Thane woke up before daybreak. He wanted to start off early for his training because his body was now rested and recovered from the past events he had to endure. " L'm energized, l never knew humans recuperated in a way like this" Thane uttered while stretching his body. He got dressed, his movements steady and deliberate. His human body was still strange to him, fragile, yet somehow enduring. He descended the wooden staircase quietly, the floorboards creaking beneath his steps and saw Anna already prepping for the opening of the inn as usual. In the kitchen, Anna was dancing near the oven, the smell of freshly baked bread and cookies filled the air. She looked up when she heard him approach."You are awake already, why so early?" Anna spoke at a distance to Thane. Thane did not respond.
"By the way kid, what's your name", Anna asked Thane whilst putting her hands on her waist. Thane lost in thought, "If l say lm Sorin it might rise to many questions because Anna might start to relate me to the Sorin she knew and that will be problematic so..". "Thane, my name is Thane". "What! Thane from the legends", Anna spoke a bit surprised. "From the legends!". Thane replied looking as if he is drowning in curiosity, "Yes, the leader of the 5 Klytins and also served as the right hand of the demon king", Anna uttered to Thane. "Really", Thane said looking amused. "Yes, don't you know the story. Every kid in this village listens to their parents because the tale speaks of Thane the demon adopting mischievous little ones at night", Anna said to Thane. "What the..", Thane was disappointed in what they had turned him into, a bedtime monster. "Wait, don't you know the story, didn't your parents tell you?" With great enthusiasm Thane replied dodging the question. "Tell me the story!", Thane replied. " Thane once tried to overthrow the Demon King but failed. He was almost killed, but somehow escaped from the demon continent. They say he's been wandering ever since, cursed to live without rest.", A faint smile washed over Thane's face. Inside his smile was spreading ear to ear, the feeling of being reminded of his past life and mocking his reputation with a pathetic backstory like that. He wanted to plunge the entire earth with his rough, but a mere thought baked with his power level, he could not do anything.
Thane was lost in thought but when he snapped back to reality, Anna was now talking to Lana who had bags under her eyes. "Ow my dear, you look like you barely had any sleep?" Anna asked Lana with a worried face. Lana gave a tired smile but didn't answer. Thane's eyes lingered on her for a brief moment, then he turned away and walked toward the door. The inn's door creaked softly as he stepped outside. Thane left the inn heading to the mountains, but this time he was walking at a relaxed pace due to his eyes being taken by the sun casting its radiant shine on the earth. Thane reached the mountain top, the wind was calm. He took a deep breath. Suddenly the trees started to sway following the wind. The wind begin to blow continuously strong. Small insects and leaves from trees were swept away reaching for the skies.
Elyria's voice echoed faintly in his memory, " ....path of complete distraction". Thane's determination solidified. The wind started to circle around him, he was now a wind attracting magnetic. " What's the point of using great power if it destroys you in the process", Thane spoke while closing his eyes. This was not just wind but mana particles in the air. He started to compress the wind that was circulating around him, forming a bubble of compressed wind.. him at the center. He started to sweat bullets because he was now suppressing the mana particles that were circulating making them excited and heat up. Constantly suppressing mana particles will enable them to continuously rise in temperature. What he meant by great power destroying the wielder is that he wanted to get accustomed to high temperatures enabling him to endure the flames that he will be able to conjure and not burn himself in the process.
#reminder - suppression of mana particles to a certain point makes them heat up to an extent to from a flame.
Thane continued to do this for 5 consecutive days, resting when needed. Continuously raising the temperature. He was now irritated by the frequent urination and hunger breaks he was now taking during the 5 days. " I ate my fill 5 days ago but l feel like l have not eaten in years", he was a slightly pissed off. He was not putting the same effort and concentration he did when he started. His clothes were already half burned and almost naked. He was still in that bubble of burning wind, and the temperatures he could handle were something not to look down at. His eyes narrowed. He could feel it, a presence, faint but real, watching him from the trees."Ahh, something has been watching me but it seems it's not planning to come out", Thane said while titling his head towards the trees.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the hot air. Suddenly, boom!. That bubble of compressed hot air bursts, a gust of wind blow in all directions. Trees swayed forcibly, grass and nearby tree leaves shriveled drying up instantly. When the dust settled, Thane stood in the center, his body steaming .The smell of roasted grasshoppers wafted into the air.
Then, from above, a faint sound, a creak of wood, a snapping branch. "Lana, what are you doing here?" Lana silently started to come down from a tree that barely had any leaves.