After days of rest, Neral began his journey to learn the aether. The training was harsh. The aether was not just an ordinary power that could be controlled easily. It was like the flow of life itself, something one had to harmonize with rather than dominate.
"The aether is not something you can impose control over by force," Kyle explained as Neral tried to channel his energy. "You have to learn to be a part of it, to understand how it flows through everything around you."
At first, Neral failed in every attempt. The aether slipped through his grasp, as if he lacked the right connection to it. He felt frustrated and angry, but Kyle remained patient.
"Controlling the aether requires a clear mind," Kyle said. "You must learn to let go of your conflicting emotions. Only when you achieve inner balance can you connect with the aether."
Weeks passed, and with each practice session, Neral began to notice progress. He was able to sense the flow of aether in the air, in the ground, and in everything around him. But that was not enough. He knew he was still far from complete control.
As Neral trained to control the aether, new threats began to emerge on the horizon. The monsters he had faced were not the only ones in the forest. Reports of stronger and more ferocious beasts were coming in from neighboring villages.
One day, while training, a massive creature appeared before them. It resembled a wolf, but it had wings and fangs larger than any beast Neral had encountered before.
"This is not an ordinary monster," Kyle said, drawing his sword. "This beast carries aetheric power."
Neral felt pressure building inside him. He was not ready for such a challenge yet. He knew that confronting this monster would be entirely different from anything he had faced before. His heart raced, and his hand trembled as he gripped his sword. This was the first time he felt real fear, but he had no other choice. This beast was a real threat, and if he didn't deal with it now, everyone could be in danger.
"Get ready, Neral!" Kyle shouted as he moved towards the beast.
Quickly, Neral stepped back a little, taking a defensive stance. The beast let out a terrifying growl, its massive wings flapping violently, creating whirlwinds of wind around it. Then, without warning, the creature charged at them with astonishing speed.
Kyle responded swiftly. He lunged at the beast with his sword glowing with aether energy, aiming a powerful strike at the beast's wing. But the creature was faster than Kyle had anticipated; it dodged the blow and lunged at him from the other side. Kyle retreated, but the beast's claws managed to strike him, sending him staggering back.
Despite his fear, Neral knew he had to act. He tried to summon the aether, but the power still eluded him. He struggled to focus, attempting to remember Kyle's instructions: "The aether requires a clear mind." But all he felt was chaos and fear.
The beast turned towards Neral and let out a high-pitched roar. Its glowing eyes were fixed on him, as if it knew Neral was the easier target.
"Neral, move!" Kyle shouted, trying to rise after being injured.
But Neral couldn't move. His feet felt frozen in place. The beast advanced slowly toward Neral, then suddenly lunged at him with incredible speed. Neral shut his eyes, bracing for the worst.
But instead of feeling the beast's fangs sinking into him, he felt an immense surge of energy flooding the area. He opened his eyes to find Kyle standing between him and the beast, his sword glowing with aether power. Kyle had managed to land a powerful strike on the beast, stopping its attack and forcing it to retreat slightly.
"Don't let fear control you, Neral!" Kyle said with determination. "The aether needs you to trust yourself. If you don't, you'll never be able to control it."
Neral took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knew this moment was crucial. He had to control the aether now, or he would lose everything. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the flow of energy around him.
Slowly, he began to feel something. The aether was flowing from the ground, from the air, and from within him as well. It was a gentle energy, but it was powerful. This time, he didn't try to impose control over it; instead, he allowed it to merge with him. It was the moment he felt liberated.
He opened his eyes once more, and his sword glowed with aether energy. He looked at the beast, which was preparing to attack again, but this time he didn't feel fear. He knew how to use the aether now, and how to protect himself and those around him.
The beast charged at them once more, but Neral was ready. With renewed focus and strength, he lunged towards the creature, his sword illuminated by aether energy. He aimed a powerful strike at the beast's neck, stopping it in its tracks. This blow was not ordinary; it was infused with aether energy, making it more potent and effective.
The beast let out one final roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
After the battle, Neral sat beside Kyle, who was breathing heavily. "Are you okay?" Neral asked, looking at Kyle's injuries.
Kyle smiled weakly. "I'm fine... but you, Neral... you succeeded. You managed to control the aether."
Neral looked at his sword, still glowing with aether energy. "I think I'm beginning to understand it."
Kyle chuckled softly. "This is just the beginning. There will be much more to learn. But you've proven that you're capable of using it."
As they sat there, Neral felt he had taken a significant step towards his destiny. He knew that this battle was just the beginning. The world was filled with monsters and challenges he would have to face, but with the aether by his side, he felt ready for anything.