The squad's ship reached the rugged shoreline of the Isle of Vigils, its silhouette shrouded in mist. A temple loomed inside the cliffs, its ancient spires reaching skyward. Maestro Evengarde Rest stepped off the ship first, his movements deliberate, as if the weight of his duty matched the island's imposing presence. Velvet, Kouneli, and Leo followed, their eyes darting between the temple and the restless sea below.
"This will be your home for the foreseeable future," Evengarde said as they climbed the steep stairs leading to the temple's grand entrance.
The interior was just as awe-inspiring—vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts and heroes, walls lined with shelves of dusty tomes, and corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly. They were each assigned private rooms to rest and reflect.
The training began in the temple's spacious atrium, where sunlight filtered through high windows, casting golden beams onto the marble floor. Evengarde stood at the center, a commanding presence.
"To master your attunements, you must first understand the foundation of all mantras," he began. "Mantras are categorized into seven different arts, with the first art being the most basic and the seventh art bordering on the divine. The higher the art, the more ether it demands to cast."
To demonstrate, Evengarde raised his hand, and a small, swirling ball of wind formed in his palm—a First Art: Wind Ball. The gentle vortex spun for a moment before dissipating.
"Simple. But effective when used correctly," he said, brushing his hands. "Now, I want to see what you're capable of. Show me your strongest mantras."
Velvet, eager to impress, stepped forward and unleashed a Second Art: Grand Javelin. A crackling spear of electricity formed in their hand before they hurled it forward, where it fizzled out just before hitting the temple wall.
"Decent control," Evengarde commented, nodding.
Leo followed, his hands slicing through the air as he executed a Second Art: Wind Carve. A sharp gust of wind shot forward, cutting through the air with a whistle before dispersing.
"Impressive," Evengarde remarked.
Kouneli hesitated for a moment, then summoned a Second Art: Hardened Crimson. Blood swirled around his arms, hardening into sharp, crystalline blades that shimmered with a dark red hue.
Evengarde observed him closely, his sharp gaze catching the strain on Kouneli's face as he maintained the form. "Interesting. You're pushing yourself harder than most would at this stage."
After evaluating their displays, Evengarde led them to a chamber filled with training equipment, each piece resonating faintly with etheric energy.
"Each of you will pick an instrument tailored to your attunement. Velvet, the Self-Conducting Loop. Leo, the Gale Kata. Kouneli, the Crimson Tourniquet. These tools are designed to refine your ether control and amplify your abilities. But they are also unforgiving. Push them too far, and they will retaliate."
Velvet picked up the Self-Conducting Loop, a circular device humming with electricity. Leo retrieved the Gale Kata, a series of weighted, flowing metallic bands designed to harmonize with wind ether. Kouneli took the Crimson Tourniquet, a gauntlet-like contraption that pulsed as if alive.
"Your task is to pour ether into the equipment. Not too much at once, or you risk overloading the system," Evengarde instructed.
The trio began their exercises, each focused on their respective tools.
Velvet gritted their teeth as they channeled ether into the loop. A sudden surge of electricity crackled outward, sending a sharp jolt through their body. "What the—?" they exclaimed, shaking their hands.
Leo wasn't faring much better. As he poured ether into the Gale Kata, powerful gusts of wind blasted through the chamber, scattering loose scrolls and artifacts.
Kouneli, meanwhile, was locked in a battle with the Crimson Tourniquet. Blood poured from his palms into the device, but it soon began to overflow, dark red streams pooling on the floor.
"Stop!" Evengarde commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Focus. You're all trying to brute-force the process. That will never work."
He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Ether is like water, and your equipment is the cup. You need to pour it in slowly, carefully, and stop when the cup is full. If you overfill it, it spills. Picture the moment when water clings to the edge of the cup, held in place by surface tension—that is equilibrium. That is control."
The trio closed their eyes, visualizing his words. Velvet imagined the crackling energy as a stream of water, gently filling the loop. Leo pictured the wind as a flowing river, gradually settling into the kata. Kouneli saw his blood as a calm stream, trickling into the tourniquet without spilling over.
It took time—minutes felt like hours as they wrestled with their ether. Slowly, though, the room grew quiet.
Velvet's Self-Conducting Loop began to glow steadily, the crackling electricity now a gentle hum. Leo's Gale Kata moved in perfect harmony, the swirling winds dissipating into controlled bursts. Kouneli's Crimson Tourniquet pulsed rhythmically, absorbing the blood without spilling a single drop.
Evengarde watched silently, his sharp eyes glinting with satisfaction. When they finally opened their eyes, he clapped his hands once, the sound echoing through the chamber.
"Well done. You've all achieved the first step in mastering your attunements: control. Most recruits take weeks to reach this point, but you've done it in a single session."
Velvet grinned, wiping sweat from their brow. "That was intense, but I think I'm getting the hang of it."
Leo stretched his arms, the strain of maintaining the ether flow evident. "Feels like I've been carrying boulders all day, but yeah, it's starting to click."
Kouneli remained quiet, his gaze fixed on the Crimson Tourniquet. A flicker of pride crossed his face, quickly overshadowed by doubt.
Evengarde's expression softened as he observed them. For a brief moment, his mind wandered to two figures from his past: Pleektsy and Akira, old students who had once trained in this very temple. "They remind me of you two," he murmured to himself. But the memory was fleeting—both Pleektsy and Akira were Black Divers now, likely deep in The Depths. Their return to the Isle of Vigils seemed unlikely.
Shaking off the thought, Evengarde addressed the trio. "This was only the beginning. Control is essential, but it's useless without physical strength to back it up. Ether manipulation is as much a test of the body as it is of the mind. Your next challenge will push your limits even further."
The trio exchanged glances, determination sparking in their eyes. The temple walls seemed to hum with the promise of trials to come.
"Rest up tonight," Evengarde said, turning to leave the chamber. "Tomorrow, we begin the physical training. And trust me, you'll need all the strength you can muster."
As his footsteps faded down the hall, the three sat in silence, exhaustion mingling with anticipation. The Isle of Vigils had already begun to test them, and the true trials were just beginning.