Tony gasped for breath as he juggled down the dimly lit road, the evening's cool air turning heavy and thick around him. Beads of sweat clung to his forehead, his heart racing with each labored breath.
"Aren't we there yet?" he panted, his voice laced with frustration.
[We are almost there, Tony,] the Imperial System assured him.
"Well, that's what you said last time," Tony grumbled, the uncertainty gnawing at him.
[Just keep moving, slow and steady,]
With resolve, Tony trudged onward, following the elusive path laid out for him. He stopped only when commanded to stand before a colossal, shadow-shrouded construction building that loomed over him.
"And now what?" Tony questioned, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
[Now, you have to get to the top of the building,]
"The top?" Tony's eyes widened in confusion.
[Yes,]
"How am I going to get to the top? This is a private building; I can't just go inside," Tony replied, his concerns mounting.
[You won't be going inside; you'll climb your way up,]
"What? How's that possible? I didn't come with a ladder!" Tony exclaimed.
[You'll have to ascend by using the rods and iron fixtures affixed to the building,]
"What if I fall?" Tony's fear of heights was palpable in his voice.
[You won't,]
"Listen, if you're planning to test my abilities by throwing me off a building on the very first day of training, it's not going to work," Tony protested, his nerves on edge.
[Trust me, Tony, it's the best way to rapidly advance your skills,]
With a grumbling sigh, Tony reluctantly began his ascent, gripping the iron fixtures with a white-knuckled determination. Each step upward was a battle against his fear, but he continued to climb.
After what felt like an eternity, Tony finally arrived at the pinnacle of the building. He sprawled flat on the rooftop, his breath ragged, and his body drained of energy.
[Good work, Tony. Now, for the next part, we'll refine your innate talent,]
Tony strained to sit up, his gaze capturing the breathtaking view from the rooftop. The city sprawled out beneath him, the lights of the evening beginning to twinkle, and the soothing cool breeze kissed his sweat-soaked brow.
[Are you ready?]
"Sure let's get started" Tony replied.
[I'm going to help you unlock a new skill]
Suddenly a blue screen appeared in his vision, displaying some write ups.
[Task: learn new skill within five days]
[Skill: Air blast]
[Reward: Ungrade to grade C]
[Ten silver coins]
[Five diamond coins]
[Step one: Focus and breathing]
Aftet reading, the screen disappeared.
"Okay focus and breathing, sounds easy" Tony assumed as he started breathing heavily.
[Not that kind of breathing. You have to realx, close your eyes and feel the wind]
Tony does as she says, closing his eyes, feeling the breeze.
"Uhm no offense how's this supposed to make me air blast" Tony asked.
[Air, a wily and untamed element, stands apart from its counterparts]
[It refuses to be bound by constancy, forever shifting in its movements, direction, frequencies, and currents. ]
[To master it, one must merge their essence with its unpredictable nature, to hear the whisper of its voice as it dances, and to feel its caress on the skin].
The Imperial System's voice, conscious and wise, delivered this lesson as Tony listened intently. The breeze enveloped him, gentle and soft, arriving from all directions. Each wind current bore its unique essence, its whispers becoming an enchanting chorus in his ears.
[Be one with the wind] the command echoed in Tony's mind.
As the wind encircled him, Tony experienced an ethereal sensation, akin to swimming through the very currents of the air. He felt weightless, suspended in the vast expanse of this untamed element, floating yet grounded.
[Expell all thoughts in your mind, and create a new one, thinking solely of the wind]
He obeyed the System's instruction to clear his mind, letting his thoughts drift away until they became a void. In this meditative state, he focused solely on the wind, a single-minded devotion to its essence. It was a moment of pure beauty.
[Now, breathe in and out, inhale the air and exhale the wind,] the Imperial's guidance continued.
Tony drew the wind into his being, as if savoring the very essence of the element. It flowed through him, infusing every cell, and he felt an exhilarating replenishment of his energy. With each exhalation, he expelled the toxins and weariness from his body. Every breath brought strength and vitality, a sensation of renewal that coursed through him, making him feel whole and invigorated.
[It was a remarkable lesson, Tony. But for now, we can conclude our day,]
the Imperial's voice gently interrupted the meditative trance.
Tony opened his eyes, the enchantment of the moment dissipating. He realized the world had plunged into darkness, and he checked his wristwatch in astonishment. It was already eight o'clock.
"What? I didn't realize I was standing here for so long with my eyes closed," Tony marveled.
[Meditation with the wind can make time slip away. It's an essential aspect of mage training,]
"And what's the purpose of it, anyway?" Tony inquired.
[It cultivates a profound connection between you and the wind, substantially enhancing your mage abilities,"] the Imperial explained.
DAY TWO
The daily sessions began at the break of dawn, when the training chambers were cast in a soft, ethereal glow by the early morning sun.
The first day was a serene immersion in the theory of air. Tony sat cross-legged on the polished marble floor, bathed in the golden rays of the sun, and closed his eyes. For today's lesson he wasn't on top of a building, he was in an elemental chamber, which was used for meditation for mages, it was wide and filled with ancient materials and some leaves scattered on the floor. Tony was lucky to be alone at this early morning, so he'll have to concentrate more.
[Step two: Moving with the air]
The system spoke in his head.
Each breath, each rustle of leaves, became a symphony of wind whispers. Tony's understanding of air deepened with every moment of introspection, a crucial connection with the element of air.