Chapter 40: Wielding the Power of Lightning
Good news! I'm almost done with the exam! Next week, hopefully I'll be able to write normally again. My brain is so overloaded that I can't help to write this chapter just for a bit of a break from studying.
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It had been a week since I'd first met Elysia in my dreams, and each night, my training with the Flamechasers continued. Elysia introduced me to the other twelve, each of them masters in their own unique fields, each a keeper of abilities that felt otherworldly. Their mastery went far beyond anything I could have imagined, even in my previous life. They were the wielders of elemental energies, each of them carrying the essence of their element as naturally as breathing. But tonight, it was Kevin Kaslana and Sakura guiding my training, each imparting their own wisdom on wielding the power of lightning natural energy.
The sensation of training in this dream-realm was vivid, almost like I was awake. I could feel the pull of energy, the sheer weight of power coursing through me as if my entire body was made of lightning. Kevin's guidance was unwavering, his voice a deep calm, every instruction laced with experience and precision. Sakura, on the other hand, was as silent as she was sharp, watching every one of my moves with a calculating gaze. She would only interject when necessary, her soft tone somehow sharper than a blade.
"Your control is improving," Kevin remarked as he watched me shape the lightning energy around me, his voice devoid of praise or criticism, just a steady observation. "But power is nothing without restraint. You must become one with it, let it flow as part of you."
I inhaled deeply, allowing the natural lightning energy to circulate through me, feeling how it hummed and buzzed like static electricity beneath my skin. Kevin's words echoed in my mind as I tried to focus, my fingers shifting to form the Musou Isshin, a concentrated blade of lightning in my hand. The bright, sharp energy crackled as it condensed, forming into the blade's iconic shape. As I held it, I felt an immense pressure, a current running through every fiber of my being.
"Steady your focus," Sakura said, her soft voice cutting through the intensity of the moment. "It isn't just about holding it—you have to wield it. Make it an extension of yourself."
Her words struck a chord within me. I adjusted my grip, letting the energy settle into my hand, feeling it meld with me. I felt the weight lessen, almost as if the blade was simply part of me. In that moment, it felt like more than just wielding lightning. It was as if I had become lightning itself—swift, unstoppable, and boundless.
With Kevin's and Sakura's guidance, I began practicing combat movements with the Musou Isshin. Each strike, each step forward or backward, resonated with energy that felt raw yet somehow natural. Kevin demonstrated a few techniques, fluid movements that relied on control rather than brute force, emphasizing how power, when properly channeled, could achieve more with less effort.
After some time, Kevin stepped back, his stoic gaze softened slightly. "You're learning quickly," he admitted, though his tone still carried that same calm authority. "Lightning is a volatile force, yet you wield it as if it were born with you."
"Thank you," I replied, feeling a slight surge of pride at his acknowledgment. "It's strange… I feel like I understand it on an instinctual level."
Sakura approached me, her eyes filled with a thoughtful intensity. "Perhaps it's the influence of the Gem," she mused, glancing at my chest, where I could feel the energy of the Gem of Conquest pulsing quietly within. "It's as though it amplifies your ability to harmonize with this element."
I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of their words sink in. The Gem had granted me so much, and yet I knew there was still a long path ahead before I could fully control it. But with their guidance, I felt myself inching closer to understanding its true nature.
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The morning sun peeked through the window, a soft glow breaking through the darkness as I slowly woke. My entire body felt sore, as if the training in my dream had taken a physical toll on me. It wasn't the first time I felt like this in the mornings after training with the Flamechasers, but it was becoming more intense with each passing night. I stretched, wincing at the slight ache in my muscles, and sat up.
Just as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I noticed Yae standing near the doorway, her gaze fixed on me with a concerned curiosity. Her expression was slightly pensive, a rare look for someone as poised as her.
"Ei," she said, tilting her head slightly, "for the past week, every night when you sleep, the natural energy around you… fluctuates. It's like there's an unnatural flow, surging and waning as though it's drawn to you, or perhaps… controlled by you."
Her words stirred something within me, a realization I hadn't fully processed until now. I had been feeling the effects, the shifts in power, but I hadn't considered how it might appear to others. For a moment, I struggled to find the right words to explain, not just to her but to myself.
"It's… the Flamechasers," I finally said, looking up to meet her gaze. "In my dreams, I've been trained by a group of warriors—masters, really. They each wield powers beyond what I could have ever imagined. Each night, they train me in the ways of wielding lightning, honing my abilities to heights I didn't think possible."
Yae's eyes widened, and I could see the intrigue glinting in her gaze. "The Flamechasers? Who are they?"
"They're powerful beings who seem almost like legends," I explained, feeling a deep respect as I thought of each of them. "They're warriors who have mastered the elements—lightning, fire, ice… everything. Each of them embodies a unique concept or elemental force, almost like gods in their own right. It's strange, but it feels like they're guiding me, pushing me toward something… more."
Yae listened intently, her ears twitching slightly as she absorbed every word. "And this realm you speak of, the Elysian Realm… it's accessible only in your dreams?"
I nodded, thinking back to the surreal, otherworldly place that came to life every time I closed my eyes. "Yes. Each time I fall asleep, it's like stepping into another world entirely. A world where they await, each of them ready to teach me something new. I think… I think they're helping me harness the power of the Gem. And it's not just power for power's sake. They're teaching me control, precision, how to make it an extension of myself."
Yae's gaze softened slightly, an approving glimmer in her eyes. "These Flamechasers sound wise," she remarked. "And if they're the ones guiding you, then this energy fluctuation around you must be part of your transformation, your path toward mastering this Gem of Conquest."
I nodded, feeling the truth of her words settle over me. "It's almost like a metamorphosis," I said softly, thinking back to the surreal sensation I'd felt in the dream-realm each time I trained. "With every lesson, I feel myself changing. Not just physically, but… fundamentally. Like the lightning itself is becoming a part of who I am."
Yae reached out, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Then, perhaps it's best to embrace it," she said. "Let this energy flow, let it become you. Don't fear the transformation, Ei. Trust in yourself, and trust in those guiding you."
Her words lingered in my mind, a warmth spreading in my chest as I looked at her. She understood in a way few others could. Even if she couldn't see the Flamechasers or experience the realm as I did, she sensed the importance of this journey, the gravity of the path I was on.
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That night, as I closed my eyes and drifted into the familiar darkness, I felt myself pulled back into the Elysian Realm, surrounded once again by the towering, ethereal trees and the palpable presence of energy that pulsed in the air. Kevin and Sakura awaited me, their expressions steady and composed, each of them carrying that same intensity and wisdom.
But there was a new determination in my heart as I stepped forward, a resolve to embrace this transformation, to accept the power and make it my own. They seemed to sense it, and for the first time, I saw Kevin's usual stoic expression soften slightly, a small nod of approval.
"Let's begin," he said simply, and the world around us shifted as we delved into another intense round of training, the lightning energy surging through me, shaping itself in ways I was only just beginning to comprehend.
In that realm, under their guidance, I felt more alive than I ever had, as if I was truly discovering myself piece by piece, uncovering my potential with every lesson, every movement, and every surge of energy. And with each passing night, I was one step closer to mastering the power of the Gem of Conquest, to realizing the full extent of the lightning that coursed within me.
End of Chapter 40.