From that night on, several weeks had passed. According to each person's abilities and knowledge, we had organized ourselves so that the days would go well. Between tasks and training, our days were full, leaving only rest in the evening before sleep.
We had divided the tasks in a balanced way and we took turns with them. Between preparing lunches and dinners, going to search for resources like food and water, the rest of the time, we spent it training either together or separately. Between our physique, endurance, hand-to-hand combat and of course the most important: we tried to understand and regain mastery of our elemental aetherium.
Kael, being a special person and having already regained mastery of his elemental aetherium, went out during the day to face dragons and was in charge of our protection if we were attacked. Day by day, he became stronger and better controlled his power, his movements becoming more assured and precise.
We had decided that for now, we would spend our days training and becoming stronger. We made the decision to postpone the search for a portal or a way to return to our world for later.
However, we moved every three days. For Harris, it was to ensure our safety. Every three days, we changed shelters. It was a way to explore this world and better understand its environment and its inhabitants, and to avoid the danger of staying at a fixed point. This instability kept us alert and vigilant, though it was exhausting.
Our days were alike and tiring. Every night, we were exhausted and slept deeply. However, to get through and for us, it was important. In the evening, we gathered around the fire, sharing the meal, all enjoying it, discussing and laughing together. It was important that in this complex and complicated situation for each of us, we could support each other. These moments in the evening had allowed us to get to know each other better and forge solid bonds.
After some time, the others, through hard work and reflection, regained the use of their elemental aetherium. After three weeks, Harris was the second to regain them. Three months later, Shinrei, in a dangerous situation, regained them. As for Aria, it was much more complicated for her, but with determination, she too succeeded, which took her five months since our arrival.
Harris spent most of his time trying to understand the meaning of his elemental aetherium. He was able to control the wind, but in a very weak way. The maximum he could do was a gust of wind of very low intensity, barely enough to disturb a leaf. His frustration grew each day, etched in the wrinkles of his forehead.
He tormented himself greatly and his thoughts mixed in his head, creating an unbearable mental cacophony. The more he thought about it, the further away he got from the answer, turning in vicious circles. He didn't understand how to free his mind and stop putting limits on his power. But thanks to our moments in the evening, it helped to soothe his mind.
One afternoon, Harris was training on the roof. But as the sun set, a new day ended with a new day without any progress. He cried out with all his strength, with rage and frustration, his voice echoing against the walls. He lay down on the ground, looking at the sky, desperate. The weight of failure was literally crushing his chest. Aria, who had heard Harris's cries, climbed to the roof to join him. She sat down next to him, lying on the ground to keep him company, her presence being silent comfort.
After a few moments, she spoke to him, her voice soft and soothing. "It doesn't seem to be progressing, from what I see." She paused before saying. "Are you okay? Are you going to hold up?"
Harris sat up and sat next to Aria, his head down and in a low voice, almost a whisper. "I'm okay, I'm just a bit desperate. Every day, I spend my days training and thinking about my power, but nothing moves forward." He put his hand to his face and after a long sigh filled with emotion. "It's been three weeks now and no progress. I'm still at the starting point."
Aria put her hand on his shoulder with a soothing smile, soft and understanding. "Harris, you're overthinking it. It will happen when it happens, no need to rush. Put it in perspective and relax. I find that you're too tense and stressed." She stood up and held out her hand with assurance. "Come on, today I'll prepare dinner. It'll take your mind off things. You'll see, you'll have a great meal."
The conversation with Aria put Harris's ideas in order. After that, he followed Aria and went to eat and relax. That evening, while we all slept, Harris woke up and decided to go back to the roof. The wind was blowing a lot that night and there was only Harris, alone on the roof, in the silence.
Harris felt alone in the world and finally at peace with himself. There was only him in the silence of the night and in front of this extraordinary and almost magical sky and landscape. Even though he no longer had his powers, he felt the wind touching him, caressing his face gently. The air is found everywhere we are. It is free and obeys no law.
Suddenly, Harris closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his heart rate stabilizing and all at once, he began to dance in the moonlight in the middle of the night. He danced and moved his arms and legs gracefully and lightly, with all delicacy. With his eyes closed, he thought of nothing, letting the wind guide his movements. His feet glided across the ground with an impossible lightness, his movements becoming almost supernatural and majestic.
Even though he had his eyes closed, he perceived the air obeying his fingertips. Swirls of air whirled around him in response to each gesture. That night, he understood the true meaning of freedom. From the beginning, he thought about what his power could do, but in reality, air reacts to imagination. Air and its user are actually in harmony and fight together, their will becoming one, Harris follows the wind and the wind follows Harris.
Harris, through this dance, understood that the air did not obey him and that he did not obey the air. The two guided each other mutually, in perfect harmony. Harris regained mastery of his elemental aetherium and was the second among us.
Aria, who was behind the door that led to the roof, watched the scene silently and with a smile.
Time passed and only Aria, Shinrei, and I still had not regained our powers. Harris joined Kael to face dragons, while we stayed sheltered training.
Shinrei trained more in hand-to-hand combat than in regaining his powers. He judged that when he would regain it, his speed would force him to come at close range to fight, which is why he trained in his way of fighting, developing an impeccable technique.
Shinrei, being someone very rational, had difficulty understanding the essence of his elemental aetherium which he judged as absurd. He had almost given up the idea of regaining his power and even though we had noticed it and despite talking to him, we couldn't help him and find the answer for him. The only one who could help him was himself. This feeling of helplessness frustrated us all.
Several months had passed and one day, while Shinrei was tasked with fetching water, on the way back, he came face to face with a dragon flying over the horizons. A dark blue dragon with small legs and no wings, with scales as shiny as crystal. It landed near Shinrei, observing him straight in the eyes.
At that moment, Shinrei was seized by fear that invaded his entire body. His heart rate increased, accelerating dangerously. He was suffocating, his breathing becoming jerky. He was completely paralyzed on the ground, unable to move to escape. The panic pinned him in place, his hands shaking violently.
All of a sudden, the dragon roared, a deafening sound that tore through the air, and launched lightning from its mouth at Shinrei. He was paralyzed and saw the lightning getting closer to him. It should have taken only a few seconds, but during those few seconds, he got the answer to his question.
Since his arrival in this world, Shinrei didn't understand how he could break free from the chains this world had put on him, when he could move however he wanted. This way of thinking was due to his rationalism, his desire to understand everything logically. But paralyzed before this dragon, he understood the meaning of the chains that had blocked him from the beginning. His power allows him to run where he wants, but at that moment, paralyzed by fear, we could equate this paralysis with the chains that were blocking his power.
The dragon's attack reached its target and produced a huge explosion, raising dust and creating a crater in the ground. But suddenly, Shinrei appeared behind the dragon. He had managed to dodge the attack thanks to his speed. In a surge of rage and liberation, he lunged directly at the dragon, his muscles contracting with force. Each step he took seemed to devour the distance in the blink of an eye.
He struck the dragon with a powerful punch. His speed gave incredible force to his blow, the impact resonating like thunder. The shockwave it produced circulated throughout the dragon's entire interior, breaking his bones from the inside with a horrible cracking sound. The massive body of the reptile was shaken by the force of the impact, its bones breaking like glass.
Terrified and wounded, out of fear, the dragon fled into the air, despite having difficulty flying after Shinrei's attack, moans of pain escaping from its mouth. His flight was erratic, like that of an injured bird.
By circumstance, he had, despite himself, understood the essence of his elemental aetherium. And he had become even much faster than before. Combined with that, his progress in close-range combat had improved considerably, each movement becoming more lethal and precise.
Our adventures in this new world were going well. We were getting used to this hostile environment and were even starting to enjoy this life with five of us. It had helped to bear the distance that separated us from our loved ones. Aria and I stayed at the base while the three others often went out dragon hunting to become stronger.
Aria is a very intelligent and strong girl. Despite the fact that it had been several months since we landed here, I had not seen her once on the verge of giving up and surrendering. Day after day, she gave herself more and more to succeed and have no regrets. Her determination was admirable, almost unshakeable, a quiet strength that inspired us all.
One day, while the others were outside, there was only me and Aria. While she was meditating, I approached her to speak one-on-one.
I sat down next to her and asked her, my voice being soft so as not to disturb her. "Hi, it doesn't bother you if we talk a bit, you and me?"
She stopped meditating and looked at me, her eyes opening slowly. "It doesn't bother me to talk with you and the others. It always makes me happy."
I was relieved and happy with her words and in a calm voice, I told her. "I wanted to talk to you about your power."
Aria had told us about her feelings in this world. If I understood correctly, she normally felt an energy around her that manifested when she used her power. But since she had been in the world Drakaryon, she could no longer feel it. According to her feelings, she managed to feel it by instinct, without effort and without really understanding, but here, she really has to learn to feel it and then use it.
I spoke to her in a calm and serious voice. "What you feel in our world is just a theory, but it's surely pure aetherium. If it's really the case, then in this world, it will be easier for you to feel it than in our world." I saw confusion on her face, I gave her more information. "Elyra had told us that apparently, it is from this world that the energy of our world comes from, whether it is aetherium, core or even void. In other words, here, pure aetherium is abundant everywhere around us, which is the opposite in our world. I think that now that you know what you're looking for, it will be easy for you to see it. After all, your power relies entirely on pure aetherium."
She looked at me as if she had been enlightened after listening to me. A smile was born on her lips, her eyes shining with new understanding. She hugged me, telling me with gratitude. "Thank you, Nozomi. You really helped me. I see more clearly now and it's thanks to you."
I smiled and hugged her as well. "You're welcome, Aria."
I left her alone and left. But when I left the room, I saw Kael who had already returned and was listening to us. He asked me. "It seems like it's just a matter of time before she also regains her powers."
I answered him. "I just gave her a helping hand. The rest is up to Aria alone to realize." I paused and with a smile. "But well, she'll succeed. I have no doubt about it."
I was starting to leave when Kael called me back, his voice becoming more serious and concerned. "And you!" I stopped and he continued. "It's been five months and you still haven't regained your powers. You say nothing and show nothing. But I know. I know that you're suffering every time you train. You may have decided to train away from our eyes, but that's not enough to hide it from us."
I remained with my back turned to Kael, my jaw clenching unconsciously. I answered him, in a serious voice and with a little irritation. "I already told you not to worry. This time, I have to succeed alone. It's something you can't help me with. But there's no reason to worry. I assure you."
I left without saying a word, leaving Kael alone, feeling his concerned gaze weighing on my back as I moved away into the darkness. Once alone, I concentrated on my two cores. The familiar pain returned, but as time went on, I got used to the suffering. Maybe that was the only way.