บท 75: Training elements!
'It's really testing my patience…' he thought with a forced smile as he pointed his hand toward the water lily once more.
The water in the lake remained stubbornly still, defying his attempts to draw it toward him.
Frustration simmered within him—how could he have so much espera and still fail to control the water? He tightened his focus, trying to force the water to obey, but it only seemed to resist more.
Was his technique the problem then? He could not feel that it was the case, he had been doing as per the instructions and his instincts.
If the technique was really the problem then he would not have been able to even cause the slightest changes or fluctuations in the water in the first place much less move anything.
But since that was not the case then he was sure it was not that the technique he was using to be changed.
He'd been at this task for what felt like hours, with no success.
The more he focused on trying to force the water to move, the less responsive it seemed.
'Hmm...' he pondered. Was the approach correct? Should he try something different?
A devious idea came to his mind at the moment...
'Should I just go and fill the cup with water from the lake?'
But in the next moment, he laughed it off. This was foolish, Alison would definitely not believe till he showed her a practical demonstration in front of her own eyes.
Not to mention, it was also his loss if tried to fool her. In the future, he would have to rely on himself only after all.
It had been some time since he was busy with this task without any outcome. He heard the sound of doors moving and Alison entering.
His concentration wavered, and he felt the cool dampness of the chamber starting to seep into his bones.
Creak!
The creak of the door broke his concentration, and he glanced up to see Alison entering, her calm presence reminded him to take a breath.
Alison approached him, her eyes looking in the still-empty cup with a hint of curiosity. "Show me what you've been doing," she asked gently.
Oliver nodded, demonstrating his methods with a practiced but weary hand. Alison watched, her brow furrowing slightly, and then she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder to stop him.
She was quite surprised internally, given how many methods he had already shown her and used before her coming back. He must have consumed a lot of espera and was still able to keep going without a break.
'Did he drink a potion?' she wondered, as this was the only reasonable explanation for his stamina so far.
"You're trying to control the water too forcefully," she observed.
"Water is fluid and adaptable. It responds best to harmony and flow. Feel its rhythm, become one with its movement. Let it come to you naturally. Give your mind some rest and think about what I said."
Oliver sighed, was he really forceful? She might have seen something that he had missed. He closed his eyes and focused on the cool, tranquil aura around him.
While Oliver was alone in the Water Chamber, his friends in the nearby chambers were undergoing their own training.
In the high plateau Wind Chamber, Alphonso struggled to control the powerful gusts of wind. His task was to create a gentle breeze to move a feather from one side of the chamber to a specific point located far away amidst the raging winds.
However, each attempt resulted in either too much force, sending the feather flying uncontrollably, or too little, leaving it motionless.
Alison's advice echoed in his mind: "Become one with the wind's natural flow. Don't resist it."
Alison had given him the advice to become one with the wind's natural flow and not resist it, which he seemed to be doing.
Sweat trickled down Alphonso's temple as he tried again, inhaling deeply and exhaling with a soft, controlled breath. The feather fluttered, then slowly drifted toward its target, carried by a breeze as gentle as a sigh.
Meanwhile, Amber was deep in the rocky formations and underground tunnels, struggling to shape a small boulder into a smooth sphere. Her initial efforts resulted in jagged, uneven shapes, her annoyance growing with each failure.
Her efforts seemed to crumble literally.
She was also prohibited from using any tools to aid herself, which made her quite annoyed. To her, tools were something akin to a body part of hers.
Alison had told her to connect with the earth's patience and persistence, to mold it with steady hands and a calm mind.
She sat down, closing her eyes and placing her hands on the boulder. Slowly, she let the earth's steady energy flow through her, her movements becoming more deliberate and patient. Gradually, the boulder began to take a smoother shape.
In the stormy Thunder Chamber, Daniel's task was to summon a controlled bolt of lightning to strike a designated target.
His struggles were intense; the lightning often veered off course or dissipated too quickly.
Sometimes, he would even almost bolt himself. He was overexcited to control lightning, after all.
His excitement often resulted in wild, uncontrolled bursts of energy, which resulted in the above outcomes.
Alison had to remind him to harness his emotions, to channel his intense energy into focused power rather than letting it scatter.
According to her, it was not good to go against their inherent personality. Daniel was an aggressive and hot-headed boy—his nature was like that.
So doing something that went against that nature of his was a waste of power, according to her.
She believed that it was instead better to use those intense emotions and energy for something more productive.
That was to convert the intensity into power.
Given that his awakened element was thunder, an already raging and turbulent attribute, she felt it was better that he use his over-the-top energy and transfer that to his manipulation of his element.
Alison had told him to harness his emotions—to channel his intense energy into focused power rather than letting it scatter.
And this was the most difficult thing for Daniel.
While it might sound advantageous that he could use his intense energy and emotions without restraining himself, to do that, he needed just as much focus and concentration.
He was required to have a calm mind to be able to achieve that. He had to achieve this through concentration, which was contrary to his hot-blooded nature.
He clenched his fists, feeling the crackling energy within him. With a deep breath, he focused, letting his emotions fuel the lightning. A bolt shot forth, striking the target dead center, and Daniel grinned, his eyes alight with triumph.
"Easy peasy...!"
________________
In the glacial cavern in the Ice Chamber, Nadia had to create an detailed ice sculpture using her abilities. Her initial attempts were crude, with the ice either shattering or forming into unrecognizable shapes.
Alison's advice was clear: "Shape the ice with delicate finesse, not brute force."
Alison had taught her the importance of precision and control, to shape the ice with delicate finesse rather than brute force, which she seemed to be doing.
However, something that separated Nadia from others was her persistence and lack of interest in anything other than power and strength.
She was relentless, like an emotionless doll set to work tirelessly and infinitely. She would take feedback from her mentor and incorporate the teachings into her technique seamlessly.
She would fail, take input, repeat, and keep training, using ice to form a finely sculpted structure.
It was as if someone did not tell her to stop, she would keep on going until she fainted, so Alison had to ask her to pause in between.
Alison was particularly impressed with Nadia's tenacity and espera. So far, only Oliver and the two sisters had proven to be capable of having as much espera as her.
As for the sisters...
In the sunlit Light chamber, Evelyn's task was to manipulate light beams to create a specific pattern on a wall.
Her initial attempts resulted in scattered, unfocused light that failed to form the desired shapes. Alison guided her to focus her inner light, to control its intensity and direction with clarity and intent.
Evelyn closed her eyes, centering herself. She imagined the pattern clearly, feeling the light within her pulse in response. Opening her eyes, she directed the beams with absolute control, and the desired shape gradually took form on the wall.
_____________________
Alison transported them all back to the dormitory using the array.
As the day drew to a close, the group reconvened in the dormitory, exhaustion etched on their faces.
Back in the cozy dormitory, Oliver joined his friends as they unwound from the day's events. All of them had exhaustion written on their faces at the moment.
Alison had promised them a meal, and they gathered around the large wooden dining table, anticipation mingling with their fatigue as they waited for her.
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