They left the restaurant at around 4 p.m. They headed east, leaving the busy streets of Kathmandu behind, following the winding Araniko Highway. They passed hills, villages, and forests quickly, then passed Nagarkot. The highway merged with the B.P. Highway, passing the ancient temples of Dhulikhel. Ayush then took an unmarked road that led to the Hidden Valley Trail, leading to waterfalls, forests, and remote villages.
Ayush parked the Land Cruiser at a village house that surprisingly had a hidden underground parking area. Who knew villages had secret parking?
They started climbing the Hidden Valley Trailhead at 2,200 meters. Ryan followed Ayush without any luggage. Fenrir had given him a dimension ring before boarding the plane, so all of Ryan's belongings, including the sword, were in the ring.
The climb lasted for five hours, and he kept cursing Fenrir for laughing at him every time he slipped on the steep path.
It was cold. The temperature ranged from -8 to -12 degrees. Ryan was wearing a thick, insulated jacket, thick snow pants, a balaclava covering his face, insulated gloves, and waterproof hiking boots. Meanwhile, Ayush was wearing only snow pants, a parka with a furry hood, and an insulated beanie.
He gritted his teeth because of the cold and tried to circulate mana throughout his body. It helped a little. However, he felt stupid. Why didn't he think of it earlier? Now, he was staggering around in layers of clothing while Ayush looked like he was taking a stroll.
At an altitude of 3,500 meters, they arrived at Langtang Base Camp. The colorful tents of the climbers dotted the landscape, a stark contrast to the white blanket of Himalayan snow.
Ayush walked easily through ice flows, rugged terrain, and howling winds. Finally, they reached a remote area, surrounded by thick fog.
He stopped between two boulders and stood still. A faint blue ball of light appeared in his palm. It spun around like a mini tornado before Ayush threw it to the ground.
When it comes into contact with the ground, the light expands. A gate 15 feet tall, made of bluish-black wood with intricate carvings of elemental symbols—air, earth, fire, air, and aether. The door knocker was dragon-shaped and made of dark bronze.
Ayush's hand released a blue light again and the blue light seeped into the dragon's body. Not long after, the gate opened.
They entered, and Ryan gaped at the sight inside.
The Arena of Elements consisted of five towering towers, each representing each element, with the largest tower, the Tower of Aether, in the center. There were buildings surrounding the towers, that housed some facilities such as dorms, dining halls, and a few others.
In the center was an empty area used for sparring. A small river separated the empty area from the buildings and towers, and there were paths connecting them.
The students wore simple uniforms, trousers, and tunics—with fur collars. The fire students wore red. The water students wore aquamarine. The earth students wore brown. The air students wore sky blue. The Aether students shimmered in white.
Ayush's voice was barely audible amidst Ryan's waves of astonishment. "... housing around 1,000 students, aged 15-25, with an even gender distribution."
They walked toward the Tower of Aether, passing by students engrossed in their activities. Some read thick books, others floated above the ground, while a few threw fireballs with glee. Black-clad instructors moved among them, guiding and observing.
The air was filled with laughter. Giggling female students filled the atmosphere with life. It was a stark contrast to Ryan's expectations. He had imagined a solemn place filled with older, serious students.
Amidst the bustling students, several mystical beasts soared through the sky. A dragon, made of living fire, danced among the towers. Nearby, a winged serpent made of water hovered among the students.
On the ground, students interacted with their elemental peers. They exchanged gentle pats and words of affection. A group of freshmen watched in awe as a small, glowing earth elemental fashioned miniature statues out of gravel and dust. Nearby, an instructor watched a student try to tame a restless air fairy.
To Ryan, this was unreal. It felt like he had stepped into another world, another dimension. His mind struggled to absorb the magical sight.
'I've only seen this in fantasy movies…'
Fenrir stepped out of Ryan's shadow. Ayush bowed and greeted him. "Greetings, Lord Fenrir."
"Thank you, Ayush," Fenrir replied, returning the greeting telepathically. "Well done for bringing us here. When shall we meet Eryndor?"
"He is awaiting my Lord within the Aether Tower. Allow me to guide you there."
"Very well." Fenrir nodded.
As they made their way to the Aether Tower, the students glanced at them and whispered amongst themselves. Their gazes lingered for a moment upon seeing Fenrir before they went back to their activities.
Ryan felt a tinge of nervousness. It felt like going to school for the first time all over again.
***
They entered the simple Aether Tower. White wooden doors and white walls give a regal impression.
They went up to the second floor, and there were two doors. Ryan glanced inside one of the doors and he saw wooden shelves filled with books and simple tables. 'Ah, the library.'
Ayush then knocked on one of the doors and a deep voice said "Come in."
With a polite attitude, Ayush took Ryan and Fenrir into Eryndor's office and then slipped into the corridor.
Headmaster Eryndor Thorne sat at his desk, writing something on a piece of paper. He raised his head and immediately got up from his seat when Fenrir and Ryan entered. Eryndor stands tall at six feet two inches, probably in his early fifties, and has sharp facial features and blue-grey eyes. His beard was trimmed short. He wore a black robe decorated with silver embroidery of The Arena's emblem.
"Greetings, Lord Fenrir. Nice to meet you," Eryndor said respectfully.
Fenrir replied telepathically, "It is a pleasure to meet you too, Eryndor. Is everything ready?"
"Yes, my lord. I may trouble you with some papers to sign. Do you mind?"
"No problem. Let's get this over with. Oh, and this is Ryan Lane."
"Nice to meet you," Eryndor said, extending his hand.
Ryan shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."
Eryndor said, "Ryan, your elemental sword training begins now. We'll start with Earth. And we have special instructors for your all elemental mastery."
"Earth? Why not Fire or Wind?"
"Earth represents stability and foundation," Eryndor explained calmly. "Mastering Earth techniques builds physical strength, endurance, and control. Your swordsmanship will flourish from this solid foundation. Prepare for at least six months of intensive training in the basics," Eryndor advised. "Your training will begin tomorrow. Train hard, Ryan!"
Ryan nodded. "I understand, sir. I am committed to mastering all elements of swordsmanship. Thank you for your guidance, Master Eryndor."
After signing the document with his claw print, Fenrir said, "May I stay here as well? Lord Chronos has personally entrusted the care of this young man to me."
Eryndor's smile widened. "Please stay as long as you wish. "
"Thank you," Fenrir replied. "May we proceed to our quarters?"
Eryndor turned to one of his servants. "Please escort our guests to their quarters. And Prabin, make sure Ryan receives the complete texts of the Elemental Swordsmanship." Earth and the ancient book, 'Foundation of Elemental Balance,' in his residence."
Prabin stepped forward, and with a light bow, he said. "Follow me, gentlemen." He led Fenrir and Ryan through the corridors to the dormitory.
Prabin opened the door of one of the dorms, and it creaked open. "Your residence is The Arena. Rest well," he said. With a polite smile, he left.
Ryan's room was comfortable and practical. Two beds lined up against opposite walls, each covered with a warm blanket. A wooden table sat near the window that overlooked a small fountain. A fireplace crackled softly, casting a warm glow across the room.
"This is perfect," he cooed, flopping onto the nearest bed. Fenrir smiled, lying on the opposite bed.
Ryan began to unpack, arranging his belongings in the closet. that had been prepared. He put away his hiking gear, changed into warm wool clothes, and put on soft, cushioned boots. A warm shower refreshed him, chasing away the chill of the Himalayan winter. With renewed vigor, Ryan sat by the fire, staring at the flames dancing.
"So peaceful," he sighed.
A knock on the door broke the silence.
"Come in!" Ryan called.
Prabin entered with a polite bow. "Your subject, Ryan. Master Eryndor's choice for your Earth element swordsmanship training." He placed a stack of leather-bound books on the wooden table.
"Thank you, Prabin."
As Prabin left, Ryan eagerly opened the first book, "Terra Veritas." Ryan traced the diagrams on the yellowed paper with his finger. Then, he opened "Elementia," marveling at the intricate theories of elemental balance. He whispered excitedly, "Learning what others thought was impossible..."
Fenrir suddenly spoke up. "Your core energy is now half the size of your fist, Ryan."
Ryan looked up from his book. "Is that it?"
Fenrir nodded. "Your focus has accelerated your growth. You are gifted, as Lord Chronos said."
"Oh? Did Lord Chronos say I'm talented?" Ryan hopped over to Fenrir, who was relaxing on his bed.
Fenrir raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Oh, calm down, young man. Yes, Lord Chronos did say that. If it weren't true, you'd have a really hard time training to become the Emperor of Time. It's not an easy thing."
Ryan nodded happily.
'Come to think of it, the title of Emperor of Time is cool.'
Ryan sat down at his desk and turned his attention to the materials Prabin had given him. The materials contained important things about earth element magic and earth element swordsmanship. Ryan dove into the texts, marking important points and highlighting important pages.