As Kayn finished speaking, Kara's was still busy regulating her breath, as they came in shallow gasps after the intense energy surge.
The absolutely massive amount of power and potential was injected directly into the very core of her being, making her body hum with intense power, the last remnants of the Celestial Sun Crystal still being absorbed by her.
It made her feel exhilarated, her thoughts buzzing about the various potential things she could do with her power increase, but as these thoughts swirled, they all eventually snapped back to the present moment, and more specifically, to Kayn.
The Kiss!
Kara immediately began blinking rapidly, her heart pounding wildly against her chest as her cheeks flushed with heat, her mind continuously replaying the kiss over and over.
It replayed how Kayn's lips pressed firmly against hers, the way his mouth had claimed her own with such intensity, so fierce and consuming, it had taken her breath away.
'His lips…' They were warm, yet surprisingly soft. But it wasn't just his lips; it was everything about the moment that had ignited something inside her.
The way his tongue intertwined with hers, his control and the unmistakable hunger behind it. She could still feel it, the raw heat that coursed through her body when their mouths met.
Her body tingled as she remembered how his strong, muscular arms had wrapped around her, holding her close, cradling her as if she was precious to him.
The firmness of his grip had sent shivers down her spine, making her feel both small and protected in his embrace. Kara's breath caught in her throat, her fingers brushing over her lips, as if trying to capture the lingering sensation of his touch.
'Why did it feel so… intense?'
Her cheeks flushed, her skin burning at the memory of his voice, that low, masculine tone whispering in her ear, calming the storm that raged inside her.
His voice had been like a balm, soothing, yet arousing all at once, stirring something deeper within her that she hadn't expected.
There had been moments where the pain from the crystal was unbearable, but the instant Kayn kissed her, it was as if the world shifted.
The searing pain dulled into something more… manageable, as if his presence alone had the power to ground her, to keep her anchored amidst the chaos.
Her heart pounded harder at the memory of his eyes locked onto hers, the pride and the power radiating from him, but also something deeper, something almost possessive.
Kara shook her head slightly, trying to steady her racing thoughts, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about the way he had made her feel.
As these thoughts breezed through her mind, Kayn's gaze remained on her, flickering over her with an unmistakable hint of amusement, as he could easily read her thoughts from her flushed expression.
"Looks like you handled that better than I expected, Kara," he remarked with a smirk, his voice dipping lower, the teasing undertone unmistakable. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, and he tilted his head slightly, as if studying her reaction. "Though I have to say… that kiss might have helped, huh?"
Kara froze, her eyes widening at his words. She felt the heat rush up to her face even more, her mind replaying the kiss. Was he really teasing her right now? After everything?
"I—I wasn't… I mean, it wasn't… I didn't…" she stammered, flustered, her eyes darting everywhere except at him.
Kayn chuckled softly, stepping closer again. The stars around them seemed to flicker in response to his movement, creating a gentle ripple of light, "Relax, Kara," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he leaned in, his eyes locked onto hers,
"I told you I'd guide you through this, didn't I? That includes making sure you don't collapse under the pressure."
Kara swallowed hard as she listened to his voice as she tried to shake off the lingering effects of the kiss and focus on what lay ahead.
"I'm ready for the training," she said quickly, her voice firmer now as she attempted to regain her composure. She squared her shoulders, trying to shift her mind from the kiss to the newfound power thrumming inside her, "I want to learn how to control this. I want to push myself to the absolute limit."
Kayn nodded approvingly, his teasing demeanor slipping away as he shifted into a more serious mode.
"Good. That's exactly what I want to hear." He glanced around, and with a wave of his hand, the stars that had been swirling around them suddenly aligned into sharp, clear constellations, creating intricate formations across the sky.
He extended his hand toward her, and with a sudden pulse of energy, a sphere of shimmering, swirling stardust materialized between them. It hovered, spinning slowly, its surface alive with vibrant cosmic energy.
"This is your first test," Kayn explained, his voice steady and calm. "This sphere is composed of the raw energy you just absorbed. I want you to manipulate it. Shape it. Make it bend to your will."
Kara stared at the sphere, her brow furrowing in concentration. The energy inside her was still new, still volatile, but she could feel its potential.
It was like a storm raging beneath her skin, and she needed to harness it, control it. Instinctively, she reached out with her hand, her fingers brushing against the surface of the sphere.
A jolt of energy surged through her fingertips, making her flinch slightly, but she didn't pull back. Instead, she focused harder, channeling the energy inside her toward the sphere.
For a moment, the sphere wobbled, flickering erratically as her control faltered. But Kara gritted her teeth and pushed through, focusing on the rhythm of the energy flowing through her body.
She imagined the power as an extension of herself, something she could mold and direct.
Slowly, the sphere began to respond. It steadied, the swirling stardust inside it calming as it pulsed in sync with Kara's breathing. She exhaled deeply, her confidence growing as she felt the energy bend to her will.
Kayn watched her with an appraising look, his arms crossed over his chest. "Not bad," he commented, though there was still a trace of that teasing edge in his voice. "You've got a natural affinity for it, but you're holding back."
Kara frowned, glancing at him, "Holding back?"
He nodded, stepping closer. "You're afraid of what might happen if you let go. I can feel it. You're not fully embracing the power."
"I'm not afraid," Kara protested, though she knew deep down there was truth to his words. The memory of the intense pain she'd experienced when absorbing the crystal was still fresh, and part of her was hesitant to let herself go completely, fearing what might happen if she lost control.
Kayn raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, "You need to stop thinking like that. This power is part of you now. If you're going to master it, you have to trust yourself."
He lifted his hand and, with a flick of his wrist, sent a wave of cosmic energy toward her. The force hit her like a shockwave, the stars around them shimmering as the energy wrapped around her like a tidal wave.
"Stop holding back," Kayn instructed, his voice more commanding now, "Let it out."
Kara's eyes widened as the energy surged through her, threatening to overwhelm her senses. But instead of resisting, she took a deep breath and let herself feel it. The power inside her, the energy she had absorbed, it was hers to command.
With a determined expression, she focused her mind, channeling the cosmic energy not just into the sphere, but through her entire body. Her eyes began to glow with a brilliant light as she extended her hand again, this time with full conviction.
The sphere of stardust exploded into motion, spinning faster and faster until it became a blazing orb of pure light. Kara's control over it was much stronger now, the energy responding to her will with precision and grace.
She moved her hand, and the orb followed, darting through the air like a comet, leaving a trail of shimmering stardust in its wake. Kara grinned, exhilarated by the feeling of control, of power.
"There it is," Kayn said, his voice softer now, a note of approval in his tone,"That's the kind of control I'm looking for."
Kara brought the orb back to her, hovering it in front of her for a moment before dispersing it into the air with a flick of her wrist. She turned to Kayn, her eyes still glowing, but there was a determined glint in them now.
"What's next?" she asked, her voice steady.
Kayn's smile returned, though this time there was a hint of challenge in his eyes, "Next, it's time to see just how stronger your powers got, so strap in."
"Strap in?" Kara asked confused, only to see Kayn's eyes glowing with cosmic energy,
"Strap in because I won't go easy on you." Kayn said as he flashed forward.