Her body had never felt this obedient before.
Chasing the trace of the warmth the light had once given her, she jumped , as if instinct itself had pushed her forward.
Her feet met soft grass.
"A garden beneath the ground?"
she murmured, half in awe, half disbelief.
She had expected another world entirely, but this place,this hidden garden,was far more intriguing.
Darkov landed beside her with his usual calm, almost soundless grace.
"This isn't an ordinary garden,"
he said quietly.
"That's for sure,"
she replied, her eyes wide.
"The plants here feed on divine energy, light itself. To reach this place, one must echo the resonance of divinity."
"Like that feeling I had earlier?"
"Look around."
She obeyed, turning slowly. Her eyes seemed to reflect the same luminous glow that painted the air.
The space radiated serenity, soft green light covered everything, dotted with colorful flowers and streaks of pure white marble.
"It took a long time to build this place,"
Darkov said, his tone distant.
"You built all these flowers and structures yourself?"
"Not exactly. We… barely found this place. And discovered which echo could open the gate to it."
She sank to the ground, folding her legs beneath her, ready to listen.
He looked down at her again with that judging, unreadable expression,an expression she was slowly learning how to handle.
So she tapped the spot across her, silently inviting him to sit.
After a moment of hesitation, his expression remained indifferent, and he crouched.
"How did you find this place? Divine energy? What is all this,tell me everything!"
"When we returned from Elyura, we began to notice things."
"We? And… where's Elyura?"
He gave her a long look.
"You really don't live in this world, do you?"
"If you tell me your story, I'll tell you mine,"
she said, smiling faintly.
That same thoughtfull expression appeared on his face again, and he sighed before speaking.
"Elyura is a kingdom,perhaps the most advanced one. A society that thrives in prosperity.
Except for Olgard, it's the only place untouched by decay. I've traveled across many kingdoms during my training."
"Training? What kind of training?"
"People aren't born as Echo Benders. I wasn't. When I decided I wanted to bend my own echo, I began my studies,saw things, learned things."
"So… being an Echo Bender isn't something you're born with? No one is naturally one?"
"Stop interrupting,"
he said with a bothered expression.
"But yes,anyone can echo, but controlling it… that's what matters. That's why I said no one is born an Echo Bender. Only those born from echo itself are, like the Nyxarises and the Vitarises."
She felt her head spinning from the sheer flood of information.
"So Elyura… it's like the last stop for Echo Benders.."
"..In a way. Because when you become a good echo brnder, there's little to learn there. You go to Elyura not to learn, but to become from it."
She imagined it vividly now, a radiant place shimmering beyond reach.
"That's why almost no Echo Benders truly living Elyura,"
he continued.
"How come?"
"No one's ever reached that level of mastery yet. And honestly, outside Elyura, the kingdoms are in ruins. Our purpose is to help restore them."
"How many kingdoms are there? And who's 'our'?"
He ignored the question and stood up abruptly.
"Anyway… this garden is a clone of one from Elyura."
"What? So it's not just a normal garden? It must mean something!"
Darkov turned his back to her, indifferent.
"Hey! I'm asking you a question!"
she protested, jumping to her feet and moving in front of him.
"Please! I really want to know!"
"I don't have time to entertain your curiosity,"
he said, coldly.
"Huh?"
She clenched her fists.
"Why does he always do this to me?"
she muttered under her breath.
And then,his fist met her cheek. The blow threw her back, pain blooming across her face.
Her skin had barely healed from before.
"What the hell was that for?!"
she shouted, voice trembling, rage and confusion blending.
Darkov didn't answer. His expression remained unreadable,too calm, too distant.
She rubbed the sore spot on her cheek and looked up just in time to hear a dull thud.
The wooden floor that had led to the surface was now sealed tight.
Panic flickered inside her.
Did a Death-bringer possess him?
she thought.
Am I trapped down here?
Or worse, what if this was actually him?
Another punch.
No. This time, I caught it mid-air.
Her palm met his knuckles with all her strength, yet the sheer force sent her flying back into the glowing plants.
Darkov clearly refused to let this become a close-range fight. He was using echoes,his strikes weren't normal.
What are we even doing? I don'tknow but-
"I'm an Echo Bender too!"
She shouted.
"Nope,"
he said flatly.
"You're just blowing echoes."
She jumped to her feet and charged at him,but in seconds, she was thrown back into another patch of flowers.
If this were close combat, she'd stand a chance, but right now, she had no strategy, no plan.
What did I do last time? How did I bend it then? thought, gasping.
He was keeping his distance deliberately. He wanted to see my bend, probably, he was provoking it.
She stood, breath steadying, her gaze meeting his, sharp, unwavering.
Her steps grew slower, more deliberate. She was studying him, watching how the wind gathered around his hands as he lifted them to summon a gust.
The same anger as before pulsed through her veins.
I was focused but , on what? That's the matter guess.
she focused on one thought alone:Get closer.
Watch your feet. Watch your feet.
The gust slammed into her, but she caught her balance midair and landed on her feet.
"I'll hit him,"
she whispered, more to herself than to him.
Despite the storm that raged between them, she moved forward, step by step.
Wait-what if he would echo something else?
Her hesitation made her falter for a moment.
No. No matter what happens, I'll land that punch.
Darkov's eyes narrowed, studying her. The wind intensified, bending the flowers and scattering leaves, but she kept advancing, closing the gap fast enough to make him step back.
Before he could summon another gust, she moved, Her speed exploded, impossible, as if the air itself pushed her forward.
She struck.
Her fist connected cleanly with his jaw.
The sound was like thunder. Darkov staggered backward, momentarily stunned, blinking in disbelief.
Breathless, she shouted,
"Why?!"
"Why did you do that?"
Darkov wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His fingers brushed over his rough stubble as a faint smile formed on his lips, one that carried both approval and intrigue.
"Because,"
he said quietly,
"I'm going to train you."