The cliffs of eastern Ionia rose like jagged teeth from the misty valleys below. Kaelen navigated the narrow, winding paths, roots and stones underfoot slick from recent rains. The river he had followed for days now flowed at the base of the cliffs, roaring faintly as it twisted through the valleys.
Flow pulsed gently in his hands, Root vibrated beneath his palms, and Breath teased at his hair and clothing. The three elements felt alive and eager, waiting for his guidance. Kaelen had practiced controlling them in isolation and in concert—but the terrain here would test everything.
Aiyana's words echoed in his mind: Intent guides the currents. Harmony, not instinct. Control your power, or it will betray you.
The path narrowed sharply, forcing Kaelen to step carefully along the cliff's edge. A sudden gust of wind rattled the stones beneath his feet. Breath surged instinctively around him, and the Flow from the nearby river pulsed in response. Roots crept into the soil for balance. Kaelen's pulse quickened. He had never faced such environmental pressure while attempting tri-element coordination.
A sharp cry rang from below. A small group of Noxian soldiers had scaled the cliffside, attempting to ambush him from below. Seven in total, armed with spears and blades, their crimson armor gleaming.
Kaelen's hands moved almost without conscious thought. Water lifted from the river, forming a twisting barrier along the cliff edge. Roots surged upward from the soil beneath him, coiling subtly to create uneven terrain, while a gust of Breath pushed debris and mist between him and the soldiers, disrupting their sight and balance.
Three elements… together, Kaelen thought. Focus, not fear.
The first soldier lunged. Water arced to intercept the spear, Roots twisted beneath the soldier's boots, tripping him just enough, and Breath carried the momentum slightly off balance. Kaelen sidestepped, letting the elements guide him, and watched as the soldier stumbled into the river.
The remaining six advanced cautiously, sensing his control. Kaelen realized this would not be like previous encounters—here, mistakes could mean death, falling from the cliff or being overwhelmed. His chest heaved as he extended his palms in deliberate arcs.
Water rose in spiraling shields, roots bent in precise lattices, and Breath gusted in coordinated flows that amplified both movement and reach. The Noxians hesitated, unnerved by the tri-element display, but the leader shouted an order to press forward.
One soldier charged from the side. Kaelen pivoted, water whipping to form a barrier, roots twisting upward, and the wind surging to redirect the attack. The soldier's balance faltered, and he fell backward against the cliff face, sliding dangerously toward the edge.
Kaelen's pulse surged. His arms ached, muscles trembling, but he maintained tri-element harmony. Each motion required conscious guidance, every breath and step calculated. He was no longer reacting—he was leading the elements.
Suddenly, a stronger gust of natural wind tore across the cliffside, knocking Kaelen off balance. Breath surged unexpectedly, mingling with his controlled gusts, threatening to disrupt the delicate coordination of Flow and Root.
Control, Kaelen! he thought desperately. Intent, not reaction!
He pressed deeper into the soil, anchoring the roots firmly. Water arcs adjusted automatically, curling around the gust in perfect synchronicity. Breath responded to his intent, bending the natural wind to his advantage. In a sweeping motion, the elements combined, tossing two soldiers off balance while guiding the others back toward safer footing.
The leader hissed in frustration. "Fall back! He's… unstable—too strong!"
Kaelen exhaled sharply as the soldiers retreated, stumbling down the cliff and disappearing into the mist. He sank to his knees, drenched in sweat, trembling from the strain. Flow, Root, and Breath settled around him like obedient allies, pulsing softly as if acknowledging his triumph.
From above, a voice carried down the cliffside. "You handle yourself well, untethered one."
Kaelen looked up to see a figure standing on a higher ledge, wind rippling around him like a living cloak. His long sword gleamed in the fading light, and his posture radiated both strength and calm control.
"Yasuo," Kaelen whispered, recognizing the Unforgiven from stories and whispers across Ionia.
Yasuo's piercing eyes studied him. "I've been tracking your path. I felt the tri-element currents you command. You are not merely learning—you are awakening. But awakening without discipline is dangerous. You must understand harmony under pressure, or your power will destroy more than your enemies."
Kaelen nodded, still catching his breath. "I… I understand. I've been practicing tri-element control—Flow, Root, Breath. I can guide them together."
Yasuo's gaze softened faintly. "Then show me."
Kaelen pressed his palms to the soil, the river, and the wind, feeling the tri-elemental currents pulse beneath him. Carefully, deliberately, he lifted water from the river, bent roots with intent, and directed the air to flow precisely through both. The elements danced in perfect harmony, reacting instantly to each motion and intent.
Yasuo tilted his head slightly. "Good. Not perfect, but controlled. You are ready for lessons beyond instinct—lessons in judgment, timing, and decision. The next stage is learning when to act, not just how to act."
Kaelen exhaled, a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration coursing through him. "I… I will learn. I will become stronger."
Yasuo's eyes glimmered in the fading sunlight. "Tomorrow, we leave the cliffs to train in the high winds of northern Ionia. There, your mastery of Breath will be tested fully, and the tri-element combination refined under true chaos. But be warned—the Noxians are adapting. They will not forget you."
Kaelen pressed his palms to the river and earth once more, feeling Flow, Root, and Breath pulse in sync. The wind tugged gently at his hair, teasing him, reminding him of the challenge ahead. He smiled faintly, determination flaring in his chest.
The untethered seed had survived the cliffs, awakened Breath fully, and tested tri-element mastery under extreme pressure. The journey through Ionia was far from over—but Kaelen had proven he could harmonize instinct, intent, and awareness, even when the world itself fought against him.
And somewhere beyond the northern winds, new trials awaited.
The path of the untethered seed was only just beginning.