Under Master Caelum's watchful eye, Takumi's training progressed at an unrelenting pace. The elderly mage had a reputation in Ashgrove as a quirky hermit, but Takumi quickly realized there was more to the old man than met the eye. Caelum's mastery of multiple magical disciplines and his knack for unconventional thinking made him the perfect mentor for someone with an unusual affinity like Takumi.
Their training sessions began at dawn, when the first rays of sunlight kissed the rolling hills outside the village. Today was no exception. Takumi stood in an open field, his legs trembling as he focused on lifting a series of pebbles into the air. Sweat dripped from his brow as the stones wobbled, clumsily forming a lopsided ring around him.
"Not bad," Caelum remarked, stroking his long, graying beard. "But you're treating the stones like an enemy to conquer. Magic is an extension of yourself. Flow with it, don't fight it."
Takumi groaned but nodded, letting the pebbles drop. "Easier said than done," he muttered. "It's not like these rocks listen to me."
Caelum chuckled. "And they never will, if you keep thinking of them as lifeless objects. Magic is about connection. Feel the earth beneath your feet. Let it guide you."
Takumi closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. He let his senses expand, imagining the ground beneath him as an extension of his own body. A strange warmth radiated from the soil, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. This time, when he focused on the stones, they rose smoothly, forming a perfect orbit around him.
Caelum clapped. "Better! Now, let's put that to the test."
With a flick of his wrist, the old mage conjured a small fireball, hurling it straight at Takumi. Panic surged through Takumi's chest, but he reacted instinctively. The stones around him shot forward, colliding with the fireball and dispersing it in a burst of embers.
Takumi blinked, his heart racing. "I did it?"
Caelum smirked. "Barely. If that fireball had been any stronger, you'd be singed. Again!"
The next few hours were a blur of fireballs, stone shields, and shouted instructions. Takumi's movements grew sharper and more confident with each attempt. By midday, he had developed a rudimentary technique: a swirling shield of pebbles that could block and deflect small projectiles.
As they took a break under the shade of a large oak tree, Takumi collapsed onto the grass, panting. "You're relentless, old man."
Caelum chuckled, handing him a flask of water. "And you're improving. But don't get cocky. Rock manipulation may be versatile, but it's not inherently powerful. You'll need creativity to make it truly dangerous."
"Creativity?" Takumi asked between gulps of water.
"Think beyond simple attacks and defenses," Caelum said. "The terrain is your ally. What if you used your magic to shape the battlefield? Or to control your opponent's movements? The possibilities are endless, if you're willing to experiment."
Takumi nodded thoughtfully. "Shape the battlefield, huh? I'll give it a shot."
The following week was a whirlwind of experimentation. Caelum's words had sparked something in Takumi, pushing him to think beyond the obvious applications of his magic. Instead of focusing solely on moving stones, he began experimenting with their shapes and arrangements.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Takumi stood at the edge of a shallow ravine. He concentrated, visualizing the rocks beneath the surface. Slowly, he pulled them upward, forming a jagged barrier across the narrow pass.
Caelum watched from a distance, nodding approvingly. "Good. Now, collapse it."
Takumi frowned. "Collapse it? Why?"
"Because destruction can be just as useful as creation," Caelum replied. "A well-timed rockslide could turn the tide of a battle. But you'll need precision to control it without causing unnecessary harm."
Takumi hesitated but followed the instruction. He focused on the barrier he'd created, willing it to crumble. With a deep rumble, the stones fell, cascading into the ravine in a controlled collapse. Dust filled the air, and Takumi coughed, waving it away.
Caelum grinned. "Not bad for a beginner. Keep practicing that, and you might actually survive your first real fight."