Radix sat cross-legged in the clearing, his brows furrowed in concentration as he tried to harness the flow of ether from within. The [Flame] element came naturally, like a roaring fire stoked by his emotions, eager to consume. But the [Dark] element was cold, elusive, like a shadow slipping through his grasp. It refused to be tamed in unison with the fire.
"It's just impossible," Radix muttered with a frustrated expression, scratching an itch at the back of his head. His hands clenched lightly into fists on his knees, a sudden excitement simmering inside him.
"But if he says I should do it, it means I probably can." His eyes flashed with a determined glint as he steeled his resolve with a fierce smile.
"No… If he can do it, then so can I! I'll show that demon in human skin how much better I am!"
Despite his fierce determination, deep down, Radix knew this was uncharted territory. The two elements he could manifest—[Flame] and [Dark]—were like oil and water, resisting any attempt at coexistence. But that only fueled his drive to succeed.
For the next hour, Radix focused on the ebb and flow of his ether. The air around him began to hum faintly with energy as he entered a trance-like state. His mind drifted to Jhio's teachings—about the flow of ether, the essence that connected all things, from the trees around him to the distant celestial bodies in the sky. Ether was life, was energy, and with enough control, it could be shaped into whatever form the soul desired. But this…this was a different beast entirely.
Radix could almost hear Jhio's voice in his head: "Ether is the most fundamental form of energy, lad. It's everywhere, flowing through everything, from living beings to the ground beneath your feet. Those who can master its flow can shape it into countless forms—fire, water, light, shadow. But mastery isn't about brute force. It's about finesse."
Finesse. Jhio always spoke like things were so simple, but Radix knew better. Controlling two elements as different as [Flame] and [Dark] at the same time wasn't just difficult, It felt impossible. His mind reeled as he tried to focus on both simultaneously, but each time the [Flame] would flare up, the [Dark] would slip away like sand through his fingers.
"Alright," Radix muttered, rubbing his hands together. "Let's try this."
He closed his eyes, sinking into the familiar process of gathering his ether. First, the heat of the [Flame] filled him, a searing pulse that surged through his veins. It was raw, wild, a force he could barely contain even after years of practice. His breath caught as he focused on it, letting the fire coil in his chest, ready to be unleashed.
But before he could cast the flame, he reached out for [Dark]. The shift was jarring, the fiery heat was suddenly choked by the shadowy, almost chilling energy of the dark element. Radix could feel the resistance between the two, like the clashing of two opposing winds.
"Focus," he whispered through gritted teeth. "Hold them both… don't let go."
His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to balance the two forces, struggling to find harmony between them. [Flame] roared inside him, eager to escape, while [Dark] wrapped around it, dampening the flames without snuffing them out entirely.
"Come on…" He could feel the ether slipping, the control faltering. His body tensed as the energy swelled, too unstable to release.
Then, suddenly, there was a flash. A searing wave of heat surged out of him, but it was swiftly followed by a shadowy mist that spiraled around it, choking the flames before they could properly form. The result was an explosion of energy, harmless but chaotic, sending Radix stumbling backward with a gasp.
"Damn it!" he cursed, catching his breath. The ground around him was scorched, though not as badly as Jhio's previous demonstration. His attempt at mixing the elements had failed.
"As I thought," he grumbled, eyes narrowing in frustration.
"This really won't be easy. I can't cast [Flame] if I'm also keeping [Dark] in mind. It's like solving math equations while thinking about the anatomy of a plant!" He groaned, lying back on the grass, staring up at the empty sky above.
"That damn old man… He makes everything sound easy, but he's no wizard! Just a weird old man who laughs at people to show off"
But despite his grumbling, Radix sat up again, shaking off the frustration. "I'll do it." His voice carried a note of finality.
Days turned into a week, and in that time, Radix managed to make progress. He hadn't mastered the technique yet, but he could now feel the distinct flow of both elements at the same time without losing focus. It was a breakthrough. Each day brought him closer to that elusive goal, and Radix, stubborn as ever, refused to rest until he succeeded.
On the seventh day, the usual lesson time came, but Jhio noticed something strange. Radix hadn't alerted him as usual. Instead, when he wandered to their training spot, he found the boy deep in meditation, the air around him thrumming with an almost palpable intensity. Jhio, leaning casually against a tree, watched with a raised brow.
I never would've thought the same brat I picked up years ago would become someone I can call my pride, Jhio mused silently. His usual smug grin softened into something rare. Genuine admiration. Looking at him like this… makes me realize what parents must feel when they see their child all grown up. Honestly… damn this brat.
Radix sat, eyes closed, his face etched with determination, oblivious to Jhio's presence. Ether swirled around him, the subtle shift of [Flame] and [Dark] intermingling, though not yet fully synchronized. But to Jhio, this progress was nothing short of miraculous.
What Radix didn't know was that the technique Jhio had assigned him was no simple task. High-grade etheric arts like this were typically reserved for experienced crusaders, who would have to change their dominant element, many of whom spent months, possibly a year or two, mastering the balance of the second or third elements in relation to their dominant element. And here Radix was, on the verge of mastering it in a week.
Truly a monster, Jhio thought with pride, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. But that's my monster.
As if sensing he was being watched, Radix abruptly stood, shaking off his meditative state. He wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes narrowing with determination as he glanced over his shoulder toward the house.
"I'll be out for a bit," Radix called, his voice casual but with an edge of excitement. "Don't ask questions, and don't wait out for me."
Jhio chuckled softly, pushing off from the tree.
"Well gee, it's not like I don't know what you're about to do, but to preserve your pride, I'll just say this: don't come back any later than evening, or you're finding your own food."
Radix clicked his tongue in annoyance, his face flushing slightly as he turned away. "Tch. This is why you don't have friends, you know?"
Without another word, Radix dashed into the forest, his flushed face a mixture of embarrassment and eagerness. He wanted to prove himself, not just to Jhio but to himself. He had a plan to surprise the old man, to show him just how fast he could master what seemed impossible.
Meanwhile, Jhio, as if knowing exactly how the day would play out, settled in front of the house for an early "dinner," fully expecting Radix to be gone until well after nightfall.
"He'll be back by midnight, no sooner," Jhio muttered to himself as he took a bite of the meal. "Why waste good food waiting?"
Then, as Jhio's gaze wandered lazily across the clearing, something unexpected happened.
The air in front of him shimmered, rippling like water disturbed by a pebble. A sudden tear in reality appeared, as if someone had drawn back the fabric of the world itself. From within the breach rode three spotless white horses, their hooves making no sound on the ground.
Jhio's meal paused halfway to his mouth as he slowly set down his fork, watching with keen, narrowed eyes.
The riders who emerged were not ordinary beings. Two of them had towering masculine figures, each holding a shield of pure white with intricate golden patterns streaking across the surface. But the figure who rode ahead of them was different. Clad in an ethereal, blinding white aura that obscured any visible form, the rider's presence was almost suffocating, their outline too bright to discern.
"Well now…" Jhio muttered to himself, standing up slowly, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. His lips curled into a grin, though his eyes remained sharp and focused. "Things just got interesting."