The days following Shen's trial at the Academy of Arcanum passed in a blur. The initial shock of unleashing his power still weighed heavily on him. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see the crackling energy that had surged from his hands—wild and uncontrollable. The feeling of being at the mercy of something so powerful unsettled him, and he found himself questioning whether he was truly ready for what lay ahead.
His room in the academy was simple, sparsely furnished with only a small cot, a desk, and a chair. The stone walls seemed to absorb the silence, making the place feel cold and isolating. Yet, Shen didn't mind it. He preferred the solitude to the noise and bustle of the larger academy. It gave him time to think, to reflect on his past and the choices that had led him here.
It had been three days since the test. He had been allowed some time to recover from the trial, but today, Elyra had informed him that it was time to begin his training in earnest. She had already arranged for him to meet with one of the academy's senior instructors—a man named Zarek, who was renowned for his ability to teach control over volatile magic.
Shen wasn't sure what to expect. He had no idea how anyone could teach him to control the raw energy that had surged from him during the trial. It felt like something alive, constantly pulsing beneath the surface of his skin, waiting to burst free. The idea of trying to rein it in seemed impossible.
Elyra led him through the winding corridors of the academy. The halls were quiet, and the air was thick with the weight of centuries of knowledge. The academy had been built on ancient foundations, and it felt like every step Shen took reverberated with the echoes of past students and masters who had walked these same halls.
Finally, they arrived at a large wooden door. Elyra knocked twice, and after a moment, the door swung open. The man standing in the doorway was tall, with a broad build and a weathered face that spoke of years of experience. His eyes were sharp and calculating, and Shen could sense immediately that this was not a man who would tolerate failure.
"Zarek," Elyra said with a nod. "This is Shen."
Zarek's gaze shifted to Shen, sizing him up with a quick, appraising look. "So, you're the one who's been causing a stir around here," he said gruffly. "Come inside. We have much to discuss."
Shen followed him into the room, his nerves on edge. The room was dimly lit, with stone walls and a large, circular stone table in the center. There were no windows, but several candles flickered in the corners, casting long shadows across the room. A large stone fireplace was built into one wall, though it was not currently lit.
Zarek motioned for Shen to sit at the table. "First things first," he said, his voice low and commanding. "You'll need to understand that the power inside you is not something to be feared, but it is something to be respected. If you let it control you, it will destroy you. Do you understand?"
Shen nodded. He had learned that much in the past few days, if nothing else. The power was dangerous. He had seen it firsthand.
Zarek sat across from him, folding his arms across his chest. "Good. Now, tell me about your first experience with your magic. What did you feel when you used it?"
Shen thought for a moment, trying to recall the exact feeling. "It was... intense. Like a force trying to break free. When I used it, it felt like everything around me disappeared. I could only focus on the power."
Zarek's eyes narrowed. "That's the danger of raw magic," he said. "It isolates you, makes you focus only on itself. The key to controlling it is learning to focus on something else—on your surroundings, your body, your thoughts. You must learn to anchor yourself. If you can't do that, you'll never master your power."
Shen felt a knot tighten in his stomach. It sounded so simple when Zarek said it, but in his experience, things weren't that easy. "How do I do that?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Zarek stood up and walked over to the far wall, where a series of intricate runes were carved into the stone. "First, we'll start with basic grounding exercises. These will help you become aware of your body and your surroundings. If you can learn to focus on the here and now, you'll have a better chance of controlling the energy inside you."
He turned back to Shen. "I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale slowly, then exhale. Focus only on your breathing."
Shen did as he was instructed, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He focused on the sound of his breath, the rise and fall of his chest. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The lingering tension in his shoulders began to ease, and he felt a slight sense of calm.
"Good," Zarek said, his voice calm but firm. "Now, as you breathe, I want you to picture the energy inside you as a glowing sphere. Imagine it moving slowly through your body, starting from the tips of your fingers and toes and flowing up toward your chest. Feel it settling there, calm and controlled."
Shen focused, picturing the energy as Zarek had instructed. He could almost feel the power swirling beneath his skin, but it was different this time. The raw chaos of it seemed distant, like something he could control.
"Now, slowly, focus on the space around you," Zarek continued. "Feel the stone beneath you, the air in the room. Don't just concentrate on your own energy—acknowledge the world around you."
Shen's mind raced as he tried to balance the sensations. The air seemed cooler than before, and the weight of the stone under his feet became more pronounced. He focused harder, reaching out to feel the room, the walls, the flickering candles. And slowly, it worked. The energy inside him seemed to calm, to settle into place.
"Good," Zarek said, a hint of approval in his voice. "You're starting to get it. This is the first step. Control doesn't come from suppressing your magic—it comes from integrating it into your being. You need to make it a part of you, not something that exists outside of you."He still wasn't sure he had mastered it, but for the first time, he felt like he might actually be able to control the power inside him. It wasn't as overwhelming now.
Zarek gave him a sharp nod. "That's enough for today. But remember bro this is only the beginning. You'll need to practice, over and over, until it becomes second nature."
As Shen left the room, he felt a mixture of exhaustion and hope. He had taken the first step on a long path, and while he knew it wouldn't be easy, he also knew that he couldn't turn back. The power inside him was part of who he was now. And with each passing day, he would learn to control it.