The first week of our Manipulation training focused on establishing a connection with our chosen elements through meditation. Each night, we gathered in the serene tranquility of the Veil Grotto, sitting in a circle beneath the vast expanse of the starlit sky. The grotto's natural beauty was both awe-inspiring and humbling, with its towering limestone walls and the gentle sound of water echoing around us.
I focused on the earth, imagining the quiet strength of mountains and the peaceful retreat of forests. I envisioned the cycle of life—birth, death, spring, fall—and felt a deep connection to the ground beneath me. Around me, the others connected with their elements: Ishtar, harnessing the wind; the twins Karim and Haruno, practicing their synchrony to channel fire and water; and Bran, fashioning flames into fireballs was a child's play for him.
"Focus on the stars," Menelaus instructed, his voice calm and steady. "Feel their energy flowing into you, become one with your element."
At first, we struggled. The energy slipped through our grasp like sand. Our concentration wavered, and frustration began to mount. Determination, however, kept us trying. Menelaus observed our efforts with a knowing smile, offering guidance and encouragement.
"Patience, Erik," he said to me one evening as I fumbled with a pebble to no progress like a lunatic, trying to levitate it. "The earth is strong and patient. Do not seek to control it, seek to be one with it."
Ishtar attempted to levitate, managing to float a couple of feet off the ground before crashing down with a loud thud. We couldn't help but laugh, even Ishtar, who rubbed his bruised backside. "Nice landing, face first..." Bran joked, earning a glare from Ishtar.
The twins, Karim and Haruno, struggled with their rhythm. They argued constantly about who was doing what wrong, their frustration evident. "You're supposed to synchronize, not criticize," Menelaus chided gently.
Bran, always the confident one, summoned fire in the shape of beasts. His proficiency was impressive, but it often drains him. Menelaus warned, "A mage must think a step ahead. Relying on a single spell leaves you vulnerable. A mage with no energy reserve is a dead mage on the battlefield."
By the end of the first week, we were slightly more proficient and disciplined. We had learned to manipulate energy from our core reserves, sending pulses to our hands to manifest our elements. My attempts to levitate pebbles were modest successes, while Bran's fire creatures became more refined. We were improving, but there was still a long long way to go.
The second week tested our focus and precision. We practiced shaping our elements into specific forms. I struggled to mold soil into a makeshift sword, which crumbled easily under Menelaus's touch.
"Stability, Erik," he advised, inspecting my crumbled creation. "Imagine the structure within the soil, the roots that bind it together, seek to be one with it."
Karim and Haruno managed to create two cranes made of water and fire. The cranes flew gracefully for a moment before disintegrating when the twins celebrated too early and lost focus.
"Concentration, both of you," Menelaus said. "Your elements must be an extension of your will."
Ishtar succeeded in molding a swirling miniature tornado on his palms, holding it longer than any of us could manage. Bran, who found creating larger fire constructs easy, struggled to form miniature flaming ants when Menelaus instructed him to do so. "Start with the basics," Menelaus reminded him. "Your problem is you go big too soon."
We grew more determined with each failure. The training became more rigorous as we progressed. In the third week, we integrated our elements with physical activities, navigating an obstacle course while maintaining elemental control. I used the ground to propel myself forward like a ski. Ishtar commanded the wind to carry him in flight. Karim and Haruno worked on their synchronization, Karim using fire to propel them while Haruno used water to control their landing. Bran, of course, summoned flames to launch himself from platform to platform with relative ease.
"Movement," Menelaus said, watching our progress with a critical eye, "is crucial for a mage. Your element must become an extension of your body. Move swiftly and with grace."
During one training session, I lost focus and stumbled, falling flat on my face as the ground under me crumbled. "Ohh, that hurts," Bran teased, laughing. I shot him a look but couldn't help but smile. It was all part of the process.
Elemental Combat Training added a new dimension to our skills in the fourth week. We sparred with each other, using our elements defensively and offensively. I created a shield wall of rocks and soil when Bran unleashed a flock of flaming birds at me, laughing and mocking. I retaliated by directing rock boulders at him, intentionally missing him by a margin but making my point clear. "Do not underestimate me," I said, meeting his gaze.
The combat scenarios required quick thinking and precise control. We learned to stay calm under pressure, utilizing our magic effectively. The intensity often led to minor injuries, but we persevered. Menelaus's lessons became more profound with each passing day as we apply what we've learned.
"Magic is the application of natural laws," he repeated. "We harness the power of nature… imagination…conservation of energy. Control and balance."
We spent countless hours day and night practicing, falling, getting up, and trying again. Our bodies ached, bruises adorned our limbs, but each small success felt like a monumental victory pushing us forward.
Sparring sessions became a daily routine, where we used our elements defensively and offensively in a mock fight.
Menelaus pushed us hard on the verge of breaking. "A mage's strength lies not just in their power, but in their ability to adapt," he reminded us during one particularly grueling session.
By the end of each day, we were exhausted, our energy reserves depleted. We would drag ourselves to the lagoon in the Veil Grotto, its healing waters mending our bruises and replenishing our spiritual energy. As we soaked, conversations flowed easily, a mix of longing for home and the determination to protect it from the growing threat of the dark king and his legion.
"I miss my brother," Ishtar admitted one evening, his voice echoing softly. "When I become a successful mage, I'll buy my family's freedom so we can be reunited." I understood exactly how Ishtar felt for my thoughts at night always find their way home to our humble farming village, to mom's food, to baba's stories and to my brother Tom, though we don't agree all the time, I know he cared more than what he showed.
"We all do," Karim said, staring at the ceiling of the grotto. "But we're here for a reason. To protect those, we love," Haruno added.
Menelaus sometimes joined us in the lagoon. His thoughts often turned to the stories and lessons of the past, tales of legend in the age of heroes during the time of the Five Great Pillars of Eldoria, the legendary heroes who founded the great city. Menelaus recounted history with reverence.
"Many centuries ago," Menelaus began, his voice taking cadence, "Ganduana was on the brink of destruction. The Dark King and his night creatures ravaged the land, spreading chaos and fear. Amidst this darkness, five great leaders from the five great races rose to stand against the tide of evil."
"The first was Elorion, the elven archer, whose precision and grace in battle were unmatched. He rallied the elves, uniting them under a single banner to fight for their survival."
"Next was Thrain, the dwarf blacksmith, whose ingenuity and craftsmanship forged weapons that could pierce the night creatures' hides like cutting sheets of paper. His creations turned the tide of many battles."
"Ariana, an Archmage, was third. Her mastery of elemental magic and her ability to inspire hope in others made her a beacon of light in the darkest times."
"Then there was Gruk, the giant warrior. His strength and valor were legendary, leading the giant clans into battle with unwavering determination."
"Finally, there was Lysandra, the warrior queen. Her compassion and wisdom guiding the mortals through the hardest times, leading them in countless battlefronts."
"Together, they founded Eldoria, the great city that we now know today. legacy lives on, reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, unity and courage can prevail."
We listened, captivated by the story. The legacy of the Five Pillars resonated deeply with us, their struggles and triumphs inspiring us to push through our own hardships.
As the final week of our energy manipulation training approached, Menelaus prepared us for the ultimate test: a full-scale simulation of a nightcrawler attack. He made stone golems out of rubbles to act us invaders. The stakes were high, the pressure immense. We had to demonstrate and apply all the lessons we've learned from our training, our control over the elements, our ability to work together, and our readiness to face real danger.
The simulation was intense, the stone golems Menelaus conjured were not easy to subdue. I used the earth to create barriers for us while others launch counterattacks. Ishtar soared above, directing gusts of winds against the approaching enemy. Karim and Haruno, finally in sync, unleashed a torrent of fire and water, their combined magic creating a dazzling display of power that sweeps the stone golems and pushed them back. Bran, with his fiery constructs, led the charge, his confidence now tempered with caution and strategy.
Menelaus watched from the sidelines, his eyes sharp and assessing. "Remember your training," he called out. "Stay focused, stay together."
We fought with everything we had, our elements dancing and intertwining in a symphony. The battle was fierce, but we held our ground. As the last golem fell, a sense of accomplishment washed over us.
Panting and exhausted, we gathered around Menelaus, who looked at us with pride. "You've done well, young fools," he said. "You're ready for the next phase. Remember the lessons you've learned here, the strength you've found within yourselves and each other."
We nodded and exchanged congratulatory hugs between us, Bran, though reluctant at first, joined in. We felt like we're real mages now, though we know we're still a long shot from being one. But that's fine, even great mages starts from being an apprentice.