As the towering trees of the elven village swayed in the ethereal breeze, their glistening leaves shimmered with a life force Lucian could scarcely comprehend. The village thrived with a luminous beauty, unlike anything he had ever seen. Elder Woolark gestured for Lucian to follow him, his stride unhurried but purposeful.
"Come, boy. It's time we visited the heart of this place," Woolark said, his voice carrying an almost melodic authority. His emerald eyes glimmered with a faint amusement as he turned to Lucian. "Not many humans get the privilege of entering the home of King Sylvaris and Queen Lysithra Verdane."
Lucian trailed close behind, his thoughts racing as they approached the most majestic tree he had ever laid eyes on. It towered above the rest of the forest, its trunk as wide as a castle's gate. The bark pulsed faintly with bioluminescent energy, and golden vines spiraled toward the heavens. At its base, two elven guards stood at attention, clad in shimmering armor that refracted the ambient light.
As Woolark approached, the guards immediately stepped aside, their expressions a mix of reverence and trepidation. One of them spoke, bowing slightly, "Greetings, Elder Woolark. The King and Queen are expecting you."
Woolark chuckled, his laughter was rich and deep. "Ah, those two worry far too easily." He waved a hand dismissively but did not break stride.
Lucian felt the guards' piercing gazes fix on him, their scrutiny was unnerving yet wordless. The contrast between their reaction to him and their deference to Woolark was striking. Following the Elder into the base of the immense tree, Lucian's wonder only deepened. The interior was an architectural marvel of twisting wood, glowing runes, and suspended bridges that defied logic.
At the heart of the chamber stood the royal dais, flanked by cascading waterfalls of luminous energy. Two figures emerged, regal and commanding. The royal attendant announced their presence with a clear voice: "Presenting King Sylvaris Verdane and Queen Lysithra Verdane. Pay your respects."
Lucian knelt instinctively, placing one knee on the ground and bowing his head. "My name is Lucian Noctis. I am honored to be in your presence."
The King, his silver hair flowing like liquid moonlight, regarded Lucian with measured curiosity, while the Queen's golden locks shimmered with an otherworldly radiance. Her gaze was sharp yet compassionate.
King Sylvaris spoke first, his deep voice filling the hall. "Why have you brought this boy here, Great Elder Woolark?"
Woolark's expression turned mischievous as he laughed heartily. "Hoho, why, to take him under my wing, of course! This lad has potential worth nurturing. I plan to keep him with me for a short time. After all, he has ambitions of attending the academy in Eldralis."
Queen Lysithra raised an elegant eyebrow. "The academy? A noble pursuit. But, Great Elder, even you know our laws. It is against our traditions to harbor humans within our sacred grounds."
Woolark's laughter deepened. "Ah, traditions, you say? Then look deeper, your Majesties. Use your power to sense this boy's energy flow. Does he seem entirely human to you?"
The King and Queen exchanged a glance before focusing on Lucian. The air grew heavy as their combined senses delved into his essence. Lucian shivered under their scrutiny, feeling their power brushing against his very core. Their eyes widened in unison as they recoiled slightly, their regal composure faltering.
"Such intense Qi... It rivals even our strongest warriors," Queen Lysithra admitted, her voice tinged with surprise.
Elder Woolark's grin widened. "It seems you understand now. This boy's potential transcends his heritage. Surely, you wouldn't deny me the chance to mold such raw talent."
King Sylvaris hesitated, his doubt plain. "Even so, the risk is considerable. If he were to disrupt the harmony of our people"
Woolark interrupted, his tone abruptly turning serious. His Qi flared, filling the chamber with a suffocating pressure. The very ground trembled, and a crackling energy coursed through the air. "Are you questioning my judgment, Sylvaris?" Woolark's gaze bore into the King and Queen with a weight that seemed to silence all objections.
After a moment, the Queen relented, her voice soft but resolute. "Very well, Great Elder. We grant your request. But know this: if this boy causes harm to our tribe, we will have no choice but to expel him."
Woolark's Qi withdrew as swiftly as it had emerged. "Agreed," he said simply, his usual jovial demeanor returning. He turned to Lucian, who stared in awe, both inspired and intimidated by the Elder's sheer power.
As Woolark led Lucian away from the royal chamber, they approached an ornate structure carved seamlessly into the heart of the tree. Its doors opened with a soft creak, revealing a sight that left Lucian awestruck.
The space was vast, with shelves towering into infinity, packed with ancient tomes and scrolls. Luminous orbs of energy floated in the air, casting a warm, steady glow over the entire library. Energy seemed to flow like a living river, weaving through the room, its presence both calming and invigorating.
"Impressed, are you? Hoho!" Woolark chuckled, his voice echoing gently against the walls.
Lucian could only nod, his wide eyes scanning every corner. "This place… it's amazing. I've never seen anything like it."
Woolark turned, his emerald eyes gleaming with pride. "Few have, boy. Few have."
Lucian hesitated before asking, "Why me, Elder Woolark? Why are you helping me?"
The elder's cheerful demeanor briefly faded as he stroked his long beard in thought. "Why, indeed. The world, my boy, is on the brink of change. Cycles repeat, as they always do, and what was once lost will rise again. The energy within you your potential is a piece of that puzzle. I would rather guide it than leave it untamed."
Lucian blinked, confused but intrigued. "Well… whatever that means, I'll take it. Since I'm your student now, does this mean I get access to this library?"
Woolark's laughter returned, booming and hearty. "Certainly!" he exclaimed, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Eager, Lucian sat down, his excitement bubbling over as Woolark began to explain.
"Before we dive into anything else, let me give you a proper introduction to magic," Woolark said, conjuring an image in the air with a wave of his hand. Streams of light formed intricate diagrams, each representing a different domain of magic.
"Magic differs from Qi," Woolark began. "Teaching it to you would take far too long, so we will focus on adapting your Qi for now. But you must understand the principles."
He gestured to the glowing diagrams, his tone taking on an academic air:
Elemental Magic: Control of natural forces like fire, water, air, and earth.Arcane Magic: Mystical spells such as teleportation, invisibility, and energy manipulation.Divine Magic: Power derived from gods or celestial beings, often used for healing or blessings.Necromancy: Magic concerning death, including raising the dead or manipulating souls.Nature Magic: Focused on life and the environment, plants, animals, and weather.Illusion Magic: Crafting false perceptions and cloaking reality.Blood Magic: Fueling spells through life force or sacrifices.Chronomancy: The manipulation of time.Psionics: Mental abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis.
Lucian listened intently as Woolark went on to explain the stages of mastery, from Initiate to the legendary Archmage.
"This is all well and good," Woolark said with a wry smile, "but for now, let's work with your Qi. The time for magic will come later."
Lucian nodded in agreement. Woolark rose, beckoning him to follow outside.
The elder demonstrated a technique called Wind Steps, explaining how to channel Qi since Lucian can't use magic on the feet. "Swirl the Qi at your feet, do not stream it, but swirl it like a gentle small whirlpool at the bottom of your feet," he instructed.
Lucian tried repeatedly, his determination fierce. Hours passed as he struggled to balance control and flow. Finally, with a triumphant yell, a faint white cloud of Qi swirled at his feet, and he darted forward, gliding across the ground like a whisper of wind.
Lucian skidded to a stop, staring at the mist like Qi swirling around his feet. "This doesn't look exactly like your Wind Steps," he said, his voice filled with awe. "It's more like… clouds!"
Woolark stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hoho, it seems your Qi has a mind of its own. Very well let's call this variation Cloud Steps. It suits you."
Lucian grinned, the name resonating with him. His excitement was palpable as he dashed again, the cloud-like Qi at his feet carrying him with an effortless grace.
"Hoho!" Woolark laughed, genuinely impressed. "Not bad for a first attempt, boy. But we don't have much time. You must leave tomorrow to take the exam on time."
Lucian nodded, his energy still buzzing from the achievement.
Back inside, Woolark handed Lucian a leather-bound book. "Inside, you'll find instructions for a teleportation circle. It uses either magic or Qi energy, but only those marked by my stigma can activate it."
With a swift motion, Woolark pressed his palm against Lucian's arm, and a glowing sigil appeared on his skin. "This will allow you to return here when needed."
The next morning, Lucian stood at the edge of the village, bidding farewell to the King, Queen, and Woolark.
Queen Lysithra smiled warmly. "If you see our children at the academy, do try to befriend them."
King Sylvaris added, "Their names are Sylvara Verdane and Eryndil Verdane. They're twins, both in their second year."
Lucian grinned. "I'll look out for them."
With that, he turned and began his journey once more, The elven village faded behind him as he stepped away from it into the unknown, ready to face the challenges that awaited him.