The sun was casting its slanting golden rays through the dense foliage of the forest, which had now become Theo's new and only training ground. Etherwell no longer existed, there was no warm home to return to, and there was only this vast green expanse, Celia, and the shadows of the past that haunted him like restless ghosts.
Two weeks had passed since the massacre, two weeks Theo had spent in a state of slow physical recovery and bitter psychological struggle under his aunt's strict tutelage. There were no words of comfort, no moments of mourning, only continuous training and relentless pushing towards strength, the strength he should have possessed to protect what he had lost.
Today, the training was different. It was no longer just harsh physical exercises or mana meditations. Today, it was a real hunt, a practical test of what he had learned, or rather, what he was forced to learn with a speed that defied all logic.
"Five goblins, five orcs." Celia's voice was as calm as winter ice, cutting through the forest's silence. She stood on a high tree branch, watching Theo from above like a hawk observing its prey, or rather, her student. "I don't want random killing. I want efficiency, precision, and understanding of what you're doing. Every movement must have a purpose, every drop of mana must be used wisely. The goal is not just survival, but control."
Theo stood in a small clearing, traces of exhaustion still evident on his young face that had been forcibly stripped of its innocence, but his black eyes held a new gleam, a mixture of cold determination and remnants of deep-seated pain. He wore simple dark clothes, and at his waist were two daggers that were a gift from Kyle on his last birthday, daggers he never had the chance to thank him for. He didn't carry a sword, which made Celia insist that he master his own style first, his style of using his shadow and daggers.
"Goblins first." Celia added. "They are weaker, but more cunning. Don't underestimate them, use your surroundings, use your shadows, and don't give them a chance to maneuver or ambush."
Theo nodded silently, and closed his eyes for a moment, extending his senses, which had been honed by mana and training. He no longer relied solely on his sight. Celia had taught him how to "feel" the mana in his surroundings, how to read the vitality of living creatures, how to distinguish between the movement of an innocent animal and the whispers of a lurking beast. Darkness, his element, was an ally in this, extending like an invisible network, transmitting the echoes of the hidden world to him.
He felt them. Five relatively weak mana presences, scattered among the trees about a hundred meters to the east. They were moving cautiously, communicating with sharp, ugly whispers. Goblins.
He didn't wait for another order. His body surged forward, but not in a straight line. He moved fluidly between the trees, his body almost merging with the dancing shadows under the branches. It wasn't just running, but a flow, a calculated movement that reduced noise and increased camouflage. Celia had stressed the importance of "flow" – to become a part of the environment, not an intruder.
He approached their location quickly. They were gathered around the remains of a small animal, noisily squabbling over the meat in a disgusting manner. They hadn't noticed his approach yet. This was his chance.
'Focus. Efficiency.' Celia's words echoed in his mind. There was no longer room for the blind rage or paralyzing fear that had gripped him in the cave or after the massacre. He had to be a precise instrument, a living weapon.
He extended his left hand, and dark mana gathered in his palm, not as a violent ball, but as a dense black mist. He pushed the mist towards the group of goblins. It wasn't a direct attack, but a tactic. The mist spread quickly, it wasn't poisonous, but it slightly absorbed light and sound, creating a feeling of confusion and discomfort for creatures with primitive senses.
"Mistake." Celia's voice suddenly came into his mind, not audible, but as a direct echo in his consciousness, a simple mental communication technique she had taught him. "Shadow mist is effective for cover or distraction, but using it this way consumes too much mana for a limited effect on five weak targets. You could have achieved the same confusion with simpler manipulation of the shadows around them. Be selective."
Theo felt a pang of frustration, but he quickly suppressed it, she was right, he lunged towards the nearest goblin while confusion still reigned among them. He moved with lightning speed, his dagger in his right hand gleaming with a dull sparkle.
The first goblin spun around in a panic, raising a battered wooden club. Theo easily dodged the blow, and slipped to its side, his dagger drawing a quick black line in the air. A deep cut in the goblin's neck, dark green blood gushed out, the creature fell almost silently.
"Better." Celia's voice resonated in his mind. "Direct exploitation of opportunity. But your movement was a little predictable, if it were a faster opponent, it would have dodged the attack or counterattacked."
The remaining four goblins turned, their yellow eyes wide with fear and anger. They shrieked in their harsh language and rushed towards him in a chaotic manner.
Here, instead of a direct confrontation, he took a step back, towards a denser area of shadows under a huge tree, extending his hand towards the shadow, and felt the mana intertwine with it. He wasn't creating darkness, but rather directing the existing darkness.
"Yes." Celia whispered into his consciousness. "Feel it. Control it. Make it an extension of your will."
When the goblins reached the edge of the shadow, Theo manipulated it. Threads of darkness extended, not solid, but like invisible strings, two of the goblins stumbled and fell to the ground. It wasn't a fatal attack, but an impediment, creating chaos.
Theo lunged towards the two fallen ones. A quick, precise dagger movement ended their lives before they could get up. Two remained.
One of the remaining goblins, perhaps the smartest or most desperate, did not attack directly. It jumped back and pulled out a bow, aiming a stone arrow at Theo.
"Anticipate this." Celia said. "Don't just focus on attacking. Read their intentions, anticipate their movements."
Theo had already started moving before the arrow was released. He didn't just dodge sideways, but used a small burst of dark mana under his feet to momentarily increase his speed and slide under the arrow's trajectory, approaching the goblin with astonishing speed. It was a simple technique, "Shadow Step" as Celia called it, using darkness to reduce friction and increase momentary acceleration.
He reached the goblin before it could fire another arrow. A powerful blow with his mana-reinforced fist shattered the bow and the goblin's face at the same time.
The last goblin, who had been hesitant to attack, turned to flee. But Theo was faster, he threw one of his daggers with astonishing accuracy. The dagger struck the fleeing goblin in the back, and it fell to the ground writhing.
"Don't kill unnecessarily." Celia's voice came, this time audible as she lightly jumped from the branch to land in front of him. "He was fleeing. He was no longer an immediate threat. Killing must have a tactical justification, not just a reaction. Interrogate him, he might have information. Or leave him, his death will not benefit you and consumes your energy to retrieve your dagger."
"As I told you, treat them as humans during combat, kill them all and leave one injured for interrogation," her eyes turned to him as she continued, "this is just training to get you used to it if you face a similar situation, whether against humans, elves, or others."
Theo looked at the dying goblin, then at Celia. His logic was cold and harsh, but it was logical in this new world. He pulled his dagger from the goblin's back, which breathed its last.
"Acceptable performance." Celia said, her eyes scanning the area, evaluating his performance. "You showed improvement in using surrounding shadows and the Shadow Step technique, but you still hesitate at times, rely on reactions more than anticipation, and your connection with dark mana is still superficial. You are touching the surface, not delving into the depths."
'The depths?' Theo thought, catching his breath.
"Darkness is not just a tool for concealment and attack, Theo." Celia began to explain, slowly walking towards another area of the forest, signaling him to follow her, "It is a dimension, it is a void, it is an echo of existence itself. Advanced mages in the element of darkness do not just manipulate shadows, but manipulate the concepts that darkness represents."
'Concepts? Like what?'
"Like distance, darkness connects places untouched by light. You can use it to shorten distances, to instantaneously move through interconnected shadows – sometimes called 'shadow walking' or 'abyss crossing.' But this requires a deep understanding of the nature of void and the flow of mana through it, and immense focus to avoid getting lost or torn apart."
Theo stopped, thinking about her words. 'Instantaneous movement?' It sounded like legendary magic.
"And like perception." Celia continued. "Darkness can be your eyes and ears in places you cannot physically reach, you can send a part of your consciousness, a 'shadow echo,' to explore for you, to transmit images and sounds to you, but this is dangerous, as your consciousness can be affected by what it sees, or it may be discovered and destroyed, causing you mental shock."
"And there's 'Shadow Devouring'." Celia added, her tone becoming more serious. "Darkness's ability to absorb not just light, but mana, vital force, and even memories or emotions. Mastering this ability grants you immense power, but it carries the risk of being devoured by the darkness itself, of losing yourself in the void you control."
These concepts were astonishing and terrifying at the same time. Theo felt that the door the element of darkness had opened for him was much wider and deeper than he had imagined.
"These are just glimpses, Theo." Celia said. "The path is long and arduous. Now, the orcs. They are different. Immense physical strength, thick skin, and primal rage. You cannot rely on agility and dodging alone. You will need strength, precision, and exploitation of their anatomical weaknesses."
Celia led him to another area, where Theo's senses indicated the presence of five stronger, denser mana presences. Orcs.
"Remember what I said about focus and elemental duality." Celia said before retreating back into the shadows. "Fire and darkness, destructive power and devouring power, try to merge them, but cautiously, loss of control means disaster."
Theo approached cautiously. The four orcs were roaming a small rocky area, aimlessly smashing small trees with their huge clubs, as if demonstrating their strength. They were much larger than the goblins, their muscles pulsating with raw power.
Theo decided not to use distraction this time, he had to confront them more directly, to test his ability to inflict real damage.
He chose his first target, an orc standing slightly isolated from the group. He used "Shadow Step" again, approaching quickly. When he was a few meters away, he leaped forward, and at the same time, ignited fire mana in his right hand, and dark mana in his left hand.
He didn't try to create a complex black flame orb like "Flame of Destruction." That would require mana and focus beyond his current ability in the midst of combat. Instead, he tried to apply the concept of duality more simply.
He directed a fiery fist towards the orc's knee, targeting a weakness in its movement. And at the same time, he directed a dark fist towards the orc's face, not as a fatal touch, but as a push of cold, disorienting darkness, aiming to distract its attention and senses for a crucial moment.
"Good timing." Celia whispered into his mind. "But the mana flow is uneven. Your fire is weaker than your darkness. You need to balance the flow for maximum effect."
A small flame hit the orc's knee, burning it and forcing it to bend in sudden pain. At the same moment, the wave of darkness hit its face, making it grunt in confusion and cover its eyes for a moment.
Theo exploited this precious second. He surged forward, his dagger targeting the gap in the crude leather armor at the bent orc's neck, he pushed the dagger with all his might, and felt it pierce the thick skin and muscles. He quickly pulled the dagger out, and blood gushed profusely.
The first orc fell, hitting the ground with a loud thud.
The remaining three orcs turned, with a roar of rage that shook the air. They charged at him together this time, the ground shaking under their heavy feet.
"Don't face them all at once!" Celia warned. "Use the environment! Separate them!"
The area was rocky. Theo jumped back, dodging a club blow that almost crushed him. He landed on a large rock, and used it as a launching point to jump over another orc that was rushing towards him, and dealt a quick dagger blow to its back as he passed over it. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it was painful enough to slow it down and provoke its anger further.
He landed on the ground behind the injured orc, and lunged towards another orc that was approaching from the side, this time, he tried something different, he focused dark mana into his dagger, not to increase its sharpness, but to envelop it in an aura of cold darkness.
He dodged the orc's blow, and slipped under its raised arm, and passed the darkness-shrouded dagger across the orc's chest. It wasn't a deep wound, but the orc let out a different scream this time, a scream of pain mixed with sudden weakness, as if its strength was draining from it.
"'Drain Touch'." Celia commented. "Effective against creatures with high vital force, but it consumes more mana and requires relatively longer contact. Good for weakening, not for quick killing."
The weakened orc stumbled, giving Theo a chance to deal with the other two. The orc he had wounded in the back had now turned, attacking with blind rage, and the last orc was approaching more cautiously, perhaps having learned from the fall of its comrades.
Theo decided to end it quickly. He focused on the enraged orc. He used "Shadow Step" again to dodge, then jumped high, using another rock as a fulcrum, and landed directly on the huge orc's shoulders. He clung to it firmly, ignoring its desperate attempts to throw him off, and delivered several quick, precise dagger stabs with both daggers simultaneously towards the base of its skull, another fatal weak point.
The second orc collapsed.
Two remained, the orc weakened by "Drain Touch," and the cautious orc.
"Don't give them a chance to cooperate." Celia reminded him. "Finish the weaker one first."
Theo lunged towards the weakened orc. It was still dangerous, but its movements had become slower and less powerful. Theo dodged a desperate blow from it, then used a combination of fire and darkness again, but this time more focused. A small, precise flame struck its eye, while a concentrated wave of darkness hit its throat, choking and disorienting it. Before the orc could recover, Theo's dagger had pierced its heart.
The last orc, the cautious orc, saw the fall of its third comrade. It hesitated for a moment, a look of fear appearing in its eyes. Then it turned and began to flee.
This time, Theo did not hesitate. He remembered Celia's words about not killing unnecessarily, but he also felt the need to complete the mission. He unleashed "Shadow Step," rapidly approaching the fleeing orc. He didn't throw his dagger, but rather jumped onto its back, using the same tactic he had used previously, and ended its life with precise stabs to the base of the skull.
Theo stood amidst the five orc corpses, panting heavily. The battle was much harder than fighting the goblins. It consumed more mana, and required more physical strength and mental focus. His body ached, but he also felt a kind of cold satisfaction. He had succeeded.
Celia landed in front of him again, her face still expressionless, but Theo felt a kind of approval in her gaze.
"Much better." She said. "You used the environment, separated them, exploited weaknesses, and began to experiment with elemental fusion more effectively. 'Drain Touch' was a good, albeit primitive, application of the concept of devouring."
She paused for a moment, then added, "But you still lack refinement. Your movements could be more fluid, your mana control could be more precise, and your reading of the battle flow needs improvement. You react well, but a true fighter anticipates events, imposes their own rhythm on the battle."
'But how do I do that?' Theo thought, wiping sweat and blood from his face.
"With more training." Celia replied simply, as if she was reading his thoughts. "And with a deeper understanding of the nature of mana and combat. Mana is not just fuel for spells, it is a vital energy that flows in everything. Learn to feel your opponent's mana flow, anticipate their movements through their energy fluctuations. Learn to disrupt their mana flow, weaken them from within. Learn to make your own mana flow unpredictable, difficult to read."
'That... sounds very complex.'
"True magic is complex, Theo." Celia said. "True power requires deep understanding, not just brute force. You have the talent, you have the rare affinity, and you now have the strongest motivation of all, 'revenge' or perhaps the desire not to repeat the past." Her last words hung in the air.
"Gather what you can from their bodies." She added, pointing to the orcs. "Skins, fangs, anything that might have value or can be used. Then we'll move on to the next phase of your training."
Theo looked at the scattered corpses, then at the vast forest stretching before him, and at the sky that began to dip towards sunset. He felt exhaustion wash over his body, but beneath the exhaustion, a small spark of determination flickered.