In the world of Phantasia, elemental storms happens all the time, these storms are more powerful than your regular typhoons, for these storms are imbued with magic, like fire, water, earth, and air. Each having different effects on the storm.
For example, if fire magic is imbued to the storm, instead of raining water, it rains flames that burns everything it touches that doesn't have an affinity for the fire element.
These phenomenon are very rare as it takes a very, very long time to accumulate enough magic of a certain element, as it only happen once every 100-150 years, and most sorcerer tries to train in these elemental storms so they could gain better control and understanding on their element.
One of such sorcerer is named Sigmund who is almost 50 years old and has an affinity for the earth element, just so happened to hear some rumors that an elemental storm imbued with earth element is gonna happen in a few weeks on a mountain called Kainas Pass which is a good day's worth of travel away even if one has a horse, it would only cut it a few hours, maybe a day at most.
An elemental storm imbued with the earth element changes the storm into a sandstorm but instead of tiny grains of sand, it's fist-sized pebbles being hurled around at a very fast speed. Out of all the elemental storms, and earth-type storm is the deadliest as those without a solid defensive magic is almost killed instantly the moment they step in.
This is why a lot of people are seeking out elemental storms even though its not to their affinity, they try to seize this opportunity to improve their resistance to that element, and maybe even gain an enlightenment. All but the earth-type storm because the reward of enlightenment is not worth the risk of dying. Even those who has an affinity for the earth element tend to stay away.
Kainas Pass is well known for its almost impossibly jagged path, making it an ideal training grounds for earth type sorcerers, even without an elemental storm. Sigmund concluded that the elemental storm must have fed off the earth elementalist training there.
After a few hours of travel by foot, he is intercepted by bandits on his way to Kainas Pass, "Drop everything old man, if you want to get out alive!" The bandit said while pointing his sword, the other bandits also draw their weapons.
"Well well well, you youngins surely don't know how to pick a proper target," Sigmund said, "But since I'm not in a hurry, I'll entertain you," He said while cracking his knuckles.
Seeing the old man doesn't show any signs of surrendering, the first bandit lunged at him with his dagger and Sigmund dodged to the side and karate chopped the nape of the bandit.
The bandit fell to the ground unconscious, the other bandits attack simultaneously, Sigmund knocking them out one by one without, even using his magic, until there's only 2 left who didn't follow the initial attack.
Sigmund looked them straight in the eye, "Well? You gonna attack or what?" He taunted them.
"Don't underestimate us!" The bandit shouted as he threw a fireball from his free hand towards Sigmund.
"Oh?" Sigmund seems surprised before his hand glowed a pale yellow and swiped the fireball out. "You have some talent boy, that fireball was stronger than I anticipated." He praised, "Maybe you want to enroll at the magic academy over at the capital, the entrance exam is only a few months away from now." Sigmund offered, "I could even give you a recomendation."
The bandit seemed interested but his companion is the one who answered, "Not interested." the bandit said.
Sigmund shook his head, "Sigh, bandits. Well, since you refuse, I'll show you what a Grandmaster can do."
And as soon as Sigmund finished his words, the ground began to shake and the pale yellow aura now extended to his whole body and the ground began to shake, his eyes also began to glow a rich yellow color and the surrounding dust and pebbles began to float.
The two bandits are terrified, not knowing what to do, they know running is out of the question since the old man's aura is affecting a wide area, wider than they could cover from running. The other bandit gritted his teeth and slam his hands to the ground and five meter tall ice spikes protruded from the ground and making its way towards the old man.
But the moment it got close to Sigmund, the ice spikes stopped before disintegrating, "An ice elementalist ey? You are definitely a rare one, and to think you became this strong out here in the woods, I'll give you a chance."
The bandits gulped as they almost peed their pants, "W-what is it?" The ice bandit asked.
"Leave now and live, but your friends here are as good as dead, stay and you'll die along with them." Sigmund said as he's voice made the air to tremble.
The ice bandit was about to turn around when, "Like hell we'll leave them!" The fire bandit, raising his hands once more and casted another fireball, five times bigger than before, and definitely stronger.
Seeing this, Sigmund raised three walls, the fireball destroyed the first two walls with ease and making cracks on the third wall, Sigmund raised another wall right behind the third one to support it.
'What a powerful [Blaze], this kid has the potential to become a legend.' Sigmund thought, rubbing his chin.
While lost in thought, the ice bandit sent icicles and made their way around the wall of earth and fire, the ice bandit hoping that its enough to kill the old man.
While lost in thought, another wall of earth blocked the icicles, then out of nowhere, the ice bandit coughed up blood. The bandit looked down, and saw a spike made of earth speared the ice bandit from behind, goring his heart out.
The ice bandit slumped unto the ground as the spike receeded back to the ground, blood pooling around him.
The fire bandit saw this and turned face to run as far as he could, but as he turned, a huge boulder appeared above him, and crushed him. The sound of wet flesh and the crunch of bones echoed around.
Sigmund shooked his head in disappointment, offhandedly crushing the skulls of the unconscious bandits and continued on his journer to Kainas Pass.
As he walked away, the earth seemed to swallow the bandits, and drank their blood. Soon there wasn't a sign of battle at all. Like nothing has ever happened here. No sign of burn marks or frozen gound.
Nothing worthy of note except the walking Sigmund.