Pleo sat at his usual spot, the place where he had once felt the earth's vibrations and summoned his first pillar. The worn book Master Raekon had entrusted him with lay open on his lap, but no new insights had come to him. Days passed, and despite his focus, the book remained a mystery.
He sighed, staring down at the familiar pages. "What is the secret?" he muttered to himself, frustration starting to creep in. He had tried every technique he knew—reading while staying grounded, meditating, even attempting to channel his power into the book. Nothing worked.
Feeling defeated, he placed the book on the ground, ready to give up for the day. But as the cover touched the earth, something strange happened.
A faint glow appeared on the book's surface. Pleo blinked in surprise. Slowly, a handprint began to form on the cover, shimmering with a soft, earthen light. He hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding, then cautiously placed his hand over the print.
The moment his hand touched it, a low rumble shook the ground beneath him. The vibrations were subtle at first, but they grew stronger, more purposeful. It wasn't chaotic—it felt as if the earth itself was trying to speak.
Then, to his astonishment, the words on the book began to fade, only to reappear in the soil around him. The ground shifted, forming lines and symbols, ancient and powerful, that spread out in a circle beneath his feet. It was as if the earth was becoming the book itself.
Pleo's breath caught in his throat. "What is this…?" he whispered, his eyes wide with wonder.
The symbols glowed softly, and new words began to emerge, not on the pages of the book, but on the earth. They were clear, etched into the ground by unseen hands:
"The power of the earth is not in control, but in harmony. To command the earth, you must first become a part of it. Only then will the true secrets reveal themselves."
Pleo knelt, running his fingers over the words that had materialized from the earth itself. He could feel the connection—this was different from anything he had ever experienced before. The earth wasn't just reacting to his power; it was communicating with him.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the vibrations beneath his hands. As the energy of the earth flowed through him, the meaning behind the message became clearer. The strength that King Trallod had possessed wasn't just about raw power or domination. It was about symbiosis—a perfect unity between the one who wielded the earth and the earth itself.
Suddenly, more words began to form in the dirt:
"Look not to the sky for your answers. Look beneath, where the true strength lies."
Pleo opened his eyes, realization dawning on him. He had been trying to force the earth to obey him, to bend it to his will. But that wasn't the way. The key to unlocking the secrets of the book—and his true power—wasn't in commanding the earth, but in understanding it, becoming one with it.
His heart pounded in his chest. This was the secret Master Raekon had spoken of. The book wasn't just a collection of stories or lessons—it was a living connection to the earth itself. And now, that connection had been opened to him.
The ground began to settle, the glowing symbols slowly fading back into the soil. Pleo sat there, his mind racing with possibilities. He had finally unlocked the first secret, but he knew this was just the beginning. The earth had spoken to him, and now, it was up to him to learn how to truly listen.
As he stood up, he felt different. More grounded, more in tune with the world beneath his feet. The strength he had once sought now seemed within reach, not through force, but through understanding.
The earth held many secrets, and Pleo was ready to uncover them all.