Asha and Faida stood before Tidiane, their hearts still pounding from the excitement of passing the first test. The air in the temple training hall felt charged, alive with anticipation. They watched Tidiane closely, his piercing gaze fixed on them as if weighing their very souls.
"Tidiane," Asha began, his curiosity overcoming his nervousness, "what did you mean when you mentioned our potential?"
Tidiane gave a small, cryptic smile, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. Without answering, he reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out two small sheets of white parchment. These papers, unlike any ordinary ones, shimmered faintly with an otherworldly light. Their surfaces seemed to ripple like water, pulsing in rhythm with the quiet hum of Zowa energy that filled the room.
"These," Tidiane began, his voice low and deliberate, "will reveal your true potential. It's the second part of your test."
Both Asha and Faida leaned forward, their breaths catching in their throats. The sheer weight of Tidiane's words seemed to hang in the air. Asha had been convinced the test would involve more combat, but this? This felt far more mysterious, far more significant.
"What do you mean by 'true potential'?" Asha asked, his brow furrowed. "Is it some kind of fight?"
Before Tidiane could respond, Faida interjected, her voice brimming with quiet insight. "I think," she said, her black eyes shimmering with curiosity, "it's about seeing the power we could one day achieve. Our limits, or… maybe even how far beyond those limits we can go."
Tidiane paused, his expression flickering with surprise. He nodded slowly, impressed. "Exactly, Faida. You're sharp. I see you're not just determined—you're perceptive."
Faida beamed at the praise, and Asha couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Tidiane moved closer, the two parchment sheets glowing brighter as he held them out.
"This test isn't a battle," Tidiane explained, his tone carrying a solemn weight. "It's a glimpse into the future. It will show me the heights your Zowa might reach, your ultimate potential as warriors, and what kind of power you're destined to wield."
---
The Visionary Test
Tidiane placed a sheet of glowing parchment on each of their foreheads. The moment the paper touched their skin, a brilliant light burst forth, enveloping Asha and Faida in a radiant aura. They gasped as the world around them seemed to fall away, replaced by a blinding expanse of white.
Asha found himself standing in a vast, endless field of light. His body felt weightless, and yet he could feel a surging energy within him—an energy that threatened to overwhelm him with its sheer magnitude. Before him, a silhouette began to form. It was himself, but older, more powerful. His future self radiated a presence so vast and commanding that Asha could barely comprehend it.
"This… this is me?" Asha whispered, his voice trembling.
Meanwhile, Faida stood in her own expanse of light. Her future self materialized, surrounded by a swirling storm of Zowa that shimmered with hues of blue and gold. She looked fierce and radiant, her confidence unshakable. Faida's breath caught as she took in the vision, her heart racing with both awe and excitement.
As the light began to fade, the two of them returned to the training hall, their surroundings snapping back into focus. Tidiane watched them carefully, the glow of the parchment fading as he removed it from their foreheads.
---
The Hidden Truth
Tidiane examined the parchment, his sharp eyes scanning the marks left behind by the Zowa energy. His expression shifted subtly—an almost imperceptible mix of wonder and unease.
Faida's results showed immense promise. Her potential Zowa levels were equivalent to the best rank-S demon hunters in Nyemba, a rank that only the elite of the elite could achieve. She would one day stand among legends.
But Asha's results… they were something else entirely. The parchment revealed an infinite power, a wellspring of strength so vast and boundless that it defied comprehension. If he could master it, Asha would become the strongest being of all time—a force that could reshape the very fabric of the world.
Tidiane's heart swelled with pride but was also gripped by fear. Such power was both a blessing and a curse. To wield it would require unparalleled discipline and an unshakable moral compass. Tidiane knew better than to burden them with this knowledge now. For their own sake, they needed time to grow.
He took a deep breath, letting his stern mask fall back into place. "You both have incredible potential," he said, his voice steady but withholding. "I'm pleased with the results. Let's begin your training."
---
A Moment of Celebration
Asha and Faida exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joy. Faida let out an excited laugh, throwing her arms around Asha in a tight hug. "We did it, Asha! We're going to become amazing!"
Asha laughed, hugging her back. "I can't believe it. We're really doing this."
Tidiane allowed himself a small smile, though his thoughts were still clouded with the weight of what he had seen. But before he could dwell on it, he clapped his hands together sharply, drawing their attention.
"All right, enough celebrating," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "Before we start, you'll need to prepare yourselves."
He gestured toward a nearby rack of training gear, a set of plain robes folded neatly on top. "Change into those. Training starts now."
Asha and Faida turned to look at the robes, then back at Tidiane, their expressions wary. "Change here?" Faida asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Of course," Tidiane replied matter-of-factly. "You'll need full mobility for the exercises."
Asha and Faida exchanged a look, their faces burning with embarrassment. "WHAT?!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the hall.
Tidiane couldn't help but laugh at their reaction, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Relax, you two. Just go to the side chambers if you're that shy. But hurry up. We've got a long day ahead."
As they scrambled off to change, Tidiane watched them with a mix of amusement and fondness. Despite the challenges ahead, he felt a spark of hope. These two, with their boundless potential and unyielding spirit, might just be the ones to change everything.
And so, the training began, with Asha and Faida taking their first steps toward greatness. Unbeknownst to them, the path they were on would not only shape their futures but also determine the fate of Nyemba itself.