Elijah stood alone on the training grounds of the Veylora estate, the moonlight casting an eerie glow over the vast expanse. The silence of the night was broken only by the faint hum of spatial distortions as he continued to experiment with his newfound void magic.
He extended his hand, summoning the dark orb once more. It hovered above his palm, its surface rippling with an almost sentient energy. With a thought, Elijah compressed the orb into a razor-thin blade of pure void energy. It shimmered with an otherworldly light, its edges distorting the air around it.
Swinging the blade, Elijah watched as it cut cleanly through a row of practice dummies. But the effect didn't stop there. The space where the blade had passed seemed to ripple and fold, as though the fabric of reality itself was still reeling from the attack.
"Interesting," he muttered. "The void doesn't just cut—it disrupts. Even after the strike, the space remains unstable."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the void energy within him. Unlike traditional magic, which required incantations or gestures, the void responded directly to his thoughts and intent. It was as if the magic itself was alive, waiting for his command.
A sudden shift in the air broke his concentration. Elijah's eyes snapped open as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Magnus, his grandfather, his expression unreadable as he approached.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," Magnus said, his voice low. "The void may feel natural to you, but it's still dangerous. Overexertion could—"
"—tear me apart," Elijah finished, sheathing the void blade into nothingness with a wave of his hand. "I know, Grandfather. But if I don't master it now, I won't be ready when the time comes."
Magnus studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then allow me to test you."
Before Elijah could respond, Magnus raised his hand, and a torrent of golden energy erupted toward him. The spell—a compressed barrage of elemental force—was fast, but Elijah was faster. He twisted his wrist, and the space before him folded inward, swallowing the attack into a small void rift.
Magnus's eyes widened slightly. "Impressive. But let's see how you handle this."
He waved his hand, and the ground beneath Elijah erupted with jagged spikes of earth. At the same time, a surge of wind magic descended from above, aiming to pin him in place.
Elijah reacted instinctively. With a sweep of his arm, he opened a void rift beneath him and stepped into it, disappearing from view. Magnus turned, sensing the shift in energy just as Elijah reappeared behind him, his hand glowing with void energy.
"You're holding back," Elijah said, a faint smile on his lips.
"And you're getting cocky," Magnus replied, spinning to release a shockwave of pure magical force. The blast sent Elijah skidding back, but he regained his footing, his aura flaring with renewed intensity.
Elijah raised both hands, summoning a field of void energy that distorted the area around him. The air crackled as the field expanded, swallowing Magnus's next spell before it could reach him.
"I can see it now," Elijah said, his voice calm but resolute. "Void magic isn't about overwhelming force. It's about control. Precision. The power to reshape reality itself."
Magnus stepped back, lowering his hands. "You're learning quickly. Too quickly. That kind of power… it will attract attention, and not all of it will be friendly."
Elijah dismissed the void field with a thought. "Let them come. The demons, the Sovereign families, anyone who sees me as a threat. I won't back down."
Magnus regarded him silently, then sighed. "You're determined. That's good. But determination alone won't be enough. If you truly wish to master the void, you'll need more than just training. You'll need experience—real battles, where the stakes are life and death."
Elijah nodded. "Then I'll seek it out. The demons are preparing for war, and I won't wait for them to strike first. I'll go to the southern continent and see the threat for myself."
Magnus's eyes narrowed. "Do you understand what you're saying? The southern continent is a battlefield, and the demons won't hesitate to destroy you."
"All the more reason to go," Elijah replied. "If the void is my weapon, then it's time I put it to use."
For a moment, Magnus said nothing. Then he stepped forward, placing a hand on Elijah's shoulder. "Very well. But you won't go unprepared. If you're set on this path, then I'll teach you what I know about space magic. It may not be the void, but it will complement your abilities."
Elijah smiled faintly. "Thank you, Grandfather."
Magnus nodded. "We begin at dawn."
As the elder Veylora walked away, Elijah turned his gaze toward the horizon. The southern continent awaited, and with it, the chance to test his powers.