Dawn was still just a pale promise on the horizon when Merlione slipped into Elios's room.
The boy was sleeping deeply, his black hair scattered on the pillow, his peaceful breathing barely disturbing the morning silence.
Merlione watched him for a moment, her golden eyes glowing with a serene light. With a fluid movement, she approached the bed and gently placed her paw on the boy's shoulder.
"Elios," she murmured, her voice soft but firm. "It's time."
The boy stirred, his eyelids fluttering against the faint light. His hands fumbled awkwardly on the table, searching for his glasses with movements still numbed by sleep.
The cold morning air bit at his skin, making him shiver as he tried to extract himself from the comforting warmth of his covers.
"Hurry up," Merlione encouraged, her tail swishing with barely contained impatience. Her ears constantly pivoted, catching the subtle sounds of the awakening forest: the rustling of leaves, the song of the first birds, the distant cracking of branches.
Elios pulled on his boots in a clumsy gesture, almost stumbling in his haste.
He watched his mentor out of the corner of his eye, admiring despite his fatigue the natural grace that emanated from her.
"Merlione," he murmured, stifling a yawn, "where are we going?"
She turned to him, her golden eyes glowing with a mysterious light in the dim light.
"Today marks the beginning of your training, Elios. You have learned to tame your flames, but this is only the beginning of the path."
The boy let out an unenthusiastic groan. "But why so early?"
An enigmatic smile played on Merlione's feline face. "In this world, little one, survival belongs to those who know how to adapt. Sleep less and recover faster. To live more, that's the first lesson."
They plunged into the verdant forest, their steps creating a discordant symphony on the carpet of dead leaves. Elios stumbled awkwardly, his eyes struggling against the changing darkness of the undergrowth, while Merlione glided between the trees with the grace of a wild beast, each movement calculated and fluid.
Hours passed like beads on an invisible thread.
Merlione stopped, her gaze sweeping the environment before declaring: "We camp here."
Elios, surprised, frowned. "Camp? Aren't we going home?"
An enigmatic smile appeared on Merlione's lips. "No. This training begins by learning to adapt."
"Hmm..." Elios mumbled, skeptical.
"Don't complain," Merlione retorted with authority, "you'll thank me later."
Elios cast a dubious look. "Not sure..."
Merlione continued, her voice becoming almost philosophical: "You've grown accustomed to the comfort of your previous life. It's time to change that."
Silence was her only response.
The day passed. Exhausted, Elios eventually ate and fell asleep, lulled by Merlione's fascinating stories, which she wove like a craftsman weaving a tapestry.
The following dawn, Merlione awakened her student.
"Today, we leave for elsewhere," she announced.
"Still not returning home?" Elios inquired, a mixture of frustration and resignation in his voice.
"We have at least six days of constant movement," Merlione replied, imperturbable.
"But why?!" Elios exclaimed, his patience reaching its limits.
Merlione sketched an enigmatic smile. "You'll understand at the end of this training. Prepare your things, we're leaving."
With palpable reluctance, Elios gathered his meager possessions.
Days passed, each resembling the previous one, but imperceptibly transforming Elios.
On the last day, the sun slowly rose in the sky, its golden rays filtering through the canopy like threads of light. Fatigue hammered Elios's muscles, his legs protesting against this superhuman effort. Yet, in his eyes, something had changed - a new determination, a resilience forged by these days of wandering.
"I'm thirsty," he finally said, his voice betraying his exhaustion. "Do we have water?"
...............
........
.....
...
Only silence answered him.
Elios's heart skipped a beat when he realized that Merlione's muffled steps no longer resonated behind him.
A cold shiver ran down his spine as he became aware of his sudden solitude.
"Merlione?" he called, his trembling voice betraying his growing fear.
It was then that he spotted it: a worn leather bag, hanging from a low branch, accompanied by a letter and a dagger with a gleaming blade. His hands trembled slightly as he seized the message, immediately recognizing his mentor's handwriting:
"True learning begins now. In this bag, you will find the essential tools for your survival, as well as a blade that will become your most faithful ally. Magic is powerful, but it will not always be there to save you. Your instinct, however, will never betray you."
The boy was already beginning to be frightened as he turned the page:
"I know you, little coward, and I know you're already thinking that I've abandoned you. Rest assured: my eyes are watching over you... even if you cannot see me."
As if to confirm these words, an arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the bark of a nearby tree. The surprise caused a small flame to burst from Elios's fingertips, briefly illuminating his frightened face.
The rest of the message continued: "This period of solitude will forge your character and sharpen your senses. True strength does not reside solely in magic, but in the harmony between body, mind, and elements. When you have proven that you can manage on your own, I will come back for you."
"I must not rely solely on my magic," he murmured, clutching the letter.
Taking a deep breath, Elios straightened up, a new determination shining in his eyes. He opened the bag eagerly but found it desperately empty. As he shook the bag, a second letter fell at his feet:
"Everything you need already surrounds you. Nature is your home, and I know you have watched me carefully all these years. Trust your memories and your instinct. You are stronger than you think."
"I really hope you're watching me," Elios whispered into the void, "because I really don't want to die here."
He closed his eyes, forcing his mind to calm down despite the fear knotting in his stomach. "Think," he told himself. "What to do to survive?"
A memory suddenly emerged: Merlione, sitting by the fire on a winter night, teaching him the basics of survival. "Water is the key to life, Elios. If you find water, you find life."
His eyes suddenly lit up with understanding. "A clearing!" he exclaimed. "There's always water near clearings!"
Not far away, perched on a massive branch, Merlione observed her apprentice with pride. Her golden eyes followed each of Elios's movements. A satisfied smile formed on her feline face as she saw him begin to analyze his environment methodically.
She knew what her young student lacked was not so much the mastery of flames - but the physical and mental strength necessary to fully channel his power.
Before he could extend the range of his flames and refine their shape, he first had to learn to survive, to trust his instincts, to forge his body and mind.
Thus began Elios's wild days, a period that would transform him not only into a better mage but into a stronger, more agile being, more aware of the world around him.
Each day would be a new challenge, each night a new lesson, and gradually, the shy and clumsy boy would transform into a young man capable of facing any trial.
In the growing darkness of the forest, Merlione smiled, knowing that her student was finally on the path that would lead him to his true destiny.