The air in Aetheria felt different after the battle.
It was no longer calm.
It felt alert.
Watching.
Arjun stood at the center of the field, staring at the distant floating islands. The twin suns were now higher in the sky, casting golden and blue light across the shimmering grass.
"So," he said, stretching his arms tiredly, "when you said training… what exactly does that mean?"
Lumo circled him slowly.
"It means you must grow stronger. Today you survived. Next time, you may not."
"Encouraging," Arjun muttered.
Lumo ignored the sarcasm. "The Shadow King's power spreads through the Five Realms. If he corrupts all of them, Aetheria will collapse."
"And if Aetheria collapses?" Arjun asked.
"It will affect your world too."
Arjun froze.
"My world?"
"Yes. Aetheria connects many worlds. If darkness controls the bridge… it can cross."
A cold feeling crept into Arjun's chest.
This wasn't just about some fantasy land.
It was about home.
Lumo stepped forward and tapped the ground with one glowing paw.
The grass beneath them shimmered.
A large circle of light spread outward, carving glowing patterns into the earth. Symbols formed — ancient and complex — spinning slowly like gears.
Arjun stepped back.
"What is that?"
"The Map of Realms."
The light rose upward, forming a floating hologram above the ground.
Arjun's eyes widened.
Five large landmasses hovered in the air, rotating slowly.
Each one looked different.
One was covered in deep blue oceans and waterfalls flowing upward into the sky.
One burned with rivers of lava and mountains split with glowing cracks.
Another was filled with enormous trees stretching into the clouds.
One was broken into floating islands drifting in open sky.
And the last…
The last was almost completely dark.
Shadows swirled around it like living smoke.
"That one is the Shadow Kingdom," Lumo said quietly.
Arjun swallowed.
"So I have to go to all of these?"
"Yes."
"And unlock… what exactly?"
"The core energy of each realm. They are ancient sources of balance. If you awaken them before the Shadow King corrupts them, you will gain their power."
Arjun looked at the map carefully.
"Which one first?"
Lumo's eyes moved to the realm of water.
"The Water Realm."
Suddenly, the floating map shifted.
The blue landmass glowed brighter.
A beam of light shot downward from it, connecting to the ground in front of them.
The earth trembled slightly.
A circular portal formed, swirling with blue light like spinning liquid glass.
Wind rushed outward from it, carrying the scent of rain and ocean.
Arjun stared at it.
"Okay… that's definitely not normal."
Lumo walked toward the portal.
"The Water Realm tests control. Not strength. Not speed."
"Control?" Arjun said nervously. "I just barely survived ten minutes ago."
"Exactly."
The portal's surface rippled like water.
Arjun stepped closer. He could see waves moving inside it.
"What if I fail?" he asked quietly.
Lumo looked back at him.
"Then you will learn."
"That's not very comforting."
Lumo's silver eyes softened slightly.
"You are not expected to be perfect, Guardian. Only willing."
Arjun looked at his glowing palm.
The symbol flickered softly.
He thought about his village.
His family.
His normal life.
He didn't want shadows entering his world.
He took a deep breath.
"Fine. Water Realm first."
Without giving himself time to overthink, he stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the portal—
The world shifted again.
Cold wind hit his face.
Arjun stumbled forward onto wet sand.
He looked up.
Endless ocean stretched before him — but it wasn't normal water.
The waves glowed faintly blue.
And instead of clouds above, massive waterfalls floated upside down in the sky, pouring water upward into nothingness.
"This is insane," he whispered.
Lumo appeared beside him.
"Welcome to the Water Realm."
Suddenly, the ocean began pulling back.
The water retreated unnaturally fast, revealing glowing symbols beneath the surface.
The sand trembled.
Then the water rushed back—
But not as a wave.
It rose.
A towering figure formed from the sea itself.
A giant serpent made entirely of water coiled before them. Its eyes shone white like pearls.
Arjun stepped back.
"Please tell me that's friendly."
"It is the Guardian of Water," Lumo said. "It will test you."
The serpent's voice echoed like crashing waves.
"Human… why do you seek the core of my realm?"
Arjun swallowed hard.
"I—I need its power to stop the Shadow King."
The serpent's eyes narrowed.
"Power is not given to the unbalanced."
Without warning, a massive wave shot toward him.
Arjun raised his hand quickly, forming his energy sword.
He swung—
The blade passed through the wave, but the water reformed instantly and knocked him flat.
He rolled across the sand, coughing.
Lumo's voice echoed in his mind.
"Water cannot be defeated by force."
Arjun stood up slowly.
The serpent watched silently.
Another wave rose.
This time, Arjun didn't attack.
He closed his eyes.
He focused on his breathing.
In.
Out.
The sound of the ocean filled his ears.
Instead of fighting it…
He tried to feel it.
The symbol on his palm glowed softly.
When the wave came again, he raised his hand — not to slash.
But to steady.
The water slowed.
It swirled around him instead of crashing into him.
Arjun felt something strange.
Like he was moving with the ocean's rhythm.
The serpent lowered its massive head.
"Control… not resistance," it said.
The ocean calmed.
From the center of the sea, a glowing crystal rose — shaped like a droplet.
It floated toward Arjun.
"This is the Aqua Crystal," the serpent said. "Carry it with balance."
Arjun reached out carefully.
The moment he touched it, cool energy flowed into his body.
He felt calmer.
Stronger.
But not aggressive.
Controlled.
The crystal dissolved into light and absorbed into the symbol on his palm.
The symbol gained a faint blue glow around its edges.
Lumo smiled.
"You passed."
Arjun looked at the ocean, now peaceful.
"That was… different."
"Yes," Lumo said. "Every realm will challenge a part of you."
Arjun turned toward the horizon.
Four realms left.
Far away, deep in the darkness of the Shadow Kingdom, the red eyes narrowed.
"The Guardian grows," a deep voice echoed.
Shadows began moving faster across the dark land.
The game had begun.