Training

A world filled with elemental energy, from barren lands to snowy peaks. Human life cannot be separated from the influence of elemental energy. These elements do not only come from nature, but also from chosen people.

Some kingdoms even worship this element, one of which is Winfor. Located in the western part of the Grasilia Continent. The land where the wind is highly respected here, as their guardian and their god. The people of Winfor consider wind as one of the main manifestations of heaven's blessings. Almost the entire area of ​​Winfor is open land with vast green grass, therefore the wind here will always blow freely. The windmill towers spread out in and out of the city, like a giant watching over everything.

A birth tradition is held. The mother cradles the baby in her arms, by the large, wide-open window.

The woman gently blew the wind on the baby's face, then the wind from the sky caressed the rest of the body. This is the mother's prayer for her son, and the wind that comes to bless, as parents want their child to grow up to be a great person. A name was given when the wind was whispering, Ashnard Rhom Raegulus.

His life as the noble family of Raegulus was very fulfilled. Even though he was only with his mother and without a father by his side, Ashnard was already feeling very grateful.

That morning, 15-year-old Ashnard had to prepare to meet his instructor. When Ashnard still a toddler fell and cried, his tears did not fall but instead floated in the air. Edda then realized that his son's elemental power had awakened, and he was ready to receive his elemental training.

"What will Ash do when Mr. Ozark comes?" asked the brown-haired woman who was busy smoothing the collar of her son's coat.

"Bow down, then say hello," replied Ashnard who was getting annoyed with his mother who was too worried about him.

"And then?"

"I stretched out my hand and let him in."

"Good. Ash should always behave like that to everyone. Ethics is the most important thing to raise someone's impression on you."

"Understood, ma'am," he replied sluggishly.

"Don't be like that. You said you want to be an adventurer, right? Then you have to train to be strong first," said his mother.

The maids came, informing them that Ozark Griswald had arrived. Ashnard, who was led by his mother immediately down the stairs. A man in a black suit was waiting for him downstairs.

It seemed that the man in the black suit was quite old, marked not only by his white hair but by also his wrinkled face. The old man took off his top hat and placed it on his chest while bowing.

Ashnard immediately bowed and greeted him, "Welcome, Mr. Ozark. My name is Ashnard Rhom Raegulus. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ozark smiled and rubbed Ashnard's head, "Smart boy. A pleasure to meet you too."

After that, in the dining room, Edda and Ozark had a very long and long conversation after eating their food. Ashnard didn't listen to their whole conversation, because he thought that what they were talking about was boring stuff. He was just daydreaming, thinking about what he would do with this power. Will he become an Elemagna Knight like his father or not.

"So, it's true that you chose the water element? If I may know, why not choose the wind? You live in the land of the wind, right?" Ozark asked to Ashnard.

"I don't know. Aren't the elements obtained randomly?" Ashnard answered and ended by asking.

"Very funny. Of course not. You choose your own element. Didn't you remember it when you picked up the Ambrosia Fruit?" Ozarks turned to ask.

Ashnard frowned. "I don't remember that."

Ozark fell silent hearing the unexpected answer from Ashnard. He was as confused as Ashnard.

"He was a baby at the time, Mr. Ozark. He couldn't possibly remember," Edda added. "After all, wind, fire, water, whatever the choice, it doesn't matter. I'll still support him."

"I see. Keep in mind that just because you're a kid doesn't mean the training I'm giving to you won't be strenuous. So is Mr. Ashnard ready to start the training?"

At the back of the manor, there is a courtyard that is wide enough and open enough to be used as a training ground. That afternoon, that's where they started the training.

"Elemagnia in shortly is someone who can control the elements through his body," Ozark began to explain to Ashnard that sitting on a park bench, the boy watching him with full attention.

"How do you know if someone is an Elemagnia?" the little man asked. His eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"With the naked eye? Difficult. However, generally, the Elemagnia wear what is called an elemental brooch to be identified by others. The elemental brooch will resonate with your element and will reveal the element you possess."

Where's your elemental brooch? Shouldn't you as an instructor wear it?" Ashnard asked.

"Of course. It's here." Ozark opened his case and took out a small glass ball which when hung from his chest, glowed orange. "See. I have an element. Okay, I'll continue. Have you ever used your elemental power knowingly or unknowingly, Mr. Ashnard?"

"Have you ever used your elemental powers knowingly or unknowingly?"

"When I showered, I once made a ball of water."

"Good. So maybe this exercise won't weigh you down, Mr. Ashnard. Please, recreate the water ball."

If it's just making bubbles, Ashnard won't have any trouble. He stood straight. He took a deep breath and raised his index finger in the air. Instantly, streams of water appeared in the air, slowly converging on his fingertips into a ball of water.

"Good. As an Elemagnia, creating and controlling elements is as easy as breathing. Now make it bigger!"

Ashnard took another breath and fully concentrated. He then held his breath and focused his eyes on the water ball. The water ball grew bigger and bigger until it was the size of his head.

Suddenly, a voice echoes in the silent sky, like the roar of a lion. The sound was so loud that it could move the wind and clouds. It spread through the warm air to all corners of the place, making Ashnard's body tremble and everyone who heard it.

There wasn't a single person who didn't hear it. At the top of the mountain, to the darkness of the forest, the voice will still be heard clearly. The sound lasted only a few minutes before it vanished, followed by birds flying again and grass rustling in the wind.

That voice was not the roar of the giant monsters in a fierce battle. In Winfor, if there is a sound like a trumpet in the sky, it is a sign that the seasons will change. And now it will be spring.

"Amazing sound, isn't it?" said the Ozark, looking up at the sky. He then turned again to Ashnard. "Okay, back to training! Now make it bigger!"

"I can't! My chest is tight!" shouted Ashnard. His face was getting redder and the water ball became more and more irregular, then pop.

Ozark sighed in disappointment, "Too bad. Listen, people who get their element from birth are a very rare case. Because of that, I expect that you will become a more powerful Elemagnia than me. Everyone I've ever taught ended up being a great Elemagnia. If you don't, then I'm expecting you wrong."

"What did you expect? I am still a kid," the boy annoyed.

"I told you I wouldn't make my training easier just because you were a kid." said the man. "Let me tell you. When you shape your water ball, just imagine you have more than two hands helping you to increase the size of the water ball. Do you understand?"

Ashnard didn't even look at the old man, but that didn't mean he wasn't listening. After Ashnard regained his breath, he started again. This time he imagined as Ozark said, though he didn't know if it would work or not.

Ashnard imagined that some imaginary hands emerged from his body and poured all his energy into the water ball. And as it turned out, the water ball grew even though it grew a little.

"I did it!" he exclaimed happily.

However, in the behind, Ozark raised a corner of his lips and glared at Ashnard. "As expected. Why are you keeping it a secret? From the start, I could feel it, Mr. Ashnard. You have two elements, right?"

***

"What happened?"

There was nothing he could remember since the incident in the magic passage. He was even about to think that the passages, goddesses, trees, and all that stuff were a dream. And when he opened his eyes, everything was very dark. Quiet and empty. Alone and feeling nothing. That's how he feels now.

He didn't know what to say or think now, because the contents of his mind were nothing but emptiness like this empty room.

"Maybe I'm still dreaming."

He lay down and massaged his face with his hands. And that's when he realized something was strange. His hands were as white as milk. He traced his whole body, and it was true that everything that happened was not a dream.

Then, as he inspected the vast space due to the void, he found an indistinct figure. The figure is shaped like a young boy.

"Hey, you! Finally someone here. Come over here, kid! Do you know what this place is?" call him. However, there was no response from the figure. "Hey, kid! Are you deaf?"

He couldn't help but approach the form of a boy who stood stiffly facing one corner. As he got closer, the boy's form became blurred, like an illusion that wouldn't hear or affect its surroundings.

"It's like a hologram," he muttered.

As he ran his hand through the illusion, suddenly a barrage of visual or audio information entered his mind so fast that he couldn't digest it at all. As a result, his head suddenly felt very excruciating pain. It was like his head was being bombarded by thousands of arrows.

Then something that entered his mind little by little slowed down and he began to process it calmly. From all the information that came in, he now understood that it was someone's memory but not him. Visual and audio memories from baby to child-sized are like figures in front of him now.

Then, miraculously, he saw something he shouldn't have been able to see. Another information from a point of view, but not his point of view. Nor was the image a series of memories that had just entered. But, it's like watching live footage.

In the information, an old man with white hair is seen talking to the owner of the point of view. The man then said, "As expected. Why are you keeping it a secret? From the start, I could feel it, Mr. Ashnard. You have two elements, right?"

He began to understand what was happening. And from the Valley of Eden, a magical tunnel, to this empty place, everything is the reality for him.