To do that, Andur put Leo in a strict schedule. In the morning he would wake up, eat breakfast, and proceed to study different topics like history and the ancient language. After some hours, he would eat, and then go out to do body training: running, weight-lifting, martial arts… the days were longer, so even just the mornings were already tiring.
At noon he had a few hours to rest, and in the afternoon, Leo had spiritual training. That training was mostly focused on getting to know his body and spirit well, and not using it. While not as intense or tiring as the morning training, the afternoons also drained Leo’s energy, so by the time he had some spare hours before dinner, the only thing he could do was stay around Ly, and chat.
This training lasted for a few weeks, and soon Leo realized it was way more effective than he thought it would be. Looking back into his memories, he now had a lot more resistance and concentration capacity than before. He was looking forward to that day, the day he would at least start using his spirit to do magic, and it was already there.
Andur woke him up when it was still dark. After getting dressed and cleaning up, they ate breakfast and prepared some bags. Andur told Leo they would have to walk some hours to reach the place, but didn’t tell Leo why they were going there.
By the time they went out of the house, the sky was already getting lighter. Andur walked in front, followed by Ly and Leo, and guided them through a forest in the back of the house. After crossing it, they walked around a small mountain, and then through another forest, when suddenly all life seemed to end, giving place to a red desert of dry ground.
The place was like a big crater, with around two kilometers of diameter, all void of life, dry and cracked. Once they stepped into the area, a strong feeling suddenly filled his body, like if some strange power was oppressing him, and telling him to turn around and leave. Then he understood why nothing wanted to live in there. He looked at Ly and saw her with a hand over her heart, like holding it. Andur, unlike them, didn't seem to feel that.
- What's this... feeling? I can't... breath well...
- This is the place of initiation. Even though you managed to open your eye on your own, and use your magic, it was because of necessity, rather than choice. The first step of the practical training, before you can do anything on your own, will be to reach the center of this crater.
» There's an object in the center, which you will have to reach. As simple as it seems, only a few people are able to finish it successfully. If you fail, you will still be able to use magic, but you will not learn it for me. This is because only those who pass this test can be considered worthy of my knowledge. Now go, you have already rested enough as it is. Show me I haven’t wasted my time with in the past weeks of training.
- I will.
Leo started to walk, thinking it didn’t seem so hard, but he soon realized with every step he did, the pressure was slowly getting bigger.
When Leo was far enough, and couldn’t hear them anymore, Ly walked to his father.
- Father, why are you making him take this test? After what happened the last time, I thought you said you would never do this again...
- What happened that time was partly my fault, Ly. He wasn't ready for it… but Leo is. Also, I know said I wouldn't make anyone take the test anymore, but that didn't change the condition: if anyone wants to learn from me, he has to pass the test.
- I hope you are right... I... I would hate you if something happened.
- Don’t’ worry, he is ready. I'm sure of it. He survived in the cave, Ly, and the next day he already had enough energy to open his eye, leave his body, heal your spirit, and return to his body, alive. He is indeed special, and you know it as much as I do. Not just for his spirit color… something tells me he will do more than fine. He will come back safely. Trust me.
Leo was still walking, one step after the other, barely holding up. He didn't even want to think, as any action would mean less energy to hold up and do the next step. Even though the sky was clear, the world seemed to collapse around him. He could see less every step he did, like if the energy of his body was being drawn away. His ears already didn't seem to work, as he could only hear his own breathing, and his heart beating, steadily. He continued to walk, one step after the other, only with one thing in his mind: Liien. He was doing everything for her, to protect her.
One step and his sight reduced to only a few meters around him.
One step and he almost tripped over.
One step and a pulse of pain hit his heart like an arrow piercing his chest.
He fell into his knees, barely breathing. He could hear his heart, now beating slowly, tired.
A thought flashed into his head: would he die in there? Was he not strong enough?
He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to leave Ly. HE didn’t’ want her to think he was too weak. He thought she would be disappointed at him for failing. He needed to hold up. He had to find strength somewhere...
He thought of the eye. Maybe he was supposed to open it. Maybe his spirit would help him. He feared getting even more hurt. What would he do if something like what happened in the cave would happen also there?
He had to risk it, because he couldn’t keep up anymore. He had to open his eye, or he would die. He searched inside him, he wanted to find that feeling, the trigger… but it wasn't there. He was too afraid. He wasn't able to recall it, he couldn’t remember. He had to find it, but it seemed too hard. The thoughts slipped in his mind, his eyes were closing. He was losing himself.
An image flashed in his head: the cave. He knew that cave, form what? Ly. She brought him to it. Shiny… there was something shiny on it. He had to remember, and the name appreared: mana. Pain, he also remembered the pain, strong pain, fear. What did he fear… losing his life? No, there was something else… he needed to remember what. Ly… she was the reason. It was painful, but he was remembering things.
He feared losing her… he couldn’t move, he remembered. Pain and fear, he couldn’t do anything. She was bad, it was also hurting her. He wanted to protect her. He lost sense of reality… everything was in his memories now. Protect her… that was what he had to do, but how? HE didn’t know how, no one had told him, he was useless. No, he had healed her, he saved her, and he could do it again.
He felt it. The eye was responding. Did he find the trigger? Did he find the way? He kept that thought… treasured it.
He needed to go on, but something was wrong. He was forgetting something, but what? The pain filled his head for some seconds. Ly was safe. He couldn’t use that trigger anymore. He didn’t have to protect her, he had to protect himself. Protect… himself. He screamed. HE couldn’t say anything, so he said it to himself, to his own spirit.
- Open… open… open! I need help!
Suddenly a wave of energy flowed from the deepest part of his core, through his body, filling everything before escaping into the air. The energy gathered around his body, making a big aura around him, getting strong, almost solid. The aura kept growing every moment, until it reached his limit. And he saw, he saw himself in the ground, and noticed the pressure was mostly gone. He now could stand up, he could walk. And he did.
Leo walked, now free of the pain, free from the pressure. His energy protect him. He was saved, and could now continue with the test. He saw he was already near the center, so he walked to it. In the center there was a small altar, with a strange ball in the middle. The ball was nearly transparent, like water, but shined with a white glow which seemed to revolve in a thousand directions at the same time.
He was about to grab it, when a hand touched his shoulder and stopped his arm from moving forward.
- Don't. You have already passed the test. You were supposed to give up. The energy was supposed to be bigger than your spirit. A normal person would have given up in a few minutes. All my previous students did. If they came back with their eye open, they passed the test. But your spirit is strong…. too strong. It's almost at my level. Still, even I would die if I touched the tear. It would be a thousand times stronger than what happened in the cave. You can't just touch a tear of Fantasy. No one can.
Leo and Andur walked back to where Ly was, and she greeted him with a smile.
- Hey Leo... you went far. I was worried about you... you were taking too long. Then your aura started to shine. It’s so beautiful... your aura.
- Thanks.
When they stepped out of the crater, Leo felt relieved. His spirit stopped flowing with energy, and his eye closed on its own. When that happened he remembered exhausted he was, and didn't have time to think anything else before fainting, and falling into the ground.