Chapter 23: Trials

The days in Elaris grew longer as Kai and Lia trained under Aurelia's watchful eye. Aurelia regarded them as they practiced underneath her watchful eye. What was once a place of peace turned out to be an arena for battles where they would not just face the limitations of their bodies but also the depth of their heart and mind. The air vibrated with energy-the proof of the determination leaking from the two young cultivators.

Aurelia took them to a clearing where sunlight filtering through the branches lit the place up with warm gold. "Today," she started, her voice steady, "we are going to learn more of the inner aspects of your training. You are at the crucial stage wherein knowing your Willforce is as important as mastering your skills."

Lia bounced up and down on her toes, shining with enthusiasm in bright eyes. "What do we learn today, Mom? It's not new, I hope. I just cannot wait!"

Aurelia smiled at him, her mouth corner curling upwards but the sternness in her eyes stayed. "Today, we will talk about the stage that comes after you master all three realm of Will Awakening- 'Will Foundation'. You're starting to open up your Willforce, but there's more than that required to become strong: opening up your minds and your hearts to face whatever you'll be encountering."

Kai leaned forward, feeling her words sink in. "Will Foundation," he repeated, "What does it all mean?

"It means the difference between merely waking up your Willforce and refining it," Aurelia said, her voice growing deeper. "To attain the Will Foundation Stage, you need to learn to open your Will Meridians, master your emotions, and strengthen your Will."

"Will Meridians?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "What are those?"

Garrick, quiet and observant, stood up. "Will Meridians are channels through which your Willforce flows. Think of them as pathways in your body that allow your inner power to circulate and expand. Once you learn to open them, your ability to harness Willforce will increase significantly.".

"Emotional mastery is equally crucial," Aurelia continued. "Your emotions can either empower you or become a hindrance. Cultivators must learn to control their feelings, for unchecked emotions can disrupt the flow of Willforce and lead to catastrophic outcomes."

Lia nodded vigorously, her brow wrinkled in concentration. "So, if we can control our feelings, we can make our Willforce stronger?"

"Exactly," Aurelia said, with a sparkle in her eyes. "As you build resilience and emotional balance, your Willforce will naturally strengthen. The next step is Will Fortification: refinement of your Willforce through mental and spiritual control. In fact, it's a path to self-discovery."

A sense of urgency swept over Kai. "How do we start?"

"By training our minds and hearts," she replied. "We will train to improve your inner strength. These tests are not only to challenge your physical strength but also to test your fears and doubts."

She guided them on a series of mental exercises for concentration and control of emotional responses. She taught mindfulness, anchoring them with the present moment, observing their thoughts but not taking them as truths. According to Aurelia, these emotions were just swirling colors, and if they transform any negative into positive energies, it was okay.

As they talked, Garrick said a few things that were to further expand their learning. "The last realm of Will Awakening is Willforce Projection," he stated. "At this realm you can project your Willforce out, enhancing your strikes and creating a field of intent around you."

Heating up at this was the idea of projecting his Willforce. "Project our Willforce? What does it mean?"

"It means your blows won't just be physical," Garrick explained. "When you reach Willforce Projection, your blows will carry your intent, making them an extension of your very spirit. You will be able to influence the environment, turning the tides of battle with sheer force of will."

"That sounds incredible!" Lia exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "How do we get there?"

"First, master the stages before it," Garrick warned, his face stern. "It takes a long time and a lot of hard work to get into Willforce Projection. Every step has to be earned."

As the sun started to set low on the horizon, casting shadows dancing all over the open space, Kai and Lia stood across each other. Determination welled up in their eyes as they accepted the arduous road that was awaiting them. They were standing side by side; their determination to start with the rigorous exercise session stood ready to accept their agility and reflex training combined with growing Willforce inside of them.

Hours went by in a blur of non-stop training. They exchanged blows and strikes, and their goal was to push each other to the limit. Kai felt a heightened arousal with every movement, and the pulse of his Willforce within seemed to push his energy levels to great heights. He could almost taste the energy in the air, and it was such a tantalizing hint of power that he was slowly beginning to master.

Yet inside him, amidst all that tension, there was inner chaos. He started wondering that he wasn't enough in strength. He used to see Lia laugh. They were training together and sometimes just the way she could do it with laughter resonated a bell-like tone through them. How was that that she was so fearless with such a strong confident feel?

As the training continued, Aurelia watched them keenly and noticed how Kai was going through inner turmoil. "Kai," she called out while interrupting their sparring session. "Every cultivator goes through his or her trials. You need to learn to embrace your fears and transform them into strength."

He nodded but the doubts were still as dark and foreboding. "How do I do that?" he whispered barely audible.

"By facing them head-on," taught Aurelia. "Time yourself and imagine your fear as a dark cloud. Imagine your Willforce like a beam of light that could pierce through that cloud to dispel the darkness."

As the sun was setting, painting the sky with orange and pink, Aurelia gathered them all. "Both of you have taken a step forward today, not only in terms of physical activity but mental as well. Proper cultivation is the balance between body, mind, and spirit. The journey will be long, and you'll be tested in ways you cannot yet imagine."

Lia bounces around with huge enthusiasm. "I am feeling stronger already! Cannot wait to learn more about it!"

Well, smiled Garrick, "Your true journey begins from here only. Keep open in your heart what you will be able to learn as to how to be strong in truth." In these few words, Kai steeled himself, and, letting go for the last vestiges of hesitation, breathed a deep breath for that little smile as Lia's came out to face all of this. It was very much clear now that with each other they were ready to face all of what lay ahead.

The path through the forest is dotted with unity that surrounds them as they go on because of this unwritten, unspoken bond, stronger with every step. It is here, for the first time in his life, that Kai sees a light at the end of a tunnel and begins to garner hope, igniting a fire that would fuel him not just for strength but also heart and mind.