"Do you want to die?" Nick's voice was sharp, laced with a desperate plea. "Because I know if that lightning strikes you, you will die." The stark reality of the situation hung heavy in the air, a chilling reminder of the potential consequences of Ethan's reckless plan. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath, the silence amplifying the tension.
"I didn't see the book asking me to get burned or something, to embrace the source, right? What if you're wrong?" Asher countered, his usual bravado tinged with a hint of uncertainty. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss, that Ethan's interpretation of the ancient text might be flawed. His concern was palpable, the sharp edges of his usual skepticism softened by genuine worry for his friend.
Ethan, his gaze unwavering, met their worried gazes. "And if I'm not?" he asked, his voice calm despite the storm brewing within him. "The book didn't ask you to embrace your own source, Asher, because when two flames meet, they merge into one, forming a bigger, stronger flame. You don't have to embrace your source because you are already part of it. But when two lightnings collide, they neutralize each other. That's the key. It's a dance, not a head-on collision." His explanation, though logical, sounded almost too risky, too reckless.
"If you're wrong, you could get seriously injured, worst-case scenario… die," Nick repeated, his voice trembling, the weight of his fear clearly visible.
"I know," Ethan said, his voice resolute. "But this is a gamble I'm willing to take. It's the only way I can truly prove my mastery over the element of lightning." His determination, though admirable, was tinged with a sense of recklessness that worried his friends.
Ethan took a deep breath, his chest expanding and contracting, a sign of the intense focus he was now channeling into his body. He stretched out his hand, his palm upward, channeling essence to his fingertips. But nothing happened. The air remained still, the silence heavy with anticipation.
"What am I doing wrong?" he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "It clearly said 'face the source'." His frustration mounted, the pressure intensifying, increasing his anxiety.
Ethan decided to change his approach. Instead of focusing his essence on just his fingertips, he began to circulate it throughout his entire body, building a current within his being. The essence flowed through his veins, pulsing, gathering force, preparing to release a surge of power far beyond anything he'd attempted before.
He closed his eyes, concentrating, visualizing the storm, feeling the raw power of the lightning itself, before releasing his essence in a controlled burst, a controlled explosion of energy.
"What is he doing?" Asher whispered, his voice barely audible. The intensity of the moment held them both captive, their anxieties heightened by Ethan's actions.
Suddenly, a deafening roar tore through the air, and a blinding flash of lightning split the sky, aiming directly at Ethan. It missed him by mere inches, a bolt of pure power that scorched the earth where he had been standing only moments before.
"I think that was a warning sign," Asher said, his voice a low tremor. His heart pounded in his chest. The near-miss, the sheer power of the lightning bolt, had shaken him profoundly. He was certain if the bolt had hit, it would have killed Ethan.
"Are you sure about this?" Nick asked, his voice strained with anxiety, his eyes fixated on Ethan. His concern intensified, his fear evident in his tone.
"Can you guys stop talking?" Ethan's voice was tense, strained, his eyes squeezed shut in intense concentration. The storm was growing, the energy in the air growing exponentially more intense.
Ethan poured out his essence, his body a conduit for the raw power of the storm, losing more essence than he could regain. His essence depleted at an alarming rate, his body starting to tremble. The lightning bolts seemed drawn to the raw energy, to the vulnerability he displayed.
As his essence flowed, it drew the lightning closer, and the sky above him was now consumed in a raging storm. A series of lightning bolts struck Ethan in rapid succession, each strike a searing blow that sent jolts of pain throughout his body. He dropped to his knees, coughing out blood, his body beginning to show the brutal signs of the attacks.
Ethan shouted, a raw cry of pain and defiance. Asher and Nick, paralyzed by fear, watched helplessly, their own essence trembling, knowing they couldn't interfere without risking their own lives. They were powerless to help him.
Ethan wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Is that all you've got? Strike me!" he shouted, pushing his essence outward, challenging the storm, inviting more punishment. His actions were reckless but his determination seemed to challenge the lightning itself.
The lightning, as if angered by his defiance, struck him with even greater force than before. Ethan's body began to crack and break under the immense power, his bones seemingly splintering, his flesh burning. He screamed again, the sound echoing through the terrified forest.
"Ethan!" Asher cried out, a mixture of despair and horror in his voice. He was helpless, powerless, as the lightning continued its relentless assault.
"Wait," Nick said, pointing at Ethan. His eyes widened. "His body... it's building itself back up."
Ethan's body was breaking and rebuilding, regenerating from the blows. The lightning, as if a sculptor, continued to chip and reform the young caster. As more lightning bolts struck, his body absorbed the raw power, becoming harder, stronger, more resilient than before.
The storm raged, a maelstrom of blinding light and deafening thunder, before it slowly began to subside. The rain stopped, and the clouds parted, revealing a sky of clear blue. The brutal and intense struggle came to an end.
Ethan, knelt on the ground, his body battered and bruised, but still alive. He had survived.
"He did it! He actually survived!" Asher exclaimed, disbelief and awe warring in his voice. The sheer scale of the trial had taken his breath away.
Nick, too, was stunned into silence. He had witnessed something extraordinary, something that defied explanation.
Ethan struggled to stand, but his body betrayed him, his energy completely spent. He collapsed to the floor, his body limp. He had done it; he had survived. But he was completely spent.
Asher and Nick rushed to his side, lifting him carefully into their arms. Ethan had fainted.
"We better get him back to his bed," Nick said, his voice filled with relief.
They carried Ethan back to their room, their hearts still pounding, their minds reeling from the incredible ordeal they had just witnessed. They had seen him face the raw power of nature, and survive.
Far from the mountain, on a hill overlooking the valley, two figures stood, silhouetted against the setting sun.
"Who can believe he actually did it? He survived true lightning. Not many can brag about that," Instructor Luke said, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and respect. He was a seasoned instructor, yet even he found himself moved by the young caster's exceptional strength and determination.
"I was actually scared when he coughed out blood. I was planning to move and save him, but he still stood his ground," Instructor Duke replied, his voice filled with a palpable sense of admiration. He had almost intervened, but Ethan's determination had impressed him.
"I guess we have really talented casters this year," Instructor Luke said, a smile gracing his lips. Instructor Duke nodded in agreement. "After all, the kingdom will need people like this boy if we're all to survive what is coming." Their words carried the weight of unspoken concerns, the looming threat that hung over their world. Ethan's survival had renewed their hope, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable odds.