The weeks stretched into months as Elijah devoted himself to training. Every waking moment was spent honing his skills, but he wasn't alone. Under Magnus's watchful eye, Elijah trained not only in void and spatial magic but also in the principles of other elemental magics. His grandfather insisted that understanding the foundations of magic beyond his affinity would make him a more versatile and strategic fighter.
"You can't rely solely on the void," Magnus said during one grueling session. "It's powerful, yes, but it's unpredictable. Balance is the key to mastery."
Elijah, sweat dripping down his face, nodded as he channeled raw mana into a sphere of fire in one hand while stabilizing a sliver of void energy in the other.
"That's better," Magnus said with a nod. "Now hold both steady."
The task was far more challenging than it looked. The opposing energies fought against each other, threatening to destabilize. Elijah gritted his teeth, his control wavering. But just as the energies began to collapse, a voice called out.
"You're overthinking it," said Caelus, Elijah's father, as he approached the training field. His tone was light, but his gaze was sharp. "Magic isn't just about control. It's about harmony. Let them flow together, like water finding its path."
Elijah exhaled slowly, letting his father's advice sink in. He focused less on forcing the energies to obey and more on guiding them. To his surprise, the fire and void stabilized, forming a strange, swirling orb.
Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Your father might have a point after all."
Caelus grinned, ruffling Elijah's hair. "Of course I do. You should listen to me more, son."
Later that evening, Elijah sat with his mother, Lyra, in the estate's sprawling library. Books on magic and history were piled high on the table between them. Lyra had always been the gentler presence in his life, her wisdom and warmth a counterbalance to Magnus's strict discipline.
"Your training is progressing well," Lyra said, her voice soothing. "But I worry about you, Elijah. You push yourself too hard."
"I don't have a choice," Elijah replied, flipping through a tome on spatial distortions. "The demons won't wait for me to catch up."
Lyra reached across the table, placing a hand over his. "The demons are strong, yes, but so are you. Strength isn't just about power—it's about knowing when to rely on others."
Elijah looked up, surprised. "Others?"
Lyra smiled softly. "You've always carried everything on your shoulders, even as a child. But you don't have to do it alone. Trust in the people around you—your family, your friends. They'll make you stronger in ways you can't imagine."
Her words lingered in his mind long after their conversation ended.