The weight of the Echo felt heavier than ever as I stood in the clearing, staring at the swirling patterns in the sky above. The sun was setting, casting a soft golden hue over the landscape, but my mind wasn't on the beauty of the world around me—it was on the echoing words Lira had just spoken.
"You need to go to Aetherion."
The words hung in the air like a command, almost tangible in their weight.
I turned to face Lira, who stood several paces away, her arms crossed as she watched the horizon. Her features were calm, serene even, but there was an edge to her voice that made it clear she wasn't offering this as a suggestion.
Aetherion. The country of magic. The place where the greatest minds of the arcane arts gathered. If there was one place that could unlock the potential of the Echo of Arcanum, it was there.
But the thought of leaving this place—the place where I had just begun to make sense of my powers—felt... wrong.
"Why Aetherion?" I asked, my voice betraying my hesitation. "Why not stay here and continue my training?"
Lira's gaze softened, but her words were firm. "Because you're not strong enough yet, Kaito. Your control over the Echo is still unstable, and without proper training, you'll never reach your full potential. You need to be in a place where the forces of magic are concentrated—where those who have mastered the elements can guide you."
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling inside me. I wasn't strong enough. That much was clear. The golem had nearly crushed me without breaking a sweat, and though I had made progress, it felt like I was still miles away from mastering the Echo.
"But... Aetherion is far," I said, trying to hold onto the fear that was creeping into my chest. "And I don't know anyone there. What if I'm just—"
"Lost?" Lira finished for me, her voice soft but resolute. "You'll find your way. You're not alone in Aetherion. There are people there who can help you, people who know more than I do about the Echo and its potential."
That wasn't reassuring. The idea of meeting strangers, of putting myself under the guidance of yet another teacher, made me uneasy. But I couldn't deny that Lira was right. I had been feeling the weight of the Echo pressing down on me, suffocating me at times. I needed to understand it better.
Still, something about the idea of leaving unsettled me.
"What's waiting for me there?" I asked, my voice quieter now, more uncertain.
Lira's eyes gleamed with something I couldn't quite place, a mixture of calculation and something deeper, almost sorrowful. "In Aetherion, you'll meet many people, Kaito. Some will be allies, others... less so. But there's one person in particular I want you to find. Elya."
"Elya?" The name was unfamiliar, and I raised an eyebrow. "Who's that?"
"She's a beast tamer," Lira explained, her tone a little more thoughtful. "A powerful one. She has an innate connection to nature and the magical creatures that roam this world. She'll be a valuable ally on your journey. She can teach you about the balance of magic, about the forces that flow through the world, and perhaps help you understand the Echo better."
I blinked. A beast tamer? It sounded like something out of a fairy tale. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Magic wasn't just about spells and elemental control; it was about the world itself, the creatures, and the forces that shaped it. If Elya had the ability to communicate with creatures, maybe she could help me understand the Echo in ways I couldn't even imagine.
"What does she have to do with the Echo?" I asked, trying to piece together the connection. "And why does she need to help me?"
Lira's eyes narrowed as if she were choosing her words carefully. "Because she's connected to something far older and far more dangerous than you realize. The Echo, Kaito, is not just a weapon. It is a key. A key that unlocks forces that can change the very fabric of this world. Elya's knowledge of ancient magic, of the natural world, could be crucial to understanding what's really at stake."
I let her words sink in. A key. A weapon. Forces that could change the world. It all sounded like something out of a legend, but deep down, I knew it was real. The Echo had already shown me its power. I just needed to learn how to wield it.
"Alright," I said finally, my resolve firming. "I'll go to Aetherion. I'll find Elya and... learn what I can."
Lira's lips curved into a rare smile, though it was tinged with something unreadable. "Good. I knew you'd make the right choice."
Aetherion was unlike anything I had ever seen.
The city stretched out before me like a living thing, its towering spires of white stone gleaming in the sunlight. The streets were lined with ancient oak trees, their leaves shimmering with a golden light that made the whole city feel otherworldly. People—mages, merchants, travelers—moved through the streets with an ease that suggested they were accustomed to the magic that infused every brick, every stone, every breath of wind.
It felt... strange, being here. Like I was an outsider, intruding on something much older than me.
But there was no turning back now.
Lira had given me directions to a specific academy within the city, one renowned for training the most powerful mages in the world. As I walked through the gates, I felt the weight of expectations pressing down on me.
I was supposed to become something more here. But what?
The sounds of chirping birds and soft whispers of magic were interrupted by the shrill call of a horn.
I spun around just in time to see a giant creature soaring toward the city from above. A massive dragon, its scales a deep, shimmering green, with eyes that glowed like molten gold. It circled above us, its wings beating with such force that the air seemed to tremble in response.
The crowd below didn't flinch. In fact, they seemed used to it. They just went about their business, glancing up occasionally as the dragon landed with a graceful thud, its enormous claws scraping the stone ground.
As it landed, I noticed a figure at its side—a woman, small compared to the beast, but with a confidence that matched its size. She wore simple, earth-toned clothing, and her long hair was tied back in a braid that trailed down her back. Her eyes glinted with a mischievous spark, and as she noticed me staring, she flashed a grin.
"That's Elya," a voice said from beside me, and I turned to see an older mage who had been watching the spectacle with interest.
"Is she..." I trailed off, unsure how to phrase it. "Is she a mage, too?"
The mage chuckled. "You could say that. But her magic is a little... unconventional. She's a beast tamer, one of the most powerful ones I've ever met. If you're lucky, maybe she'll teach you a thing or two about how to connect with magic in ways you can't even imagine."
I nodded, feeling both awe and anxiety building inside me.
I was about to meet the woman who might hold the key to understanding the Echo—and perhaps the forces I was about to face.