The training hall was nothing like I expected. It wasn't the vast, ornate chamber I had imagined, but a small, circular room carved from the same dark stone as the awakening chamber. There were no glowing artifacts here, no relics of ancient power—just cold walls and a single chair in the center.
Master Wren stood by the door, his arms crossed. His usual stern expression softened as he gestured for me to sit.
"This is where it begins," he said, his voice low but firm. "The room is reinforced with runes. Whatever happens, your power won't reach beyond these walls. Here, you are safe to explore your abilities." "Safe," I repeated, staring at the unassuming chair. Somehow, I doubted that.
Wren's sharp eyes caught my hesitation. "You're afraid. That's natural. But fear is a tool, Chen. Learn to wield it, and it will guide you."
I swallowed hard and stepped forward, lowering myself onto the chair. It was colder than I expected, sending a shiver up my spine. Wren moved to stand in front of me, his hands clasped behind his back.
"We will begin with focus," he said. "Close your eyes."I hesitated, but his gaze left no room for argument. Slowly, I closed them.
"Breathe. In through your nose. Out through your mouth. Let the tension leave your body."
At first, it was difficult to concentrate. My thoughts were a whirlwind—fragments of worry, flashes of the stone's light, the echoes of whispers from my classmates. But as I followed Wren's instructions, the noise began to fade, replaced by the steady rhythm of my breathing.
"Good," Wren said softly. "Now, reach out. Feel the room around you—not with your hands, but with your mind. The power within you is like an extension of yourself. Find it."I wasn't sure what he meant. How was I supposed to find something I barely understood? Still, I tried. I focused on the faint hum I'd felt earlier, the strange presence beneath my skin.
And then, like a spark catching flame, I felt it.
It was subtle at first—a faint vibration, like ripples on the surface of still water. But as I leaned into it, the sensation grew. It spread outward, filling the space around me. I could sense the room's dimensions, the texture of the walls, even the faint flicker of Wren's heartbeat.
My eyes snapped open. "I… I can feel you."
Wren's expression remained unreadable. "Describe it." "It's like… like everything is connected. I can feel the room, the air, even you. It's all part of the same web."
He nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Good. Now, push further. Focus on me. What do you see?"
I didn't understand at first, but as I turned my attention to Wren, the sensation sharpened. I could feel his presence more clearly now—a dense, unyielding energy that pulsed with quiet strength. And then, without meaning to, I reached deeper.For a brief moment, I saw it: flashes of Wren's thoughts, memories, emotions. They came in fragments—a battlefield drenched in rain, the weight of loss, the unwavering resolve of a man who had sacrificed much.
I gasped and pulled back, clutching the edges of the chair. "I… I saw…"
Wren's eyes flashed with something I couldn't place—concern, maybe even fear. But he masked it quickly. "You touched my mind," he said. "A remarkable feat for your first attempt. But you must learn restraint. To reach too deeply without permission is dangerous—for both you and the one you touch."
"I didn't mean to," I stammered. "It just… happened.""Which is why we train." Wren stepped closer, his voice firm but not unkind. "You are a Sentient, Chen. Your power is not limited to yourself. It extends to those around you, to the very fabric of their being. If you lack control, you could destroy a mind as easily as you could shape it."
I felt a chill run through me. Destroy a mind? I didn't want that kind of power.
As if sensing my thoughts, Wren placed a hand on my shoulder. "You are not a weapon, Chen. Not unless you choose to be. Your power is a tool. How you use it is up to you."
I nodded, though the weight of his words settled heavily on me.
"Again," Wren commanded, stepping back.The session continued for what felt like hours. I practiced reaching out, feeling the boundaries of my power, and pulling back before I went too far. It was exhausting, both mentally and physically. By the end, my head throbbed, and my hands shook from the strain.
When it was finally over, Wren allowed me to leave.
As I stepped out into the cool evening air, I found Kai waiting for me. He leaned casually against a stone pillar, his arms crossed.
"How'd it go?" he asked, his tone light but curious.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Intense. I… I touched Wren's mind."Kai raised an eyebrow. "You what? Is that even allowed?"
"I don't think it's about allowed or not," I muttered. "It just happened. And it was… overwhelming."
Kai studied me for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, at least you're not blowing things up. That's something, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh, the tension in my chest easing slightly.
"Come on," Kai said, clapping me on the back. "You survived your first day of Sentient training. Let's get some food before you pass out."As we walked back to the dorms, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The power within me was vast, unpredictable, and dangerous. But for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, I could learn to control it.