The sun was just beginning to rise over Eryndor as Luisa, Alex, and Rheus made their way to the training grounds. The cool morning air filled their lungs, and the village was already alive with the sounds of warriors honing their skills. Eryndor was a place where strength was respected, and the villagers welcomed them with open arms. Over the past few days, they had started to feel at home here, bonding with the warriors and the people who treated them like one of their own.
But today was different. It was the first day of their individual training, a time to push their limits and prepare for the challenges ahead.
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**Luisa's Training: The Speed of the Wind**
Luisa stood at the edge of the training field, bow in hand, her sharp eyes focused on the targets that had been set up far in the distance. Beside her, one of Eryndor's finest archers, a veteran named Kren, was watching her with a keen gaze.
"Speed," Kren said, his voice firm. "It's not just about shooting fast—it's about thinking fast, moving fast, and reacting faster than your opponent. You need to become one with the wind."
Luisa nodded, her body already tense with anticipation. She had always prided herself on her accuracy, but here, in this village of warriors, she knew her speed had to improve. Kren had designed a series of exercises meant to push her reaction time to its limits.
With a quick snap of his fingers, Kren released a barrage of small, fast-moving targets into the air. They whizzed past her at different angles, zigzagging and curving unpredictably.
Luisa's eyes narrowed, and in a single breath, she unleashed her arrows—one after the other—her fingers moving with blinding speed. Her arrows sliced through the air, catching each target mid-flight, but it wasn't enough. Some targets dodged her strikes, disappearing before she could react.
"Again!" Kren shouted. "Faster!"
Sweat dripped down Luisa's brow as she pushed herself harder, firing faster, trying to anticipate where the targets would move. She closed her eyes for a moment, calming her breathing, and allowed her mind to empty. This time, she enhanced her arrows with elemental magic—flames sparked at her fingertips as she infused fire into one arrow, lightning crackled through another, and frost formed on a third.
When the next wave of targets launched into the air, Luisa's movements became sharper, more fluid. She released a flaming arrow that exploded on impact, a bolt of lightning that crackled and spread through the air, and a frost-tipped shot that froze anything in its path. The elemental enhancements turned her arrows into powerful tools for both offense and defense.
By the end of the session, Luisa was exhausted but satisfied. She had developed new techniques to combine speed with elemental magic, and her precision had improved. Her speed was not just about how fast she could shoot but also how quickly she could think and adapt.
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**Alex's Training: Mastering Magic and Stability**
Alex stood at a quiet corner of the training grounds, his hands glowing with magic as he concentrated on perfecting his spells. Around him, small orbs of light flickered and pulsed, the energy fluctuating as he worked to maintain control.
His goal was clear: he needed to strengthen his magic and ensure that his portals, which had been unstable in the past, were reliable in any situation. The incomplete portal that had sent them back to Miria's territory weighed heavily on his mind.
To assist him, an elder mage from the village, Sorin, had agreed to guide Alex through the process. Sorin was a man of few words, but his presence was intimidating, his magic brimming with raw power.
"Your magic is strong, but it's scattered," Sorin said, his voice calm. "To create a stable portal, you need to focus every bit of your energy into a single point. Control is everything."
Alex nodded, already pouring his energy into the task. His hands moved in intricate patterns, drawing out the energy within him as he tried to form a portal. But as the magic swirled into shape, the edges of the portal flickered, and the structure wavered before collapsing.
"Again," Sorin said, without judgment.
Frustration simmered in Alex's chest, but he took a deep breath and tried again, this time using more of his stamina. His body ached from the effort, but he knew this was necessary. Sorin had explained that part of increasing his magic power involved building his stamina, so he could maintain powerful spells for longer periods of time.
As the portal formed once more, Alex tightened his focus, drawing on everything he had learned. This time, the portal held. It glowed softly, its edges stable, and Alex's heart swelled with pride.
"Good," Sorin said, giving him a rare nod of approval. "Now, maintain it while casting another spell."
Alex blinked, surprised by the challenge, but quickly understood the lesson. He needed to be able to use multiple spells in battle, to protect his allies while still being able to open a portal or cast defensive magic.
He gritted his teeth and, with one hand, held the portal steady while the other hand sparked with energy. With a shout, he sent a bolt of magic flying across the training grounds, striking a target and disintegrating it.
The portal remained stable.
By the end of the day, Alex had increased his magical stamina and learned new offensive spells, all while perfecting the stability of his portals. His magic felt stronger, more reliable.
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**Rheus's Training: The Blade and the Mind**
Rheus stood before a massive stone pillar, his sword raised high above his head. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his mind was sharp. Across from him, one of the village's elite warriors, a man named Garrek, watched closely.
"Strength isn't just about how hard you swing your sword," Garrek said, his voice gruff but steady. "It's about using your brain. Knowing when to strike, when to hold back. You need to sharpen your mind just as much as your blade."
Rheus grunted in acknowledgment, his muscles aching from the morning's training. But Garrek was right—Rheus had always relied on brute strength and raw power. Here, in Eryndor, he needed to push beyond that. He needed to be more strategic, more calculated.
Garrek set up a series of complex exercises meant to challenge both Rheus's physical strength and mental agility. He had to solve puzzles while performing precise sword techniques, reacting to sudden changes in the battlefield as Garrek hurled unexpected obstacles his way.
"Think faster," Garrek shouted. "Anticipate your enemy's next move!"
Rheus moved with increasing speed and focus, his sword cutting through the air with perfect precision. His muscles burned with the effort, but his mind was sharper than ever. He wasn't just swinging wildly anymore—he was calculating each move, visualizing his opponent's weaknesses, and exploiting them.
By the end of the session, Rheus had developed a new technique that combined both his swordsmanship and magic. He concentrated his magic into the blade of his sword, creating a powerful energy slash that could cut through even the toughest defenses.
---
For five days, the trio pushed themselves to their limits. Eryndor became more than just a village; it became their home. The warriors and villagers welcomed them into their lives, and their bonds with the people of the village grew strong. They ate together, laughed together, and sparred together. The villagers respected their determination, and in return, Luisa, Alex, and Rheus began to feel like they belonged.
But as the final day of training approached, they knew their journey was far from over. They were stronger now—faster, sharper, more powerful—but their greatest challenges were still ahead.