorite weapon. He disliked swords, sabers, spears, or any form of weapon in general, outside of his fist and the bow. He didn't understand why he had this particular affinity, as much as he hated training, the moment he picked up his bow, the world seemed to turn a shade brighter.
As the sun began to dip toward the edge of the world, casting long shadows across the grounds, master and disciple concluded their training. In the silence that followed, there was an unspoken acknowledgment of progress made and the boundless path that lay ahead of him.
"You have honed your skills well, little hopper," Claudia began, her voice carrying the weight of wisdom accumulated over countless seasons. Little hopper was the nick name she'd call him since he'd been a baby. "But the journey ahead will demand more from you than mere physical prowess."
Aeros, his chest still heaving slightly from exertion, turned to his master with a look of earnest curiosity. "I sense that my time to venture forth is near. What must I do to prepare for the trials , Master?"
Claudia regarded him with an appraising eye, noting the spark of readiness that shone within him. "Your grandfather has deemed it time for your rite of passage. This is no simple journey; it is a crucible that will test the very core of your being. You must sharpen not only your body but your mind and spirit as well."
Aeros nodded, his mind already reaching out to embrace the challenge. "I understand teacher. My body is but a vessel. It is the clarity of my will and the fire of my spirit that must prevail."
"It's hilarious to hear such wisdom from you, little hopper," Claudia replied with a rare smile. "Remember, each trial is a mirror reflecting the depths of your soul. Face them with courage, but also with humility."
As they spoke, a gentle rustling announced the arrival of another. Aero's mother Aria, landed onto the training grounds with grace. She walked up to Clauda and greeted her with a hug. "Auntie, you're still as beautiful as ever, I'll need your skin routine one day." She said in a joking voice. Claudia was her elder who also played a role in raising her countless epochs ago. She would always be respectful to the powerhouse, no matter how strong she became herself.
Her gaze found her son, a mix of maternal warmth and concern etched upon her features.
"My child, look how sweaty you are," she said, her voice a melody that had soothed man of Aero's childhood scraped and bruises.
Aero rose to greet her, his posture relaxing in the presence of his mother's love. "Mother, your arrival is like the calm after a storm. I am well, thanks to Master Claudia's guidance."
His mother approached, her eyes sweeping over him, taking in the young man he was becoming. "I trust in your strength, my son, but a mother's heart frets nonetheless. The rite of passage... it will be daunting."
"I will face it as a Stormhaven must," Aero replied with a confidence that belied his years.
Claudia nodded in agreement, her respect for the family bond clear in her silence.
"Come," Aero's mother said, her hand reaching out to him. "Let us dine together this night. On the morrow, you will go visit your grandfather, but tonight, you are still my boy, and I will have you by my side."