The three of them retreated, breathing heavily as they watched the Shidaron with caution. Its massive body lay on the ground, pulsating faintly as the aether energy slowly drained from it.
Ariane, still trying to process what had just happened, looked over at Neral with a faint smile. "I didn't expect you to progress so quickly. That last strike... it wasn't as weak as I thought!"
Neral's eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and astonishment, as this was the first time he felt a genuine power within himself—a power that made him feel part of the world that had always felt foreign to him. But before he could reply, he heard Eldar sigh in relief, saying, "That was more than I anticipated, but remember, every step brings a new responsibility. This beast is just the beginning of harder challenges."
Neral approached the fading Shidaron and gazed at its shimmering remains, like scattered stars on the ground. He recalled past moments of weakness and how he had nearly lost his life more than once, yet this experience made him realize he had potential he hadn't yet explored.
With a serious tone, Eldar added, "Now that aether has become part of you, you carry the consequences of it. Not everyone who possesses aether can use it wisely, and with every power comes responsibility."
Neral gave a faint smile, trying to mask his nerves, and replied, "I understand that, and I'll do my best to rise to the challenge."
As they prepared to leave, Ariane turned to Eldar and asked curiously, "What was that spell you used to freeze the Shidaron for a moment? I've never seen anything like it before."
Eldar smiled slightly, a hint of sarcasm in his expression, and replied, "It's one of the old techniques, learned over years of rigorous training. Aether is not just raw power; it can be controlled if guided correctly. But it requires a balance between strength and focus; otherwise, the consequences can be devastating."
On their way back, Neral felt a deep exhaustion creeping into his body, as though the aether had drained him completely. He paused for a moment, catching his breath as thoughts crowded his mind. He realized that mastering aether was a long, arduous journey, yet this experience made him even more determined to become strong enough to protect his friends and face the challenges ahead.
Then he looked towards Ariane and Eldar, who were picking up their pace, as if they knew something mysterious they hadn't shared with him. He remembered Eldar's words about responsibility and began to understand that each victory could bring a stronger enemy and a tougher challenge.
As they walked, Neral noticed Aryan's silent, watchful gaze toward the horizon, as if she could see something distant that he couldn't yet comprehend. He asked quietly, "Aryan, I feel like there's something you know but haven't told me. Is there another danger we should be aware of?"
Aryan paused, then replied with a hesitant sigh, "The Shidaron was just a guardian. Its presence here isn't a coincidence; something greater controls its appearance. I sense that other creatures will begin to emerge soon."
Neral stared at Aryan, stunned, trying to grasp the depth of the threat the group was about to face. The Shidaron hadn't been an ordinary beast; it represented a greater force, something he hadn't expected. Despite their small victory just now, he realized that this was merely the beginning of a perilous journey.
Eldar, who had been leading the way and listening in silence, suddenly stopped and turned to them, saying, "If that's true, we must prepare. We won't be alone in this upcoming battle, and the Aether will not just be a weapon—it'll be a means of survival."
Neral looked at his companions and smiled bravely, despite the worry in his heart. This moment marked a shift in his life's path. He was no longer the naïve young man who'd begun his journey in the world of Aether, but someone else entirely—a warrior with strength and purpose.
Neral and his companions continued walking with cautious anticipation, the sound of the wind cutting through the silence of the forest, mingling with the echo of their footsteps. Time passed slowly, to the point where they barely felt the hours slipping by. The atmosphere grew heavier, as though the forest itself were breathing, synchronized with the tones of the aether around them.
Arian leaned closer to Neral and whispered, "They're close, I can feel it. The aether in this place is shifting… something is watching us."
At that moment, a faint hissing sound emerged from the horizon, quickly followed by a slight tremor beneath their feet. Eldar's expression turned into a mix of concern and seriousness as he murmured, "Prepare yourselves; this isn't just a minor creature. What we're up against now is entirely different from the Shidaron."
Neral gazed down at the ground, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound, when additional noises filled the air: faint rustling and the slow, dripping sound of water. Suddenly, a strange creature appeared from between the trees, a blend of skeletal structure akin to mythical beings with a body glowing with aether. Its limbs were reptilian, yet it had a single gleaming eye, observing them with a cold, calculating intelligence.
Eldar whispered, "That's a Karashin, a deadly hunter, an extremely rare aetheric being and a formidable adversary."
Arian took a deep breath and spoke firmly to Neral, "This is your time now; this is your chance to prove you can wield the aether. Gather your strength and stay alert."
Neral focused on the Karashin, studying its slow, deliberate movements as the flow of aether around him surged, almost wanting to become an extension of him. He tried to channel his energy, closing his eyes momentarily to harmonize with the surrounding aether, but something was resisting him.
Seeing Neral's struggle, Eldar intervened calmly, "Don't try to control it with force. Instead, harmonize with it. Aether is not a tool but a partner. Become part of it and let it guide you."
Taking a deep breath, Neral felt the aether flow around him intensify, a faint glow radiating from his hands, but the moment was brief. Suddenly, the Karashin lunged forward with incredible speed, aiming straight at Neral, releasing a piercing cry that shattered the silence of the forest, forcing Arian and Eldar to intervene at the last moment to shield Neral from the surprise attack.