Jade awoke in a cold sweat, his breath shallow and rapid. He gasped as the remnants of the trial's darkness clung to him like a lingering nightmare. His body trembled, but the fire within him had settled, now a steady ember instead of the raging inferno it had once been. The oppressive weight of the trial had lifted, and he was back in the temple. The walls, the cold stone floor beneath his feet, the flickering torches — everything felt real again, but the intensity of what had just happened lingered in his mind.
Rael was waiting by the entrance, his arms crossed, a small but knowing smile on his face.
"You passed, didn't you?" Rael asked, his voice calm, but there was a hint of pride in it.
Jade didn't speak, though. He nodded, still feeling the aftereffects of the trial's emotional toll. He wasn't ready to talk about it yet — the images, the faces, the guilt. But he could feel the shift inside himself. He had faced his darkest fears and emerged unscathed. For now, he was stronger, more in control.
Rael stepped closer, his tone serious. "The next test is different. This one isn't about your mind. It's about your body, your spirit, and your connection with the world around you."
Jade's gaze flickered to the ground as Rael spoke. He didn't need words to understand the depth of the challenge ahead. His power had been tempered, but his physical form was still frail in comparison to what it could be. He knew Rael was about to push him further, harder than before.
The air in the chamber shifted as Rael raised his hand, and a strange pressure filled the room. Jade's pulse quickened as the temperature dropped, and a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, the sound of rushing air deafening. He looked around, feeling the disturbance in the air like an unseen presence.
"Get ready," Rael said, his voice firm. "We're going to the Trial Grounds. It's time to test your endurance."
Jade stood up straighter, his chest tightening. He had no idea what was in store, but he wasn't about to back down. His past self, the version of him that had once burned everything in his path, wouldn't have hesitated. This new Jade, the one who had faced his deepest fears, wouldn't either.
Rael led the way out of the temple, the heavy stone doors opening with a loud groan. The wind outside was even more fierce, gusting wildly, whipping his hair around as he followed Rael through the twisting, rocky terrain.
The Trial Grounds, as Rael had called them, were a vast expanse of open land surrounded by mountains. The sky above was a dull grey, casting everything in a harsh, muted light. No birds chirped, no animals stirred. It was a barren, inhospitable place, designed to strip away the weak.
At the far edge of the grounds stood a large stone platform, overgrown with vines. It looked ancient, worn down by centuries of use. The ground around it was cracked, and in the distance, Jade could see dark clouds swirling ominously.
"This is where you will face your trial," Rael said as they approached. "The elements will test you — earth, wind, fire, and water. You must endure them, control them, and conquer your weaknesses. Your true strength lies not only in how you wield your fire, but how you adapt to the world around you."
Jade took in the sight of the platform. There was no turning back now. He could feel the weight of Rael's words pressing against him, but he also knew that every challenge he faced would bring him closer to mastering his power — and maybe even finding the answers he was seeking about his past life.
Rael gestured for Jade to step onto the platform. "Begin."
As soon as Jade stepped onto the stone, the ground trembled beneath his feet. The wind picked up, and the temperature plummeted as a blinding gust of snow and ice struck him from all directions. It stung his skin, like needles pricking him everywhere. He gritted his teeth, trying to focus on controlling his breath. His body was freezing, his limbs shaking from the cold, but he couldn't let it overwhelm him.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him cracked open, and a massive wave of water surged up, threatening to swallow him whole. Jade leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the surge, but the water continued to rise around him, encircling him like a predator closing in on its prey. He reached into himself, focusing on the fire inside him, trying to summon the strength to push back against the crushing water.
But as he called upon his flames, the temperature dropped even further, freezing the water as it rose. He was trapped. The fire he summoned couldn't burn against the freezing cold. His flames flickered and died.
Panic began to rise in him, but then he heard Rael's voice echoing across the platform. "Adapt, Jade. Your power is not just fire. You have other tools at your disposal."
Jade's breath quickened as he scanned his surroundings. The cold was biting, but there was a new clarity in his mind. His fire wasn't the only thing that made him strong. He had to think beyond it, beyond the limits he had set for himself.
He raised his hands and closed his eyes, letting the energy around him flow. He couldn't fight the water directly, but he could manipulate the air. With a sharp exhale, he pushed out a wave of heated wind, which sent ripples across the frozen surface of the water, cracking the ice and shattering the wave. The force of his wind scattered the frozen remnants of the water, and with it, the pressure lifted.
The snowstorm that had raged around him ceased as well. For a moment, there was a rare calm, and Jade stood on the platform, his breath steady and even.
"Well done," Rael said, stepping forward. "You've learned to adapt. The elements are a challenge, but they are not invincible. You just need to know how to use them."
Jade nodded silently, sweat beading on his forehead. The trial had tested him — mentally, physically, and spiritually — but he had passed. He had learned that his strength was more than just fire; it was his ability to adapt, to use what was around him, and to control his environment.
He looked up at Rael, a new sense of purpose in his eyes. "What comes next?"
Rael gave a small smile. "You're ready for the next phase of your training. But remember, this journey will never end. There's always more to learn, more to master. Keep that in mind."
Jade nodded once more. The trials had only just begun, but he was ready to face whatever came next. After all, he had already proven to himself that nothing could break him — not the past, not the trials, and certainly not the future.