The morning in Etherfield after the goblin incident was not like any morning before. The sun was no less bright, nor the birds' chirping less joyful, but a heavy feeling, like gray clouds, hung over the village. Theo felt this feeling whenever he stepped out of his house, whenever his eyes met those of a villager. It was no longer mere apprehension or suspicion; it had turned into clear fear, a fear that was not alleviated by the act of rescue he participated in, but rather seemed to increase it. The gazes now carried a deeper worry, as if they saw in Theo's ability to paralyze the goblin in that unusual way proof of a mysterious power, incomprehensible, and therefore untrustworthy. This invisible wall was rising between Theo and his community.
'Why does their fear increase,' Theo wondered to himself, as he walked towards the training ground one day. 'I helped protect the woman. Shouldn't that make them trust me more?' The questions echoed in his mind, with no clear answers, adding to the burden he already felt due to the harsh training and the mystery surrounding him.
The pace of training continued as it was, relentlessly harsh. Rayn was no longer affected by the village's reaction; his focus was entirely on honing Theo's skills and his own as well.
He pushed him harder, and Theo pushed him too, pushing their potential that needed intense pressure and honing to be realized.
Theo's and Rayn's muscles screamed from pain every day, but their wills were strengthened.
Meanwhile, his aunt Celia dedicated more time to Theo's magical training, especially the fire element, while at the same time she was engrossed in her own research, driven by that mysterious sound Theo had heard.
On the evening of one of those days, after the sun had set and the oil lamps lit their humble home, Celia gathered Theo and Elena. The atmosphere was warm inside the house, unlike the cold that dominated outside.
"Sit down. I want to talk to you both about something important," Celia said, her tone carrying a solemnity that made them immediately pay attention. They sat opposite her, Elena looking with hidden worry, and Theo feeling curiosity mixed with tension.
"I've been doing some research lately," Celia began, her eyes moving between Elena and Theo. "Research regarding, regarding some matters that have appeared with Theo. And the nature of his powers, especially his affinity with the element of darkness which seems exceptional to me."
Elena looked at Celia, then at Theo, and her worry was increasing. "Is there, is there something wrong, Celia?"
Celia sighed calmly. "No, Elena, there is nothing wrong, and the reason for my research is that the information available to me here in Etherfield is very limited regarding certain magical phenomena, especially those that may be linked to a rare and powerful element like Theo's element."
Then Celia paused for a moment and thought 'And the sound Theo heard' as she chose her words carefully to avoid alarming Elena more than necessary, then continued.
"I feel that I need to search for more information in other places, in larger libraries, in very ancient texts where I might find clues or explanations for Theo's element which I cannot fully understand here."
Elena understood the meaning of Celia's words immediately. Signs of worry appeared clearly on her face. "Does this mean, that you will travel, Celia?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.
Celia nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I will need to make a journey. A journey in search of knowledge. I don't know exactly where this journey will lead me, nor how long it will take. Perhaps I'll return after a day, a week, a month, or even a year, and to find a way to better help him understand and control his powers."
She looked at Elena with a trying smile to reassure her. "Don't worry, my sister. I will be very careful. I was just worried about your condition while I won't be here to protect you during that period."
Then she turned to Theo, and in her voice was a tone of encouragement mixed with seriousness. "Theo, I know this might be worrying for you. But this is not because I am abandoning you, but because I seek to help you in a better way. Coach Kyle will probably return soon, and he will take care of you, and he will continue your indispensable physical training, and he is a very strong fighter and you will be safe with him."
Theo listened, and felt a cold wave of anxiety sweep over him. His aunt Celia, who had always been there to teach him magic and guide him, was leaving. The void she would leave seemed immense.
'She's going? When?'
He wondered to himself. But he saw the seriousness in her eyes, and understood that this matter was indeed important.
"I'll be fine, Aunt," he said in a voice that tried to sound steady.
"And I will continue training. I will make you proud of me."
After this announcement, and later that night, after Celia made sure Elena had fallen asleep, she quietly went to Theo's room. She sat on the edge of his bed, moonlight filtering through the window casting faint shadows in the room. Theo was awake, thinking about Celia's words.
"Theo," Celia whispered, her voice low and free of any trace of the worry she had shown in front of Elena. Her tone now carried greater mystery and depth.
"Regarding the sound you heard, 'You are the future, you are the sacrifice', this sound, it's not just something fleeting, Theo."
Theo looked at his aunt, his eyes wide in the dark. 'What.' These words stirred in him a mixture of fear and curiosity.
"I don't know exactly what this sound means, or where it came from," Celia continued, her tone now carrying something of search and contemplation. "That's why I must travel and search for more information. But I wanted to tell you, don't ignore this sound, Theo. Think about it. Try to understand what it means to you. It might be, it might be a guide to the path you must take."
Celia did not go into more detail. She did not want to burden him with all this at this stage, especially since Elena knew nothing about these more dangerous aspects.
Celia left Theo with her mysterious words, a seed she planted in his mind, a seed linked to his future and that unknown sound, a seed that would grow and develop as events unfolded.
In the days that followed, and before her imminent departure, Celia dedicated her time to Theo's magical training intensively, with a special focus on the fire element. She knew that this element posed a special challenge for Theo, and that his control over it was essential for his future, especially given his exceptional affinity with darkness.
Celia began teaching Theo a low-level fire technique called "Finger Flame." It was a simple and precise technique, allowing the user to create a small, controlled flame on their fingertips, or to increase the heat of their hand to penetrate any object or thing, but what made it low-ranked despite its power is that you cannot raise the temperature of your hand to an unbearable level so that you do not melt before you even make the attack.
She focused on teaching Theo how to summon very tiny amounts of fire energy and direct it with precise will to very specific points.
"This technique teaches you precision in controlling fire energy, Theo," Celia said, while Theo strained himself to produce a stable flame on his fingertips.
"Fire is a powerful and volatile element, and controlling small quantities of it is the first step towards controlling large quantities. Don't rush, focus on feeling the mana flowing to your fingertips, and on how to shape it into a small flame."
This technique was a test of Theo's patience and precision. He was used to the powerful mana flows of the darkness element, but summoning very tiny amounts of fire required another level of control from him. He found it difficult at first; his fingers remained cold, or flashed with a large, uncontrolled flame for a moment then vanished.
'Why is it so difficult?'
He wondered to himself in frustration.
'Darkness is much easier.'
But he remembered Kyle's words about frustration being part of the journey, and resolved to master it. With repetition and practice, he slowly began to be able to produce a small, stable flame on one finger, then two fingers, then on all his fingertips. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.
After that, Celia moved on to teaching Theo a medium-level fire technique called "Fire Shaping." This technique requires summoning a reasonable amount of fire energy and shaping it to envelop a weapon, such as a sword or dagger, to increase its offensive power and add fire damage. This technique required greater control over the flame's shape and density to ensure that it wrapped around the weapon and did not harm the user.
"Fire Shaping requires you to think of fire as a protective layer and an additional force for your weapon," Celia explained, moving her hand as if forming a sheath around an imaginary weapon. "You must direct the mana and the element to take the shape of the weapon, and maintain that shape during movement. It requires constant focus and a balance between offense and defense."
Theo's attempts to apply "Fire Shaping" to his training dagger were chaotic at first. The fire would come out irregularly, sometimes igniting strongly on the weapon as if it would consume it, and other times it would be very weak and fade quickly.
He had to learn how to direct the energy to precisely follow the shape of the weapon.
The mental and physical effort was great.
'This is harder than anything I've learned so far.'
Theo thought, as he tried to prevent the fire from burning his hands while moving the dagger, but he kept trying, determined to master it before Celia left. Slowly, and with practice, he began to be able to form a fire flame that reasonably enveloped his dagger, and maintain it while performing simple combat movements.
In addition to the intensive magical training, Celia decided that her last hunting session with Theo would be an important learning experience, not just in hunting, but in applying acquired skills in a real environment. The target this time was hunting a "Demonic Orc," a relatively large creature with sharp horns, and resilience and heavy attacks that could easily injure a fourth-rank fighter.
Although Theo had only formed his first ring and his rank was a third-rank fighter, Theo was not ordinary, but rather a very special and gifted person, and his mindset was far superior to his peers, he had formed his first ring but he was a dual-elemental, one of which was exceptionally affinity and the other was normal or medium affinity.
And also, it should not be forgotten that Theo is already close to forming his second ring.
Any sorcerer would go mad to have such a gifted person as a disciple, and a third-rank fighter too in a few years was not an ordinary achievement, and despite him and Rayn being almost in the same rank, Theo could easily and quickly take down Rayn even without his shadow magic.
Hunting an Orc required not only skill in tracking and combat, but also extreme caution from its horns because merely touching them spreads demonic energy throughout your body leading to its erosion.
Celia and Theo headed to a rugged mountainous area near Etherfield, where many Demonic Orcs lived, the paths were narrow and filled with sharp rocks, making movement difficult and requiring concentration. The air was cold and dry, and the smell of mountain herbs and rocky soil filled the atmosphere.
"The Demonic Orc is not very fast, Theo," Celia explained in a low voice, as they climbed a mountain path. "But it is very strong, and its horns are dangerous. You must avoid touching any part of its horns so that demonic energy does not spread in your body. Its main weakness is the belly and head, but reaching them is difficult when it defends itself. You must be patient and wait for your chance."
Theo followed Celia silently, applying Kyle's instructions on moving in rough terrain and maintaining balance. He was also scanning the ground for footprints or any signs indicating the presence of a Demonic Orc.
After a period of climbing and tracking, they heard a low sound coming from higher up the slope. It was the sound of a large creature moving among the rocks. Theo signaled to Celia, and she nodded slowly.
They approached with greater caution, using large rocks for cover. They saw the Demonic Orc at a reasonable distance, feeding on some animals. Its size was large, and its large black horns looked clearly dangerous.
"Get ready, Theo." Celia whispered. "It will pounce when it feels your presence. Remember what you learned."
The moment the Demonic Orc sensed their presence, it quickly raised its head, its huge eyes staring at them aggressively. It took a defensive stance, ready to use the massive clubs in its hands.
Theo remembered Kyle's instructions on offense and defense. He had no choice but to face the creature. He cautiously advanced, gripping his dagger in his hand. He tried to apply evasive movements to avoid the Orc's attack.
When the Orc charged at him, Theo quickly slipped aside, dodging the horns that passed close to him.
Theo tried to deliver a quick blow with his dagger towards the Orc's side, targeting a weak point. But the Orc's skin was thick and tough, and his blow caused only a slight scratch.
The Orc became enraged, and returned to attack him with greater ferocity, trying to smash his body with its massive clubs.
Theo dodged and avoided, using his agility and speed to stay out of reach of the Orc's horns and the clubs in its hands.
In one of the evasive moments, he felt an opportunity. He remembered the "Fire Shaping" spell he had just learned.
He focused his fire energy, and quickly formed a flame that enveloped his dagger. Then, in a quick and precise movement, he delivered a strong blow towards the Orc's belly.
The flame-enveloped dagger penetrated the Orc's thick skin, creating a clear burn in the wound. The Orc howled in pain, and retreated slightly. Theo seized this moment to deliver another quick blow to the same area. The second blow was more effective, but the Orc would never fall that easily.
As soon as Theo pulled his dagger from the Orc's belly, he stabbed it directly in the heart and it didn't take long for the Orc to collapse and fall to the ground dead.
Theo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the adrenaline fading from his body, he looked at Celia, who was looking at him with a clear smile of pride.
"Excellent work, Theo," Celia said as she approached. "You used what you learned from Kyle to dodge and identify the weak point, and you used 'Fire Shaping' that you just learned effectively. This shows that you can apply what you learn in real situations, but you still lack experience in something."
On their way back to Etherfield, while carrying a part of the Demonic Orc, Celia returned to talking about the element of darkness, but this time with a tone that carried inspiration and challenge.
"Theo, we talked about how rare and powerful the element of darkness you have an affinity for is," Celia began, her eyes staring at the surrounding forest, as if seeing beyond physical reality. "The techniques in books for teaching darkness magic are useful, of course, like 'Shadow Freeze' or 'Replication'. But I believe, based on my initial research and observations, that these spells do not exploit the full potential of the element of darkness."
Celia looked at Theo, and her tone became more serious. "The element of darkness is different from other elements. It is linked to consciousness, to the unconscious, to the hidden aspects of existence, and even to spirits in ways not yet fully understood. That's why, I believe that the most powerful darkness techniques are those that originate from the sorcerer himself, through his deep understanding of the nature of darkness and his personal connection with it. It's not just a technique to be taught and memorized, it's something that stems from the sorcerer's very soul."
Celia stopped walking, and stood in front of Theo. "There are theories, theories you won't find in ordinary books, but in some very ancient manuscripts I've seen. A theory that says a sorcerer who possesses an exceptional affinity for the element of darkness, and an ability to understand its deep nature, can create their own unique magical techniques in this element, and of course not less than exceptional grade, it was also mentioned that the darkness sorcerer is the only one who can create a technique that exceeds the exceptional grade, techniques that exist nowhere else and will never exist except with them, stemming from their unique understanding and personal connection with darkness."
Theo's eyes widened in shock and astonishment, creating his own magical technique, it seemed as if she was talking about a legendary level of power and mastery he had never imagined. "But, how can I do that, Aunt, create my own magical technique? That seems, completely impossible."
Theo didn't notice that he had just missed the most important part of that sentence, and the information that could drive all races to kill Theo immediately.
Celia smiled a small smile that held wisdom, and she didn't miss what Theo missed, but she preferred not to mention it again, and also a hidden hope. "I don't know how exactly, Theo. No one knows the specific step-by-step method for that. It's not like learning a normal technique from a book. It requires a very deep understanding of the element of darkness, and this understanding comes from contemplation, from continuous experience, perhaps from trying to connect with the essence of darkness itself, within you and around you. And it also requires a deep understanding of yourself, for darkness is linked to aspects of your personality that you may only discover through this connection, and also do not rule out conducting precise research."
Celia looked at Theo again, her eyes holding a special sparkle, as if she saw something in him that he himself did not see. "I don't expect you to succeed in this easily, Theo. This is a tremendous challenge, even for the most experienced sorcerers who dedicate their lives to one element. It might take many, many years of research and experimentation, and perhaps you will never succeed in creating a powerful technique. Most sorcerers don't even attempt this. But I, I have a very slight hope, Theo. A hope based on two things."
Celia paused for a moment, as if choosing her last words on this subject with extreme care. "You possess an exceptional affinity for darkness, an affinity I have never seen before at all. And that in itself makes you different. And you also, heard that mysterious sound. A sound that carries words about sacrifice. I don't know what it means, but I feel it connects you to the element of darkness in a unique way, in a way that may not be fully understood. Perhaps, perhaps these two things together mean that you may be able to achieve something extraordinary in the element of darkness itself. Perhaps, perhaps you will be able to create your first original technique in this element, even if it is an ordinary degree technique at first."
Celia's words planted a seed in Theo's mind, a seed of challenge and inspiration. The idea of creating his own magical technique was daunting, but it also sparked a flicker of curiosity and determination within him. He no longer thought of darkness merely as a source of power, but as something alive, something that could be understood and connected with on a deeper level, something that could be shaped in his own way. The challenge of creating his first technique became a long-term goal, but it aroused in him a strong desire for exploration and experimentation.
'My own technique, in the element of darkness,' Theo thought, and began to feel some excitement despite the difficulty of the idea.
In the few days leading up to Celia's departure, Theo sought to spend as much time as possible with his mother Elena. Elena was clearly worried about Celia, and her worry was reflected in her eyes, but she was trying to show her strength for Theo.
She prepared his favorite food, talked to him calmly about simple matters, and tried to fill the days Celia would be absent.
"Don't worry about me, my little Theo," Elena said one evening, gently running her fingers through his hair.
"I'm fine here in the village. Coach Kyle will definitely be here soon, and he's very strong and will be sure to protect you, and your aunt Celia is strong and wise, she will find what she's looking for and return safely. You must focus on yourself now. On your training. On becoming stronger and stronger. This is what you always wanted, and this is what I wish for if this is what you desire. Be strong, Theo. Strong in your body, strong in your magic, and most importantly, strong in your heart."
'Mom is worried about me, and about my aunt,' Theo thought as he listened to her words. He felt the responsibility of her words, and the weight of the expectations placed on his shoulders.
He knew that Celia's departure would also leave a void in his mother's life, and that he had to become a support for her.
He promised himself to become strong enough to protect her.
Theo also met Rayn several times during that period. Rayn was, as usual, full of enthusiasm, especially about the idea of Celia traveling to the outside world.
"Oh my God, Theo," Rayn said, his eyes gleaming with delight as they talked by the river. "Your aunt Celia will see great cities. Perhaps she will see very high-ranking fighters and sorcerers. I wish I could go with her and see all this world you tell me about."
Theo smiled faintly. "Maybe someday, Rayn, maybe when we become stronger, we will travel together and see all this world you speak of." His words carried a distant promise, a promise of a future that might be different from their quiet lives in the village. The idea of traveling to great cities, seeing powerful fighters and sorcerers, and exploring the world, sparked his curiosity and motivated him to continue the arduous training.
The day of Celia's departure finally arrived. It was a quiet morning, but the air carried a heavy feeling of farewell. Celia stood in front of their house. Her face bore a mixture of determination and hidden worry. She hugged Elena tightly, and each wished the other safety, and their eyes spoke what words could not express of worry and hope. Then she embraced Theo warmly, a long hug carrying all the feelings of farewell, love, and belief in him.
"Take very good care of yourself, Theo." Celia said, her voice carrying a serious and slightly worried tone despite her attempt to hide it. "Continue your training tirelessly, with Rayn and with yourself until Kyle returns, and learn everything you can from him, trust in his judgment and his strength, and don't forget what I told you about the element of darkness, seek your own understanding of it, you may not succeed easily, but never despair. Be strong, Theo, not only in your body and magic, but in your will too. I will return when I find the answers I need, and I will find them."
Her last words carried strong determination, as if she was promising herself and a promise to Theo and Elena.
"I will, Aunt," Theo said, his voice slightly choked with emotion.
The words of farewell left a bitter taste in his mouth, but Celia's last words about seeking the truth and the hope in his ability to create his own technique gave him a hidden strength.
Celia took one last look at Theo and Elena, then at the home that had been her sanctuary for years. She turned and began to walk with steady steps on the dirt road leading to the forest, towards outside Etherfield.
Her journey was a journey in search of knowledge, but it was also a journey for Theo, to understand the nature of his powers. Elena and Theo stood watching her until she completely disappeared among the dense trees. In silence, each carried their own worry and hope for Celia's safe return with the answers they needed. Theo felt the weight of responsibility fall on his shoulders, and a pang in his heart for his aunt's departure.