The first light of dawn filtered through the cracks in the stone walls, casting long, thin shadows across the room. Eryx sat on the edge of the small bed, staring out of the narrow window, his thoughts still swirling. The weight of Adara's words from the previous night clung to him like a heavy cloak. A part of him wanted to deny it all — to believe that this was just a bad dream, a nightmare he would wake up from any moment. But the weight in his chest, the pull of destiny, told him otherwise.
The world was in turmoil, and somehow, he was supposed to fix it.
A sudden knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Eryx?" came Kael's voice from the other side. "Adara wants to see you. It's time to begin your training."
Eryx took a deep breath, pushing the rising panic back down. Training. He wasn't even sure what that meant. How could he train to fix the world? How could he wield the power of the elements when he didn't even understand them?
He stood slowly, his body still stiff from the night before. It had been strange to sleep in this new body, to feel the weight of muscles and skin that didn't belong to him. But the unfamiliarity of it all was beginning to feel less strange. His mind, however, was a different story. It was still fragmented, pieces of his past lives, his forgotten memories, pulling at the edges of his consciousness, like a puzzle missing its pieces.
Eryx opened the door to find Kael standing in the hall, his posture relaxed, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.
"Ready?" Kael asked, his voice easy, though there was a subtle tension in the way he held himself.
Eryx nodded, though he wasn't sure if he was ready. He didn't feel ready. But this was it. There was no more running from it. His path had been set in motion, whether he liked it or not.
Kael led him down the winding corridors of the stone building, and as they passed through the door into the main hall, the warmth of the morning sun bathed the room. Adara was already waiting for them, standing near a large wooden table covered with scrolls and maps. She was studying one of the maps intently, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Ah, Eryx. You're here," she said, looking up as they entered. "We've much to do today."
"I've been thinking about everything you told me," Eryx began, his voice uncertain. "But… I still don't understand. How am I supposed to control the elements? What do I even know about them?"
Adara smiled faintly, her eyes softening with an understanding that only deepened his unease. "That's what we're here to discover, Eryx. It's not about understanding everything at once. It's about learning to feel the elements, to connect with them. The power is already within you — it's just a matter of awakening it."
Eryx frowned. "Awakening it? How?"
"Through training," Kael chimed in, his tone serious. "You need to learn how to attune yourself to the world around you. To the flow of the elements. It's not something that can be taught with words. You need to experience it for yourself."
Adara nodded. "The elements are more than just forces of nature. They are the very building blocks of the world, intertwined with life itself. Each element carries its own spirit, its own essence. And in order to wield them, you must become in tune with that essence."
Eryx absorbed her words, but doubt lingered in his mind. It sounded almost impossible. How could he, someone who had only just awakened in this strange world, possibly hope to understand the intricate dance of nature's most powerful forces?
Adara must have seen the doubt in his eyes because her voice softened. "You are not alone in this, Eryx. Kael and I will guide you. But ultimately, it is your heart that must lead the way."
Kael stepped forward. "We'll start with the basics. We'll begin with the element of Earth."
"The Earth?" Eryx asked, surprised. "I thought you said there were five elements."
"There are," Adara replied, "but Earth is the most fundamental. It is the foundation upon which all the others rest. If you cannot learn to control Earth, you will struggle with the others."
Eryx hesitated for a moment, then nodded, the flicker of resolve burning in his chest. "Alright. I'll try."
Kael led him outside, into the open air. The sky was still painted with soft hues of dawn, and the air smelled of fresh earth and pine. They moved to a small clearing near the edge of the village, the ground soft beneath their feet. All around them, the world seemed still — as if holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
"We begin by connecting to the Earth," Kael said, turning to face Eryx. "Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply."
Eryx followed the instructions, though the tension in his body didn't fade. He was still uncertain, still unsure of what to expect.
"Feel the ground beneath you," Kael continued. "Feel the pulse of the earth. It is alive, Eryx. It is always moving, always shifting. The trees grow, the rocks break down, the rivers carve new paths. But it's all connected, part of a great, living cycle. Focus on that connection."
Eryx took another breath, trying to push the thoughts that were clouding his mind aside. He felt the ground beneath him, the slight pressure against his feet. The earth was solid, unmoving, yet it held a subtle energy, a vibration that he hadn't noticed before. It was faint, but it was there.
"Now, reach out with your senses," Kael said. "You don't need to see it. Just feel it. The pulse of the earth is like a heartbeat. It's slow, steady. Connect to that rhythm."
Eryx focused, narrowing his thoughts, trying to hone in on the subtle energy beneath his feet. The feeling was there, like a whisper on the wind. It wasn't something he could see, but it was undeniable. The earth was alive, vibrant, full of power.
Kael's voice broke through his concentration. "Good. Now, try this. Imagine the earth responding to your call. Picture the soil shifting beneath you, moving in time with your thoughts. Let the earth move as you command it. Feel it."
Eryx's breath quickened as he concentrated harder. He could feel it now — the pulse of the earth beneath him. It was like a slow, constant rhythm. He focused on it, trying to push his thoughts deeper, trying to reach that connection, to make it his own.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, just as he was about to lose hope, he felt a shift. A slight tremor beneath his feet. A rock near his left foot moved, just slightly, as if responding to his will.
Eryx's eyes flew open in surprise. "Did… did I do that?"
Kael smiled, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Yes, you did. It's not much, but it's a start. The earth is stubborn, but it listens. You simply need to learn how to listen in return."
Eryx stood there, his heart pounding in his chest. The earth had responded to him. He hadn't imagined it. It was real. The power was real.
Adara's voice rang out from behind them, and Eryx turned to see her approaching with a small smile on her lips. "Well done, Eryx. You've taken the first step."
Eryx's mind was still reeling, but there was a small spark of hope that lit inside him. Maybe — just maybe — he could do this.
"We'll continue tomorrow," Adara said. "For now, you should rest. It's important to allow the connection to deepen."
Eryx nodded, his body feeling both exhausted and energized at the same time. He had a long way to go, but for the first time since waking up in this strange world, he felt like he might actually have a chance to understand it.
The elements were more than just forces of nature.
They were part of him. And he would learn to wield them.