Two years later
It has been two years since Ven’s life was completely turned upside down and he was transported to this strange new world.
During those two years, Ven trained relentlessly with Nyx and Kia, perfecting his combat skills and strengthening his body. Enishi and Ezreal continued to oversee his progress, watching carefully as Ven slowly transformed into the warrior they hoped he would become.
When Nyx, Kia, and Enishi weren’t training Ven, they were sent on missions on behalf of the Tower. They never told Ven what those missions involved, and Ven never asked. He assumed whatever they were doing was for the greater good.
At least, he hoped it was.
Over time, Ven formed a bond with the three of them. At night, he would tell them stories about his life in Japan, sharing his favorite anime, manga, and video games. They were fascinated by the world he came from and constantly asked him questions.
They wanted to know what televisions were, what cameras did, what cell phones were, what the internet was, and Kia’s favorite topic of all:
Food.
Ven loved seeing their reactions when he explained things from his old world. It was the first time he had ever been able to openly share his passions with people besides his mother.
The first time he felt accepted.
The first time he felt like he belonged.
The other inhabitants of the Tower still kept their distance because of what he was a Tenari.
But Ven no longer cared.
He had a family now. Even if Enishi’s relationship with him was still somewhat distant compared to Nyx and Kia, Ven knew they cared about him. There was only one person who continued to make his life difficult.
Lox.
A Water Madokai prodigy whose skills had grown tremendously over the past two years. His talent had caught Ezreal’s attention, making him one of the Master’s prized students.
Unlike everyone else, Lox didn’t avoid Ven because he was afraid of him.
He hated him.
Lox constantly tried to provoke Ven, hoping to push him into breaking the Tower’s strict no-violence policy. If Ven attacked another student, he would be removed permanently. But Ven was no longer the timid sixteen-year-old boy who first arrived. Now eighteen years old, Ven had grown stronger, faster, and far more confident.
Every year on his birthday, Ven planted a flower in the Tower’s garden in honor of his mother. Enishi, Nyx, and Kia knew to leave him alone on that day, but they always left him a gift. Despite all his growth, however, Ven still struggled with one thing.
Fear.
Sometimes he questioned whether he was truly capable of becoming the person everyone expected him to be.
Sometimes his temper still got the better of him.
And Enishi noticed. Which was exactly why he had delayed teaching Ven how to wield his power.
Much to Ven’s frustration.
Training Grounds
“Good, Ven! Good!” Kia cheered, clapping her hands.
Ven and Nyx were sparring in the training grounds while Enishi supervised from beneath a nearby tree.
“About time you improved,” Nyx teased, lowering his hands after blocking one of Ven’s kicks.
Ven stood there breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face.
“You still feel like a damn rock, Nyx,” Ven said. “I can’t break your defense.”
“That’s because I have years of training under my belt. Did you honestly think I would let some kid take me down?”
Kia crossed her arms.
“That’s because you have heavy feet. Every time you plant yourself, you probably sink into the ground.”
“Shut up, Kia.”
Nyx sent a small gust of wind toward her, and she laughed as she dodged it.
“When is the wedding?” Ven joked.
Kia rolled her eyes.
“I would rather eat a fried duckmuffin than marry Nyx.”
“Oh yeah? But I bet you wouldn’t hesitate to marry En—”
SPLASH.
Nyx was immediately hit in the face with water.
“Hush!” Kia snapped.
“Are you two done?” Enishi asked calmly. “You’re interrupting my meditation.”
Nyx turned toward him.
“Want to stop doing that and come control your woman?”
Enishi opened his eyes and stared at Nyx.
A moment later, he burst out laughing.
Nyx joined him.
Kia sighed.
“You two are so immature.”
“Whatever love triangle you three have is immature,” Ven replied.
“There is no triangle,” Nyx said, pointing at Enishi and Kia. “Just two people who refuse to admit they’re in love. We all know the truth. You two would make a great couple.”
Kia rolled her eyes, though her cheeks turned slightly red.
“And your children wouldn’t be THAT ugly.”
“Nyx.”
Enishi’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
Nyx immediately stopped smiling.
Ven laughed.
“Anyway!” Kia interrupted. “Nish, I think Ven is ready.”
Enishi looked at her.
“Ready for what?”
“Wielding training.”
The smile immediately disappeared from Enishi’s face.
Ven noticed.
“He has every stance down. His hand-to-hand combat is incredible. Honestly, a little terrifying. I didn’t think he would progress this quickly.”
Nyx nodded.
“She’s right.”
Ven stepped forward excitedly.
“So I’m ready?”
Enishi looked between Nyx and Kia.
“Can I speak with the two of you alone?”
Ven frowned.
“Why can’t I be part of the conversation? It’s about me.”
“It concerns you,” Enishi replied. “But you do not need to be involved.”
Ven narrowed his eyes.
“Why do I feel like you’re holding me back?”
“Because you’re impatient.”
“I’ve trained for two years!”
“That is not the point, Ven.”
“Then what is?”
Enishi’s expression hardened.
“Wielding is not something you rush into.”
Ven clenched his fists.
“I’m tired of secrets, Enishi.”
“As am I,” Enishi replied.
He turned away.
“You will train when I decide you are ready.”
Ven watched as Enishi walked away with Nyx and Kia.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered.
Enishi, Nyx, and Kia
Enishi led Nyx and Kia far enough away that their conversation couldn’t be overheard.
Nyx quickly jumped onto a small cloud of condensed wind and scanned the area.
“He didn’t follow us,” Nyx confirmed as he floated back down.
Enishi nodded.
“Good.”
Kia folded her arms.
“Enishi… is it finally time?”
“It is.”
She sighed.
“So it begins.”
Nyx looked between them.
“We all knew this day would come.”
Enishi remained silent.
“We know what the boy is capable of,” Nyx continued. “Have you seen how quickly he has improved? Two years, Enishi. Two years and he has surpassed expectations.”
Enishi nodded.
“That is exactly why I delayed this.”
Kia frowned.
“Because you’re afraid?”
Enishi looked at her.
“No.”
A pause.
“Because I know what happens when power like his is awakened without control.”
Nyx’s expression became serious.
“We only have nine months until the ceremony.”
“I know.”
“Do you think that’s enough time?”
Enishi looked toward where Ven was waiting.
“It will have to be.”
Kia sighed.
“We’ve been preparing for this for twelve years.”
Nyx nodded.
“And if he doesn’t learn control soon, we may not be able to stop him.”
Enishi clenched his fist.
“His power has been dormant for years. Once it fully awakens, there is no telling how strong it will become.”
Nyx looked down.
“Especially with his temper.”
Kia nodded.
“He has the strength. The speed. The instincts.”
She paused.
“But his emotions…”
Enishi closed his eyes.
“That is what concerns me.”
Nyx crossed his arms.
“The ceremony. Are we really going to let him participate?”
Enishi looked at him.
“We have to.”
Kia frowned.
“You know what I see when he fights.”
A chill ran through her.
“His movements. His instincts. It reminds me of…”
She stopped herself.
“But it’s different.”
Enishi looked away.
“The ceremony is the only way to confirm my suspicions.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not.”
Silence.
Nyx sighed.
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Enishi looked at him.
“I do.”
Kia placed a hand on Nyx’s shoulder.
“We’ve waited twelve years.”
Nyx looked at her.
“We all have.”
Enishi allowed himself a small smile.
“I’m going to need both of you.”
Nyx and Kia nodded.
“As always.”
One hour later
Enishi, Nyx, and Kia returned to find Ven asleep beneath a tree.
“Ven,” Kia called.
Ven slowly opened his eyes.
“Yes?”
“Your training starts now,” Enishi said.
Ven immediately sat up.
“Really?”
A huge grin appeared on his face.
“What changed your mind?”
“Don’t worry about that. Come.”
Ven stood.
“You two have fun,” Kia said.
Nyx smirked.
“Good luck.”
Ven immediately became suspicious.
“Why do I feel like that’s not encouragement?”
Neither of them answered.
Ven and Enishi
Enishi took Ven to an open field surrounded by dirt, rocks, and dry grass.
The two stood across from each other.
“Lesson one,” Enishi said.
Ven straightened.
“I’m ready.”
“Take your stance.”
Ven did as instructed.
“Breathe.”
Ven inhaled.
“Slowly.”
He exhaled.
“Control your breathing. Your body. Your mind.”
Enishi circled him.
“Good.”
Then, without warning, Enishi turned and started walking away.
Ven blinked.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a nap.”
Ven stared.
“Excuse me?”
“You stand there and breathe. I’ll return later.”
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
Enishi continued walking.
“Focus.”
Ven watched him leave.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Four hours later
Enishi returned.
To his surprise, Ven was still standing.
“Good.”
Ven immediately glared at him.
“You said an hour.”
“Yes.”
“It is nighttime!”
Enishi looked up at the moon.
“And?”
Ven stared.
“You know what? Never mind.”
Enishi walked around him, studying his stance.
Then he stopped.
“You moved.”
Ven froze.
“What?”
“The dirt.”
Enishi pointed toward Ven’s feet.
“It tells me everything.”
Ven looked down.
There were clear marks where his feet had shifted.
“I only adjusted my stance.”
“Which means you moved.”
Ven sighed.
“Come on.”
“You disobeyed.”
“I didn’t exactly break a law.”
“No.”
Enishi folded his arms.
“You simply ignored your teacher.”
Ven groaned.
“So what now?”
“You stand until morning.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
Ven looked toward the sky.
“Why do I feel like training with you is going to be the worst thing I’ve ever experienced?”
Enishi walked away.
“Because you’re smart.”
The next morning
Enishi returned.
Ven was still standing. His eyes were exhausted, and his legs shook.
“You did well,” Enishi said.
Ven looked at him.
“I hate you.”
Enishi tilted his head.
“That is unfortunate.”
“I’m tired.”
“Why didn’t you sleep?”
Ven stared.
“I was standing.”
Enishi nodded.
“Fair point.”
Ven collapsed onto the ground.
“You have thirty minutes.”
Ven looked up.
“Thirty minutes until what?”
“Until we continue.”
Ven groaned. “Of course.”
Enishi sat beside him.
“You want to know why you’re doing this?”
“Yes!”
“Because as a Fire Madokai, breathing is everything.”
Ven listened.
“When you use your abilities, your body temperature increases dramatically. Without control, you can burn yourself from the inside.”
Ven’s expression changed.
“You could literally kill yourself.”
Enishi pointed at his chest.
“You must control your body before you control your power.”
Ven nodded slowly.
“That is why Nyx trained your body. He built your endurance. That is why Kia trained your combat. She taught you movement.”
Enishi looked him directly in the eye.
“And now I teach you control.”
Ven nodded.
“I understand.”
“Good.”
Enishi stood.
“The ceremony is approaching.”
Ven sighed. “The Ranking Ceremony.”
“Yes.”
“The one where people fight each other and kill giant goats?”
Enishi looked at him.
“The Madrigoat is not a goat.”
“It has goat in the name.”
“It is still not a goat.”
Ven shrugged.
“Agree to disagree.”
Enishi ignored him.
“The ceremony happens every fifteen years. The strongest students are chosen to become Masters.”
“And you, Nyx, and Kia all competed?”
“Yes.”
“Who won?”
Enishi turned away.
“The strongest one.”
Ven stared.
“Kia?”
“No.”
Ven opened his mouth.
“Then who—”
“Enough.”
Ven sighed.
“You’re impossible.”
Enishi smirked slightly.
“And yet you continue asking questions.”
“Because you never answer them.”
“Exactly.”
Ven rolled his eyes.
Enishi walked back toward the training field.
“Come.”
Ven followed.
“More breathing?”
“Yes.”
Ven groaned.
“I’m going to hate this.”
“No.”
Enishi looked back.
“You’re going to master it.”
Ven stared at him and for the first time, he realized something.
Enishi wasn’t trying to hold him back.
He was preparing him.
“Come on,” Enishi repeated.
Ven took his stance.
And breathed.
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