The sun was barely a thin sliver on the horizon when I arrived at the training grounds. Kai was already there, stretching with a practiced ease, his movements fluid despite the early hour. I hadn't told him about my restless night or the strange, monstrous dream that clung to me like a shadow. I had no intention of talking about it either. There were things I had to figure out for myself—things I couldn't share.
As I approached, he glanced up from his stretches and offered me a small, knowing smile, though his eyes were still clouded with concern. "Couldn't sleep either, huh?" he asked, his tone light but with a hint of worry.
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. He knew. We both knew there were things far beyond normal sleep-deprivation keeping us awake."Is Wren here yet?" I asked, the question coming out colder than I intended.
Kai's face tightened, but he nodded. "He's been up since before dawn. He wants to talk to you."
I didn't ask what about. I could guess. Whatever had happened during the exercise the night before, whatever force had latched onto me, I was certain Wren knew more than he was letting on. It was time to push for answers. I was done waiting.
We didn't speak as we walked across the grounds to the central training area. Wren stood with his back to us, staring into the distance as if waiting for something—or someone. The first rays of sunlight bathed him in a harsh, almost unnatural light, making his silhouette seem even more imposing."Chen," Wren said without turning, his voice as steady as ever. "Kai. Good of you to join me."
Kai muttered a greeting but stayed a few paces behind me as I stepped forward. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong—wrong with Wren, with me, with everything.
"You wanted to talk?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even, though the question felt like a challenge.
Wren finally turned, his gaze piercing. "You're ready, then," he said, more to himself than to me. "I had hoped you would be. The presence… it's not something you can simply dismiss. And it's not just in your head, Chen. But I've seen what happens when it takes hold of someone."I felt my pulse quicken, but I held my ground. "What are you talking about?" I asked, though I already had an inkling of the answer.
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You've felt it, haven't you? The pull. The hunger. It tests you, manipulates your thoughts. Some of us… we give in. We become something else entirely."
"Something else?" My voice was barely a whisper now, the words more dangerous than I wanted to admit. "You mean… like what happened to the others during the Collapse?"
Wren's face hardened at the mention of the event. "Yes. That's part of it. The Collapse didn't just destroy cities or armies. It destroyed people. And it created monsters. The presence you're feeling—it's tied to that catastrophe. It's not a random force. It's ancient. And it chooses its hosts carefully."I swallowed, the reality of his words sinking in. "Why me? Why now?"
Wren's eyes softened, just for a moment. "Because you're strong, Chen. Stronger than you know. But strength alone won't save you from it. You have to face it—confront it—before it consumes you."
A cold chill ran down my spine. The thought of something consuming me, taking hold of who I was and twisting me into something… else… was unbearable. "How do I stop it?"
Wren's gaze turned distant, as if he was recalling something painful. "You don't stop it. You survive it. If you can. The key is control. The moment you lose that, you lose everything."
I felt a wave of dread wash over me, but I didn't back down. "And if I fail?"Wren's expression darkened. "Then you become one of them. And we'll have no choice but to stop you."
The air between us thickened, the weight of his words settling on my shoulders like a heavy shroud. The silence that followed was suffocating.
Finally, Kai stepped forward, breaking the tension. "So what do we do now?" His voice was calm, but I could hear the underlying unease.
Wren's gaze flicked to him, then back to me. "We train. But this time, you're not just fighting the usual drills. You're fighting something far worse. The presence won't give up easily, Chen. You need to be prepared."I nodded, though the words felt hollow. What good was training against something that could invade your mind, change the very core of who you were? How could I prepare for that?
Wren's voice dropped lower, a warning hidden beneath the harshness. "And whatever happens, don't let it take control. If you do, I'll have no choice but to stop you myself."
A shiver ran through me, but I held his gaze. "I won't let it happen."
Wren studied me for a long moment, then turned toward the training grounds. "We begin now. And remember—this is no longer just a test of skill. It's a test of your will."
As we moved to begin, I realized with a sickening certainty that this wasn't just about surviving the training anymore. It was about surviving myself. And I wasn't sure if I could.