Leo thought hard about what he wanted to summon. The image of a bear—a strong, grounded creature—came to his mind. He decided to use earth wisps for its strength and stability, and a few void wisps for the element of mystery and resilience. He stretched out his hands, calling forth the energy. Fifteen wisps gathered around him, shimmering with muted earth tones and dark, swirling void energy.
As he concentrated, Leo began to blend the wisps together, forming a rough outline of a bear. He could see the wisps starting to align, the form taking shape. This would be his most complex summoning attempt yet, and he could feel the strain as he focused on combining the wisps' energies without losing control. Finally, he began the summoning incantation, drawing power from the gathered wisps to bring his creation to life.
For a moment, the bear's figure materialized—a sturdy form with thick limbs and an aura of shadowed strength. But just as it began to solidify, the bear flickered, and with a soft burst, it vanished back into scattered wisps.
Leo's face fell, confusion and disappointment washing over him. He glanced over at his instructor, who had been watching closely.
"Why didn't it work?" he asked, frustration evident in his voice.
The instructor smiled kindly, stepping closer. "That was a good first attempt, Leo. Summoning creatures using wisps requires more than just forming the shape. You need to bind the energies together so they can sustain themselves. Right now, your wisps are assembled, but they aren't unified."
Leo tilted his head, listening intently. "Unified?"
She nodded. "Think of the wisps as the bear's muscles, bones, and heart. They're separate, but they need to work as one. Focus on bringing them together with a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. Once the energy is stable, you can give it shape and life. Try again, and this time, feel the connection between the wisps before you complete the spell."
Leo took a deep breath, grounding himself. He closed his eyes, visualizing the bear once more, but this time he focused on syncing the rhythm of each wisp's energy, bringing them together into a steady pulse. Slowly, he began to see the shape solidify again, more stable than before, and he felt the creature's presence strengthen as he prepared to try again.
Leo steadied himself, focusing intently as he attuned his heartbeat to the rhythm of the wisps' energy. With each beat, he felt their pulse strengthen, glowing brighter in sync with his own. Slowly, the form of the bear began to take shape, its essence becoming more solid, more real. This time, Leo felt he was close. He just needed one last push—the summoning incantation—to bring it to life.
Channeling all his focus, Leo began the spell, carefully weaving the wisps together, guiding them to hold steady in perfect unison. He could feel the strain growing, his own energy thinning as he stretched to maintain control. The bear was almost fully formed now, its sturdy frame outlined, its features sharp. Leo's pulse pounded in his ears, and he forced himself to keep going, to push just a little more.
But just as he neared the end, his vision blurred, and a wave of exhaustion hit him. His grip on the wisps wavered, and, in an instant, the energy unraveled. The bear vanished, scattering the wisps back into the air.
Leo sank to his knees, breathing hard, feeling the weight of disappointment. He'd been so close—closer than he'd ever been—but he hadn't been able to hold on. He looked up at his instructor, expecting a hint of disapproval, but instead saw an encouraging smile.
"You did incredibly well, Leo," she said gently, kneeling down beside him. "Bringing the wisps into rhythm, feeling their pulse—it's a complex task, even for more advanced students. You were only a breath away from completing it. With practice, you'll get there."
Leo nodded, a flicker of determination reigniting despite his exhaustion. "I'll keep trying. I want to be able to do this, to be strong enough."
The instructor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "And you will. Just remember, summoning isn't just about pushing through; it's about finding balance, keeping calm even as you channel all your power. Let's try again tomorrow, after you've rested."
Leo sat back, resting on the cool grass, his breathing finally steadying. As he watched the others practice, he couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and determination. Darian, Mira, Alaric, and Sera were all focused, each working to bring their own unique elementals to life.
Darian's focus seemed sharper than ever as he concentrated on a small cluster of fire wisps swirling at his feet. With careful control, he coaxed them into a compact, glowing form. Slowly, the wisps took shape, elongating into what looked like a small, fox-like creature. Its fur shimmered with vibrant flames, each flickering in sync with Darian's focus.
Finally, with a soft huff of effort, Darian completed the summoning. The flaming fox stood at his feet, bright orange and warm, its tail flickering like a candle in the breeze. It looked up at Darian with gleaming eyes, as if awaiting his command. Darian let out a triumphant laugh, thrilled by his success, and the fox pranced around him, leaving faint embers with every step.
The rest of the group cheered him on, their excitement infectious. Sera clapped her hands together, beaming. "Amazing, Darian! It's beautiful!"
Mira and Alaric, both deep in their own summoning efforts, glanced over with a mixture of pride and competitive spirit. "Guess we'll have to step up our game, huh, Mira?" Alaric grinned, nudging his sister.
Mira rolled her eyes but smiled, her own focus undeterred. "He's not the only one who can handle summoning, you know."
Watching them all, Leo felt his own eagerness returning. Resting was helping him regain his strength, but it also gave him time to reflect on the process. He was closer to achieving the rhythm, to syncing his energy with the wisps in a way he hadn't before. Next time, he felt certain he'd get it.
As class continued, he stayed where he was, quietly studying everyone's techniques, picking up small details he hadn't noticed in his own attempts. He watched the way Darian's hands moved with each subtle shift of focus and observed Mira's steady calm as she brought her own wisps into alignment. The scene filled him with a quiet confidence—he knew he'd get there. With time and patience, he'd be ready.