The morning sun crept higher, casting long shadows across the courtyard where Zane stood, trying to harness the darkness within him. Rael stood a few feet away, his stern gaze never leaving Zane. Though the training had only just begun, Zane could already feel the weight of the power that Rael was forcing him to grasp. The shadows around him seemed almost alive, curling and twisting as he struggled to maintain control.
"Again," Rael commanded, his voice cutting through the stillness. "You need to focus. The shadows are part of you now. If you can't control them, they will consume you."
Zane grit his teeth, feeling the frustration bubbling up inside him. It wasn't that he didn't want to control the shadows; it was that they felt foreign, like something that didn't belong to him. He could feel them tugging at him, ready to respond, but each time he tried to command them, they slipped away, as if mocking his attempts.
A low growl caught Zane's attention, and he glanced to the side where Rust, the fox, was lounging on the edge of the courtyard, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Azrael had gifted Rust to Zane only a short time ago, yet the bond between them was still new, uncertain. The fox often watched Zane with a look that suggested he knew more than he let on, and his occasional cryptic behavior did little to ease Zane's nerves.
The fox's sharp gaze met Zane's, and for a brief moment, Zane felt a strange connection—almost like Rust was trying to tell him something.
"Focus, Zane!" Rael barked, pulling his attention back to the task at hand.
Zane huffed, raising his hand once more. He called upon the shadows, reaching for the tendrils that lurked at the edges of the courtyard. This time, he felt them respond more readily, curling toward him like wisps of smoke. Slowly, they began to gather at his feet, creeping up his legs and swirling around him.
"Better," Rael muttered, though his tone was still laced with disapproval. "But you're too rigid. The shadows are not a tool to be wielded—they are an extension of you. Let them flow naturally."
Zane inhaled deeply, trying to relax his mind. He could feel the shadows pressing against his skin, cool and weightless, yet there was a heaviness to them, a sense of power just beyond his reach. Rust stood and padded closer, his gaze never leaving Zane, as if studying him.
"What are you looking at?" Zane muttered under his breath, but Rust only cocked his head slightly, his tail flicking in amusement.
Before Zane could say anything more, a flutter of wings signaled the arrival of Corvus, Azrael's raven, who swooped down from the roof and perched on the edge of a nearby pillar. The raven's beady eyes focused on Zane, and it let out a harsh caw, as if offering its own critique of Zane's performance.
Zane rolled his eyes. "Great, now I've got an audience."
Mora, Azrael's black cat, slinked into the courtyard next, her sleek fur gleaming in the sunlight. She padded gracefully toward Rust, who twitched his nose at her in greeting. Unlike Rust, who was playful and mischievous, Mora carried an air of mystery and quiet authority. She often appeared at odd moments, offering vague advice that left Zane more confused than enlightened.
Mora rubbed against Zane's leg, her green eyes meeting his for a moment before she spoke softly, her voice as smooth as velvet. "You're trying too hard, little one. The shadows don't respond to force. They respond to understanding."
Zane blinked, surprised by her words. "Understanding? What's that supposed to mean?"
Mora's tail flicked, and she looked toward the shadows swirling at Zane's feet. "You must accept them as part of yourself. They are not separate from you. They are born of the same power that keeps you here, in this liminal state. If you fight them, they will resist. But if you accept them, they will serve."
Zane frowned, digesting her words. He looked down at the shadows, watching as they moved lazily around him. They felt foreign, but maybe that was because he was treating them like something outside of himself, something he had to control instead of something that was already part of him.
"Let them flow," Mora purred. "Trust them, and they will trust you."
Zane nodded slowly, closing his eyes as he tried to focus inward. He reached out again, but this time, he didn't try to command the shadows. Instead, he let himself feel them, their cold touch against his skin, their presence within him. He thought about what Mora had said—how they were born of the same power that now sustained his existence.
As he relaxed, the shadows moved more freely, swirling around him with greater ease. They no longer felt like something foreign; they felt like an extension of his own body. He opened his eyes, watching as the tendrils of darkness danced around him, responding to his movements with fluidity.
"Well," Rael said, his voice slightly less harsh than before. "It seems you've finally figured it out."
Zane glanced at Rael, surprised by the hint of approval in his tone. "I'm… getting there, I guess."
"Don't get complacent," Rael warned, his eyes sharp. "This is only the beginning. The shadows are one part of your power, but you'll need more than that to survive what's coming."
Zane's heart sank slightly at Rael's words. He knew the butler wasn't one to sugarcoat things, but the reminder that there were greater challenges ahead made his newfound progress feel small in comparison.
Rust padded closer to Zane, sitting at his feet and looking up at him with what could only be described as a satisfied expression. The fox's eyes gleamed, and Zane couldn't shake the feeling that Rust was pleased with his progress.
"You think I'm doing okay, huh?" Zane muttered, reaching down to scratch behind Rust's ear.
The fox closed his eyes, leaning into the touch, and Zane smiled despite himself. It was strange, having an animal companion—especially one as odd as Rust—but there was something comforting about the fox's presence. It felt like, in a way, Rust was guiding him just as much as Rael was, though in a much more subtle way.
Corvus let out another caw, as if to remind Zane that he was still being watched, and Mora curled up near Rust, her eyes half-closed as she watched the proceedings.
Zane sighed, his mind already swirling with everything he had learned so far. The shadows, his strange connection to Rust, and the presence of Azrael's animals—all of it was part of a world he barely understood. But one thing was clear: he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Rael gave Zane a final, scrutinizing look before turning on his heel. "Tomorrow, we'll push further. You need to be ready for whatever comes next."
Zane watched him go, feeling the weight of those words settle over him. Whatever came next... it was starting to feel like he was being prepared for something much bigger than himself. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, he wasn't sure if he was ready for that yet.
Rust yawned and curled up next to Mora, while Corvus flapped his wings and took off into the sky, leaving Zane standing alone in the courtyard, with nothing but his thoughts and the shadows that now danced at his feet.