Entry #7

The midday sun blazed overhead, casting gold across the open fields. Louis stood before Ama-Lurra and Talos, sweat trickling down his brow, his sword trembling slightly in his hand. His breathing was ragged, his shirt torn at the sleeves from the earlier battle.

Ama-Lurra watched him closely, her emerald armor catching the light. “Are you certain about him, Father?”

Talos folded his arms. “He lacks polish… but he's shown he can take down a regular Xeolstor. That’s more than most.”

Louis lowered his stance and wiped his forehead. “I’ve never felt this drained in my life.”

A sudden rumble shook the ground.

The air changed.

From the trees, something massive approached—heavier, faster, deadlier.

Louis narrowed his eyes. “What in the heavens is that?”

Ama-Lurra’s face paled. “A Tiger Class! Louis, get out of there! You can’t fight that thing alone!”

But it was too late. The beast lunged, a shadowy blur of claws and fangs. Louis raised his sword, but he was too slow.

Ama-Lurra dove in, drawing her sword mid-air and clashing with the creature. Sparks erupted as steel met darkness. She held her ground, but the Tiger Class swiped with unnatural speed, knocking her weapon from her grip.

“Ama-Lurra!” Louis shouted. “I’m coming!”

He dove toward her fallen blade and gripped it tightly. Nature pulsed through the metal as vines and thorns bloomed along the edge.

Green light surged in his veins.

He rose, eyes glowing, and slashed.

The sword carved clean through the Tiger Class, splitting the beast in two. Its form evaporated into ash and shadow.

Ama-Lurra stared at him, stunned.

Louis staggered. “I think… we should call it a day.”

Talos nodded. “Indeed.”

Back at the camp, as the fire crackled and stars began to twinkle above, the three sat in council.

“You’re improving,” Talos said. “But your movements need refinement.”

“He’s well-versed in swordplay,” Ama-Lurra added. “What he needs now is elemental harmony.”

Louis rubbed the back of his neck. “I can use the powers… but they’re unstable. One moment I’m in control—the next, they’re running wild.”

Talos leaned forward. “And one more thing: You need a team. Power means nothing if you fight alone.”

Louis nodded. “Then I’ll go to the people. I’ll choose carefully.”

Ama-Lurra handed him a green cloth. “Meet me in the fields once you’re ready. But you must go alone.”

Louis stood atop a crate at the center of camp, his voice steady but urgent.

“Everyone—may I have your attention?”

Giuseppe turned first. “Of course, Lord Delacroix.”

“I made a deal with Talos,” Louis began. “If we defeat the Xeolstors plaguing this island, he’ll remove these powers—these curses—from us.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“I know it sounds impossible,” Louis continued, “but you’ve seen them heal my wounds. If you want to be normal again—truly normal—then stand with me. Fight beside me.”

A young man with spectacles stood up first. “My name is Joaquin. I was once a cleric. My element is Nature. My father was a botanist… I grew up among plants and remedies.”

Louis nodded. “Welcome, Joaquin.”

Then, a small girl hesitantly raised her hand. She stepped forward, trembling.

Louis knelt gently. “What’s your name, little one?”

“M-Mira…” she whispered.

“I'm not going to hurt you,” he said softly. “But may I ask… what powers do you have?”

“I don’t… want to use them,” she cried. “I just want to be a normal girl again. I want a mother and father…”

Louis wrapped his arms around her. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

He reached into his pocket and handed her a small loaf of bread. “My little sister loved bread. You should have some.”

Another man stepped forward, his stance confident but his eyes weary.

“Name?” Louis asked.

“Gabriel,” he said. The crowd murmured—his reputation as a thief preceding him.

Louis folded his arms. “Why join me? Is it for fame? Or redemption?”

Gabriel shook his head. “I’ve done nothing with my life… If I’m going to die here, I want to do it knowing I did something right.”

“What’s your skill?”

“Wind. I use it to move quickly, to strike fast. I was a thief… but maybe I can be more.”

Louis looked over the three—Joaquin, Mira, Gabriel.

“This is our beginning. We’ll train. We’ll fight. We’ll end this darkness together.”

Night descended. Louis returned to the fields where Ama-Lurra awaited, her armor faintly aglow in the moonlight.

“How did your search go?” she asked.

“I found a healer, a thief, and a girl with a quiet strength,” he replied.

Ama-Lurra nodded. “You’ll need all three.”

She turned and pointed to the northern end of the island.

“See that darkness? That’s where my mother dwells. The source of all this corruption. We call it… Chaoplasm.”

Louis stared at the swirling shadows in the distance.

“If you are gods,” he asked, “why not kill her yourselves?”

Ama-Lurra looked at him solemnly. “Because she is the concept of chaos, conflict, and darkness. Killing her would shatter the balance of the cosmos.”

“Then how do we stop her?”

“We seal her. We cage her essence.”

She unsheathed her blade. “But before we can trust you in this fight, you must master the powers you've inherited.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

The air around him grew thick.

“I’ll teach you the power of Nature,” she said. “Most underestimate it… But Nature can stun, poison, and put enemies to sleep. These are the basics.”

Louis felt dizzy.

He dropped to one knee. “I… I can’t move.”

Ama-Lurra stood above him. “Your body is covered in spores. They’re paralyzing you. Overcome them—or die.”

Louis’s mind raced. Poison, paralysis, sleep… Think, think!

He remembered her lecture: Spores affect the nervous system. Poison can purge paralysis.

With gritted teeth, he summoned a mild toxin from within—just enough to shock his body.

He screamed.

And then… he moved.

Ama-Lurra smirked. “You poisoned yourself to escape paralysis. Clever.”

Louis was still panting, shaking from the pain.

“I… learned that from you.”

But she snapped her fingers again.

Fungi burst from his skin—mushrooms growing across his body.

“This is Nature’s Punishment,” she said. “Humans consume fungi… but fungi also consume humans.”

Louis collapsed. “If this spreads… I’ll die.”

Think, Louis!

“My grandfather once wrote about Golden Ginger… it can kill fungal infections…”

He dug into the dirt, spit into the soil, and focused all his will.

“Come forth… life!”

A small golden plant sprouted.

He snatched it and swallowed it whole.

The fungi vanished.

Ama-Lurra smiled. “Final trial: Nature’s Wrath.”

Wooden logs shot from the trees like missiles. Louis leapt, slashing one mid-air.

He raised his hand. “Nature’s Wrath!”

Nothing.

In order to summon power, the mind must be clear.

Louis closed his eyes.

Protect those who cannot protect themselves.

His eyes opened, burning with crimson determination.

“Nature’s Wrath!”

Roots surged from the earth, wrapping around Ama-Lurra until she was completely ensnared.

She laughed as he cut her free.

“You’ve done it. You’ve tamed the power of Nature.”

Louis dropped to his knees, exhausted.

“I… I can control it now?”

“As long as you keep training,” she said, offering her hand.

He took it.

“Let’s return to camp,” he said. “I need to prepare. My team and I—we’re going to help your siblings.”

Ama-Lurra nodded. “Then you should visit Illazki first. He’ll forge a weapon worthy of your will.”

Entry# 7 End