The three-month training begins in Elderglow Hollow, a cave nestled deep within the Mother of Mountains, was home to the Lumina Drakes, serpentine creatures whose iridescent scales shimmered with the colors of the rainbow. Their delicate fins emitted a soft, crystal glow, and their large, multifaceted eyes could see in the darkest of depths. These beasts are both feared for their ferocity as they are extremely territorial but also revered by the mountain folks as deities. They enriched the soil with their excrements, mixing nutrients vital for plant growth as they swam beneath the ground.
Menelaus and I stood at the mouth of the cave. "We begin with earth magic," he announced, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "You have a natural affinity for this element, and it is crucial to establish a strong foundation early. Earth magic is the hardest to control, which is why healers, who draw upon this power, are rare."
As we approached the entrance, the air grows cooler, laden with the scent of moist earth and pungent bat droppings. The cave mouth yawns wide, a dark, gaping orifice, framed by enormous trees whose knotted roots cling to the stone. The cave walls and the surrounding rocks are adorned with luminescent moss that emits a greenish glow, casting shadows on its surface.
Inside the atmosphere changed dramatically. The cavern's interior is a cathedral of stone, vast and echoing, with a ceiling that seems to stretch to the heavens, adorned with stalactites that glisten like the fangs of a colossal beast. The air is thick with the rustic scent of minerals and the faint, sweet smell of underground water. It's eerily silent inside, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the stalactites into the unseen depths below. The walls are adorned with white crystals that catch the light of the bioluminescent fungi clinging to the rocks, creating a dazzling display of colors. These fungi, known as Starfire Lichens, emit a soft, pulsating light, casting a dreamlike glow that bathes the entire cavern.
As we ventured deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels, the sound of a gentle, rhythmic hum begins to fill the air—a serene, almost melodic vibration—the song of the Lumina Drakes, the mystical beasts that call this cavern their home.
Lumina Drakes are creatures of beauty and terror, their forms both awe-inspiring and fearsome. Their elongated, sinuous bodies covered in iridescent scales that shimmer with a myriad of colors, reflecting the light in an ever-changing spectrum. Unlike the males who writhes and burrows underground, fully grown female Lumina Drakes have wings vast, delicate, and translucent, edged with a glowing cerulean feather that leaves trails of light in their wake as they glide through the cavern.
These majestic creatures have piercing eyes like pools of liquid gold armed with a hypnotic gaze that paralyzes the giant mole rats they prey upon. Their talons are as sharp as obsidian, capable of rending stone and flesh alike, yet they move with a grace that belies their notoriety as fearsome predators. The Lumina Drakes are also known for their dual nature—capable of great gentleness for the few mountain folks they trust and ferocity against their poachers. Lumina Drake scales are highly priced for they shine brighter than any gems.
At the heart of Elderglow lies the Crystal Pool, a serene, mirror-like body of water fed by an underground spring. The pool waters are said to have excellent healing properties of those few who have the courage to bathe in them. The Lumina Drakes are often seen here during mating season, basking in the pool's glow, their scales shimmering in the liquid light.
Elderglow Hollow is the closest one can get into listening to the heartbeat of earth itself. For that reason, Menelaus, chose this place for my training. "Feel the ground beneath your feet," he instructed. "Let its energy flow through you. Become one with the earth." His words hung in the air as we delved deeper onto the darkest and safest part of the cave away from the Lumina Drake's territory.
The first week was all about building a solid foundation. Menelaus believed that understanding the fundamental principles of earth magic and establishing a deep connection with the element was crucial.
"Before you can command the earth, you must first understand it," Menelaus explained. "Feel its energy, connect with its essence."
Menelaus began with a lecture on the history of earth magic. He spoke of ancient mages who could reshape landscapes and control the very ground beneath their feet. Their power came from a profound connection with the earth moving it through their will.
"Close your eyes," Menelaus instructed during meditation. "Let the earth's energy flow through you. Become one with it."
I focused on the sensations under my feet, feeling it steady and unyielding presence. Gradually, I began to sense a subtle energy, a pulse that resonated with my own heartbeat.
The next few days were dedicated to grounding techniques.
"Grounding yourself allows you to draw upon the earth's vast reservoir of energy," Menelaus explained. "It roots you, making your magic more stable and potent. Control and precision," he emphasized. "Start small. Shape the soil, move the rocks."
I spent hours practicing, focusing on the feel of the earth in my hands. At first, it was challenging to manipulate even a small amount of soil, but with persistence, I began to shape it into simple forms. Each success, no matter how small, boosted my confidence.
The second week was about increasing my power and refining my control. Menelaus believed that a strong magical core was essential for any mage.
"Your magical core is like a muscle," Menelaus explained as we began. "The more you use it, the stronger it becomes."
Menelaus pushed me to manipulate larger amounts of earth each day, gradually increasing the weight and complexity of the tasks. I could feel the strain, but I also felt my connection to the earth growing.
"Good," Menelaus nodded approvingly as I lifted a sizable boulder with ease. "Now, maintain control. Power without control is like a horse without a rider."
Next, we moved on to constructing earth shields. Menelaus showed me how to create basic defensive barriers, emphasizing durability and flexibility.
"An earth shield can protect you from various attacks," he demonstrated by manipulating the rocks inside the cave and fashioning them as an armor which clad his body. "But it must be strong and adaptable, use your imagination, adapt to the situation, shape the ground beneath you according to your will. Imagine it as a clay, mold an image in your head, earth can be hard as a rock and soft as a clay. Play around these properties, like how an artist shifts the constructs of clay to harden statues or how builders bend steel to build pillars."
Whenever he seems I'm ready, Menelaus introduced more advanced forms. Combining forms in various scenarios helped me understand their practical uses in combat and other situations.
The third week was dedicated to mastering advanced techniques. Menelaus wanted to push my abilities further, his teachings are becoming more and more complex.
He demonstrated how to create small, localized tremors by stamping his feet. The ground shook, but only within a specific radius as how he wanted it. "Now, you try."
I focused, channeling my energy into the ground. I stamped my feet as hard as I can but the only thing that moved are the startled mountain goats grazing in the plains. As for the ground, well it doesn't give a fuck.
Next, Menelaus introduced geomancy, the art of using earth magic for divination and environmental sensing.
"Geomancy allows you to read the natural landscape and detect hidden objects or beings," he explained. "It's like having a sixth sense."
Through long hours of meditation, I began to sense the subtle vibrations in the earth, and learned to distinguish between different sources of movement and energy. It was a challenging and fascinating aspect of earth magic, one that deepened my connection to the element.