This is not the end, but the beginning.
In the depths of the dark forest, where the winds howled between the ancient trees, Larius stood drenched in sweat, staring at his trembling hands. He had tried dozens of times to summon that mysterious power flowing through his blood, but to no avail. He took a deep breath and exhaled in frustration. "Why can't I control it?"
Cain, his mentor and friend, stood a few steps away, watching him with wise and patient eyes. He spoke in a calm voice: "Don't rush, Larius. Summoning the Reikaden is not just a physical exercise;.To awaken it and show it according to the lineage to which it belongs, but also depends on focusing on the strength of the spirit "
Larius stomped the ground angrily. "I can feel it... but it refuses to respond to me! Is it because I am not from the right lineage?!"
Cain stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and said seriously: "True power does not come from lineage alone but from will. You may be born with the strongest blood, but without determination, you will achieve nothing. Don't just think about releasing it; make it a part of you."
Cain's words made Larius take a slow, deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused... focused on the energy swirling inside him, that fire he had always felt but had never been more than a spark. And suddenly, he felt it.
Winds of blue light began swirling around him, flowing from his body as if they were an extension of his being. His eyes widened as they glowed with a faint blue light, while his body radiated a powerful aura. The Reikaden... had finally awakened.
Cain smiled proudly, but before he could say anything, something unexpected happened.
From the shadows, a cloaked warrior appeared—tall, clad in black, surrounded by a dark aura. His eyes burned like embers, and when he spoke, his voice seemed to rise from the depths of hell itself: "Finally... the heir of the Reikaden has awakened. But you will not live long."
He gave them no chance to respond. Moving at an inhuman speed, he struck Cain with a single blow, sending him crashing into a tree. Larius wasn't prepared, but he moved instinctively. He raised his hand and unleashed a wave of blue wind at the warrior, but the latter blocked it with his bare hand as if it were nothing more than a breeze.
Cain, struggling to rise, shouted: "Larius! This is no ordinary enemy, be careful!"
Larius gripped his fiery sword and attacked with all his might. His blade clashed against the warrior's metallic claw, sending sparks flying through the air. Larius's strikes were powerful, yet the cloaked warrior deflected them with terrifying ease.
Cain seized the opportunity and attacked from behind, releasing a wave of blue energy at the enemy. But the warrior dodged it swiftly, as if he had anticipated it. Then, in an instant, he vanished.
Larius's eyes widened before he felt an iron grip wrap around his throat, lifting him off the ground.
The warrior whispered coldly in his ear: "You are not ready yet... but don't worry, when you return to me, you will be stronger... or you will be dead."
Then, with a surge of dark energy, he hurled Larius high into the air, sending him crashing violently to the ground.
As Larius struggled to his feet, the warrior had already disappeared—but on the ground, a symbol was carved into the dirt.
"No... this is impossible..." he muttered, his eyes burning with rage.
Cain stepped closer, glanced at the symbol, then warned: "It seems you have found the answer you were searching for... but you will not like it."
Despite the pain, Larius stood firm. He gripped his sword tightly, his eyes filled with newfound determination. "I will not stop now... this is just the beginning."
Larius and Cain's Farewell
After three and a half months of training and traveling together, Larius and Cain stood at the edge of a winding path overlooking a vast valley shrouded in mist. The silence between them was heavy—not the silence of indifference, but the kind that comes before a farewell.
Cain, with a calm smile, pulled out a silver bracelet adorned with mysterious engravings and handed it to Larius. "Take this. It's not just an ornament; it's a symbol... something that may protect you in times of doubt."
Larius held the bracelet, examining its intricate details, feeling the weight of its meaning. He lifted his gaze to Cain and asked softly, "Does this mean we won't meet again?"
Cain smiled, but behind that smile lay deep wisdom and a hint of sorrow. Placing a hand on Larius' shoulder, he said, "The world is vast, boy… Our paths may lead us in different directions, but I am certain we will meet again. Perhaps at an unexpected time, when you need it the most."
Larius was silent for a moment before fastening the bracelet around his wrist with determination. He lifted his head firmly and said, "Thank you, Cain To save you and learn … I will find the answers I seek, and I will become stronger. I promise you that."
Cain turned his back and walked away into the shadows, waving his hand without looking back, his voice carried by the wind: "Until another day, boy… We shall meet again."
Larius remained standing, watching Cain's figure fade until he disappeared completely. Then, glancing at the bracelet on his wrist, he felt a mix of sorrow and gratitude. He had parted ways his mentor, but he had gained something else a will to walk his path alone.
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