That night, once again, my slumber was interrupted by a relentless nightmare.
***
???: "I have vanquished sages, leviathans, gods, and lords. I was the pioneer of a civilization where races of all kinds lived together in harmony. Yet, here you stand before me, looking me in the eye as if you have any hope of defeating me. Your audacity sickens me. You are nothing more than a mere insect in my sight. Do you truly believe that you can conquer me? I am ?̵̬̯̥͎̺͍͗̒͂̂́̄?̷̢̢͇̗̓̑̋͘͝͝ͅͅ?̶̡̗̪̩̳̭͑̂̽͋̌͝. You will soon learn why crossing my path is a mistake that only a fool would make."
As the man lifted his right arm, a swirling vortex of inky blackness engulfed his palm, ominous tendrils of dark energy snaking their way up his arm. With a deafening boom, the power erupted from his hand, obliterating everything in its path.
***
I jolted awake, my body slick with sweat. The nightmares were growing more vivid by the night. After some effort, I managed to drift back to sleep and woke up the next morning to the aroma of a delectable breakfast. Barley bread soaked in wine and olives, a traditional Greek breakfast, graced the table.
"Something seems to be troubling you, young one," the sage spoke up, catching me off guard. I hadn't even noticed his presence until now. His beady eyes bore into mine from the corner of the room, and I felt a jolt of surprise.
"N-No, nothing's wrong. Why do you ask?" I stammered, caught off guard.
"I am a sage, a master of nature. Do you think I wouldn't be able to detect the strange energy you're emitting?" The sage retorted, a smirk playing on his lips. "But if you wish to keep it to yourself, I will not pry. Today, we will learn about Camelan and how to harness it. Come to the outdoor training grounds when you're done with breakfast."
With that, the sage vanished from the room, leaving no trace of his presence. I took my time with breakfast and let it settle before changing into my battle gear and making my way to the training grounds as instructed.
As I stepped into the training grounds, I was instantly shocked by the stunning beauty of the landscape. The vast expanse of rolling hills and towering cliffs was framed by the shimmering blue waters of the sea. The air was fresh and crisp, carrying the scent of wildflowers and sea salt. The centerpiece of the training ground loomed into view: a majestic arena, smooth and well polished, providing the ideal surface for practicing footwork and sparring. The walls of the arena were adorned with intricate carvings which depicted the gods and legendary battles of ancient times, each figure and scene etched with exquisite attention to detail.
I stood there, still taking in my surroundings. A sense of excitement coursed through my veins. I knew that this was the ideal place to perfect my skills, to become a warrior known in history books.
"Ah, I see you've arrived, young one," the sage said, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of knowledge and experience. He strode confidently towards me, a crystal-clear orb glinting in the palm of his left hand.
"Before we begin, I must acknowledge your impressive display of subconsciously channeling camelan into your blades during our last fight. Most people don't even understand the fundamentals of camelan and its workings, yet you managed to do it instinctively. Allow me to elaborate on the concept of camelan.
Every person possesses a reservoir where camelan is stored. Camelan is the source of magical power and is utilized for all magic-related tasks. People who are naturally gifted in this regard can store huge amounts of camelan in their reservoirs. We can intake camelan from the surrounding air, but it requires intense concentration and cannot be done easily during a fight, especially when there is little space to move. The rate at which people intake camelan can vary, and with practice, you can improve your proficiency in its intake."
"Now, you'll notice this orb in my hand," he continued, holding it up so I could see it more clearly. "This is a powerful artifact that can reveal the essence of your being, the nature of your soul. It will help you to better understand your place in the world, and how you can harness your innate strengths to achieve greatness."
"When we speak of 'nature,' what we're really referring to is the elemental force that resonates within you," the sage explained, his eyes shining with an otherworldly light. "For instance, my nature is lightning. I have a deep connection to the power of thunder and electricity, and I'm able to wield it with great skill and precision. By discovering your own nature, you'll be able to tap into that same wellspring of power and potential, unlocking abilities and talents you never knew you had."
"Now that you have a clear definition of 'nature', understand that it could encompass a VAST range of concepts, and its not limited to elemental forces such as lightning, fire, earth or water. Your nature could be anything. So without further ado, place your hand upon the crystal orb. If there is no reaction, you either lack a nature, which is extremely unlikely, or your nature may not be a physical entity."
As I nervously extended my arm and cautiously placed my right palm on the shimmering surface of the orb, a sense of trepidation washed over me. I waited with bated breath, uncertain of what was to come. Suddenly, a strange sensation rippled through my body, causing the orb to come to life and begin to glow. My mind raced as possible natures whizzed through my head at lightning speed - Earth? Lightning? Shadow? Light? Fire? My palm became warm, and I felt a surge of power that was both strange and oddly familiar.
As the sage observed my reaction with interest, his eyes twinkled with satisfaction. "You have a nature after all," he said with a smile. "It seems you are attuned to the power of fire. This is a fairly common nature, but it can be a potent force if used correctly."
I nodded slowly, still reeling from the sensation of the orb's power. "Fire," I repeated, the word feeling strange on my tongue. I had never really thought about what kind of nature I might have, or what kind of nature I even wanted, and the fact that it was fire seemed both exciting and daunting.
The sage could sense my hesitation, and he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Do not worry, young one," he said kindly. "I will teach you how to harness your power and use it to its fullest potential. With time and practice, you will become a skilled wielder of fire."
I felt a sense of relief wash over me at his words. It was comforting to know that I had someone to guide me. "Thank you," I said gratefully.
The sage nodded in response. "Now, let us begin. The first step to mastering your nature is to understand it. Fire is a powerful force that can be both destructive and creative. It can provide warmth and light, but it can also be dangerous if not controlled properly. As a wielder of fire, it is your responsibility to use your power wisely and with care."
I listened intently as the sage began to explain the intricacies of fire and how to control it. It was a lot to take in, but I was determined to learn. With each passing moment, I felt more and more confident in my abilities. I was ready to take on the world with my newfound power.
For hours, the sage shared his knowledge with me, and I soaked it all in like a sponge. He taught me how to summon flames from thin air, how to withstand the heat, and how to extinguish them when needed. As the night wore on, the flames grew larger and brighter, reflecting the excitement and passion burning within me. It was delighting to wield such power and to feel like I had control over something that had once frightened me.
As the sun began to rise, its rays bathing us in a warm glow, I realized how much I had learned in such a short time. With each passing moment, I felt more confident in my abilities, and the sage saw this in my eyes. He nodded in approval, a hint of pride in his expression.
"You have great potential, Hana," he said. "But you must also remember that with great power comes great responsibility. It is important to always use your abilities for good and never let your emotions cloud your judgment. Emotions can be powerful motivators, but they can also lead us down the wrong path. When we allow our emotions to spiral out of control, we can make impulsive decisions that we later regret."
His words resonated with me, and I knew that I would always keep them close to my heart. "You've made great progress today, but there's still much to learn. So change out of your training gear, get a good night's rest, and we'll continue tomorrow."