I crouched in the clearing, feeling the energy of the earth beneath my fingers. It thrummed faintly, warm and pulsing like a heartbeat, as though the land itself were alive and aware of my presence. I let my breathing steady, the lessons from Moira still fresh in my mind. Control the flow. Shape the magic. My hand tingled as the spell began to form.
"Good, Robert. But this isn't just a tool. You are wielding something alive," Moira's voice encouraged, her warmth cutting through the tension. "Focus. Aim this time. Feel the connection."
I glanced at a nearby tree, its bark rough and gnarled. A single leaf dangled from a low branch. My perfect target, the villain. I exhaled slowly, visualizing the magic coalescing into a sharp, jagged thorn. It felt solid in my mind before it even took form, as though it were an extension of my intent. With a flick of my wrist, the thorn shot forward, slicing the leaf clean off the branch before embedding itself in the trunk.
"Yes!" I pumped my fist, a grin spreading across my face.
Behind me, Hamish leaned on his shovel, unimpressed. "Alright, so ye can pluck leaves. Grand feat. Now what?" he commented dryly, raising an eyebrow.
"Now I refine it," I muttered, turning my focus to a patch of stones scattered across the clearing. I crouched again, setting my sights on the largest one.
Moira hummed in approval, her tone warm and steady. "You're getting the hang of this. But it's time to challenge you. Let's see how you handle a little pressure."
Before I could respond, the wind picked up suddenly, carrying with it a faint, eerie whisper that seemed to echo from all directions. The air around me grew dense, crackling faintly with energy. A shiver ran down my spine.
"Moira, what's happening?" I asked quietly, my voice tinged with unease.
"Think of this as... a test," she replied gently. "The system we are building, will test your current limits. Trust yourself, Robert. Use your instincts."
I scanned the clearing, my eyes catching faint glimmers of light forming in the air. The lights coalesced one by one, taking the shape of small, darting orbs that glowed with an otherworldly hue. They moved erratically, their paths unpredictable.
"Targets," Moira explained softly, her voice carrying a calm urgency. "Hit them before they disperse. Quickly now."
I steadied my stance, raising my hand as the first orb streaked past me. A thorn materialized almost instinctively, launching toward the light. It struck true, shattering the orb into golden sparks that dissolved into the air.
Another orb shot toward me, zigzagging wildly. I pivoted and fired again. This time, the thorn grazed its edge, missing the core. I cursed under my breath as the orb zipped past and vanished into the trees.
"Focus," Moira encouraged, her tone firm yet reassuring. "Breathe. Feel the flow. Anticipate their movements."
Hamish stood at a safe distance, his expression a mixture of awe and skepticism. His eyebrows knitted together as he muttered, "I swear, I've gone mad." He gripped his shovel tightly, shifting his weight nervously as though ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. "Yer throwin' sharp rocks at nothin' now, Robbie. I've officially seen it all."
"It's not nothing," I snapped, my voice sharp with concentration. I fired again, this time striking the orb dead-on. It shattered in a burst of golden light. "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there."
Hamish shook his head incredulously. "Aye, sure. I still don't understand where yer spikey rocks are coming from."
As the final orb shattered, I slumped against a nearby boulder, wiping sweat from my brow. My chest heaved, the strain of rapid casting leaving me lightheaded.
"Excellent work, Robert," Moira said warmly. "You've shown you can adapt. You've also proven you need to build your stamina, but we'll work on that later. For now, a reward."
A shimmer of light appeared in my hand. I looked down to see a scroll forming in my palm, its surface cool and textured like fine parchment, yet it carried an unnatural weight as though imbued with unseen power. The glowing runes shifted and swirled, alive with purpose, drawing my gaze deeper into their intricate patterns. I turned it over, marveling at the intricate design.
Hamish took a cautious step back, gripping his shovel. "What's that, then?"
I grinned, holding it up. "A portal scroll. It's going to open the way to our first dungeon."
Hamish's face paled. "Dungeon? What sort of madness are ye on about now?"
"Relax, you'll see," I replied. My heart raced as I unfurled the scroll, reading the runes aloud as Moira guided me. The air around us began to hum, the ground trembling faintly as a circle of light appeared nearby.
The portal grew rapidly, its shimmering surface pulsing with energy. The air around it felt charged, vibrating faintly against my skin, and the sound of a a vibration filled the clearing. Through the translucent veil, I caught glimpses of a cavernous space lit by flickering torches, the smell of damp earth and ancient stone wafting faintly through the opening.
Hamish stumbled backward, his expression incredulous. "Robbie, what in God's name have ye done?"
I approached the portal, my gaze locked on the scene beyond. "Just the next step, mate."
Hamish muttered something unintelligible before stepping closer. His grip tightened on his shovel. "If ye get me killed, I'll haunt ye."
I chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Fair enough. Ready?"
"No," Hamish muttered, but stepped forward with me anyway.
We stepped through the portal, the hum growing louder as we crossed the threshold.
Moira's voice chimed in my mind as we entered. "You've improved the power of your thorn spell, Robert. Its casting is faster, and its strength has increased. Keep practicing, and it may evolve into something even greater." Her voice echoed with pride. "Oh, one more thing. This is going to be a long journey for you. You and your friend are going to grow a lot in here. Its going to take some time. And, .... Its dangerous. "