Elden Ring Shorts

Push and Pull of Gravity (Radahn)

You'd pushed yourself to the limit again. And again. And again. Your skin buzzed and your heart palpitated from the sheer force of the gravitational magic. Your hair was elevated, slolwy coming down with your wobbly body, until you collapsed like a discarded doll. You excelled in the studies of gravity and the sheer power of the stars, top of the class, so to speak. You were revered for your ambition to learn, but very few were actually concerned for your wellbeing in consequence of pushing your limits in such drastic ways.
Your heart thumped arrythmically against your ribs, tensing and squeezing the muscles in your breast in painful cramps. Gasping, you sit on the floor clutching your chest with slow steadying breaths. A larger man rushes to you from among the teachers and admiring students, who only left you to the floor as display of the inevitable aftermath.

"Hey, hey... Don't push it, breathe, in... out... let it go, let the gravity go." the man with a wild red mane soothed you, hand on your shoulder in support. His golden eyes watched over you each time you went through your routine, your practice or show of prowess. He was the quiet cheer that admired you, but also feared. You were a mortal, compared to him. A mere human of flesh and blood in waiting of death sooner than him.
You looked to him with a soft smile, leaning into his comfort as you caught your breath. You both shared a small moment of rest, allowing you to rest against him, unafraid to close your eyes in his warmth.

Radahn, son of Rennala and Radagon, an aspiring general practicing gravity magic much like you. He'd made quick progress, but you exceeded everyones expectations and served as an inspiration to the giant Demigod. He smiled fondly to you, eyes glimmering with admiration and appreciation of your time, your tutelage to him. You held an open mind beyond those of your peers and he wasn't afraid to hear your theories and calculations, even in the later hours of the day over a drink of something, going on for hours about your goals.
They were admirable, but increasingly worrying as each year passed.

You both were older now, and while Radahn shared these lofty goals of mastering gravitational magic for a more humble reason, your mortality was pressing him to question you. To worry over you more and more each time. As much as he did not intend it to be so, it pushed you away from him. Every moment of friendship, any closure, any past sweetheart feelings fleeted from you. Slowly and not entirely openly to his knowledge it was all disappearing, but you hated hearing his doubts, however caring they may have been. He doubted you. Your ability to withstand the extent of your thrive and thirst to experiement.

And now, here he was again, worryin over you. Eyes meeting the Demigod's you flash a quick smile, before pushing yourself to stand. Your body always took its time adjusting to the normal gravity that pulled your muscles to the ground and the wait left them weak and wobbly. Despite the tremors threatening to buckle you, you stand up and step away from the Demigod. "Thank you, Radahn... I'm fine, really."

He wasn't convinced, but smiled regardless. "That was... That was impressive. As always." He praised, to which you responded with the usual thanks and asked about his progress, to which he gave you brief updates. You didn't quite follow his training as intently anymore, so he updated you whenever you asked about it. It felt like a bitter formality, but you knew he tried to mean well.

Go forward some more years and you were at your limits. Your threshold was in sight and you wanted to step across, to succumb to the opportunity, the possibility to find something beyond you beyond your mortal binds. You'd locked yourself away to study and research for a long time, scarcely updating yourself with Radahn at all anymore.
Slamming your book, you sighed heavily. You were so close to figuring it all out. You just needed to see one of your teachers for another book of theirs. Every tutor was more thna willing to fuel your work in great anticipation to see if you succeed or perish. Either way, they'd get to know what is beyond the mortal limitations.