Drake's piercing gaze locked onto mine, his focus drawn to the edges of my body, where two distinct auras had begun to manifest.
A fiery red glow pulsed with energy, while a sleek grey aura sliced through the air with precision. "You're doing great, Aries," he said, his low, encouraging tone fueling my determination. "Keep it up - you're on the cusp of something incredible."
As I opened my eyes and rose from the stone, Drake's hand came down on my shoulder, his grip firm yet reassuring. "I can sense it, two elements back-to-back... What are they, Aries?" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"I saw grey and red flames within me," I replied, still processing the experience.
Drake's eyes widened in shock as soon as I mentioned the color red. "Red? Are you saying you possess The fire element?" he asked, his voice laced with excitement.
"I think so, yes," I nodded. Drake's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and pride.
"Well done, Aries! You possess a very special and rare element. As you know, among the four basic elements, fire is extremely rare. Even water isn't that rare compared to fire." Drake beamed with pride, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"You, Aries, possess both fire and wind, which makes you an 'Arcynate', a dual element user like me."
With a smile, "alright let's begin without wasting any time" Drake began my training, focusing on mastering the fire element.
"So, first, what you have to do is try to ignite fire on your wrist," he explained, his words dripping with authority.
"It's a process where you have to bring your mana flow in sync with the element. Think of it like fueling a flame - mana acts as the spark that ignites the fire, and through it, you intensify the element's power."
I listened intently, my mind racing with the possibilities. I focused on the sensation of the fire element, imagining it coursing through my veins.
I visualized the flames dancing on my wrist, feeling the heat and energy emanating from them. As I provided the mana flow, the fire erupted on my wrist, its warm glow illuminating my skin.
A satisfied smile spread across my face. "I did it, Gramps!" I exclaimed, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Drake smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's good, Aries.
Drake pushes me to master the fire element in various ways. He began by teaching me how to conjure flames from thin air. With his guidance, I learned to summon flames at will, feeling the heat and energy emanating from them.
Drake taught me how to shape the flames into various forms, a technique that demanded precision. I practiced molding the flames into different shapes, from simple spheres to more complex forms like blades and spears.
As I honed my skills, I discovered that shaping flames wasn't just about aesthetics; it also allowed me to adapt the fire to different situations and advance to higher level.
________________________________________________________________________________________
As the days passed, I continued to train with Drake, honing my skills and deepening my connection to the fire element.
Drake was pleased with my progress, and he decided it was time to introduce me to more advanced techniques. "Now that you've got the basics down, it's time to learn some more complex attacks," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Complex attacks? what are they gramps?" I asked, curiosity getting better of me.
"I want to teach you two powerful techniques that will take your fire magic to the next level,"
Drake continued. "The first one is the 'Inferno Blast.' This attack involves charging flames into concentrated balls of fire that explode on impact, releasing a massive amount of energy."
"The second technique I want to teach you is the 'Flame Emperor' " Drake said, a serious look on his face. "This attack allows you to unleash flames that stretch in any direction, giving you the ability to attack multiple targets or cover a wide area."
My eyes sparkled with excitement as I listened to the techniques Drake mentioned. "So, to master these techniques, are you ready, Aries?" Drake asked, a hint of a challenge in his voice. I grinned, determination etched on my face. "You bet I am."
The hours flew by as I trained tirelessly, trying to master the "Inferno Blast" and "Flame Emperor" techniques. The sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. I was completely absorbed in the training, pushing myself to the limit.
Finally, exhaustion caught up with me, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. "Huff... huff..." I lay there, my chest heaving, feeling drained. I thought to myself, "Why is this so hard? How can I do this?" Frustration and doubt crept in, making me question my abilities.
Just then, Drake's voice cut through my thoughts. "What happened, Aries? Giving up already?" I looked up at him, a mixture of determination and exhaustion on my face. "No, I'm not giving up," I said, trying to sound confident. "I will... I just need to..." Trying to get up.
But before I could finish, my body betrayed me, and I ran out of energy. "I guess not," I admitted, feeling a bit defeated. Drake chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Why don't we call it a day? It's almost time, anyway."
I looked up at him, feeling a bit disappointed. "But I'm unable to master this, even after days of trying, Gramps." Drake's expression turned reassuring. "You'll get there, Aries. You're already making great progress. Don't overthink it. Just relax and trust the process."
I nodded, feeling a bit better. "Alright, Gramps," I said, getting to my feet. Despite the exhaustion and frustration.
Our training for the day came to an end, and with a flick of my wrist, I summoned a small flame, igniting a nearby campfire. The warm glow illuminated Drake's proud smile, and he nodded in approval. "You're a natural, Aries," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
I chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Nah, I'm not, Gramps," I replied, trying to deflect the praise. We settled in for the night, the crackling flames casting a cozy ambiance over our makeshift camp.
The silence of the night was only broken by the occasional crackle of the campfire, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me.
As I lay beside Drake, I turned to him with curiosity. "Gramps, why did you want to spend your time teaching me? Guiding me in magic?" I asked, my voice low and inquiring.
Drake's expression turned mysterious, and he spoke in a low, measured tone. "I'm just creating strong individuals for the next generation, whom I can possibly pass on my knowledge to... And I sense something from you... I believe you're one of those who will bring humanity-" He paused, hesitant to reveal more.
My curiosity was piqued, and I repeated his words. "Humanity what?" I asked, my eyes locked on his. Drake's expression turned guarded, and he turned away.
"Never mind. What's important is that you have potential," he said, his voice firm but distant.
As Drake turned away, I noticed a flicker of emotion in his eyes, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of tears. "No wonder you look and talk like him, but I don't want you to end up like him too," he thought to himself. An image of a dead child flashed in his mind, and he was left with tears in his eyes.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to his words. I closed my eyes, focusing my mind on the fire and wind elements I had learned earlier.
But as I concentrated, a sudden realization struck me.
Despite the familiar auras of fire and wind, I sensed something else, something that didn't belong.
It was a "PURPLISH" aura, mysterious and unfamiliar.
I wondered "what this new presence could be", my curiosity was piqued.
Just then, Drake still turned away. "Get some rest, Aries. We'll start early tomorrow. I'll teach you hunting with fire magic," he said.
I nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. "Yes, sir!" I replied, trying to contain my enthusiasm. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring.