After his battle with Gerad, Kian returned to the academy to recover. Once rested, he went to the training yard, body still aching and limbs stiff from the intense clash. His green aura pulsed faintly as he replayed the battle in his mind.
"I need to get stronger," he muttered, standing abruptly. "Faster, sharper… more than what the academy can give me."
He remembered the world beyond the classrooms: the artifacts, relics, and enchanted items whispered about in old scrolls. Perhaps one could grant him the edge he needed.
---
The Library
Kian stormed into the Grand Library, heading straight for the section marked Ancient Relics and Elemental Artifacts. His fingers traced spines, searching for something that resonated with his Nature aura.
A small emerald-etched tome hummed faintly as he opened it: "Relics of the Elemental Bond: Nature Artifacts."
One illustration glimmered brighter than the rest — the Ring of Nature. Its text promised harmony with Nature auras, enhancing control, perception, and adaptive power. Kian's chest tightened.
"This ring… it's perfect. But I can't do it alone," he whispered.
---
Finding Jack
Kian tracked Jack to the central gardens, where his purple-tinged aura danced across the air as he practiced precise Ether strikes.
"Jack, you have a minute?" Kian called.
Jack stopped, sheathing his blades. "Yes. What's up, Kian?"
"You know about artifacts?" Kian asked.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Yes. You have one?"
"No," Kian admitted, voice firm. "But while I was researching, I found one that suits me. I need your help to acquire it. The artifact… it's called the Ring of Nature."
Jack smirked, folding his arms. "Okay… but what's in it for me?"
"I'll owe you one," Kian said simply.
Jack considered it for a moment. "Alright. I guess you owing me a favor counts as something. Let's go."
Kian nodded. His green aura pulsed stronger with resolve. "Good. Then let's move before anyone finds out."
---
Into the Dungeon
The ruins at the edge of the forest were overgrown, crumbling, and humming faintly with residual Ether. Kian's Nature aura flared, sensing the faint pulse of energy from the Ring.
"Stay sharp," Kian whispered as they descended. "I can feel Ether ahead… it's alive."
Jack readied his twin blades, aura flickering. "Alive and likely very aggressive."
From the shadows came a low growl. Two flaming eyes pierced the gloom, and the Flame Lion leapt forward, roaring.
Neither had anticipated it.
---
The Battle
The Lion's claws struck first, fire lashing outward. Kian responded with Verdant Lash, vines twisting like whips, wrapping around the Lion's front legs. Jack struck simultaneously with Shadow Fang Strike, cutting at its flanks with concentrated Ether.
The creature thrashed violently, flames searing the stone walls. Kian and Jack were thrown backward, limbs scorched, auras flickering under the intensity. Bruises and burns already forming, they pushed through.
Kian used Emerald Spiral, a spiraling vortex of Nature aura, partially restraining the Lion. Jack's Violet Fang Barrage pierced its defenses, hitting critical joints.
The Lion roared again, fire erupting wildly, knocking both to the ground. Blood and sweat mixed with dirt and soot.
> get ready" Kian shouted, struggling to his feet.
Working in tandem, Verdant Lash and Emerald Spiral immobilized the Lion just enough for Jack to strike precise points, finally collapsing the creature in a flaring wave of extinguished flames and smoke.
Both heirs gasped, bodies battered, their auras flickering weakly but stable.
> "Is… it over?" Jack panted, dropping to one knee.
Kian nodded, wiping blood from a cut on his lip. "For now… but it was a warning."
---
The Ring of Nature
Amid the rubble, glowing softly in the roots, lay the Ring of Nature. Its energy pulsed in harmony with Kian's aura.
"It's perfect," Kian whispered, reaching for it.
Jack leaned against a wall, catching his breath. "Not bad for a first dungeon crawl. Don't tell me you're already planning how to use it?"
"It's not just a tool," Kian said, slipping the Ring onto his finger. "It's a step. A beginning. With it… I can get stronger than I ever imagined."
Outside, the forest seemed to breathe in resonance with him. The artifact's aura whispered promises of power, challenge, and destiny yet to come.
After obtaining the Ring of Nature, Kian and Jack didn't linger in the dungeon. The Flame Lion's corpse, still faintly smoldering from the battle, was hoisted carefully between them. The weight of the massive beast pressed against their arms, a grim reminder of the fight they had just endured. Kian's green aura shimmered faintly around him, the Ring of Nature on his finger already pulsing in quiet recognition.
The forest seemed to lean back into its shadows as they made their way to the Academy, the night air carrying the scent of smoke and scorched earth. Silence hung between them, broken only by the occasional creak of the Lion's heavy limbs as they walked.
By the time they arrived at Elarion Academy, the first rays of dawn were beginning to touch the towers. Students were already making their way through the gardens and courtyards, unaware of the commotion that had just taken place.
---
Presentation to the Headmistress
The boys approached the headmistress's office a chamber of violet light and floating motes, the air heavy with ancient arcane energy. Archmage Yari Gale's eyes, shifting between silver and violet as always, widened when she saw what they carried.
"What… is this?" she whispered, leaning forward as the massive body of the Flame Lion thudded onto the marble floor.
Kian's chest heaved. "It was in the ruins at the forest edge. Look like it was guarding the ring i was after called The Ring of Nature
Jack, arms crossed, added matter-of-factly, "and we handled it. Alive or dead, someone had to stop it before it got worse."
Archmage Yari's expression flickered between awe and exasperation. "Do you realize the danger you two faced? The ethical violations, the potential damage to academy property, the risk to your lives?!"
Kian met her gaze steadily. "Yes, Headmistress. But the artifact… it was there waiting for someone to take it and that person is me.
After a long pause, Yari's stern features softened slightly. "You are fortunate you survived. You will serve detention and restorative tasks for the next week but I will allow you both to continue your studies. Take this as a lesson: the world is larger and far more dangerous than any library can teach."
The boys exchanged a quick glance and smirked. Excitement coursed through them, their adrenaline refusing to fade.
"Come on," Kian said to Jack as they left the office. "I need to test the Ring."
Jack grinned. "And here I thought we were done with danger for the morning."
---
Testing the Ring of Nature
They headed straight to the training yard. The early morning sun glittered off the polished stones and dew-soaked grass. Kian held the Ring of Nature in his palm, examining it carefully. Its emerald surface seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, almost like it was alive.
"This is… different," Jack muttered, watching the green glow ripple across Kian's aura.
"I need to insert my own aura… and blood," Kian murmured. "If I'm not strong enough, the ring won't accept me. It's not just a tool — it chooses its master."
The ground beneath Kian thrummed faintly, responding to the Ring's latent power. He knelt, placing his hand on the earth, and closed his eyes. Blood pricked from a small cut on his palm a symbol of both his resolve and his connection to the artifact.
"Focus," Kian whispered, feeling his aura surge outward. Roots spiraled, tendrils of green light dancing along the stone. The Ring began to glow brighter, almost singing with life.
Jack circled him, observing cautiously. "Careful… the aura flux is intense. You could burn yourself out if you push too hard."
Kian drew a deep breath and let his aura flow fully into the Ring. The energy coursed through him, warmth mingling with power, pulsing in harmony with the natural world around him. The air shimmered, leaves on nearby trees twitching as if in response.
A final pulse of emerald light erupted from the Ring, and Kian gasped, feeling the artifact accept him fully. His aura expanded, stronger, more precise, and harmonized with the Ring's ancient magic.
"It's done," he whispered. "I can feel… everything. The trees, the soil, even the tiniest whisper of life let's see it power
Kian stepped back, the Ring of Nature glowing brightly on his finger. He had practiced small bursts of energy with his aura before, but now he felt the Ring amplifying every pulse, every fiber of his being.
"Time to see what you can really do," he murmured, raising his hands and channeling a surge of Nature aura into a concentrated strike.
He focused on a single, precise motion — drawing energy from the earth, spiraling it around his palms. The Ring responded instantly, humming with power, and he released.
A towering column of emerald energy erupted from his hands, swirling upward like a living tornado of vines and roots. It tore through the training yard, shattering stone markers, uprooting training dummies, and sending the nearby students and instructors stumbling back in alarm. Birds took flight, and the wind whipped across the yard, carrying the scent of fresh earth and ozone.
"Whoa!" Jack shouted, diving behind a tree to avoid the shockwave. "That… that's not normal!"
Kian staggered slightly as the recoil hit him, far stronger than he had anticipated. His aura flared uncontrollably, tendrils of green light spiraling around his body. Even the grass beneath him shimmered and twisted, forming temporary patterns like veins of energy.
"It's… incredible," Kian whispered, awed and a little frightened. "The Ring… it's amplifying everything… way more than I thought."
Nearby students shouted in surprise, some cheering, others pointing in shock. A few instructors hurried over, their robes billowing as they tried to assess the sudden surge of uncontrolled energy.
Kian's eyes glowed brighter, feeling the raw connection of his aura with the Ring. He took a deep breath, trying to stabilize the flow. The verdant storm subsided slowly, leaving toppled training dummies, cracked ground, and faintly smoking stone in its wake.
Jack wiped sweat from his brow. "You just turned the training yard into a disaster zone… and didn't even mean to!"
Kian smiled, wincing as he flexed his sore arms. "Seems like I have a lot to learn about this Ring… but imagine the possibilities. If I can control this fully…"
"Yeah," Jack said, shaking his head with a grin, "the academy isn't going to be ready for you anytime soon."
Kian looked around at the aftermath — a yard of cracked stones, bent targets, and lingering emerald light — and felt a thrill of power and responsibility. He had expected the Ring to help, but not this much. Every test from now on would need care… and precision.
"Let's clean this up before someone notices," he muttered, though a spark of excitement danced in his eyes.
Jack chuckled. "After that show? You're lucky it's not on fire. Let's just hope the Headmistress isn't standing behind us right now."
The two moved to restore the yard as Kian's mind raced, already imagining the potential of combining this newfound strength with his skills — and how far it could take him in his hunt for Abyss's backer.