The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden hue across the horizon. Arin sat by a small lake, his legs dangling into the cool water. After the intense heat of mastering the Fire element, the water felt like a soothing balm on his skin. His body was sore from the previous day's training with Rykan, but the cool breeze and gentle waves calmed him.
Master Rykan stood behind him, arms crossed, surveying the still water with a thoughtful expression. "Today's trial will be different, Arin. Water is not like Fire. Fire is passionate, consuming, driven by emotion. Water, however, is calm, adaptable, and most importantly—unforgiving in its patience."
Arin rubbed his face, still feeling the lingering effects of fatigue. "Let me guess, Water's going to try to drown me?"
Rykan grinned. "Something like that."
Arin gave him a side glance. "Wonderful."
Rykan knelt down by the water, running his fingers through it. "Water is the element of flexibility and endurance. It can wear down even the strongest of stones over time, and it can adapt to any situation, changing its form at will. But it's also deceptive. Calm on the surface, turbulent below. If you don't respect it, you'll drown—both literally and metaphorically."
"Thanks for the pep talk," Arin muttered, kicking the water. "So how do I start? Jump in and hope I float?"
Rykan shook his head. "No, no. The Jala Sutra, or Water Art, isn't about brute force. You must first learn to listen to the water." He stepped back, gesturing to the lake. "Feel its movement, the way it shifts with the wind, the way it caresses the shore. Once you can sync with its rhythm, you'll be able to command it."
Arin stared at the lake, skeptical. "You make it sound like a dance. I'm not exactly a great dancer."
"Water doesn't need you to be graceful," Rykan said. "It needs you to be fluid."
Arin took a deep breath, sitting cross-legged at the water's edge. He let his fingers dip into the lake, focusing on the subtle currents beneath the surface. At first, it felt like nothing. The water was just... water. Cool and refreshing, but not particularly special.
But as the minutes passed, Arin began to notice small details—the way the water rippled ever so slightly when the wind blew, the tiny waves that lapped against the shore, the faint pull of the current. He closed his eyes, trying to connect with the water's flow.
"Good," Rykan's voice was soft, almost approving. "Let it guide you."
For the next few moments, the world around Arin seemed to fall away. He became immersed in the feeling of the water, its gentle yet constant motion. Slowly, he lifted his hand out of the lake, and to his surprise, a thin stream of water rose with it, following his movement like a thread.
"Whoa..." Arin whispered.
Rykan watched with a nod. "That's the first step. Now, try shaping it. Water is formless, but it will follow your will if you can maintain your focus."
Arin's brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to shape the water. The thin thread wobbled, then collapsed, splashing back into the lake with a small plop.
"Okay, maybe I need more practice," Arin muttered.
Rykan smirked. "Obviously. But you've got the basics. Now let's move on to something more... immersive."
Arin blinked. "Immersive?"
Before he could react, Rykan flicked his wrist, and the water from the lake surged up in a giant wave, crashing over Arin and dragging him into the depths.
Arin flailed, bubbles escaping his mouth as he sank into the lake. The water was cold and shockingly deep. He tried to swim, but the currents were stronger than he expected, pulling him down further. Panic started to set in.
Stay calm, he reminded himself. You have to stay calm.
Rykan's voice echoed in his mind. "Water is patient. If you fight it, you lose. If you adapt, you survive."
Arin forced himself to stop struggling. He let the currents carry him, and soon enough, he found himself floating rather than sinking. The water wasn't pushing him down—it was cradling him, holding him gently in its embrace.
Adapt, don't fight it.
Taking a deep breath—or rather, imagining he was—Arin focused on the water around him. Slowly, he extended his arms, feeling the currents swirl around his fingertips. He could sense the energy in the water now, the subtle power that lay beneath its surface.
He willed the water to move, and it responded. The currents shifted, pushing him upward. Within moments, Arin broke the surface, gasping for air as he floated to the shore.
"Not bad for a beginner," Rykan said, standing over him with his arms crossed.
Arin coughed, spitting out water. "You drowned me!"
"Training," Rykan said with a shrug. "Besides, you survived, didn't you?"
Arin glared up at him but couldn't argue. He had, in fact, survived.
After drying off and catching his breath, Rykan led Arin to a small waterfall that flowed from the cliffs nearby. The constant rush of water was both soothing and intimidating.
"Now," Rykan began, "you're going to learn the Jala Bhakti technique. Water's defensive technique."
"Defensive?" Arin perked up. "Finally, something that doesn't involve almost killing me."
"Don't get too excited. Water is fluid, yes, but its defense isn't passive. It requires you to create a barrier—like a flowing shield—that can absorb and redirect attacks."
Rykan demonstrated, lifting his hand toward the waterfall. As the water rushed down, it split into two streams, flowing harmlessly around him. "Water absorbs energy. You need to learn to direct it."
Arin nodded, eager to try. He focused on the waterfall, lifting his hand in the same way Rykan had. At first, nothing happened. The water continued to flow straight down, soaking him thoroughly.
Rykan snorted. "You're supposed to redirect it, not take a bath."
"Give me a second," Arin grumbled. He closed his eyes, visualizing the flow of water and willing it to part. This time, when he lifted his hand, the water split, just as Rykan had shown.
"Not bad," Rykan said. "But that's the easy part. Now, let's see how you handle this."
Without warning, Rykan unleashed a powerful blast of wind toward Arin, sending a torrent of air barreling toward him. Arin, caught off guard, panicked and raised his hand. The water from the waterfall surged around him, forming a swirling shield of liquid. The wind hit the water shield, and to Arin's surprise, the shield held, deflecting the attack.
Arin grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "I did it!"
Rykan didn't respond. Instead, he sent another wind blast, this one stronger and faster. Arin barely had time to react, raising his water shield again. But this time, the shield wobbled under the force of the wind, and a portion of it collapsed, sending a spray of water into Arin's face.
"Don't get cocky," Rykan warned. "Your control is still weak. If you can't maintain focus under pressure, your defenses will crumble."
Arin wiped the water from his eyes, nodding. "Right... focus."
They spent the next several hours practicing the Jala Bhakti technique. Rykan would send wave after wave of attacks—wind, fire, even earth—at Arin, forcing him to maintain his water shield under increasingly difficult conditions. Each time, Arin would adapt, adjusting the flow of water, redirecting the attacks, and learning to anticipate the shifts in the elements.
By the end of the session, Arin was exhausted, but he had made significant progress. His water shield had become stronger, more fluid, and he was starting to understand the subtleties of the Water element.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the lake, Rykan stood beside Arin, watching the water ripple in the fading light.
"You've done well today," Rykan said, his tone uncharacteristically soft. "Water is not an easy element to master, but you're getting there."
Arin, still catching his breath, managed a tired smile. "I guess... I didn't drown, so that's a win."
Rykan chuckled. "Indeed. But remember, Arin, water is only one part of the whole. You've still got a long way to go."
Arin nodded, staring out at the lake. He knew Rykan was right. He had learned Earth, Wind, and now Water, but the path ahead was still uncertain. Each element was a new challenge, a new obstacle to overcome.
But for the first time in a while, Arin felt a sense of accomplishment. He was getting stronger. Slowly, yes, but surely.
He looked at Rykan, a hint of determination in his eyes. "What's next?"
Rykan smiled. "Next? Next is Space. And trust me, it's going to be... mind-bending."
Arin groaned. "Of course it is..."