The canyon was unnervingly silent as Alex and Emily trekked along the rocky path. The pale moonlight cast long shadows against the towering cliffs, the jagged walls seemingly closing in on them. The air was cool, but a faint, unnatural humidity clung to the atmosphere, making Emily shiver.
"This place gives me the creeps," Emily muttered, glancing over her shoulder. "Feels like something's watching us."
Alex tightened his grip on his sword. "Just stay sharp. We'll be out of here before sunrise."
They pressed on, the path narrowing into a corridor flanked by clusters of twisted vines crawling up the canyon walls. The vines pulsed faintly, almost as if they were alive, but Alex dismissed it as a trick of the light. He was too focused on moving forward, the weight of their escape from Eldranth still pressing on his shoulders.
Emily suddenly stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Alex paused, straining his ears. At first, there was nothing but the faint rustle of the wind. Then he heard it—a soft, slithering sound, like something sliding through the dirt. His heart sank.
"Move!" he shouted, shoving Emily forward just as a vine lashed out from the shadows.
The vine coiled around Alex's leg, pulling him off balance. Another shot toward Emily, wrapping around her arm and yanking her backward. She screamed, struggling against the living tendrils, but they tightened their grip with unnatural strength.
"Alex!" Emily cried, thrashing as more vines wrapped around her legs and torso.
Alex gritted his teeth, summoning the faint glow of his Astral Nomad ability. His body flickered, turning intangible just long enough for the vine around his leg to pass through him. He rolled to his feet, slashing at the vines binding Emily, but for every one he cut, two more took its place.
"This isn't working!" Emily gasped as a vine coiled around her neck. Her struggles weakened, panic flashing in her eyes.
Alex's mind raced. His energy reserves were already low, and using Astral Nomad again would drain him completely. But he had no choice. He focused, the glow of his ability intensifying as he shifted into the astral plane.
Everything around him changed. The canyon became a blurred, ghostly landscape, and the vines glowed with threads of mana, their life force pulsating visibly in the astral realm. Alex dashed forward, his body weightless and unbound by physical constraints. He slashed at the glowing threads with his blade, cutting them one by one. The vines faltered, loosening their grip on Emily.
With a final burst of effort, Alex severed the last thread. The vines recoiled, falling limp, and Emily collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Alex's vision blurred, his astral form flickering as he was yanked back into his body. The strain was too much. His legs gave out, and darkness overtook him as he fell unconscious.
Alex opened his eyes, but instead of the canyon, he found himself in an endless void. The space was dark yet illuminated by a faint, silvery glow that seemed to emanate from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing in the stillness.
He looked down at his hands, realizing his body was glowing faintly, much like when he used Astral Nomad. But he felt no fatigue, no weight dragging him down. Instead, he felt… limitless.
Before he could process the sensation, the void around him shifted. Shapes began to materialize—a sword, a dummy, and even a small flame hovering in the air. Each item pulsed faintly with energy, as if inviting him to interact. Tentatively, Alex reached out to the sword. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, it moved to his hand, feeling as real and solid as any blade he'd ever held.
"Is this… a dream?" he wondered aloud. "No, it feels too real."
Then it hit him. This was his ability—Astral Nomad. But instead of just shifting planes briefly, he was fully immersed, unrestricted by physical limitations or energy constraints. He could train here, test his limits, and experiment without fear of failure or fatigue.
A grin spread across his face. "Alright, let's see what I can do."
He focused on the sword in his hand, willing it to change. To his amazement, the blade transformed, elongating into a spear before morphing into a bow. He practiced conjuring other weapons, shaping shields and barriers, and even attempting to create an energy construct. Each success filled him with confidence, the possibilities of this dream training seemingly endless.
Next, Alex turned his attention to the hovering flame. He reached out to it, willing it to grow. The flame flared in response, expanding into a blazing orb. He guided it with his thoughts, sending it spinning around him in intricate patterns.
"This is incredible," he said, laughing softly. "I can learn so much here."
But the most important test was yet to come. Alex closed his eyes and focused on the vines he had faced in the canyon. In an instant, they appeared before him, glowing with the same mana threads he had seen in the astral plane. He charged at them, using the techniques he had just practiced. His movements were smoother, faster, more precise. The vines stood no chance.
By the time he destroyed the last of them, Alex felt a surge of pride. He wasn't just learning—he was improving. And when he returned to the real world, he would be stronger.
"Alex!" A voice broke through the void, distant but insistent. "Wake up!"
Alex's eyes snapped open, and he was met with Emily's worried face hovering over him. The canyon walls loomed around them, the faint light of dawn creeping over the horizon.
"You're alive," Emily said, her voice thick with relief. "You scared me half to death."
Alex groaned, sitting up. His body felt heavy, but the memory of the dream training lingered vividly in his mind. "How long was I out?"
"Just a couple of hours," Emily said, helping him to his feet. "You used up all your energy saving me. Those vines almost killed us."
Alex nodded, the events rushing back to him. "I… learned something," he said slowly. "While I was out, I was in this… dream-like place. It felt real, and I could practice my ability there without getting tired."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "You're saying you can train while you're unconscious?"
"Exactly," Alex said, his excitement growing. "I can test techniques, push my limits, and figure out how to use my abilities better. It's like having a training ground in my mind."
Emily gave him a skeptical look but sighed. "As long as you don't push yourself too hard, I guess it's a good thing. But for now, let's just focus on getting out of this canyon alive."
Alex chuckled weakly. "Fair enough."
They resumed their journey, the weight of their encounter with the vines lingering in the back of their minds. But Alex felt a spark of hope. With his newfound training ground, he knew he could become stronger. And whatever challenges lay ahead, he would be ready.