The air on the training ground felt heavier now, more oppressive than ever. Every breath I took seemed to get caught in my chest, as though the weight of the presence inside me was pressing down on my lungs. It was there, waiting, always there, lurking just beneath the surface of my thoughts. I could feel it like a pulse in the back of my mind, thrumming with dark intent.
Wren had called for another round of drills, and though my body obeyed mechanically, my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't stop thinking about his words. Learn to control it. Or it will consume you. The weight of that finality was suffocating. It wasn't a warning; it was a promise.
I raised my arms in a defensive stance, trying to shake off the mounting dread. The presence inside me seemed to pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat, like a second soul fighting for dominance. It wanted to break free, wanted to turn me into something else. Something darker.
"Focus, Chen," Wren's voice cut through my swirling thoughts, a command laced with authority. "If you can't control it here, you won't control it when it matters."
I clenched my fists, willing myself to center. I could hear Kai's soft footsteps approaching, his movements calculated, but I couldn't focus on him. My vision blurred, the edges of the world around me warping as though the ground beneath my feet was slipping away.
"Chen," Kai's voice broke through again, this time softer, filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
I couldn't respond. The moment I opened my mouth, the presence surged, its claws digging deeper into my mind. My chest tightened, my skin prickled with an unnatural heat. The fog in my mind thickened, and I swayed, losing my footing for a moment before I caught myself.
"Enough," Wren commanded, stepping forward. He was close now, his presence like a stone wall pressing against the chaos inside me. "You can't afford to lose focus like this. You're not just fighting against the drill. You're fighting against yourself."
I could barely hear him over the roar in my ears. The whispers were louder now, coiling like serpents in my mind, filling my thoughts with static. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block them out, but it was like trying to hold back an avalanche with bare hands.
The presence clawed at me, its energy flooding my veins. It wanted to take over, wanted me to lose myself in the rush of power it offered. And for a brief, fleeting moment, I almost gave in. It would be easier, wouldn't it? Just let it all go, let it take me. I would be unstoppable.
But then I remembered Wren's words: You will lose yourself. If I gave in, there would be nothing left of me. Just a hollow vessel for whatever it was inside me. No, I couldn't let that happen.
"Chen," Wren's voice broke through again, sharper this time. "Control. Now."
I opened my eyes and forced myself to look at him, his gaze unflinching. In that moment, I realized something crucial: this wasn't about power. It wasn't about winning the fight. It was about control.
I drew in a shaky breath, pushing through the pain, focusing all my energy on keeping the presence locked away. It was like holding a tidal wave back with my hands, but I forced my grip to tighten. Every part of me screamed to let go, to let it consume me, but I resisted.
The tension inside me built, a pressure that felt like it would snap me in half. But I held on. I held on until I could feel the presence begin to recede, if only for a moment. It wasn't gone, not by a long shot, but it was quieter now, more contained.
Wren nodded approvingly. "Better. But don't think for a second that it's over. You have to learn to live with it, Chen. It won't stop."
I was breathing hard, my hands trembling as the adrenaline coursed through me. But as much as I hated it, I knew Wren was right. This was only the beginning. The presence was inside me now. And until I learned to control it fully, there would be no peace.
"Let's continue," Wren said, signaling for us to resume the drill.
I hesitated, but only for a second. I couldn't back down now. I had to keep fighting, even if I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.
Kai moved back into position, his expression unreadable. He was waiting for me, and I wasn't sure if that made it better or worse. The presence inside me stirred again, just beneath the surface, but I forced myself to push it back.
I raised my arms once more, trying to steady my breath. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this up, but I had no choice. I had to survive this—whatever it was. And I had to learn to control it.