The Tideborne Clan was something Jayden had never seen: wide, crystal-like waters, stretching farther than the eye could see, wrapped the clan's island stronghold; the air was thick with the smell of salt from the ocean, and the sounds of waves crashing provided a soothing rhythm. For the Tideborne Clan, it was a haven of manipulation of water-to someone like Jayden, almost fated.
Standing at the shoreline, Jayden gazed at the horizon, where the sun met the sea. His heart suddenly swelled with courage. In his circle of friends, Jayden had always been the planner, the strategist who used wits and precision to guide them. Now he would hone himself further, not just as a strategist but as a master of water and patience.
Beside him was the Tideborne Elder, a weathered man named Kalis, swathed in deep blue robes billowing with every vagary of air. His eyes reflected wisdom bred of too many years attuned to the sea. "The ocean is relentless, yet caring," Kalis said, his tone cool, clear, and firm. "To use water, one has first to understand its nature-violent, yet insistent, then overwhelmingly powerful in moments of requirement.
Jayden turned to him, a respectful but determined look in his eyes. "I'm ready to learn, Master Kalis. Teach me how to unlock the potential within."
Kalis smiled faintly. "Then let us begin."
---
The Trials of the Tideborne
Jayden's training began with the River's Dance, which was done to teach him the basics of water manipulation. He had to work his way through a raging river and keep its flow in check. Using his powers based on water, Jayden was supposed to create pathways in it and then calm the turbulent waters down.
First, the river resisted his every touch. Every time he tried to force his will, it pushed back, dragging him under so many times. Weary but determined, Jayden recalled the words of Kalis: "The ocean does not fight; it flows.
Not resisting, Jayden instead flowed with it to train the current rather than overpower it. With time, Jayden mastered the river and achieved the opposite side of the river, with more perception about the character of water.
The Whirlpool's Grasp was the next trial for him and a much deadlier one, where the placement right into the eye of the maelstrom-the powerful whirlpool currents ready to suck him in-was something he was supposed to defeat with a strong countercurrent that would overcome its sucking power.
He fought for hours, his strength nearly spent. When he was ready to let go, he stilled his mind and envisioned the movement of current around him. Then, he took a deep breath and stretched out his arms, calling on his power. The water responded by roiling in the opposite direction. The whirlpool spat and sputtered before disintegrating.
Coming out of the test drenched but triumphant, pride swelled in Jayden. He had begun to learn more than just how to control water; he learned to be one with it.
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Patience and Mastery
Kalis then introduced him to the Art of Patience, wherein he had to be seated at the edge of a still lake, meditating, for days together. In this particular place, the water was a replica of the clear sky above-such that there would be no hint, not even, of any rippling effect.
Water holds the secrets of time," Kalis explained. "It erodes mountains and carves valleys, but it does so slowly-without haste. Patience is the key to unlocking its greatest potential.
The exercise was maddening at first. Jayden was a man of action, used to solving problems quickly and decisively. Yet with each new day, he would come to appreciate the stillness. He heard the silent shift in the surface of the water, the gentle interplay of light and shadow.
And it was in this deep state of meditation that Jayden realized something very important: water was not just a tool or a weapon; it was life itself. It could heal, nurture, and destroy, all depending on how it was wielded.
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The Tomb of the Sea God
The culmination of Jayden's training came as Kalis finally took him to the Tomb of the Sea God, an underwater sanctum hidden deep beneath the ocean. It was a hazardous trip to the tomb, and Jayden needed to get through currents that were not friendly and pass by sea creatures that were deadly. Every trial he encountered en route had tested his resiliency, instincts, and connection with water.
The deeper they went, the heavier the water felt, charged with ancient energy pushing against Jayden's chest. Kalis moved with practiced ease as she guided Jayden through an intricate series of coral formations that almost seemed to be alive. Finally, they came into a grand underwater chamber sealed by a large gate carved from coral and etched with glowing runes.
"This," Kalis said, his hand gesturing to the gate, "is the Tomb of the Sea God, an artifact of our clan's most ancient heritage. Few have entered; even fewer have emerged unscathed. If you are truly destined, the Sea God will grant you his blessing. If not." Kalis trailed off, the weight of his words hanging in the water around them.
Jayden stepped forward, resolve carved into his face. "I'm ready."
The elder laid his hand on the gate; his voice mumbled in an incantation in some ancient tongue. The runes flared bright, and the gate creaked open to a vast chamber filled with shimmering water that seemed untouched by time. At its center stood a pedestal, atop which rested a crystalline orb radiating a soft, azure glow.
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Trial of the Sea God
As Jayden entered the chamber, the temperature of the water started falling. Those waves that looked soothing a while back began to swirl, spiraling around in a vortex. A loud, thunderous voice spoke out through the chamber, buckling the very foundations of the tomb.
"Who has disturbed my sleep?" the voice boomed. "Mortal, is it powers that you seek? Or is it wisdom?
Jayden's voice firmed up and stayed steady, with no single crack in his words. "Neither do I, for my benefit, save to the cause to protect my family and uphold this world in balance. Where the said cause requires power or wisdom, thereof I will gladly make use.
With this, the vortex strengthened, and one huge figure arose from the water: a ghostly incarnation of the Sea God himself. His form was as fluid as moving waves in a storm, though his eyes burnt bright as fire at the bottom of the ocean.
"Very well," said the Sea God. "Prove your worth. Show me your mastery of water, your patience, and your resolve.
With that, the trial was on: the ghostly avatar of the Sea God summoned great waves, whirlpools, and shoots of water against him, each more powerful and precise than the last. Jayden had to counter them all, not by brute force but by flowing with the energy of the water and redirecting its power back toward the Sea God.
The whole trial seemed to push Jayden's body to its limit as his racing mind remembered all that Kalis had ever taught him. Slowly, he felt the rhythm of the water, the rise and fall of its energy. Every new attack was an assurance of greater confidence and strength; each movement flowed better and was smoother.
Last but not least, the Sea God summoned a mighty tidal wave of unimaginable force apparently impossible to respond with. Instead, Jayden plunged forward into the core of the wave, merging himself with its energy. With newfound mastery, he swiveled the force of the wave, shorn into harmless trickles that hissed themselves out in the chamber.
The Sea God's form stilled, and a deep, approving rumble echoed through the tomb. "You have proven yourself, mortal. I grant you my blessing. May the tides of the sea guide and protect you."
---
The Tidal God Physique
The crystal, on its base, suddenly shimmered brighter and bathed Jayden in its light. A sudden tingle developed within his body, like the surge of an ocean current. His skin shimmered with a faintly glowing blue, and intricate wave-like patterns appeared along his arms and chest.
You now have the Tidal God Physique, said the Sea God. "With this, you can control the waters in ways no mortal has ever done. But let this be a reminder: this power is not a gift but a responsibility. Use it wisely.
As the light faded, the Sea God's image dissipated, and the chamber quieted once again into its normal stillness. Jayden felt his body buzzing with a new coating of strength. Turning to Kalis, who was watching with a proud grin on his face, he bowed and said, "You have achieved what few ever have; you are a master of the tides."
Jayden gave a bow. "Thank you, Master Kalis. I promise not to squander this power."
---
精 frenzy
Onward Journey
As Jayden and Kalis emerged from the tomb, the ocean around them was calmer, as if it too recognized Jayden's status. The journey upward to the surface was uneventful, allowing Jayden time to reflect on all he had learned.
When he rejoined his friends, they could immediately tell the difference in him. His presence was more commanding, and each one of his movements had fluidity and precision. Jayden shared this experience with his friends, but the deeper truths of the trial-the wisdom of the Sea God and the responsibility of his new power-would remain in his heart.
With renewed resolve, Jayden and his cohorts readied themselves against whatever was at their door. The path ahead came into even sharper focus, and with every trial, they were all getting bigger, more knit, and prepared for the oncoming threat of the Dark Apostles.