The journey northward stretched before them, vast and untamed. Though the road was long, the ever-changing sceneryoffered its own kind of wonder, even through the ache of tired legs and sore feet.
Day One
Their first day took them through rolling grasslands, golden in the sunlight. The tall grass swayed in the breeze, stretching endlessly in all directions, rippling like an ocean of gold. Wildflowers dotted the landscape—bursts of blue, purple, and white against the amber waves.
A herd of horned elk passed in the distance, their antlers silhouetted against the morning sky. Selka gasped in awe, eyes wide as she watched them bound across the plains, their powerful legs kicking up dust.
As the sun dipped lower, the sky burned with oranges and pinks, casting long shadows across the land. The air smelled of earth and wild herbs, and for the first time in a while, the group felt a quiet kind of peace.
Day Two
The next day, the grasslands gave way to rocky terrain and deep forested ravines. The air was cooler here, shaded beneath the dense canopy of towering pines. Moss clung to jagged cliff faces, and the sound of rushing water echoed through the narrow passages as they crossed wooden bridges suspended over deep gorges.
Merrick, ever the explorer, took to climbing up boulders and scouting ahead, while Selka tried to spot fish in the streams below. At one point, she almost toppled forward trying to peer over a ledge, only for Mira to grab her by the hood and pull her back.
They made camp beside a crystal-clear river, where fireflies danced over the water and the air smelled of pine and damp earth. The sound of the river lulled them to sleep, the stars peeking through the gaps in the leaves above.
Day Three
By the third day, the trees thinned out, and the land turned rugged once more. Gray stone hills rose around them, their surfaces smoothed by time, streaked with veins of silver and quartz. The wind was stronger here, howling softly through the cracks in the rock, carrying the scent of distant rain.
They came across abandoned ruins nestled between two hills—old, crumbling stone structures, half-buried beneath ivy and moss. Char recognized them vaguely from something he had written but said nothing, only pausing to run his fingers along the ancient carvings.
Selka hopped along the broken walls, her arms outstretched for balance, pretending she was a Valkari warrior on patrol. Mira watched her carefully, while Merrick idly picked up a loose stone and tossed it between his hands.
As the sun began to set, they reached the peak of one of the stone hills and looked northward. Far beyond the horizon, beyond the forests, rivers, and valleys ahead, Oryn-Vel awaited them.
The journey was far from over, but they were on their way
*
The sun hung high in the sky, beating down on the group as they ascended a rocky outcrop. The valley below stretched into endless plains of golden grass, and beyond that, the distant outline of Oryn-Vel's towering walls still seemed impossibly far away.
Char led Mira and Merrick off the main path, heading towards a secluded clearing nestled between jagged stones. They had been traveling for five days now, and the closer they got to civilization, the more uneasy Char felt. Flint may have been gone, but that didn't mean the dangers were over. The world was still dangerous, and if Mira and Merrick were to survive, they needed to unlock their full potential.
"This is the place," Char said, stopping in the center of the clearing.
Mira wiped sweat from her brow, eyeing the Ascension Stone in her palm. "So… we just do it? Crush them?"
Merrick tossed his own stone in the air, catching it with an easy grin. "And then what? I instantly become the strongest person in the world?"
Char sighed. "Not quite. The process is intense. When I did it, it felt like my entire body was being rewritten from the inside out. You'll feel pain—maybe more than you've ever felt before—but once it's over, you'll awaken."
Mira gave a slow nod, gripping the stone tightly. "And then we'll have abilities. Like you."
Char pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders. "Yeah."
Merrick stretched his fingers, glancing at Mira. "Alright. Race you."
Mira scoffed. "You're so annoying."
At the same time, they clenched their fists around the Ascension Stones.
A shatter like breaking glass split the air as the stones exploded into raw energy.
Merrick and Mira staggered back, convulsing as mana surged through them.
Mira's body felt like it was being pulled in every direction at once. Her heart raced faster, her limbs twitched, and for a split second, she felt as though time itself had slowed down. The wind rippled around her, every blade of grass bending as if caught in a storm only she could feel.
Merrick, on the other hand, threw his head back with a roar as flames burst from his hands. The air around him warped with heat, and then—boom! A small explosion erupted from his fingertips, sending him stumbling back.
Char took a step forward. "Focus! Feel it! Don't fight the energy—accept it!"
Mira grit her teeth, breathing deeply. The chaotic energy inside her settled, shifting into something more natural—something controllable. She took a step forward, and suddenly, she was across the clearing in the blink of an eye.
She gasped, spinning around. "I—I moved—"
Merrick grinned, snapping his fingers. A small flicker of flame sparked at his fingertips before erupting into a controlled fireball. He held it up, eyes wide with excitement.
Char crossed his arms, watching them both carefully. "Merrick, what do you feel?"
Merrick twirled the fireball in his palm, as though weighing it. "I don't just control the flame. It's like… I control the air around it. I can make it combust."
Char nodded. "That's Ignition. You can make fire from nothing by heating the air until it bursts."
Merrick clenched his fist, extinguishing the fire. "That's… badass."
Char turned to Mira. "And you?"
Mira flexed her fingers, staring at her hands like they belonged to someone else. "I can feel… movement. Acceleration. I can choose when to go faster or slower." She took another step, and suddenly vanished, reappearing on a rock ten feet away.
Char smiled. "That's Hare Speed. It lets you control your momentum at will."
Mira beamed, but then swayed, grabbing her forehead. "Woah—okay—dizzy."
Merrick laughed, only to stumble backward himself. "O-okay, maybe burning the air takes a little energy."
Char reached out, steadying them both. "Your bodies are adjusting. It'll take time, but you'll get used to it. For now, let's rest—then we'll test how far you can push it."
Merrick grinned. "Char, my friend, we're gonna be unstoppable."
Mira just smiled, staring at her hands in quiet wonder.
*
The morning sun broke over the hills, casting long shadows as Char stood at the center of a small clearing. The group had made camp near a riverbank, where smooth stones littered the ground and the rushing water provided a constant, calming backdrop. The air was crisp, a gentle breeze rolling through the trees. Perfect conditions for training.
Char ran a hand through his hair as he looked over his companions. Mira, Merrick, and Selka. Each of them had incredible potential, but without proper training, raw talent wouldn't be enough.
"Alright," Char began, crossing his arms. "You've had two days to get used to your abilities. Today, we see what you can really do."
Merrick cracked his knuckles. "Finally. I was getting bored."
Mira rolled her eyes. "You nearly burned your bedroll last night, Merrick."
Merrick waved a hand dismissively. "That was an accident. Besides, fire needs a little chaos to thrive."
Char shook his head. "Which is why we're training. You need control."
Merrick sighed dramatically but nodded.
Char then turned to Selka, who had been quietly observing the others. She still carried an air of innocence, but there was a strength behind those golden eyes—one that reminded him of Lucien.
"Selka," Char said, "you're going to train too."
Selka's eyes widened. "Me?"
"Of course," Char said. "Valkar have Crystalline Manipulation naturally. You can use it, right?"
Selka hesitated, then nodded. "I can. But… I never really practiced it much."
Char smiled. "Then let's change that."
Selka swallowed, looking nervous but determined.
Char stepped back and gestured for the group to spread out.
"First," Char said, "I want to see how well you can control your abilities. No big attacks. Just small, precise actions."
He turned to Merrick first. "Try igniting a flame the size of a candle. Keep it steady."
Merrick nodded, raising a hand. He snapped his fingers, and a small flame flickered into existence.
At first, it wavered wildly, the heat distorting the air. But after a few deep breaths, Merrick narrowed his focus. The flame calmed, forming a perfect sphere of fire at his fingertips.
Char nodded in approval. "Good. Now hold it."
Merrick gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow as he maintained the flame.
Next, Char turned to Mira. "Your ability is all about control. Try moving from one end of the clearing to the other without making it look unnatural."
Mira bounced on her heels, testing her speed. Then, she **vanished—**reappearing at the other end of the clearing in a blink. But she stumbled slightly, kicking up dirt.
"Again," Char said. "But this time, regulate your momentum. Start slow, then increase speed."
Mira took a deep breath. She focused, adjusting her stance—then moved.
This time, her acceleration was smooth, almost graceful. She slowed at the end, stopping on a dime without so much as a stumble.
She turned back to Char, grinning. "Better?"
Char smirked. "Much better."
Finally, Char turned to Selka.
"Your turn," he said. "Show me what you can do."
Selka bit her lip, stepping forward. She extended her hand, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint shimmerflickered at her fingertips.
The ground beneath her rumbled as small crystals began to emerge, forming jagged shapes around her feet. They were raw and uneven, lacking the refined control Lucien had displayed during their fight.
Selka frowned, gripping her hands into fists. The crystals shattered, and new ones formed, this time more structured—almost like spikes of glass.
Merrick whistled. "That's actually really cool."
Selka looked down at her hands, a mix of awe and surprise on her face. "I… I didn't think I could make them this strong."
Char nodded. "That's because you were holding yourself back. You're Valkar. This is part of who you are."
Selka looked up, determination filling her expression.
Char smirked. "Alright. Now let's take things up a notch."
*
For the next few hours, Char pushed them harder.
Merrick learned to control his flames, making them grow and shrink at will. Mira practiced dodging and maneuvering in tight spaces, using her speed for agility rather than just raw movement .Selka refined her crystal formations, shaping them into armor and weapons instead of just random spikes.
By the end, all three were exhausted but visibly stronger.
As the sun began to set, Char called it for the day. "Good work. Rest up. Tomorrow, we push even further."
Merrick groaned. "You're gonna kill us."
Mira smirked. "I think it's fun."
Selka simply smiled, proud of herself for the first time in a long time.
Char looked at them all, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. They were getting stronger.
And with every step forward, they were becoming something greater than before.