The second month of training had come to an end, marking a pivotal moment for the group. Master Aedric had observed them closely, evaluating their progress, their dedication, and most importantly, their understanding of the Inner Tide. With their status as Initiates now firmly established, it was time to push them toward something greater.
On a quiet morning, just as the first rays of dawn painted the horizon in hues of crimson and gold, Aedric gathered his students in the open courtyard. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and salt—a reminder of the sea that birthed their abilities. The courtyard itself was a modest space, surrounded by stone walls weathered by time, with patches of moss creeping up their surfaces. The ground beneath their feet was a mixture of sand and rock, carefully arranged to mimic the natural environment where tides held the most influence.
Aedric stood before them, his presence as imposing as ever. Though his posture was relaxed, his gaze was sharp, unwavering. He had taught many over the years, but this group held something unique—potential untapped, power yet to be realized.
"You have all proven yourselves worthy of the first step," Aedric began, his voice steady and measured. "To wield the tide is to understand it, to flow with it rather than against it. But what you have learned so far is merely the foundation. True mastery requires more than just practice; it demands understanding, control, and most importantly, a path to advancement."
He let the weight of his words settle over them before continuing. "At the Arcanis Institute, students are given cultivation techniques designed to harness their Inner Tide in a structured manner. These techniques are useful, but they are also limited. They were created to guide the many, not the exceptional. But it is a different matter for the seeded students or the prodigies as you would call them."
Kaien felt a strange anticipation building inside him. He had seen what structured training could do, had watched as his control over the Tide Shaper power grew immensely, but he knew there was still much more to learn. Lyra, standing beside him, had a similar expression—curiosity and determination flickering in her eyes.
Aedric took a slow breath, then spoke again. "I have spent decades studying the ways of the tide, absorbing knowledge from various institutes, masters, and even forbidden texts. From all that I have learned, I have created something different—something unrestricted by the limitations of the institutes. A cultivation technique that does not impose ceilings upon its practitioners but rather allows them to push as far as their potential will take them. I call it... Typhoon of the Abyss."
The name alone sent a ripple through the group. It carried a certain weight, a sense of mystery and depth that immediately demanded their attention. Aedric gestured for them to sit, and as they did, he moved with purpose, pacing slowly as he explained further.
"The essence of this technique is simple yet profound: the deeper you go, the more powerful you become. Just as the sea hides its greatest secrets in the abyss, so too does this technique encourage its practitioner to reach depths they never thought possible. It is not an easy path, nor is it a gentle one. The cultivation of your Inner Tide will feel like drowning at times, as if you are being swallowed by the currents themselves. But if you endure, if you push past the breaking point, you will emerge stronger."
Aedric knelt in the center of the courtyard, pressing his palm against the ground. A faint ripple of energy expanded outward, as if the very air was responding to his command. "Most cultivation techniques focus on accumulation—gathering essence, refining it, using it. Typhoon of the Abyss does more than that. It does not just refine; it reshapes. It does not just strengthen; it transforms. The deeper you allow yourself to sink, the greater the storm you can command."
The group listened intently, their focus unwavering. The technique Aedric described sounded almost too grand to be real, but the conviction in his voice left no room for doubt.
He rose to his feet and turned to them. "Each of you will experience this technique differently, because each of you carries a different tide within. To the tide shapers, it will allow you to construct, control, and bend the elements of water in ways far beyond what you have seen. The healing tide will take on properties more potent, allowing not just restoration but deeper regeneration. The tide travellers will be able to move in unthinkable ways, for as long as you truly master this technique and for the tide vortex, you will definitely become more powerful as if your powers came straight from the depths of the ocean—each of you will find something unique within yourselves, a reflection of your own depths."
Kaien swallowed hard. A part of him was exhilarated, but another part—the part that harbored his dark secret—felt uneasy. He had stolen his power. He had taken it through his negative current, an ability he still barely understood. If Typhoon of the Abyss demanded that one dive into their depths, what would he find lurking within his own?
Lyra placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, offering him a small but determined nod. She, too, had her own burdens, but she was willing to face them.
Aedric stepped back. "I will guide you through the first step. Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel the tide within you, but do not try to control it. Let it move as it wills."
Kaien and everyone else did as instructed, inhaling deeply and allowing himself to relax. At first, there was nothing—just the steady rise and fall of his breath. But then, like a whisper carried by the wind, he felt it. The tide within him. It was restless, powerful, coiling and uncoiling like a serpent beneath the surface.
"Now," Aedric continued, "imagine yourself in the ocean. You are standing at the shore, feeling the waves against your feet. The water is calm, familiar. But before you is the abyss. You must step forward, into the unknown."
Kaien's mind followed the words, envisioning himself at the water's edge. He could feel the pull of the tide, calling him deeper. His heart pounded, but he did not resist. He stepped forward.
The moment he did, everything changed. The tide surged around him, wrapping him in its embrace. It was not violent, but it was relentless. The deeper he went, the more it consumed him. He could feel his Inner Tide responding, shifting, adapting. His body felt weightless yet heavy all at once, as though he was dissolving into the water itself.
Aedric's voice reached him through the currents. "Do not resist. Let it take you. Sink. Deeper. Deeper."
Kaien felt himself falling, but he was not afraid. The deeper he went, the clearer everything became. He could see the structure of his power, the way it ebbed and flowed, the way it connected to something greater.
And then, in the heart of the abyss, he saw it.
A storm, swirling in the darkness, waiting to be unleashed.