Unfathomable & beyond

Within the ancient confines of a timeless facility, a decade slipped away unnoticed. The world outside changed, but within these walls, time held little meaning. Here, the pursuit of mastery reigned supreme, and every moment was dedicated to the relentless honing of power.

Lisa sat cross-legged in the center of an empty chamber, the cold stone beneath her an afterthought to her unwavering concentration. Her closed eyes concealed the storm brewing within her, the struggle unfolding between her mind and the force she sought to control. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, stark evidence of her devotion. Each breath she took was measured, controlled, yet laced with tension.

Then, in the midst of profound silence, the air around her shifted. A force unseen, yet undeniably potent, stirred like a slumbering beast awakened. A gust of wind whispered through the chamber, gentle at first, a mere caress against her skin. But within seconds, it grew stronger, coiling around her like an invisible serpent, tightening, testing her resolve.

Lisa remained undeterred, her breathing steady despite the wind's efforts to disrupt her. Her long hair lifted and danced in the turbulence, strands whipping against her face. Then, without warning, the force escalated into a maelstrom. The wind became a howling vortex, slamming against her like an untamed tempest, seeking to break her focus.

Tiny cuts appeared on her cheeks as the sharp currents lashed against her skin. Pain flared, but she refused to yield. Her body trembled under the assault, her lungs burned as air thickened, turning each breath into a battle. But Lisa pressed on. Her will clashed with the element, an unyielding contest of dominance.

Then, just when the wind seemed poised to claim victory, the ground beneath her quivered. It was a fleeting tremor, a warning. And then—

A colossal shockwave erupted through the foundation of the chamber. The force shattered the tempest like fragile glass, dispersing the wind in an instant. Silence followed, a stillness so profound it felt unnatural.

Lisa exhaled, her breath ragged yet victorious. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, they glowed—a brilliant, resplendent brown light that flickered before fading into the depths of her gaze. She rose gracefully from her meditative stance, flexing her fingers. A triumphant smile curled her lips as she lifted a hand and casually summoned a gentle breeze to swirl around her fingertips. The once-wild force of nature now bowed to her command.

In that moment, it was undeniable—Lisa had transcended into the silver stage of the mana core. She had conquered the raging spirit of the wind, just as she had tamed the unyielding earth two months prior. And yet, a tinge of dissatisfaction lingered.

She had done it, yes. But in the end, she had relied on her earth element to suppress the wind, not her own will alone. The result was clear—her wind magic lacked the potency of her earth magic. She had won, but it wasn't the flawless victory she had desired.

Before she could dwell further on her shortcomings, a thunderous blast shattered the silence.

The ground trembled, dust rained from the ceiling, and a gust of heated air surged through the adjoining corridor. Lisa sighed, already knowing the cause. Without haste, she strode toward the source, her expression a mixture of exasperation and curiosity.

Stepping into the adjacent training chamber, she was met with chaos. Smoke and dust veiled the air, shrouding everything in a thick haze. The scent of scorched stone lingered, evidence of a powerful detonation.

Lisa lifted a hand, summoning a breeze to disperse the smoke. As the haze cleared, her younger brother's form emerged.

He knelt in the center of the chamber, his long crimson hair cascading over his face. His sword, planted firmly into the ground, served as his lone support. His breaths came heavy and labored, his shoulders rising and falling with exertion.

Lisa's mana sense flared instinctively, probing for injuries. But what she discovered instead sent a jolt of shock through her.

She had known since childhood that her brother was anything but ordinary. Even among prodigies, he was an anomaly. His red mana core was an enigma in itself, but his rapid growth was something beyond logic, beyond reason.

From the moment he first picked up a sword at five years old, he had surpassed expectations. What had taken her a year and a half to master, he had achieved in half the time. Their grandfather had spoken of it often, his voice tinged with something bordering on reverence.

"Don't compare yourself to him," their grandfather had warned her once. "The mana itself guides his path. He was born human, yes, but what he will become… that is beyond anyone's ability to predict. His potential defies common sense."

Those words echoed in Lisa's mind as she processed what she was seeing now.

Her brother had broken through.

Only minutes ago, she had ascended from the radiant yellow core to the revered silver stage. And yet, before she could even revel in her own achievement, he had climbed another peak. He now stood at the coveted stage of the yellow mana core.

The gap between them was narrowing at an alarming rate.

As if sensing her shock, her brother finally raised his head. His crystal-red eyes gleamed with confidence, and despite the sweat and exhaustion painting his face, a satisfied smile played on his lips.

"Well?" His voice carried a mixture of amusement and triumph. "Are you going to tell me now? The secret to attaining the silver core?"

Lisa folded her arms, masking her lingering disbelief behind a smirk. "Oh, so now you're suddenly interested in learning from me? You've never needed guidance before."

He chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. "I figured I'd give you the honor before I surpass you completely."

Lisa scoffed. "You've got a long way to go before that happens."

Her brother's smirk only widened. "Two stages away isn't that long."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the grin tugging at her lips. "Alright, smarty pants. Let's talk about it then."

She turned toward the exit before glancing over her shoulder. "But first, we're getting cleaned up. We both look like we crawled out of a disaster."

He laughed, pushing himself to his feet with his sword. "That's because we did."

With an exasperated shake of her head, Lisa led the way out.

As they walked side by side, she couldn't shake the thought lingering in the back of her mind.

"What kind of stubt had pulled this time?"