The sun was at its highest point, and the desert heat was relentless. Richard and Elyndra walked in silence, leaving behind the cavern that had served as their refuge. Richard was still processing everything he had learned: the temples, the Other Side, and the fact that Elyndra, a Guardian from another world, was now his mentor.
"You can't keep relying on instinct alone," Elyndra said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Richard looked up, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"What do you mean?"
Elyndra stopped and looked at him seriously.
"Your abilities are useful, but you are using them clumsily. If you don't learn to control them, they will turn you into a liability, not an asset."
Richard frowned, feeling a little offended.
"And what do you suggest?"
Elyndra smiled slightly, as if she had been expecting that question.
"Training. Here and now." Richard looked around. They were in the middle of the desert, with no shade or shelter in sight.
"Here? In this heat?"
"The desert isn't just sand and heat. It's a testing ground. If you can learn to control your abilities here, you'll be able to use them anywhere."
Richard sighed, resigned.
"All right. Where do we start?"
Elyndra raised a hand, and a circle of light appeared on the ground in front of them. Inside the circle, the sand began to shift, forming humanoid figures made of dust and wind.
"First, let's work on your 'Wind Steps' skill. It's useful for moving quickly, but it can also be used to dodge attacks and reposition strategically."
Richard watched the sand figures, which began to move toward him with quick, erratic movements.
"And what am I supposed to do?"
"Survive," Elyndra replied, crossing her arms.
The sand figures launched themselves at Richard, and he activated "Wind Steps," feeling his body become light and swift. He dodged the first attack, moving to the side, but almost lost his balance trying to stop.
"Control your direction!" Elyndra shouted. "It's not just speed, it's precision."
Richard gritted his teeth and tried again. This time, he focused on his movements, using the skill to dodge and reposition himself with more control. Gradually, he began to understand how to use "Wind Steps" to anticipate attacks and stay out of harm's way.
After several minutes, the sand figures vanished, and Richard fell to his knees, panting.
"That was... intense."
Elyndra approached and offered him a canteen.
"You did better than I expected. But there's still a lot of room for improvement."
Richard took a sip of water before standing. "What's next?"
Elyndra raised a hand, and a small orb of light appeared, floating in front of Richard.
"Now let's work on your 'Echo Sight' skill. This ability isn't just for seeing into the past. You can also use it to detect traces of magical energy and anticipate your enemies' movements."
Richard looked at the orb, intrigued.
"How does that work?"
"Focus on the orb. Try to feel its energy, its flow. Magic leaves traces, and if you learn to read them, you can use them to your advantage."
Richard closed his eyes and concentrated. At first, he felt nothing, but little by little, a warm sensation began to spread through his body. When he opened his eyes, the orb was glowing more brightly, and he could see lines of energy extending from it, like invisible threads.
"I see it..." he murmured.
"Good. Now, follow those threads."
Richard extended a hand toward the orb, and the energy lines began to move, guiding it to a spot on the ground. When he touched the spot, a small crystal emerged from the sand, glowing with a bluish light.
"This is incredible..."
Elyndra nodded, satisfied.
"Magic is everywhere. You just need to learn to see it."
---
The training continued for hours. Elyndra guided him through exercises to improve his mana control, his stamina, and his ability to combine skills. Richard felt exhausted, but also more confident.
As the sun began to set, Elyndra pointed toward the horizon.
"It's time to go. The temple we seek is closer than you think."
Richard followed her, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"What can we expect in this temple?"
"Trials. There are always trials. But if you pass this one, you'll gain the fragment of knowledge you need."
Richard nodded, tightening the medallion around his neck.
"I'm ready."
---
Night fell quickly, and the temple appeared before them like a looming shadow on the horizon. It was smaller than the first one Richard had encountered, but its design was just as intricate, with symbols etched into the walls that seemed to glow in the moonlight.
Elyndra stopped in front of the entrance, placing a hand on the door.
"This temple is active. I can feel the energy flowing through it."
Richard took a step forward, feeling a chill run through his body.
"What do we do now?"
Elyndra looked at him, her expression serious.
"Now, you go in."
Richard looked at her, surprised.
"Me alone?"
"This temple is designed to test you, not me. But don't worry. I'll be here, keeping watch."
Richard swallowed and nodded.
"All right. Let's do this."
With one last glance at Elyndra, Richard pushed open the door and entered the temple. Darkness immediately enveloped him, but a dim light began to glimmer on the walls, revealing a hallway stretching ahead.
Every step he took echoed in the silence, and Richard couldn't help but feel like something was watching him.
"This is going to be interesting..." he murmured, moving forward into the unknown.