The sun was at its highest point, and the desert heat was relentless. Richard and Elyndra walked in silence, leaving behind the cavern that had served as refuge during the last forty-eight hours. The intense initial training under the blue light of the crystals had been exhausting but revealing. Richard had learned the fundamentals of mana control, basic energy channeling, and had begun to understand the true nature of his abilities.
Now, however, Elyndra insisted that the training should continue under more challenging conditions, outside the protected environment of the cavern.
"You can't keep depending only on your instinct," Elyndra said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Richard looked up, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"What do you mean?"
Elyndra stopped and looked at him seriously, her silver eyes shining intensely under the sunlight.
"Your abilities are useful, but you're using them clumsily. If you don't learn to control them, they'll become a burden, not an advantage."
Richard frowned, feeling slightly offended.
"And what do you suggest?"
Elyndra smiled slightly, as if she had been waiting for that question.
"Training. Here and now."
Richard looked around. They were in the middle of the desert, with no shade or shelter in sight.
"Here? In this heat?"
"The desert isn't just sand and heat. It's a place of trials. If you can learn to control your abilities here, you can use them anywhere."
Richard sighed, resigned. Part of him still distrusted Elyndra, remembering Emily's message about her supposed disappearance seventy years ago, but another part knew he desperately needed this guidance.
"Fine. Where do we start?"
Elyndra raised a hand, and a circle of light appeared on the ground before them. Within the circle, the sand began to move, forming humanoid figures made of dust and wind.
"First, we're going to work on your 'Wind Steps' ability. It's useful for moving quickly, but it can also be used to dodge attacks and reposition yourself strategically."
Richard observed the sand figures, which began to move toward him with quick, erratic movements.
"And what am I supposed to do?"
"Survive," replied Elyndra, crossing her arms.
The sand figures lunged at Richard, and he activated "Wind Steps," feeling his body become light and fast. He dodged the first attack, moving to one side, but almost lost his balance when trying to stop.
"Control your direction!" shouted Elyndra. "It's not just speed, it's precision."
Richard gritted his teeth and tried again. This time, he concentrated on his movements, using the ability to dodge and reposition himself with more control. Gradually, he began to understand how to use "Wind Steps" to anticipate attacks and stay out of danger.
The system displayed constant updates:
[**Wind Steps: Experience increasing**]
[**Mana: 11/15 (optimized consumption)**]
With each passing minute, Richard felt his connection to the ability deepening. It was no longer just activating something external; speed was becoming part of him, like a natural extension of his being.
After several minutes, the sand figures vanished, and Richard fell to his knees, panting.
"That was... intense."
Elyndra approached and offered him a canteen.
"You did better than I expected. But there's still much to improve."
Richard took a sip of water before standing up.
"What's next?"
Elyndra raised a hand, and a small orb of light appeared floating in front of Richard.
"Now we're going to work on your 'Echo Vision' ability. This ability isn't just for seeing the past. You can also use it to detect traces of magical energy and anticipate your enemies' movements."
Richard looked at the orb, intrigued.
"How does that work?"
"Focus on the orb. Try to feel its energy, its flow. Magic leaves traces, and if you learn to read them, you can use them to your advantage."
Richard closed his eyes and concentrated. At first, he felt nothing, but gradually, a warm sensation began to course through his body. When he opened his eyes, the orb was glowing more intensely, and he could see lines of energy extending from it, as if they were invisible threads.
"I see it..." he murmured.
"Good. Now, follow those threads."
Richard extended a hand toward the orb, and the energy lines began to move, guiding him to a point on the ground. When he touched the spot, a small crystal emerged from the sand, shining with a bluish light.
"This is incredible..."
Elyndra nodded, satisfied.
"Magic is everywhere. You just need to learn to see it."
[**Echo Vision: New aspect discovered - Energy Tracking**]
[**Ability improved: Echo Vision Level 2**]
[**Mana required: 2 (reduced from 3)**]
Richard looked at the notifications with surprise. His abilities were evolving much faster under Elyndra's direct tutelage than when he tried to learn them on his own.
"There's something I don't understand," said Richard as they briefly rested. "If you're as ancient as you say, why help me precisely now? Why didn't you contact other potential guardians before?"
Elyndra's face darkened slightly.
"I have. Throughout the centuries, I've sought and trained those with potential. Some became admirable guardians. Others..." she paused, her gaze lost in the horizon, "others succumbed to the temptation of power or were captured by the Veil Society."
"And my connection with Emily? Her grandmother?"
"Lydia Hartwell," Elyndra nodded. "One of my best apprentices. She decided to retire when the Society intensified its search in the 50s. She hid the amulet and swore to protect her knowledge, passing it only to those worthy in her family."
"Emily said you disappeared seventy years ago."
A flash of sadness crossed Elyndra's face.
"I had to fake my death. The Society was getting too close, and I needed time to... recover. The veil between worlds isn't always kind to those who cross it frequently."
"So you've been hiding all this time?"
"Observing. Waiting. There are cycles in the magic of the veil, Richard. We're entering a new cycle now, one that hasn't been seen in millennia. That's why the system has activated in you with such force."
---
The training continued for hours. Elyndra guided him through exercises to improve his mana control, his endurance, and his ability to combine abilities. Richard felt exhausted, but also more confident and connected to his powers.
[**Status: Apprentice of the Veil (level 1)**]
[**Mana: 14/15**]
[**Improved abilities:**]
[**- Wind Steps (optimized consumption: 0.8/second)**]
[**- Echo Vision Level 2**]
[**- Improved Arcane Reading**]
[**- New: Mana Shield (passive)**]
His body had begun to adapt to the constant manipulation of energy. He no longer felt the same exhaustion after using his abilities, and his mana reserve recovered more quickly.
When the sun began to set, Elyndra pointed toward the horizon.
"It's time to go. The temple we seek is closer than you think."
Richard followed her, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"What can we expect in this temple?"
"Trials. There are always trials. But if you overcome this one, you'll obtain the fragment of knowledge you need."
Richard nodded, clutching the medallion hanging from his neck.
"And Emily? Jake and Elliot? Will they arrive soon?"
"They're getting closer," confirmed Elyndra. "But they won't arrive before you must face this challenge. Some trials must be faced alone."
Richard looked at his phone. He hadn't received any new messages from Emily since they had left the cavern. The area probably had no coverage.
"How do we know the Veil Society isn't following us?"
"Oh, they're following us," replied Elyndra calmly. "But they don't know exactly where we are. The desert distorts their instruments, and I'm maintaining a basic protection field around us."
Richard looked back, suddenly alarmed.
"Don't worry," continued Elyndra. "We have time. And after the temple, we'll meet with your friends and seek more permanent shelter."
"I'm ready," said Richard, though he wasn't sure if it was true.
---
Night fell quickly, and the temple appeared before them as an imposing shadow on the horizon. It was smaller than the first one Richard had found, but its design was just as intricate, with symbols engraved on the walls that seemed to glow under the moonlight.
Unlike the temple that had disappeared, this one seemed to have been partially exposed for a long time. Sand covered part of its structure, but the entrance remained visible, like a dark mouth waiting to be explored.
Elyndra stopped in front of the entrance, placing a hand on the door.
"This temple is active. I can feel the energy flowing through it."
Richard approached, feeling the resonance between the temple and the amulet he wore. It was as if the object vibrated in recognition.
"What do we do now?"
Elyndra looked at him, her expression serious.
"Now, you go in."
Richard looked at her, surprised.
"Me alone?"
"This temple is designed to test you, not me. But don't worry. I'll be here, watching."
"What if it's a trap? What if the Veil Society is waiting inside?"
"The Society cannot access this temple," explained Elyndra. "Guardian blood is required just to see the true entrance. What you see now is different from what an ordinary human would see."
Richard looked again toward the entrance. Now he noticed that the symbols around the door formed patterns that moved subtly, as if they were breathing.
"What should I look for in there?"
"The temple will show you. Trust your instincts and what you've learned. And remember: not everything you'll see is real, but everything has meaning."
Richard swallowed and nodded.
"Okay. Let's do this."
He turned to Elyndra one last time.
"If I don't return in..."
"You will return," she interrupted with unwavering certainty. "The temple won't kill you. It might confuse you, challenge you, even terrify you, but it won't destroy you. You're too valuable to the balance."
With one last glance at Elyndra, Richard pushed the door and entered the temple. Darkness immediately enveloped him, but a dim light began to glow on the walls, revealing a corridor that extended forward.
The system displayed a message:
[**Entering Trial Zone: Temple of Revelation**]
[**Mission updated: Overcome the trials and obtain the fragment of knowledge**]
[**Warning: External connections will be limited while you're inside**]
Each step he took resonated in the silence, and Richard couldn't help but feel that something was watching him from the shadows.
The corridor gradually narrowed, and the symbols on the walls seemed to subtly change with each blink. Richard activated his improved Echo Vision, trying to perceive the energy of the place. To his surprise, multiple lines of arcane force converged at a point ahead, pulsing with a rhythm similar to that of a beating heart.
"I'm at the center of something important," he thought, advancing with caution but determination.
"This is going to be interesting..." he murmured, delving into the depths of the temple, prepared to face whatever awaited him on his path toward the truth about his lineage and the mysterious Book of Ur-Kigal.
As he ventured deeper into the temple, Elyndra's final words resonated in his mind: "Not everything you'll see is real, but everything has meaning." With this warning kept in his heart, Richard Wonder took the first step in his trial, aware that what he would discover inside might forever change his understanding not only of himself, but of the delicate balance between the worlds he was now destined to protect.