Zynth couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he walked away from Aurelia's lab. Her words still echoed in his mind—*"You have to trust me."* He wanted to. More than anything, he wanted to believe that she knew what she was doing, that her research into the multiverse would lead to new discoveries and not disaster. But deep down, the fear that she was walking a dangerous line gnawed at him.
The night air of *Chroma-Veila* was cool and thick with the hum of magic. The vibrant twilight sky above shimmered with hues of pink, purple, and gold, as if the realm itself was alive with energy. It was beautiful—*Chroma-Veila* always had been—but to Zynth, the colors felt muted tonight, weighed down by the heavy thoughts swirling in his mind.
He reached the edge of *Lumina Meadows*, the soft, bioluminescent grass glowing beneath his feet as he walked. It was a place of peace for him, a sanctuary where he often came to think. But tonight, it offered no solace. His thoughts kept returning to Aurelia, to the rift project, and to the Blue Atomic Power still lurking within him.
*I'm not ready for this.*
He had trained hard with the Aurora Hunters over the past few weeks, learning to channel the immense power he held within. Thaliss and the other instructors had guided him, helping him understand the raw energy, but there was always a sense of something uncontrollable just beneath the surface. The Blue Atomic Power didn't bend easily to his will, and Zynth feared that if he ever lost control again, the consequences would be far worse than they had been during his trial.
Zynth stopped at the edge of the meadow, staring out at the horizon where the colorful sky met the floating islands of the realm. He took a deep breath, the crisp air filling his lungs, but the tension in his chest remained. His connection to Aurelia felt like a lifeline, yet the gulf between them was growing wider with each passing day. Her obsession with the realms beyond their own, with opening rifts, was pulling her further from him. She was chasing something bigger than either of them, and Zynth wasn't sure if he could follow her down that path.
A faint rustling in the grass behind him broke through his thoughts. Zynth turned to see a familiar figure approaching—*Kiros Ven*, one of the top trainees and his fellow Hunter-in-training. Kiros had always been competitive, driven by his own desire to be the best, but since Zynth had passed the trial, their relationship had been strained.
Kiros's eyes gleamed as he approached, his expression unreadable. "You're out here alone again. Thinking too much?"
Zynth offered a small smile, though he felt the tension rising between them. "Just clearing my head."
Kiros nodded, though there was a coldness in his gaze. "I've been hearing things about Aurelia's project. She's playing with dangerous forces, Zynth. You know that, right?"
Zynth's jaw tightened. "She knows what she's doing."
"Does she?" Kiros asked, his voice sharp. "Or is she letting her ambition blind her to the risks?"
Zynth turned away, not wanting to argue. "I trust her."
Kiros scoffed, shaking his head. "You're a fool if you think this won't end badly. The rifts… they're unstable. You've seen what happens when things slip through from other realms. You've seen the destruction they cause."
Zynth clenched his fists, the memory of his own trial flashing in his mind—the creature, the explosion of power, and the lifeless body of Orion. He had seen the dangers firsthand, but this was different. Aurelia wasn't reckless—at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
"She's trying to protect *Chroma-Veila*," Zynth said, his voice firm. "If we understand the rifts, we can control them. We can stop the dangers before they even reach us."
Kiros stepped closer, his expression hardening. "And what happens if she's wrong? What happens if the rift she opens tears our realm apart? Will you still trust her then?"
The words hit harder than Zynth expected, sinking deep into the pit of his stomach. He had thought about that possibility—of course he had. But every time, he pushed it aside, convincing himself that Aurelia knew what she was doing. That she wouldn't let it get out of hand.
"I'm not going to let that happen," Zynth said quietly, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice.
Kiros narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a cold smirk. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't just about her. This is about you too, Zyntherius. You're the one with the power now. You're the one with the Blue Atomic Force. If things go wrong, it won't just be her fault. It'll be yours."
Zynth felt a chill run down his spine. Kiros's words struck too close to home. He knew the burden he carried—the responsibility that came with his power. But the idea that he could be responsible for something even worse than what had happened during the trial… it was too much.
"I'll protect her," Zynth said, his voice hardening with resolve. "Whatever happens, I won't let anything happen to her."
Kiros's smirk faded, replaced by something darker—something almost envious. "We'll see. Just remember that not all power can be controlled. Not even yours."
With that, Kiros turned and walked away, leaving Zynth alone in the meadow once again.
Zynth stood there, his mind racing with a mix of fear and frustration. Kiros was right about one thing—the Blue Atomic Power was still a mystery to him. He could feel its pull even now, a distant hum beneath his skin, waiting for the moment when it would burst free. He couldn't afford to let it slip again. Not after what had happened to Orion.
But more than that, he couldn't afford to let Aurelia's ambition spiral out of control. He loved her—he had always loved her—but her need to understand the multiverse was leading her down a dangerous path. A path that could destroy everything if they weren't careful.
---
#### The Next Day
The following morning, Zynth made his way to the Aurora Hunters' headquarters for another day of training. His mind was still heavy with the weight of his conversation with Kiros, but he tried to push it aside. Today was important. Today, he would train with *Altair Voss*, one of the senior Hunters and a master of energy manipulation. If anyone could help him harness the Blue Atomic Power, it was Altair.
The training grounds were bustling with activity as Zynth arrived, the other Hunters and trainees sparring, honing their skills, and preparing for the challenges that lay beyond the rifts. The air was charged with magic, the shimmering force fields flickering with energy as the Hunters practiced their techniques.
Zynth spotted Altair near the center of the grounds, his tall, imposing figure unmistakable. The older Hunter was a legend among the Aurora Hunters, known for his precision and mastery over energy-based magic. His skin, a deep shade of purple, shimmered with the faint glow of his magic as he oversaw a group of trainees.
"Zyntherius," Altair called, his voice low and commanding. "You're late."
Zynth hurried over, nodding in apology. "Sorry. I got caught up."
Altair studied him for a moment before nodding. "No matter. Today, we focus on control. I've seen what you can do with the Blue Atomic Power, but I've also seen the damage it causes when it slips from your control."
Zynth felt a knot form in his stomach, but he nodded in agreement. "I'm ready."
"Good," Altair said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Because this will not be easy."
Altair stepped back, his hands glowing with a faint blue light as he extended them toward Zynth. "I want you to feel the energy within you, Zyntherius. Reach for it, but do not force it. Let it flow through you, and only then will you understand how to control it."
Zynth took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he focused on the Blue Atomic Power. It was there, as it always was, a cold, pulsing force deep within him. He could feel it—waiting, humming, eager to be unleashed. But he didn't let it take control. This time, he would guide it.
Slowly, he raised his hands, calling on the energy within. The familiar blue flames flickered to life in his palms, but this time, they were smaller, more controlled. He could feel the power flowing through him, but he kept it in check, kept it balanced.
"Good," Altair said, his voice calm but firm. "Now, shape it. Focus on precision, not power."
Zynth nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration as he shaped the flames into a tight, focused sphere of energy. The power hummed in his hands, and for the first time, Zynth felt like he was truly in control.
But just as he was about to release the energy, a sudden flash of light caught his attention.
He turned, his heart skipping a beat as he saw a shimmering rift open in the distance—unstable, pulsing with chaotic energy.
Aurelia's voice echoed in his mind: *"We've discovered how to open controlled rifts…"*
Zynth's blood ran cold. Something was wrong.
---
**End of Chapter 7**