The morning passed heavily over the Valley of the Winds, and the scent of smoke still filled the air even though the fires had died down. Broken stones and scorched wood littered the ground, while the wind blew lightly over the remains of battle, carrying the scent of ash and blood.
Eren stood in the middle of the ruined square, watching the survivors gather, some wounded, others with eyes sad for those they had lost in the Hunters' attack.
Lylin walked among the wounded, placing her golden-flamed hand over the wounds, stifling the bleeding and warming their bodies, smiling gently despite the fatigue in her eyes.
Eren approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You helped them so much, Lilin."
She looked up at him, her eyes trembling with pain.
"But I couldn't save everyone."
He tugged on her shoulder and said in a steady voice, "That's why we must prepare... so we don't lose anyone else."
At the center of the valley, the survivors gathered around Zerath, Eren, and Leylin. Zerath stood, leaning on his staff.
"You have seen their power. The hunters will not retreat until they obtain the fire... or end the wind."
Eren raised his head, his wind wings fluttering gently behind him, as the wind swirled around his body.
"But they don't yet know that we will not bow to them."
Leylin stepped forward, raising her hand to reveal her golden flame.
"I will no longer be just a fire haunted by shadows."
A young girl stepped forward from the crowd, holding her wounded arm, and looked at Leylin.
"Will...will we fight them?"
Leylin bowed before her. The fire touched the child's hand, healing its wounds. She said with a warm smile, "We will fight...to protect those we love."
Zerath silently raised his hand, and the winds calmed for a moment.
"We'll head to the Black Forest, where the hunters' camp is. We'll destroy their weapons cache and cut their lines before their next attack."
"But they're stronger than us... How will we survive?" said one of the surviving fighters.
Eren took a step forward. "Because we're not the same people anymore."
Closing his eyes, he exhaled deeply. In an instant, a whirl of wind spread around his body, raising dust and small stones, and sending his cloak fluttering in the air.
He opened his eyes, a green gleam appeared in them like broken glass, and in an instant, a wind shield formed behind him, wrapping his body around it.
At the same moment, Leylin closed her eyes and raised her hand. A column of golden fire rose toward the sky, before returning to envelop her body like a living veil, pulsing quietly but carrying a tremendous heat.
"This is our new power," Eren said, his voice steady.
He turned to Zerath:
"Train us to control it before we attack them."
Zerath nodded.
"Begin now."
🍃 Wind Training:
Eren walked toward the arena, sat on the ground, and closed his eyes as the wind swirled around him. He tried to integrate the sensation of the wind around him with his heartbeat. As his heart beat, the wind rippled with it.
He remembered Zerath's words:
"The wind is not a force outside you, but an extension of your soul."
In an instant, he felt the wind was no longer just a breeze; it was a sword, a shield, wings... It was his energy, his protection, and his means of combat.
🔥 Fire Training:
On the other side, Leylin stood before a small golden flame, slowly reaching out her hand, and trying to control its flame.
At first, the flames danced wildly, but she took a deep breath, remembering the faces of the survivors, the laughter of the children, and the tears of the mothers.
She whispered,
"Fire is not just anger... fire is hope."
In an instant, the flames settled, a quiet but powerful flame, a golden hue that radiated warmth and security.
Eren and Leylin reunited in the center of the arena, their hands clasped.
"We are ready," Leylin said with a smile.
"It's time to fight," Eren replied, his eyes shining.
Zerath looked up at the sky, where black clouds had begun to gather, and said in a low voice, "Let the time of fire and wind begin."