As they settled down in the forest for the night, Linsley kept watch while Lucy rested with Ted beside her. The boy had been through enough, and for now, he slept peacefully despite the world collapsing around them.
Linsley, however, couldn't shake the weight of the day's events.
When dawn broke, Ted stirred, his eyes opening slowly as the early light filtered through the trees. He looked confused, his small body still adjusting to the aftermath of awakening his Gift.
"What… happened?" Ted asked, rubbing his eyes.
Linsley crouched beside him, his voice calm but firm. "You awakened, Ted. Your Gift is powerful—Destruction. But it's dangerous. You'll need to learn to control it, or else it'll destroy everything around you."
Ted looked down at his hands, still unsure of what to make of it. "Destruction?" he echoed, fear creeping into his voice.
