Chapter 54 - The Cost

As they emerged victorious, Raven couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He looked down at his hand, and saw that it was shaking slightly. A cold dread crept up his spine, like a whisper in the darkness."What's wrong?" Lirien asked, concern etched on her face, her eyes filled with a deep worry.Raven shook his head, trying to clear the haze. "I don't know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel...tired." The word felt like a lie, a weak excuse for the turmoil brewing inside him.Kaelin frowned, her eyes narrowing. "You're not supposed to get tired," she said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of fear. "You're using your powers wrong."Raven's eyes narrowed, a spark of defensiveness igniting within him. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice sharp, a hint of anger creeping in."I mean that you're not controlling your powers," Kaelin said, her words gentle but firm. "You're letting them control you." Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a deep understanding, a sense of knowing the dangers that lurked within the shadows of his mind.Raven's grip on the orb tightened, his knuckles white with tension. He knew that she was right, that he had been reckless, letting the power consume him. A wave of shame washed over him, followed by a sense of desperation. He felt like he was losing himself, drowning in the depths of his own abilities.Lirien stepped forward, her hand reaching out to his. "Raven, we need to talk about this," she said, her voice soft, filled with a deep concern.Raven pulled away, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and fear. "I don't need your help," he snapped, the words feeling like a betrayal.Kaelin's eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Raven, we're your friends," she said. "We want to help you."But Raven was beyond reason, consumed by the darkness that had been growing inside him. He turned away, the orb's power coursing through him like a river of fire, burning away his sense of self, his connection to the world around him.As he walked away, Lirien and Kaelin exchanged a worried glance. They knew that Raven was slipping away, losing himself to the very power that was supposed to be his greatest strength. They knew that they had to act, to find a way to bring him back before it was too late. But for now, they could only watch, their hearts heavy with concern, as Raven disappeared into the darkness, the cost of his powers consuming him whole.