Chapter 8 : Aftermath

The group that had been conversing on their way advanced along the muddy path, drawing closer to the center of the ruins of Tirath.

An unsettling feeling hung in the air; the dense vegetation surrounding them only amplified the tension, and every gaze was sharp with vigilance.

Caront, the robust warrior at the front, tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword resting on his back, while the other members of the group maintained their formation, ready for any unforeseen danger.

— We are close — he murmured, not turning around. — Keep your guard up.

Beside him, Celine, the sharp-eyed mage, nodded slightly, twirling her staff in her hands. She sensed something in the air. The magic here... is strange, volatile. Someone has been here recently.

— We better be ready — said Ivor, the archer, in a low but firm voice. — I don't want to end up like the last group that disappeared. Let's proceed carefully.

The group advanced with calculated steps, and soon the faint sounds of voices began to echo in the distance. They stopped upon hearing moans, and Caront raised his hand, signaling for silence.

— There, ahead — the warrior indicated, pointing to the center of the ruins.

As they approached, the scene unfolding was different from what they had expected. Three adventurers lay on the ground, clearly recovering from an exhausting battle. Kellen was sitting, leaning against a rock, trying to compose himself. Melina was lying down, her eyes half-open, still struggling to stay conscious, while Lyra, the mage, was lying on her side, her breathing irregular.

Elira, the priestess from Caront's group, was the first to run to them, kneeling beside Kellen. — By the gods, what happened to you?

Kellen lifted his gaze, still confused, blinking to adjust his vision. — We... the guardian... He coughed, trying to muster the strength to speak. — We were finished. But someone appeared...

— Someone? — Celine asked, surprised. — Who?

Melina, still lying down, forced a tired smile. — We don't know... it was a man... a shadow, perhaps. He fought the guardian and... saved us. When I passed out, he was still fighting.

Lyra, slowly beginning to awaken, added with difficulty:

— He... took the relic. The great orb... all the mana…

Her voice faltered as she tried to recall what had happened. — When I woke up, he had already disappeared.

Caront looked around, furrowing his brow, clearly intrigued.

— So, you're saying someone got here before us, defeated the guardian alone, and took the relic? He let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

— I don't know who this guy thinks he is, but that relic was ours.

Celine interrupted him, shaking her head disapprovingly. 

— Caront, if it weren't for this person, they would be dead. Whoever it was, did more than any of us would have accomplished.

— But why did he just leave you here? — asked Ivor, maintaining a vigilant posture, scanning the surroundings.

— If he was after the relic, why didn't he finish the job? Why save these three and disappear?

Elira placed her hands over Kellen and Melina, conjuring a light healing spell to assist in their recovery.

— Whatever the reason, the most important thing is that they are alive. We need to get them out of here as soon as possible.

— I agree — said Harra, the warrior in shining armor, already scanning the area, always ready for another threat. 

 If that guardian was defeated, we don't know if there's more lurking around here. We have nothing to gain by staying any longer.

Torak, the barbarian, who had remained silent until then, muttered something inaudible, as if in agreement, but his attention was still on the environment.

His experience had taught him that places like this held more secrets than they appeared to.

— Let's focus on helping our friends and getting out of here— concluded Celine, turning her attention back to Lyra, who was now able to stand with Elira's help. — The relic has been taken, but that doesn't mean the danger is over.

Caront nodded, though he still seemed bothered by the unfolding situation. He helped lift Kellen, who was clearly weakened.

As the group began preparing to leave the ruins, Caront glanced one last time at the center of the place where the relic had been kept.

— Whoever did this, I don't want to cross paths with him. 

After distancing himself from the ruins of Tirath, the mage's senses were still sharp from the intensity of the battle.

The forest around him was dense and vibrant, with the song of birds and the whispering leaves creating a calm melody that contrasted with the adrenaline of the recent fight.

After a few hours of walking, he came upon a small river, its crystal-clear waters winding between the trees. The place exuded tranquility, and an urge to rest took hold of him.

"This is perfect," he murmured, approaching the bank and watching the fish swim. He sat on a moss-covered stone, closing his eyes and allowing the softness of the surroundings to envelop him. "I need to recover."

The river's water flowed gently, and he began to channel his mana, allowing the energy to pulse within him. 

"Mana is the essence of the world," he thought. "It flows through everything, connecting all things."

He recalled when mana first began to flow inside him, like an invisible river waiting to be shaped. With a nostalgic smile, he began to speak, his voice echoing in the silence.

— When I began my journey, it all started with the Ring of Awakening. The first contact with mana is something no mage should forget. It is the magical moment when internal perception is awakened. 

— For me, it was like feeling a subtle and pulsing current within me, a latent energy waiting to be mastered. I couldn't control it, but I knew it was there, ready to be discovered.

— I remember how I struggled to channel it, trying to generate heat or provoke small manifestations. That was just the beginning.

He let his memories flow, each recollection wrapping around him like a second skin.

—Then, I moved on to the Ring of Internal Forging, where I learned to strengthen my body. The connection with mana became deeper, as if every muscle and every cell were imbued with it. I could feel the strength growing within me, amplifying not just my resilience but also my magical abilities.

— Each attack became more powerful, each movement more fluid as I mastered the art of imbuing mana into objects. Magic was not just a skill; it was an extension of who I was.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of time. 

— Upon reaching the Ring of Expansion, my control became refined. It was no longer just about me; it was about everything around me. I began to touch the natural elements for the first time.

— I remember the feeling of moving a small flame or controlling a light breeze. It was a power that made me feel connected to the world in a way I had never experienced before. And then, at the culmination of this ring, I managed to summon small gusts of wind and manipulate fire. 

His eyes sparkled with the memory of the struggle and learning. 

— In the Ring of Harmony, I finally achieved a real mastery over the elements. I not only controlled them but shaped them with precision. It was as if I were a conductor, orchestrating the symphony of nature.

— I remember the firestorms I conjured and how they changed the course of a battle. The power I felt was incredible, and I knew I was one step closer to what I truly wanted to achieve.

He paused, the memory of the power he had gained almost palpable in his mind. 

— Upon reaching the Ring of Mastery, I realized I had transcended the need for words or gestures. Mana flowed through me as if I were a being made of pure magical energy. It was a liberating sensation, the ability to move mountains or create storms with just a thought.

— But even at that pinnacle, the entity that sealed me was lurking, waiting for the right moment to intervene."

He felt the shadow of the past drawing near and continued.

— At that moment, I was almost complete. Mastery over mana was a step toward the Ring of Creation, but there was still a path to follow.

—There was so much more I could have achieved if it weren't for that sealing.

The meditation deepened, and he focused on shaping the mana within him. He felt the vibrant energy, and with each breath, he guided it.

"The key is not just to master mana but to respect its nature," he thought.

"It should not be forced but invited to flow."

In his mind, he began to manipulate his internal mana, visualizing the energy as a radiant flow dancing and intertwining with each breath.

As he concentrated, the mana started to move around him, creating gentle waves of wind that whispered among the leaves. The soft light of the mana illuminated his skin, emanating an ethereal glow that seemed to merge with nature.

The birds, drawn to this magical aura, occasionally perched on his shoulders and arms, as if recognizing the deep connection he shared with the world around him.

The sounds of the forest filled the air; the soft song of the birds, the rustling of the leaves became part of his meditation.

He felt at one with everything, the energy of mana flowing through him and intertwining with the essence of every living being around him. It was as if time had stopped, and he was in a state of absolute harmony.

As night fell, the light continued to shine, reflecting the beauty of the moon and the stars. The creatures of the forest passed by him unbothered, aware that he was a guardian of nature, a link between the human and the wild.

He surrendered to meditation, each breath becoming deeper, richer in mana, until the energy inside him began to expand, reaching the apex of Internal Forging.

For hours, he remained there, fully absorbed in the experience, until the moon reached its zenith. Slowly, he began to awaken, his eyes opening slowly to the darkness around him.

He felt renewed, as if a new strength pulsed within him, ready to be shaped and directed.

After a long period of intense practice, he felt exhausted but satisfied. He had achieved a new level of control over his mana, feeling that he was one step closer to becoming what he needed to be.

"Evolution is an endless path," he thought, looking up at the sky that was becoming darker with night. "There is always more to learn."

He decided it was time to rest. Leaning against the rock by the river, he closed his eyes as the gentle breeze caressed his face. He let the darkness envelop him, knowing that the stars would provide the necessary protection while he slept.

"Tomorrow, I'll continue to train," he murmured to himself, sinking into a deep sleep.