The feeling of slowly sinking through molten lava was almost inexplainable. It felt like dragging your hand through mud: the resistance and heat very uncomfortable. Struggling to move, Noah tried to orient himself in the sea of orange.
Though the heat should have been overbearing, it only felt like a slight tingle. Noah blamed it on the flowing fire raging alongside his blood. However, blaming it maybe is not the right path, it actually shielded him. Nevertheless, Noah continued to sink, his left arm moving above him, or what he thought was above him, to try and swim back.
The odd feeling of having both legs amputated nagged on his mind, his young age making the realisation even worse, trying to swim through lava with only one arm was tiring enough.
Noah's Core pulsated in an even rhythm; energy coming forwards in waves with every pulse. Feeling the fire in his veins, he got an idea. Diving deep into his consciousness, he began to pull on the fiery energy, moulding it according to his will.
Noah struggled in the beginning, the energy escaping his grasp again and again. He tried to visualize it, shaping the energy into a drill, yet when he tried to manifest it, it shattered like fractured glass: breaking apart in millions of different pieces.
Frustration started to build, all his tries ending up not working. All the while, he continued to sink, going further and further down the impossibly deep pool. Switching his approach, Noah stopped trying to influence the surrounding energy with his own, deciding to feel the combination of energy influencing him: the fiery energy intertwining with the earthen energy of the melted rocks.
Listening to the urge from his sea of fire and surfing rocks on his core, he began to manipulate the lava around himself. Slowly getting used to this newfound method, he felt like the lava began to listen to his wishes, bending to his will. With careful movements, Noah tried to have the lava push him upwards, urging the energy to help him.
'Damn it!', Noah swore in his mind, the continuous attempts failing. Helplessness threatened to overcome him, the urge to give up growing gradually stronger. Relaxing his entire body, Noah began to accept his scenario: that he was not strong enough, not tenacious enough, not worthy.
Noah's concentration slipped, the shield of fiery energy around him wavering slightly. Slipping past his defences, the lava scorched his skin, causing him to open his mouth and scream, or he thought he would scream. Instead, molten lava flowed down his throat, incinerating both vocal cords and skin.
'Not this again!' He screamed in his mind, reminiscing of the first fire trial and the agony he went through breathing in the infernal chaos. Unconsciousness collapsed over his agonized mind and everything went blank.
Sitting on the other side of the mountain, Mark and The Deer waited. Mark's gaze was locked at the peak, a worried light shining brightly.
"He's taking too long," he said flatly. "Though the test is a combined one, he has to have gotten injured or something."
"I cannot intervene," The Deer said, compassion for its distressed disciple lacing its voice. "I am on direct orders from the star, this test is his to overcome and his only, only if he is on the verge of mental collapse am I allowed to assist."
"Can you check?"
Reflecting the distant stars, The Deer's golden specks began to glow, a soft radiance lighting up its brown fur. Locking its gaze on the peak high above, the radiance intensified. If one looked close enough, the illusion of a beam of light could be seen heading fast for the mountaintop.
"He is fine, still," The Deer said after a while. "He has gotten both legs severed at the knees," Mark sucked in a breath, "the wind and earth orbs have already appeared; his destiny really is magnificent," The Deer continued. "Beneath the duality rests a pool of lava. It seems like the child has submerged himself in it to avoid the fearsome winds."
"How is his mind?"
"He has lost consciousness," The Deer answered, "probably due to a slip up in his utilisation of his energy shield: the pain was too much."
"Is he near a collapse?" Mark pressed on, an aura of worry practically tangible around him.
"He is doubting." The Deer answered with sadness.
"Oh..."
"Do not worry, he has a spirit, he just needs to find it." The Deer's wisdom shone through as usual.
"But finding your spirit is extremely hard, it took me twenty years of meditation in the most volatile space-storms to find mine." Mark said as a matter of fact; his gaze now on his master.
"Remember, this child's destiny is unlike anyone else's, even my own. This is planned out by The Ancients, just let everything unfold." The Deer scolded. "But do not worry, if he is near collapse I have permission to interfere."
Mark looked back at the mountain, a gaze full of questions evident.
"What is on your mind, child?" The Deer asked.
"That is not just the trial of greater wind and earth, right?" Mark wondered.
"No... No it is not." The Deer answered.
"It is the trial for perfect fire and perfect earth too, right?" Mark continued.
"Indeed." The Deer said, its voice low and filled with hesitation.
The trial for perfect affinities was a different matter than all the others. It was here that the mind was truly tested. They are vicious tests, filled with hidden danger and threats to one's mind. And for Noah, who's destiny is still being woven, the test for perfect fire and earth is a totally separate matter.
Finding the spirit of oneself is of high importance for Noah as it will greatly boost his senses towards energy. Without a spirit, the ability to sense and act on energy is diminished to the point of almost not existing at all. All people with enough power will traverse the universe to find the perfect spot to find their spirit, even though the process of finding one is long, tedious and very dangerous, often demanding many lives.
Sensing a sudden burst of energy coming from the mountaintop, Mark turned in its direction.
"Has he already found it?" He said in shock, the fact making his chin drop to the floor.
With another great burst of energy, the peak of the mountain exploded, shooting giant boulders in every direction. Molten lava flowed down the sides of the mountain, shining brightly in the dim night. Above the destroyed top, suspended in the air, was a big globule of lava and in its midst there was a curled up figure.
Radiating through the shining blob of lava pulsated a pure white root, its root hairs stretching outwards to feast on the surrounding energy.
Slowly, the lava sunk inwards, the energy being absorbed by the seemingly lifeless body inside.