(Third-person perspective)
During the week Dacey and Adru were there, Aermir gave Rickon a special lesson in the basics of elemental magic. The young Stark proved to be a quick learner, soon mastering a first-level spell.
Because his talent is limited to fire, spells of the same level from different elements consume varying amounts of mana. Rickon demonstrated a connection to the elements of nature, although his mana consumption was twice that of fire spells. Earth spells followed closely behind, requiring three times the mana of fire spells.
Water element is a huge challenge. Rickon struggles to control water, and the mana required to cast a water orb spell skyrockets to ten times that of Fireball orb spell. Rickon can cast all the spells that Aermir, as a first-level Druid, can cast, but the only major difference lies in the mana cost.
Rickon can even cast buffer spells such as volhen gryves (bear aspect), volhen keli (cat aspect), and volhen taur (cow aspect), but due to his poor talent in the natural elements, his buffer spells are weaker than those that Aermir can cast at this level. To be precise, they are only half as powerful Aermir's, but consume twice as much Aermir.
Dacey and Adru disembarked and looked around. Adru said...
"How can we find our masters? Do you think they're still on the volcano?"
Dacey patted his chest with the back of her hand and said...
"We don't need to find him, he will find us."
She pointed to the black dog with the Crow on its head. They approached the beast, Dacey said:
"Berus, where is your master? Lead the way."
Berus led them to a forest next to the volcano, and after walking for a while, they began to hear explosions.
A palpable sense of anticipation filled the air as Dacey and Adru watched, eager to witness young Stark's potential. Their hearts pounded, ready to burst at any moment. Rickon, that little kid had done it; he was now a true Druid.
Rickon, a Wildfire Druid with a deep affinity for fire, was poised to unleash his power, the flames in his hands flickering and dancing. Aermir cast the Oak Shield spell, creating a protective barrier around himself that resembled tree bark. The hum of elemental energy echoed through the forest.
As the first spark flew from Rickon's outstretched hands, Dacey and Adru clearly sensed that while Rickon's fire spell was immensely powerful, it lacked the finesse and force of Aermir's. Aermir effortlessly deflected the flames from where he stood. His expression was stern.
"You're too direct, Rickon. You should always be on the move, embrace creativity, and not rely on brute force."
"The elements respond to subtlety and finesse," Aermir cautioned, his voice carrying a guiding tone. "Guide your fire skillfully, not recklessly. You must never be impulsive or emotional. Ignite your anger, but you must be able to control it, or it will become your Achilles' heel. Again!"
Undeterred, Rickon adjusted his approach. This time, he tried to surround Aermir with flames, creating sparks in front of him to limit his vision. As he lunged back to maintain distance, the flames licked the air, but Aermir closed the distance like a rolling boulder. Aermir nodded approvingly, acknowledging his progress. "Good, but you can do better. Utilize the environment, incorporate some nature spells for control. They might consume more magic, but they'll make your enemy stumble and create openings."
The two clashed once again. Flames danced in the air. This time, Rickon used nature spells from time to time, trying to trip Aermir by using the tall grass on the ground, but Aermir closed the distance between them effortlessly.
Nature spells require twice the magic power and are only half as effective, so Rickon only uses them for blessing and restriction. After training, Dacey and Adru ran to them and knelt down.
"My lord, please enlighten me."
Aermir and Rickon begin teaching Dacey and Adru how to create Magic Heart, but first they must teach them how to sense magic and understand their magical affinities. Through teaching Dacey and Adru how to control magic, Aermir realizes they are just like Rickon.
They could only control the magic of one element, putting them at a significant disadvantage compared to other elements. Dacey had the talent to control the magic of the natural element, while Adru had the talent to control the magic of the earth element. So, Rickon and Adru headed towards the rocks and mountains, while Aermir and Dacey stayed in the forest.
Aermir first taught Dacey the technique of sensing the magic of nature. In the bushes, he had her close her eyes, focus on the subtle energy permeating the air, and draw it close to her skin. After a day's work, Dacey, who had a natural affinity for the magic of nature, soon found herself in harmony with the gentle vibrations of the forest.
Meanwhile, Rickon took Adru to a rocky mountain area. Surrounded by rugged terrain, Adru learned to feel the resonance of the earth's magic beneath his feet, but it took him three days to perceive the earth's magic.
After the initial adjustments were complete, Aermir and Rickon guided Dacey and Adru to gather the first wisp of magic into their hearts. The process was subtle. Natural magic responded to Dacey's touch, while earth magic willingly submitted to Adru's control.
After the initial magic was gathered, Aermir and Rickon stepped back, allowing Dacey and Adru to absorb the elemental energy into their lives. This shift from guidance to self-reliance marked a crucial stage in their Druid journey.
Three days later, Dacey opened her eyes; she could drink water, but eating required too much concentration; if she wanted to eat or sleep, the quality of her Magic Heart would decrease, so she was exhausted from hunger. After eating and resting, it was time to test her power.
Something different happened to her; when she was in the forest, she was constantly receiving blessings. Aermir believed this was related to her skin-changing magic.
Since nature magic has no offensive spells at level one, Dacey could only cast a buffer spell on herself. Her buff magic was weaker Aermir's gem buff, but Dacey was captivated by her own buff. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, and she unconsciously embraced Aermir.