The first few days of their journey were uneventful, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or a distant animal call that kept everyone on edge. The forest was thick and wild, its canopy filtering the sunlight into soft, green patches that barely touched the ground. As they traveled deeper, the air grew cooler, and the terrain more rugged. The mountains loomed in the distance, and Calen felt the weight of the task ahead settle on his shoulders.
By the third day, they had covered roughly fifteen miles, the path winding up and down through the dense woods. They had reached a small clearing near a bubbling creek where they decided to rest for a while. Ronan took the opportunity to sharpen his blade, while Kira set up a small perimeter, ever vigilant. Finn explored the area, his natural curiosity leading him to climb a nearby tree for a better view. Seris, as usual, stayed close to Calen, her glowing eyes never far from his.
"Calen," Seris said, breaking the silence, "I think it's time we begin your training."
Calen blinked in surprise. "Training? What do you mean?"
She tilted her head slightly, her silver eyes gleaming in the fading sunlight. "You've seen me wield magic before. But what you don't know is that you have potential—untapped, raw power. I've sensed it since the first moment I laid eyes on you."
Calen felt a flush of uncertainty. "Me? But I can barely lift a sword without tripping over myself. What kind of magic do I have?"
Seris smirked slightly. "You might not know it, but you have an affinity for the elements. Fire, earth, air, water—they're all within you. Your mind just needs to open to it."
"Okay…" Calen said, feeling both skeptical and intrigued. "But how do I—?"
"First," she interrupted, "I'll show you how to feel the magic within. It's not about force or pushing yourself. It's about connection." She knelt by the creek, and motioned for Calen to follow her. "Sit down, clear your mind, and listen. Not just with your ears, but with everything. The water flows, the earth beneath us holds, and the air swirls. They are alive. You must learn to listen."
Calen sat beside her, his brow furrowed as he tried to concentrate. The world around him seemed quiet, but the more he focused, the more he began to feel a subtle vibration in the air, as though everything was alive with unseen energy. His fingers twitched. It was like the first stirrings of something he couldn't quite grasp.
"Good," Seris said, her voice softer now. "Now, try to reach out to it. Let it come to you."
Calen extended his hand over the creek, eyes narrowed. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deep breath, he imagined the water bending to his will. To his shock, a single drop hovered in the air, suspended above his palm before falling gently back into the creek.
Seris smiled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "It's just the beginning. But you have great potential, Calen. Limitless, I'd say."
Calen could hardly believe it. "That… that was incredible!"
"That was just a drop of water," Seris replied, standing up and brushing her hands off. "You'll have to work much harder to control it. But remember, the elements will bend to you when you learn to understand them."
Before Calen could respond, Ronan, who had been watching from the edge of the clearing, called out. "Enough with the magic show. Time to teach this lad how to hold his own in a fight."
Calen's heart sank. He had never been particularly good at combat, and the thought of sparring with Ronan made his palms sweat. He turned to Seris for reassurance, but she only raised an eyebrow. "You may have magic, but you still need to be able to protect yourself when the time comes."
Ronan was already unsheathing his sword, his movements swift and precise. "Let's see if you've got any reflexes. I won't go easy on you, lad."
"Wait, now?" Calen asked incredulously, standing up as his legs felt like jelly. "I just learned how to lift a raindrop, and now you want me to—?"
"Better get used to it," Ronan interrupted with a grin that seemed to take years off his age. "In battle, there's no time for hesitation. You need to react, even if your feet feel like they're stuck in the mud."
With a swift motion, Ronan lunged toward Calen, who barely had time to react. He scrambled to raise his sword but was knocked back onto the grass with a sharp thud.
"You have to stay on your toes," Ronan said, offering a hand to help him up. "Now, try again. This time, when I come at you, don't wait. Just move."
Calen groaned but stood, wiping the dirt from his tunic. "You're trying to kill me."
"Would I do that?" Ronan said, feigning offense. "You wouldn't be much use to me dead. You've got to learn to think on your feet. Now, ready yourself."
This time, Calen focused, breathing deeply and trying to clear his mind. Ronan charged again, but this time, Calen anticipated his movements. He sidestepped just as Ronan swung, the sword grazing past his shoulder. With a swift jab, he aimed at Ronan's side, but Ronan parried effortlessly, knocking Calen's blade aside.
"Not bad," Ronan said with a grunt. "But you've got a long way to go."
Calen huffed, his arms burning from the exertion. "I don't know how you do this all day."
Ronan chuckled. "Years of practice, my friend. And a fair bit of bruising." He looked over at Seris. "You've got him started on the magic, but I'll make sure he's not a total liability in a fight."
Seris smirked. "You'll need to do better than that, Ronan. His magic will grow, but he needs more than just muscle to win battles. But for now…" She gave Calen an assessing look. "You're making progress. I'll teach you how to focus it next time. There's no rush. For now, just be ready."
Calen nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Ready for anything," he said, though his legs were already trembling.
"Well, you'd better be," Ronan added with a grin. "The mountains are full of danger, and magic alone won't save you. Let's hope you've got the guts to match that potential of yours."
Calen smiled weakly, but in the back of his mind, he knew one thing: whatever came next, he would be ready. With magic and a sword, he had a chance.
The group packed up shortly after, and they set off once more, with Ronan leading the way and Calen's thoughts swirling between the magic he had just begun to master and the combat lessons he'd need to survive. They had a long way to go, but at least now, Calen knew he wasn't walking into the unknown completely unprepared.
As they trekked deeper into the mountains, Calen couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had never imagined this journey would involve so much swordplay—and magic lessons from Seris of all people. Maybe, just maybe, they'd make it through after all.