Days passed, and Pleo slowly began to unravel the deeper mysteries hidden within the book and the earth itself. He spent countless hours in meditation, his hands pressed to the ground, allowing the earth's vibrations to flow through him. His connection grew stronger with each passing day, and he began to understand something profound—something even King Trallod had not mastered.
The earth was not a force to be controlled. It was ancient, far older and wiser than any human or king. Its power was not something that could be tamed or fully understood, even by someone as powerful as King Trallod. The earth was alive, ever-changing, unpredictable, and bound by forces beyond human comprehension.
As Pleo sat beneath the sky, surrounded by the rocky terrain of the Realm of Calamity, he reflected on the realization that had dawned on him over these last few days. King Trallod had never truly controlled the earth. No one could. Instead, Trallod had forged a bond, a deep connection that allowed him to communicate with the land and ask for its assistance. The earth had responded to him, not because it was commanded to, but because of the trust and understanding that Trallod had nurtured over the years.
Pleo realized that the earth had its own will, its own desires, and its own rhythms. To wield its power wasn't about mastery but about cooperation. Trallod's strength had come from his ability to listen to the earth, to respect its ancient power, and to become part of it. That was why he was known as the King of Calamity—not because he forced the earth to bend to his will, but because he had formed a relationship with it that allowed him to unlock devastating, yet harmonious, power.
Pleo had been wrong in thinking that his power would come from mimicking King Trallod's legendary feats. He now understood that his path was his own, and the earth's power would reveal itself to him in its own time.
As he continued his meditations, the earth responded in subtle ways. Small tremors danced beneath his feet, the soil shifted ever so slightly when he focused, and the stone spikes he once struggled with began to rise from the ground with greater ease. Still, Pleo knew this was only the beginning.
One day, as he knelt in the same spot where he had first felt the earth's connection, he reflected on the words that had emerged from the ground: "The power of the earth is not in control, but in harmony."
Pleo's mind wandered back to the stories of King Trallod. Trallod had not mastered the earth; he had only begun to understand it. He had spent a lifetime strengthening his bond with the land, but even he had never unlocked all of its secrets. The earth's true power was still a mystery, even to someone as mighty as the King of Calamity.
And yet, that realization did not bring Pleo despair. It filled him with hope. If King Trallod, the legendary ruler, had never fully mastered the earth, then Pleo didn't have to rush. His journey was not about achieving immediate greatness—it was about patience, growth, and learning to communicate with the earth on a deeper level.
The realization gave him peace. He would not push himself to force the earth's power to reveal itself. Instead, he would build a relationship with it, just as King Trallod had done. He would listen, he would wait, and when the time was right, the earth would respond.
With renewed determination, Pleo closed his eyes and placed his hands on the ground once more. This time, he didn't focus on creating spikes or summoning pillars. He simply listened, letting the vibrations of the earth speak to him.
And for the first time, he felt something new—a deep, resonant hum that pulsed beneath the surface, a sign that the earth was acknowledging him, not as its master, but as its ally.
Pleo smiled. His journey had only just begun.