"It's getting late, and the day must have been intense for you. I will not give you your first instructions until tomorrow. But before heading back, could you show me the place where you encountered the beetle?" asked the master.
Adlet nodded, excitement prickling his skin, and began retracing his steps toward the waterfall, still visible from the deforested area. Lathandre followed silently, his long cloak brushing the grass, as if every step disturbed no air.
They quickly arrived, and Adlet pointed toward the hidden cave behind the waterfall. Mist hung in the air, dampening the scent of wet stone and moss. The soft roar of falling water filled the space between them.
The old man entered alone, moving with such certainty that darkness seemed irrelevant to him. At the back, pieces of rock littered the ground near the entrance of a small gallery. Lathandre paused, then banged the ceiling sharply. A cascade of stone fell with a thunderous crash before he returned to Adlet.
"What happened?" Adlet asked, startled by the noise, his heart still thumping.
"It seems there was a beetle nest. I simply sealed the entrance, in case another individual were to appear," the man replied calmly, brushing dust from his sleeve.
"It is now time for you to return. I will meet you tomorrow morning at the entrance of the village where you first approached me."
"Very well, Master. May I ask one last question before leaving?" Adlet's curiosity couldn't be tamed.
"By all means."
"I told you about Pami and the beetle, but one question burns on my lips: what is your Guardian?"
"I understand your curiosity, but I cannot tell you, at least not yet."
Adlet's shoulders drooped for a moment, disappointed, but he bowed respectfully. "Very well, Master. I will do everything to be worthy of this answer. See you tomorrow."
He ran home at full speed, carried by a mix of adrenaline and anticipation. The forest's scent of pine and damp earth rushed past him, but his legs felt lighter than ever. Each stride brought a rush of wind to his face, and he reveled in the freedom of movement. He recalled Lathandre's explanation: obtaining a Guardian enhanced physical abilities through its spiritual presence. Curiosity drove him to test his speed and endurance along the path.
The ten kilometers to his house passed in just thirty minutes. Fatigue was minimal—he marveled at his endurance. Laying on the grass, he closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of the land beneath him and imagining the new heights his body could reach. Each breath carried the faint scent of dew, and for a moment, the world felt vast and alive with possibility.
He returned home, shared a pleasant meal with his parents, and kept the day's events to himself, fearing disbelief. Sleep came quickly, his mind buzzing with possibilities and anticipation.
— The next morning —
Adlet woke with the first light of day, heart pounding in anticipation. Pami remained silent, coiled within him, but he didn't worry. His focus was solely on meeting Lathandre.
Dressing quickly, he ran toward the meeting point. To his surprise, Lathandre was already waiting, serene as ever.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, Master," Adlet said, slightly breathless.
"You are on time, my young disciple. Follow me; I have found the perfect place for your first test."
They crossed fields lined with wheat and wildflowers, the wind teasing Adlet's hair. He struggled to keep up as the master's stride seemed to lengthen with every step. He noticed how every motion of Lathandre's body carried both purpose and ease, a quiet mastery that made the boy instinctively alert. Ten minutes later, Lathandre stopped abruptly.
"We have arrived."
A small green meadow lay before them, the grass shimmering softly, enclosed by fields that swayed gently in the breeze. Birds sang faintly in the distance, and the air smelled faintly of wildflowers and earth.
"Have you made any other discoveries since yesterday?" the old man asked, settling in the shade of a tree.
"I felt my physical abilities had improved," Adlet replied.
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else, Master."
"This slight increase is only a passive effect of obtaining a Guardian. The presence of the creature's spiritual body strengthens you internally. Actively using your Aura means manifesting that spiritual body outside to harness its power. Do you understand?"
"I think I understand the theory… but how do I put it into practice?"
"You must begin to think more like an animal. The best Protectors combine human logic with animal instinct. Right now, you are like a fledgling ready to fly—you have wings but do not know how to use them. It is my duty to push you out of the nest."
Adlet's breath caught in his throat as he watched his master's hand move with precision. A strange reddish aura flared from Lathandre's palm, glowing violently as it sliced through the air beside him.
Adlet froze, his instincts screaming at him to move. But in the face of such danger, his body betrayed him. He crossed his arms in reflex, expecting to be thrown off balance. But instead, he only slid a few steps back, as if a hidden force had caught him.
A thin, translucent layer of dark energy enveloped his forearms, shimmering like liquid shadow, absorbing the impact.
"This is Aura," Lathandre's voice was calm but insistent. "Remember this feeling. It is your first step in learning to use it on command."
Adlet's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what had just happened. His body hummed with the strange, protective energy—something new, something powerful. He would need to learn how to wield it.
"Well done," Lathandre said with a nod. "The second step is to understand your power. Each species has strengths and weaknesses. To devise strategy, you must study them. The best way to increase your Aura, besides absorbing other Apex energy, is to train using your Guardian's strengths. Observe, analyze, apply."
Adlet focused, attempting to reproduce his power on different parts of his body, but failed repeatedly. Survival instinct alone was insufficient; conscious intent was required. His brow furrowed, frustration mingling with determination.
He turned to a rock: If I want to break this and not my hand, my power is necessary.
The strike dented the stone slightly. His fist remained intact, the dark veil embracing it like a living shield.
"Very good, my disciple. I see you are beginning to understand," Lathandre said. "Reflect on the second step."
Adlet's pride stung. The rock barely gave way. He was only at the beginning, and much work lay ahead. He wiped sweat from his brow, muttering under his breath, "Not much, but at least I didn't break my hand… that's something."
He then tackled the next task: observing his Guardian's strengths.
He realized the power he had manifested was not Pami's, but the beetle's. Its traits were now his focus.
What could this insect's strength be? Adlet wondered. Size? Not particularly. Agility? Minimal. Raw strength? Perhaps… not enough to crush the rock.
He found a small local beetle and watched carefully. It navigated a patch of grass, dragging a twig larger than its own body. The coordination, technique, and tenacity fascinated him.
"How can this insect be so strong?" he muttered. Returning to the rock, he struck again. Fatigue crept in—Aura use demanded far more than simple physical effort. His arm trembled slightly, but his eyes burned with intent. "Maybe it's the technique… not just brute force," he murmured, grinning to himself.
Lathandre, raising an eyebrow, asked lightly, "Are you done tormenting that rock?"
Adlet crossed his arms and smirked, "I'm not sure the rock is ready for my power yet. Maybe it needs… encouragement?"
The old man allowed a faint smile to appear. "Or perhaps it's simply smarter than you, young fledgling."
Adlet frowned in mock offense, but a grin tugged at his lips. "Don't worry, Master. I'll teach it a lesson… eventually."
"Very well, my fledgling," Lathandre replied, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Observe carefully. You confused strength with striking power."
The boy felt a sting to his pride—could he have overlooked something that now seemed so obvious?
He positioned himself, hands on either side of the rock, and lifted it with his full power. Several meters off the ground, the rock rose effortlessly, revealing true application of his Guardian's traits.
"That's better."
Lathandre patted him on the shoulder. "You learn quickly. Perhaps you could join Darwin Academy if you continue like this."
"The Academy? You won't continue training me?" Adlet asked, feigning a pout and nudging the master lightly with his shoulder. "Don't tell me I'll have to survive on my own now?"
"I cannot supervise you for long. Progress is personal. The Academy evaluates rank. To explore the world, you must attend."
"Very well, Master. I will make you proud," Adlet said, grinning, teasing lightly. "And maybe beat a few beetles on my way there."
"That's the right mindset. The next intake is in six months. But first, you must survive the Dark Woods."
A shiver ran down Adlet's spine. Yet excitement surged within him.
"I… I will not back down, Master," he said, clenching his fists, eyes blazing with determination.
Lathandre smiled faintly, a shadow of amusement and approval in his expression. "Good. The Dark Woods spare no hesitation. But you… now have a chance. Seize it fully."
Adlet inhaled deeply. His body and mind resonated with emerging Aura. The days, weeks, and months ahead would test him as never before. He was ready.