Before Thor could respond, Agni Igris straightened. "Enough. You have all proven yourselves. Come with me."
With a wave of his claw, Agni Igris summoned an invisible gust that enveloped the siblings and lifted them into the sky alongside him.
Their eyes sparkled as they soared through the air. They all felt the breeze, the cool wind biting at their faces, and felt exhilarated.
For a moment, they just closed their eyes and felt free from everything, pain, exhaustion, the earth itself.
Unbeknownst to them, Agni Igris usually meditates in the air for that very reason whenever he feels stressed or bored.
They soared through the air of the forest until they reached a towering waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear lake.
They were back at the place that they had come to call home recently. As they approached, the water shimmered and parted, revealing the same entrance that they had seen the first time that they were brought here.
The halls glowed with a soft, otherworldly light, and the air was filled with the faint hum of ancient magic.
Agni Igirs led them into a section of his castle that they had never seen before, making them all curious.
He led them deeper into the castle, his steps purposeful yet unhurried. The halls were adorned with murals of battles fought by dragons and warriors alike, each telling a story of triumph and loss.
Iris couldn't help but marvel. "This place... it's beautiful. I never knew it was here."
Agni Igris glanced back, his sharp teeth flashing in a grin. "Few do. It's a place for those I deem worthy. You've earned it."
The Dragon Emperor's voice echoed through the chamber. "This is not the end of your journey. It is only the beginning."
"Look at you," Agni Igris rumbled, his voice carrying pride and expectation. "You're battered, bruised... and alive. That's all that matters."
Rudra smirked, arms crossed. "Well, none of us are weak, so it's only expected. Though someone here"—he gestured vaguely toward Thor—"might need a little extra practice at not dying."
Thor flinched but kept his head high. "I don't need your pity, Rudra."
Rudra made a joke to lighten the mood, but he also meant what he said. He knew that his siblings were capable of greatness, and he expected it of them because of that.
Agni Igris chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "That's the spirit, Thor. But Rudra's right—though not in the way he thinks." His crimson gaze shifted to Rudra, who straightened slightly under the weight of it. "Every trial shapes us. If you think your brother is weak because he's lost his sight, then you're missing the bigger picture."
Iris, always the mediator, raised a hand. "Let's not diminish what Thor accomplished. Losing your sight and still finishing the test? That's not a weakness. That's strength."
Agni Igris nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Strength isn't about what you lose—it's about how you adapt to what's left."
Thor clenched his fists, his mind swirling with doubt and anger. "Adapt? How am I supposed to fight without my sight? How am I supposed to be anything but a burden to you guys?"
Thor seemed to be on the verge of tears as the negative emotions that he had been trying to control seemed to start resurfacing.
Agni Igris's tail swished behind him as he crouched down, bringing himself to Thor's level. "Thor," he said, his voice quieter but no less powerful, "burdens don't carry halberds into battle. Burdens don't stand their ground against beasts twice their size. You fought against all odds and lived. That's more than many can say."
Thor tilted his head in the direction of Agni Igris's voice, his expression softening slightly. "But I failed—"
"You survived," Agni Igris interrupted, his tone sharp. "That's the first step to success. Failure only happens when you give up, and I don't see you giving up."
Rudra rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall. "Alright, enough with the heartwarming speeches. What happens now? Do we get another test, or is this our grand reward?"
Thor nodded appreciatively of Rudra's interruption, as he felt a bit overwhelmed.
Agni Igris stood, towering over them once more. "Your reward is time to heal and learn. You've passed the test, but the real challenge is what you do with what you've gained—and lost. Come."
As the siblings stood in the chamber, battered but alive, Agni Igris faced them, his immense presence both grounding and commanding. His wings shimmered faintly in the light as his crimson eyes assessed each of them.
Rudra was beyond powerful and had the demeanor of a budding apex, however, his arrogance would eventually be his downfall if left unchecked along side his staggering level of growth.
Iris was sure to be a world-renowned swordswoman, her skill and flowing precise strikes were already very strong. Not to mention the overcoming of her trauma during a fight, Agni Igris was truly proud of her.
He was proud of Thor as well, but he now was unable to predict how this loss would affect Thor in the future. So he decided that he would pay more attention to ensure Thor's rise.
They entered a vast cavern illuminated by an ethereal glow. At its center was a pool of water that seemed to pulse with life, glowing faintly blue. The air was thick with energy, alive and humming, almost as if it were breathing with them.
"This," Agni Igris said, gesturing to the pool, "is no ordinary water. It's infused with Ki—the life force that binds this world. Immerse yourselves, and it will mend your wounds, strengthen your bodies, and attune you to the energy around you."
Unlike the other pool, this was not just Ki-infused water. There was an artifact at the bottom, a very powerful one, that helped increase one's talent when it came to using and absorbing Ki.
Along with healing the kids with its restorative effects, it will clean out impurities from their unawakened Ki veins, helping them more easily absorb Ki into their bodies.
This priming will also strengthen their bodies as by the time they awaken, their bodies will be used to Ki and able to be strengthened even further.
This artifact is called, [High Mytical Grade: Future Prism].
Thor hesitated, his hand instinctively reaching toward the halberd strapped to his back. "Will it… will it restore my sight?" he asked, his voice shaky.
Agni Igris's gaze softened as he crouched beside Thor. "No, boy. That wound is beyond what this can heal. But it will teach you something greater. You'll feel the world in ways sight could never show you."
Thor, still grappling with his inner turmoil, managed a small nod. "What if I never see again?"
Agni Igris's expression was unreadable. "Then you'll learn to see the world differently. One that might be clearer than you ever imagined."
Rudra snorted. "Great. Another lecture."
Agni Igris smirked, his wings spreading slightly. "You'd be surprised how much you still have to learn, Rudra. Don't let that arrogance come back to bite you."
Thor couldn't help but chuckle faintly at the jab, feeling a flicker of normalcy amidst the chaos in his mind.
Iris knelt first, cupping the water and letting it run through her fingers. "It's warm," she whispered, sensing the energy flow into her.
Rudra stepped forward, his usual confidence replaced with quiet reverence. "This... this is the source of power, isn't it? The Ki you've been telling us about?"
Agni Igris nodded. "Ki is in everything—air, water, earth, fire. It's in you, too. Learn to wield it, and you'll discover strength you never imagined."
Rudra didn't hesitate further and sank into the pool, closing his eyes as the energy coursed through him. Thor followed, struggling for a moment before Iris steadied him. The moment his body touched the water, he felt the rush of energy—warm and electric—seeping into his muscles, soothing his pain, and sharpening his other senses.
He gasped. "I... I can feel the world. The air, the vibrations. It's like—"
"Like seeing without your eyes," Agni Igris finished for him. "That's Ki, boy. And it's just the beginning."
The feeling that they were experiencing now is similar to how they would feel after awakening. For now, however, this experience would only be temporary.
They sat there for 4 hours straight before they were told to come out of the pool. Agni Igris could see the Ki flowing through their bodies and could tell that more time in the water would no longer have a meaningful effect.
When they emerged, each of them felt transformed. Thor could "see" in ways that baffled and amazed him, while Iris and Rudra felt a newfound connection to their strength. Agni Igris watched them adjust, his proud smirk returning.
Rudra clenched his fist as he felt a foreign but comforting strength flowing through his veins. His body had healed, leaving faint scars on his body from the lion and his exhaustion had completely faded.
He felt reborn in a way that he never thought possible.
The feeling was intoxicating and he couldn't wait for the day that he awakened!
*****
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