18 The Sacred Elements And Spirit

Karyan, leaving the ongoing chaos, swiftly retreated to his room. 

Securing the door with a wooden lock, he settled into a chair, contemplating, "Why does Mateo seek all four elemental books? What is he planning?" 

In the dimly lit room, Karyan rose from the chair, his foot was shaking. 

The air was thick with the earthy scent of dried herbs that hung in small pouches around the space. 

As he paced, the wooden floor creaked under his weight, "silence…"

With each step, his thoughts meandered through the ancient teachings of the four elements – water, fire, earth, and air. 

The books held the wisdom of ages, detailing the unbreakable balance between these forces. 

But something nagged at Karyan, a missing piece in the puzzle beyond his understanding.

He sat down and wrote four words, "water…fire, earth and air…" 

Water, symbolizing fluidity and adaptability. Fire, representing passion and transformation. Earth, embodying stability and growth. Air, signifying freedom and intellect. 

Karyan's brow furrowed as he mulled over Mateo's obsession with his power. 

A sudden realization struck him – the missing element, the one that bound them all.

 Spirit, the ethereal essence connecting every living being, the uncharted territory beyond the tangible elements.

He sank back into his chair, eyes fixed on the flickering candle flame.

 Mateo's intentions remained shrouded in mystery, veiled behind the desire for elemental knowledge. 

Was he seeking to harness the power of the fifth element, wielding it for creation or destruction?

The pungent scent of herbs wafted through the air, grounding Karyan in the present. 

He resolved to understand Mateo's motives, to delve into the depths of ancient wisdom that Lanta would never enlighten him about. 

The room was like a sanctuary of arcane secrets, witnessing Karyan's confused guesses. 

Lost in thought, Karyan murmured to himself, "Mateo's after something big, that's for sure. But why all four element books? What's the big plan?" 

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest as he pondered, the faint scent of herbs kept mixing in the air.

"Water, fire, earth, air... the basics. But there's more, there has to be," he mumbled. 

His eyes scanned the words, seeking clues to Mateo's weird motive. "Maybe he's trying to control nature, bend it to his will. But why? What's he aiming for?"

As Karyan paced, a dialogue spoke in his mind. "Mateo, what's your game? Are you a creator or a destroyer? Why gather the elements like a kid collecting stones?" His own questions were unanswered, in the stillness of the room.

Sinking back into his chair, Karyan's eyes fixed on the candle. "Could it be about power? The elements hold immense power, but he wants all of them. It's like he's trying to stitch together something more potent, something beyond the basics."

The room embraced the silence, broken only by Karyan's musings. "Or maybe it's about balance," he mused aloud. "Balancing these forces could reshape reality. But then again, what kind of balance requires all four elements? There's a missing link."

A frown creased Karyan's forehead as he grappled with the puzzle. "What if it's not about control or balance? What if it's a ritual, a summoning of forces beyond my understanding?" The idea was unsettling yet strangely plausible.

His eyes darted between the words. "Mateo, you've got your reasons, but what are they?" Karyan sighed. 

"I need to find out. Before the chaos beyond these walls spills into something I can't contain."

Determined, Karyan's fingers traced the contours of the elemental symbols. 

Mateo had woven with the threads of water, fire, earth, and air.

Seated at a worn wooden table, Karyan sketched symbols on a sheet of paper. 

Beside water, fire, earth, and air, he added new ones – blood, animal, and mind control. These were the elements beyond the basics, more potent and mysterious.

"Mateo's after the hidden elements," he whispered to himself. "Blood, animal, mind – they're not common, not everyone can wield them. But why?"

As his pencil danced on the paper, Karyan's thoughts delved deeper. "The royal family carries the spirit element, but it's been silent for two centuries. No signs, nothing. What's Mateo looking for?"

A frown etched across his face as he considered the unthinkable.

 "To control the spirit, he needs to... eliminate the wielders. One of each. Water, fire, earth, air, blood, animal, and mind. Is he planning to prove himself to the spirit?"

The room seemed to hold its breath as Karyan thought of the implications. "But why would he want the spirit? Is he trying to dethrone the king?" His eyes narrowed.

"That useless king – is Mateo plotting to seize the throne, using the spirit's power as leverage?"

His hand paused, the pencil hovering over the paper. "If he succeeds, it means chaos for everyone. The balance disrupted, and the consequences... unthinkable." Karyan's mind raced, connecting the dots of Mateo's cryptic plan.

With a determined glint in his eyes, Karyan traced his own symbol on the paper, intertwining it with the elements. "I can't let this happen. I've vowed to destroy them all myself…"

The scent of herbs hung in the air as he mulled over his next move. 

"First, I need to understand the spirit's silence, and find out why it's been dormant for so long. Then, I'll continue Mateo's plans for myself…" 

"Ssshhhh…" 

"I know, we need to find someone with mind control too, but we need a sorcerer first. I can't waste any of my time if that son of a bitch gets his hands on the spirit first." 

"Ssshhh…" 

"Lanta should hurry up and give me back my powers too, so I could unite them with fire." 

He bit his lower lip, "all this fucking time, I thought he killed me because he was jealous of my talents, but his plans were deeper and bigger than just jealousy…" 

A force chuckle escaped Karyan's lips, "that crazy son of a bitch, eh?"