Chapter 33: The Road Less Traveled
The journey stretched onward, and as the days passed, Xalin, Lira, Kell, and Terra found themselves traveling through varied landscapes—from dense forests to wide open plains, and now, a winding mountain pass. The air was thinner here, and the temperature colder, but none of them complained. They were on a mission, one that required both focus and patience.
Xalin's earthbending training was still ongoing. Each morning, Terra would push him harder, and Xalin would practice refining his control over the element. Today was no different.
"Again," Terra commanded as she stood with her arms crossed, watching Xalin from a nearby ledge. Below, Xalin was practicing his stances, trying to raise pillars of earth with precision and control.
With a focused breath, Xalin planted his feet firmly on the ground and thrust his hands forward. The earth responded, but not as smoothly as he hoped. The pillar of stone he raised was jagged, uneven, and crumbled as soon as he tried to reinforce it.
"Too much force, not enough focus," Terra called down, her voice stern but not unkind. "You're fighting the earth. You need to listen to it. Feel it."
Xalin sighed in frustration but nodded. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried again. This time, he moved more slowly, concentrating on the connection he had built with the earth over the past few weeks. His feet sunk into the ground, and he felt the energy flowing through him, solid and unyielding. When he raised his hands, the earth lifted more smoothly, a single, tall pillar rising without crumbling.
"Better," Terra said, nodding in approval. "Now, keep practicing. We'll stop here for the day."
Lira and Kell watched from a distance, both quietly impressed by Xalin's progress. Though they had been traveling together for weeks now, Xalin's dedication to mastering earthbending was relentless.
"I can't believe how much stronger he's gotten," Kell remarked, stretching his arms as he stood up from where he was resting. "He's definitely not the same guy we started this journey with."
Lira smiled as she fiddled with a small vial of blood, practicing her own blood manipulation techniques. "He's determined. And honestly, I think he's still just scratching the surface."
Kell nodded. "Yeah. But it makes me wonder… where will we be when he finally masters it?"
---
Later that evening, after they had set up camp, Xalin sat alone by the fire, deep in thought. His progress with earthbending had been steady, but something still gnawed at him. Despite everything he had learned, he felt like he was missing something, something crucial that would help him master not just earthbending, but his entire Luminary potential.
His mind drifted back to the fight with Qi Han. The old man's control over his abilities had been remarkable, and Xalin had barely won. The memory of it still frustrated him. He needed to get stronger. He had to be ready for whatever was coming next.
"Lost in thought again, huh?" Terra's voice interrupted his reverie. She sat down beside him, her expression unusually calm.
"Yeah," Xalin admitted, staring into the flames. "I just… I feel like I'm getting stronger, but not fast enough. There's so much at stake, and I'm still not where I need to be."
Terra chuckled softly. "That's the problem with people like you—always in a rush to get stronger, to master everything in a day. Earthbending doesn't work like that. You can't rush it. The earth is patient, unyielding. You have to move with it, not against it."
"I know," Xalin said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "But I can't help feeling like I'm running out of time. If I don't master this, if I don't learn spirit magic… I could lose everything."
Terra gave him a sympathetic look. "You're doing fine, sparky. You've already come a long way. You'll get there."
Xalin nodded, though the weight of his responsibility still pressed heavily on him. He knew that Terra was right, but the pressure of being the Luminary—of needing to save the world—wasn't something he could ignore.
---
As the days passed, the group continued their journey through the mountains. The path was steep and winding, but the view from the top was breathtaking. They could see the rolling hills and forests below, stretching out into the horizon.
For Xalin, this journey had become more than just physical. It was a journey of self-discovery, a time for him to reflect on who he was and who he needed to become. The training was important, but so was understanding himself. He needed to find balance, not just in his bending but in his mind and spirit.
Sometimes, Xalin would go off on his own, finding a quiet place to meditate or practice in solitude. He would spend hours sitting with his eyes closed, feeling the earth beneath him, the wind in the air, the water flowing through nearby streams. He focused on the connection between the elements, trying to understand how they worked together, how he could combine them without losing control.
It was during one of these solo sessions that Xalin had a realization. He had been focusing so much on mastering each element individually that he had forgotten to think about how they interacted. The fight with Qi Han had shown him that simply controlling one element wasn't enough—he needed to combine them seamlessly if he was going to truly master the Luminary state.
With renewed determination, Xalin began practicing not just earthbending, but combining it with air and water. He would raise pillars of stone while simultaneously bending the wind around him, using the air to direct the earth's movements. He would manipulate water to carve through rock, shaping it into different forms. Slowly, he started to see the connection between the elements, how they could work together instead of separately.
---
Meanwhile, Lira and Kell were also focused on their training. Lira had become more proficient with her blood manipulation, learning new techniques from the scrolls they had acquired. She practiced in silence, using her own blood to create weapons, shields, and bindings. Each day, her control grew stronger, and she began to feel more confident in her abilities.
Kell, on the other hand, had been experimenting with his shadow manipulation. He had started to develop new techniques, pushing his limits and discovering new ways to use his shadow abilities. There was one ultimate move he had been working on, but he kept it to himself for now, knowing that it wasn't ready yet.
As the group traveled, they didn't encounter any major obstacles or enemies. The journey was peaceful, allowing them all time to focus on their training and personal growth. But there was always a sense of anticipation in the air, a feeling that something was coming—something big.
---
One night, as they camped near a small waterfall, Xalin sat by the water's edge, watching the moonlight reflect off the rippling surface. Terra approached him, sitting down beside him without a word.
"You're getting stronger," she said after a long silence. "I can see it."
Xalin smiled faintly. "Thanks. But I still feel like there's so much I need to learn."
"There is," Terra agreed. "But you're on the right path. The Luminary state… it's not something that comes easy. It's a responsibility, and you're handling it better than most would."
Xalin looked at her, surprised by the compliment. "Coming from you, that means a lot."
Terra shrugged. "Don't let it go to your head."
Xalin chuckled, feeling a bit lighter.