Aiden stood in the dimly lit basement, watching as Cassius gathered various pieces of training equipment and supplies."We'll set up camp just outside the village," Cassius said, hefting a large bag over his shoulder. "Follow me."
They made their way out of the house and into the Forest of Clarity. Cassius led him to a small clearing not far from the village, where he began unpacking the gear and setting up a rudimentary campsite. "A body naturally absorbs Essence from its surroundings..." Cassius explained as he worked. "whether you have a Soul Mark or not. But to truly attune yourself to it, you need focus. He gestured to a small mat he had just placed on the ground.
"Meditation will help you cultivate that focus. You can stay for as long as you want to, but we won't move on to combat training until you've learned to maintain that state of heightened awareness." Aiden nodded, settling onto the mat and clumsily crossing his legs. He had meditated before, but never with such a weighty purpose.
As he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, the forest's serene air began clearing his lungs. The hours stretched on, only the rustling leaves and distant bird calls marking the passage of time, and the light that filtered through the canopy above slowly diminishing as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.
At first, Aiden's mind wandered, jumping from one thought to the next like a restless butterfly. But gradually, as he surrendered himself to the rhythmic rise and fall of his breath, he found it easier to quiet the incessant chatter of his thoughts and sink deeper into a state of true peace of mind. The world around him seemed to recede, until all that remained was the steady presence of the Essence that spread throughout the forest.
Occasionally, Cassius would approach him, trying his best to keep quiet and not break Aiden's focus, but for the most part, he left Aiden to his own, retreating to the edges of the clearing to perform his own training and preparations. Time had lost all meaning, measured only by the gradual shift of light and shadow, the ever-changing forest sounds.
Aiden was floating in a state of perfect, unbreakable focus. He was actively imagining the Essence flowing through his soul, filling every crevice, every nook and cranny. He didn't know for how long he had been meditating when he finally opened his eyes, blinking against the dimness of the evening light. But as he glanced down at the necklace resting against his chest, he saw that the ruby was glowing faintly, pulsing in time with his heartbeat.
Cassius noticed it too and nodded approvingly. "Good. The ruby is responding to your efforts."
Aiden touched the pendant, marveling at the warmth that seemed to radiate from it. "How long was I…?"
"Two days," Cassius replied. "Two damn days. I'm surprised that you were able to sit still for that long. You've taken the first step, but there is still much to learn. He gestured to the camp around them.
"Rest for now. Recover your strength. Tomorrow, we begin the next phase of your training." Aiden nodded, excitement and trepidation mingling within him. He had crossed the threshold, surrendering himself to the Essence that permeated the forest. And in doing so, he had unlocked something deep within himself, a wellspring of potential that had lain dormant until now.
The following days passed in a blur of rigorous training. After a brief stop at the Sylvanwood Commerce for his regular shift, Aiden would return at night to the Forest of Clarity, where Cassius would put him through a grueling regimen of combat drills and endurance trials, all designed to hone his newfound connection to the Essence and complete his goal of filling the ruby up.
Sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, sprinting, push-ups... Aiden seriously felt as if he was undertaking Oracle training under his father's belt.
Aiden's muscles ached and his skin was crisscrossed with bruises and scrapes from the countless sparring sessions and challenges that Cassius put him through. But through it all, he could feel himself growing stronger, sharper, more attuned to the dense Essence in the air, almost feeling as if it had began flowing through his veins. The ruby in his necklace glowed brighter with each passing day, a testament to the progress he was making, the reservoir of Essence within him swelling with every moment of focus and concentration. Aiden was as impressed with his own efforts as was sick and tired of the training itself.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of grueling training, Cassius called a halt to their sessions one morning as the sun had just risen. They had trained the whole night, and Aiden was drenched in sweat, his body screaming in protest, but there was a sense of accomplishment burning within him. Cassius nodded towards the necklace, the ruby pulsing with a brilliant, steady light.
"You've done it, you've fucking done it!" he said. "The catalyst is fully charged!"
Aiden looked down at the necklace, his hand unconsciously rising to grip the pendant. He could feel the power thrumming within it, completely different to the one from before, a wellspring of potential waiting to be tapped into, a force that he had once thought beyond his reach.
"What happens now?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.
Cassius's expression grew somber. "Now, the real work begins. Are you ready to unlock the power that lies within you?"
Aiden met his gaze, his jaw set with determination. "I'm ready."
As his training began, days turned into weeks, and Aiden was slowly pushed into all sorts of rituals and practices outside of his normal training, ones he found weird in the beginning, but slowly got used to. Although, they weren't normal in the slightest. Besides the occasional chanting rituals, Cassius put Aiden through almost torture-like preparations. Sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation... all in a claim that this would make him stronger and of an iron will.
However, what none of you knew, what not even Aiden knew... He was being lied to. In reality, Cassius was attempting to use Aiden to his benefit.
Time kept ticking, but Aiden's determination was unbreakable. He wouldn't let anyone deter him from this goal he was so incredibly close to grasping.
"Aiden, we're finally close. This is the final step." Cassius had a huge grin across his face.
"I can't believe it, I just can't!" Cassius kept maniacally laughing. "Aiden, it's time. You must fast for the next 24h. Once you come back, the power will finally be mi- yours. The power will finally be yours, Aiden!"
Aiden did what he was told. For the next 24 hours, he fasted and did nothing but rest. He'd return to the forest, where he was met by Cassius, and dozens of hooded individuals, their faces unrecognizable. "Are these... the townsfolk?" Aiden was shocked.
"Welcome, my son." Cassius hugged Aiden tightly, almost as if he had just returned from a war. "We will rest a bit longer. Everything begins at midnight.
Aiden sat down on a chair in the middle of the village, near the pond. He was quickly encircled by the hooded figures, while nothing but silence was heard. Aiden was, perplexed, to say the least. Up to him ran a few of the people, bringing him a table, some coffee, and some cookies.
"My, my, as hospitable as ever…" said Aiden, trying to force back the shakiness of his voice. He was understandably frightened by this situation.