The silent valley bore witness to a transformation no one else could see. From a wounded street urchin who had known nothing but pain and hunger, Mahesa grew into a young man with terrifying potential. Under Andini's patient guidance, his raw instincts sharpened into something far greater, an innate understanding of the elemental forces of Wind and Earth.
The years passed in a relentless cycle of discipline and training. Mornings were filled with meditation to attune himself with the flow of natural energy. Afternoons were devoted to physical endurance and elemental technique. Nights, far from restful, were spent poring over simple theories and ancient alphabets taught by Andini. And Mahesa devoured it all.
The Wind, which demanded sensitivity and flexibility, quickly bent to his will. His steps became light, almost soundless, as though he could vanish into a breeze at any moment. The Earth, which required grounded focus and unwavering endurance, welcomed his growing strength. His strikes carried weight, and his defenses became as solid as stone.
"Remember this, Mahesa," Andini once said during a light sparring session. She easily dodged his swift but imprecise Wind strikes. "Strength alone means nothing. Control and understanding are everything. Do not let the Wind master you, ride it."
On another day, while guiding Mahesa in Wind control, her voice echoed firmly across the open field. "Wind is not to be resisted, Mahesa. It must be guided. Feel its current, borrow its momentum, and channel it to your fingertips!"
Mahesa nodded, eyes closed, breathing slow. Moments later, pebbles before him began to rise and swirl. It was a gentle rotation, subtle yet deliberate, proof of his growing finesse. Andini observed with quiet astonishment. He was advancing faster than she had expected.
His Earth training showed equal promise. "Your footing is your root," Andini instructed. "Send your energy downward. Feel the Earth's steadiness, then draw that strength to reinforce your defense!"
Mahesa absorbed every lesson with frightening ease. He soon learned to manifest a faint layer of Earth energy across his arms, allowing him to deflect Andini's strikes in sparring sessions. His progress was undeniable. His talent, undeniable.
Andini began to nurture a quiet hope in her heart, believing that this one student might one day surpass her. His determination burned clearly in his eyes, and his silence spoke volumes. He never boasted. He simply trained, improved, and repeated.
Yet as his power grew, so did another side of him, something less easily tamed.
It was during one of their hunting lessons that the first signs began to show. Their target that day was a Wild Thunder Rabbit, a nimble little creature capable of delivering small electric shocks. The chase was difficult, testing Mahesa's reflexes and precision. But in the end, he succeeded, trapping the creature with a blend of Earth snares and a gust of Wind that pinned it down.
The rabbit trembled, paralyzed with fear.
Mahesa approached slowly. Too slowly.
There was a strange glint in his eyes, a coldness that did not belong to the boy Andini had raised. Instead of finishing the rabbit swiftly, he crushed its foot beneath his heel, eliciting a sharp cry of pain. Then he let out a small laugh, a quiet, chilling sound, before delivering the final blow.
From a distance, Andini's expression tightened. Something in her chest recoiled. That was cruelty… unnecessary cruelty.
"Mahesa," she said when he brought back the carcass, "you must respect the life of your opponent, even when you must take it. Power is not a toy."
Mahesa bowed his head slightly. "I only... wanted to make sure it couldn't run again," he replied, voice emotionless, eyes vacant of remorse.
Andini held her breath for a moment. Perhaps it was just a remnant of his harsh past. Perhaps. She chose to bury her unease and focused instead on guiding him back toward the right path.
But the worry never quite left her heart.
Time moved on. Mahesa matured into a tall, strong, striking young man. His mastery over Wind and Earth had begun to rival her own. His thirst for knowledge only deepened.
Then came the night of the full moon.
Mahesa had returned from hunting, carrying meat for their evening meal. But when he entered the cabin, he found it empty. Andini was nowhere in sight.
At first, he assumed she had gone to gather herbs or to take a walk. But as the sky darkened and the stars began to shine, unease crept into his bones.
She would never stay out this late without reason.
A flicker of something old, an orphaned fear of abandonment, flickered in the depths of his heart.
Without hesitation, he reached out with his senses, probing the valley for her presence. The sensitivity he had honed through years of elemental training began to pick up traces of a familiar aura. Wind, refined, tranquil, powerful. Andini's essence.
It led upward, toward a hill they rarely visited.
Mahesa followed the trail silently, moving like a shadow through the grass. As he climbed higher, the air grew heavier, thick with concentrated Wind energy. The very breeze around him felt alive.
Then, beyond a large boulder, he saw her.
Bathed in silver moonlight, Andini sat cross-legged in deep meditation. A gentle spiral of Wind danced around her, forming a quiet vortex of elemental serenity.
But it was not her posture that caught Mahesa's breath, it was what she held.
In her hands lay a rectangular sheet made of some unfamiliar material. It did not glow, yet it radiated an ancient power that made the air hum.
Mahesa froze. His breath hitched. What was that?
He had never seen it before. Andini had never spoken of it. And yet... it called to him. A silent roar beneath the surface of his curiosity.
His pulse quickened. His eyes widened.
Questions stormed his mind, but one thought rose above all others.
What is that scroll?