Morning broke gently over the silent valley, brushing away the night's dew from the leaves. Gugum had just finished his breathing practice when Andini approached him, a soft but genuine smile gracing her face. His progress in recent weeks had been remarkable, his command over Wind and Earth had reached a stable and active level.
"My child," Andini called gently, her voice as calm as a still lake. They sat in front of their hut, enjoying a cup of warm herbal tea.
"You've mastered the basics of Wind and Earth separately." Her eyes shone with pride as she looked at Gugum, warmth and hope resting in that gaze.
"But remember, the universe does not operate in separate boxes. Look at how the wind can lift soil into the air, or how the earth can resist the force of a storm. One day, if your understanding is deep enough, there will be limitless possibilities when these elements combine in harmony."
Gugum's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Combining them, Mother? How do I do that?" he asked earnestly.
Andini smiled again and gently patted Gugum's head.
"That... is a very advanced level, Gugum. It requires far deeper understanding, a perfect balance between strength and control. Don't rush to think about it. For now, continue to deepen your grasp of each element, and truly feel their unique natures."
Then Andini stood. "Today I have a task for you. Do you remember the hilltop at the northern edge of this valley? I sensed the presence of a powerful beast there some time ago, perhaps the 'Windhorn Stag' or something similar. Try to hunt it. It will be a good test of how well you can apply both Wind and Earth against an opponent that is faster and stronger than your usual prey."
Gugum nodded firmly, his youthful spirit ignited by the new challenge. "Yes, Mother! I'll go now!" After a brief preparation, he bid farewell to Andini and dashed off into the forest, heading toward the hilltop she had indicated.
Climbing the hill felt light thanks to his Wind abilities, helping him leap between rocks and branches. He stayed focused, his Wind and Earth senses scanning the surroundings, seeking any trace of the 'Windhorn Stag.' But as he neared the summit and his view opened toward the valleys below, something else caught his attention.
Far in the distance, five black figures were moving swiftly through the forest, all heading in the same direction. Their movement was unlike any wild animal, too coordinated, too... purposeful.
Gugum squinted, trying to focus. He couldn't make out the details, but he could sense a faint chill riding the wind from their direction, a killing aura, much like that of apex predators, but denser... more... human.
At first, he only watched, wondering who they were and where they were going. But then, his heart skipped a beat. The path those five shadows were taking, led directly toward the valley where his hut was. Toward Mother Andini.
A surge of dread seized him, making the hairs on his neck stand. Training? Challenges? All of it vanished from his mind in that instant. He had to get back!
No... something's wrong. They're heading straight to her. I have to hurry. I can't let her face danger alone. I have to be there... even if I can't do much.
He turned around and burst into a sprint, Wind energy enveloping his legs, his senses sharpening. The forest blurred around him as branches whipped past and stones crunched beneath his feet. He leapt over fallen logs, ducked under hanging vines, and carved a path through the thickets as if the valley itself was urging him forward.
His breath grew ragged, his chest tight not only from running but from fear choking him. Please... let me not be too late.
As he neared the edge of the valley, the sound of battle reached his ears, clashing elements, explosions of air and stone, and something else... another force that vibrated through the ground. Something foreign. Something deadly.
In the clearing before the hut, Andini stood alone against five masked figures in black robes. Each of them wielded elemental force, not only Wind and Earth, but something else—subtle vibrations of Fire, sparks of Lightning, and the unnatural pressure of Shadow. These were not mere bandits.
Blades clashed. Elemental energy from Wind, Earth, and other unfamiliar forces exploded around her. The ground cracked, the air screamed, and light flickered where techniques collided. Despite being outnumbered, Andini moved like a tempest guided by ancient wisdom.
She glided across the earth, weaving through attacks with the grace of the wind and the steadiness of stone. Her feet barely touched the ground before spikes of rock erupted beneath an attacker. She raised her hand and summoned a vortex that deflected three strikes at once, then countered with a barrage of compressed air bullets.
But their coordination was ruthless.
A blast of fire surged toward her flank, and she countered with a pillar of soil that absorbed the heat. Lightning sparked to her right, and she twisted away just in time, retaliating with a gale strong enough to hurl a man backward. Yet for every blow she delivered, two more came in response.
Her robe was torn in several places, a line of red tracing her forearm, but her expression remained resolute.
This valley... this child... I've protected them for too long to surrender now. If I must bleed to keep him safe, so be it.
She let out a cry, not of pain, but of will, and the wind howled in return. Rocks lifted from the earth, forming a spinning barrier around her, and she leapt into the air, launching a devastating whirlwind downward that shattered the attackers' formation.
One fell, clutching a wound, but the rest rose again, more cautious now. They encircled her tighter, forming a formation that spoke of elite training.
Still, Andini stood. Her breaths heavy. Her body aching. But her eyes blazing.
"I don't know who you are," she said coldly, "but you chose the wrong valley."
Meanwhile, Gugum burst through the final curtain of trees, heart pounding like thunder in his chest. The moment he cleared the brush, he slid to a stop, breath catching in his throat.
The battlefield stretched before him like a nightmare and a revelation. The woman he called Mother was no longer just the gentle healer or patient teacher. She was a tempest incarnate, a master of elements, holding her ground against forces that would have slaughtered entire squads.
He froze, his instincts battling awe and fear.
She's fighting... all of them... alone... And she's still standing...
From afar, Gugum watched, frozen by the sheer difference in power. He had never seen Mother like this. She was... radiant. Terrifying. Divine.
But she was alone.
Why are they attacking us? Who are they? Why her?
"Mother!" Gugum cried out without thinking, anger and fear overtaking his hesitation. He drew his training sword and without hesitation, dashed forward to aid the only person he considered family in this world.
I may not be strong enough... but I won't stand by. Not while the only one who's ever protected me is in danger. If I fall here, at least I'll fall trying.
The wind answered his call, not gently this time, but violently. And for the first time, the earth beneath his feet seemed to hum, as if it, too, recognized that the time for a boy to become something more... had arrived.
The real battle... had only just begun.