Tavin, Andera, and Orin entered the training ground, their eyes immediately drawn to the shattered remains of the stage. Pieces of wood and stone lay scattered, a clear aftermath of a fierce battle. Mr. Alden stood nearby, arms crossed, with a satisfied look.
"Good morning, Sir," they greeted in unison.
Mr. Alden nodded in return. "Good morning."
Tavin's gaze lingered on the wreckage. "What the hell happened here?"
Mr. Alden smirked. "Ronan and I had a training battle. It got… intense."
Ronan, brushing off dust from his clothes, walked over and greeted them. "Good morning."
"Morning," Tavin, Andera, and Orin replied, though their curiosity about the battle was evident.
Mr. Alden clapped his hands, signalling the start of their day. "Enough gawking. Today, you'll learn something essential. Follow me to the Mindward Tower."
After a short walk, the group arrived at the imposing Mindward Tower. At the counter, Mr. Arnold, a silver-haired elder with a scholarly demeanour, was engrossed in a thick tome.
Mr. Alden greeted him, "Good morning, Sir."
Mr. Arnold looked up from his reading, offering a welcoming nod. "Good morning. What brings you all here?"
"They're here to learn how to counter corrupted magic and miasma," Mr. Alden explained. "They're nearly Adept Tier Five or above." Mr. Alden looked at Ronan and said, "You get special permission as you are going to explore the Eldermere Highlands with us, where you found that corrupted being."
Mr. Arnold's gaze swept over the group, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "I see. Very well, I will take it from here."
Mr. Alden turned to the group, his tone firm but caring. "Don't make trouble. Listen to everything the teacher says. Especially you two, Ronan and Orin. If I hear about any nonsense, you're in for it."
Ronan feigned innocence, flashing a disarming smile. "When have I ever caused trouble, Sir?"
Mr. Arnold shook his head with a chuckle, cutting off the banter. "Enough. Come with me."
The hallway opened into a large chamber. At its centre, a hexagonal golden formation pulsed gently, runes etched across its surface. In the middle stood a stone door frame, ancient in design. Mr. Arnold raised his hands, forming a series of complex signs. The runes responded, illuminating the air. A portal shimmered to life within the frame, its swirling energy inviting yet ominous.
"Follow me," Mr. Arnold said, stepping through without hesitation.
The moment they emerged on the other side, the environment shifted. The air was heavy, the sky draped in a muted grey. A faint pressure lingered as if the very atmosphere was tainted. The ground bore darkened patches, scorched and lifeless. Sparse vegetation clung to existence, twisted and mutated.
Ronan scanned the surroundings, unease settling in. "What is this place?"
Mr. Arnold's voice was steady. "This is a controlled, corrupted zone. While not as lethal as naturally occurring miasma fields, it still carries residual corruption. Here, you'll train to resist it. Light magic is the most effective counter. Those blessed by the gods have a natural resistance, but for others, it takes rigorous training."
They walked until they reached a cluster of buildings. Standing near the entrance was Mr. Alaric, arms crossed, his gaze unwavering.
"Good morning, Alaric," Mr. Arnold greeted.
"Good morning, Sir," Alaric replied before acknowledging the group. "Good morning, everyone."
The students returned the greeting in kind.
With that, Mr. Arnold departed, leaving the students under Alaric's care. He gestured towards a row of small dormitories. "These will be your living quarters during training. Get comfortable. Your training will begin soon."
After a brief respite, Mr. Alaric gathered them once more. "Your training has three phases. First, elemental control. The second is mana circulation. Third, resistance-building against miasma. Ms. Rose will be your instructor for the first two phases. Follow me."
They arrived at an expansive training ground. Towering above them was a colossal crystallised stone, radiating a dense concentration of mana. Around it, several figures practised their techniques, familiar faces among them.
"Amelia, Elias, Eldrin, Kellan, Selyra… they're all here," Orin noted.
Alaric stepped forward. "Ms. Rose, these are your new students. Tavin, Andera, Orin, and Ronan. They're in your care."
Ms. Rose said, "Understood."
As Alaric turned to leave, he cast a pointed glance at Orin. "And Orin… don't disturb Ms. Rose."
Orin grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Ms. Rose didn't seem convinced. She strode to the massive crystal and addressed the group. "This stone is the source of the high mana you feel. Your first task is simple. Create an object using your elemental mana. A chair, table, or any basic structure will do. Then, move toward the crystal. Mark the spot where you lose control."
She handed each of them a small wooden stick. "This will be your marker. Now, begin."
Ronan formed a small flame in his palm. Focusing his mana, he shaped the fire into the outline of a chair. Maintaining its form proved challenging, but his will held firm. Step by step, he advanced toward the crystal.
Others followed. Andera's water-crafted table held steady, droplets swirling along its edges. Orin, using his wind element, shaped a swirling chair of compressed air, its form barely visible as it shimmered with currents. Tavin's water element sculpted a refined chair, its surface rippling gently like liquid glass, though maintaining its form proved challenging.
With each step, the mana density increased. Sweat beaded on their foreheads. Most planted their markers near the middle circle. Only Ronan and Tavin pressed further.
Ronan's flame chair burned brightly, his teeth clenched as the mana fought against his control. He gritted his teeth, determined. Just a few more steps. Finally, unable to hold it any longer, he slammed his stick into the ground, marking his spot. Tavin followed shortly after, his water construct shattering into particles.
Ms. Rose nodded in approval. "Good. Now, we proceed to the next phase. Maintain your focus. The real test is yet to come."
Ms. Rose's authoritative voice rang out, "Your next task is to create as many objects as you can, using your elemental mana, until you exhaust your energy or lose control over maintaining them. Precision and endurance are key. Let's see how well you can manage your mana under strain."
In the evening, the crackling fire provided a small comfort as its warmth flickered across the faces of Tavin, Orin, and Ronan. The day's training had drained them, leaving only exhaustion and aching limbs. Ronan broke the silence, his voice low and reflective. "I'm not feeling right. I never thought this training would be this hard."