Ethan hesitated, unsure of how to activate his new ability. He closed his eyes, focusing on the strange energy coursing through his body. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation covering his whole body, and as he opened his eyes, he saw specks of dirt floating right in front of him. He was so surprised by the view, that his concentration broke and they dropped to the ground instantly.
Ethan stared at his hands in amazement, trying to process what had just happened. "Was that... telekinesis?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. Andrew nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Try again," he encouraged, "but this time, focus on maintaining your concentration."
Ethan took a deep breath, centering himself. He extended his hand, palm up, and focused intently on a small rock lying on the cavern floor. Slowly, the rock began to tremble, then lift off the ground, hovering a few inches above Ethan's palm. His face broke into a grin of triumph, but he maintained his concentration, determined not to drop it this time.
As Ethan continued to levitate the rock, he experimented with moving it in different directions. Slowly, he guided it in a small circle, then up and down, marveling at the control he now possessed. Andrew watched with a mixture of pride and relief, knowing that this newfound ability would be crucial in the challenges that lay ahead.
"That's enough," he finally said and Ethan immediately complied, the rock dropping to the ground between them. It was easy to see that Ethan was hooked on his ability, eager to test it further, but he was stopped by Andrew.
"You need to save your energy. We will need your ability to get back through the portal."
Andrew's words dampened Ethan's excitement. Thinking back on the tendrils of black smoke that had attacked them, Ethan's face darkened involuntarily.
"There's actually a limit to how much you can use your ability," Andrew explained. "Think of it like having a battery. Once this battery runs out of energy, you can't use your ability anymore. It needs time to recharge. Right now, I just wanted you to get familiar with how your power works. This way, you'll be able to use it effectively when we really need it."
Ethan furrowed his brows in thought, absorbing Andrew's explanation. He felt a mix of excitement and responsibility wash over him as he considered the implications of his new ability. "I understand," he said, flexing his fingers as he felt the power humming beneath his skin. "So, what's our next move? How do we get back through that... thing up there?"
"That will be your first task. With our physical power alone, we won't be able to get to the surface. You will need to push us up with your ability. Once we are up there, we will need to find a way to get back to the portal. That is the hardest part. But don't worry, I have a plan. First we will swim to the opposite side of the pool. The creature can't reach there."
Ethan nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's do this."
They approached the edge of the pool, the viscous liquid shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. Andrew placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Remember," Andrew said, "focus on pushing us both upward. Don't let your concentration waver, no matter what you feel or see."
With that, they plunged into the pool. The dense substance enveloped them, threatening to drag them down. Ethan closed his eyes, concentrating on the energy within him. He visualized it spreading out, encompassing both himself and Andrew, then pushing upward with tremendous force.
Slowly, they began to rise. Ethan could feel the liquid pulling them down, like hands, grabbing at his ankles. The pressure around them increased as they ascended, forcing Ethan to grit his teeth in exertion. With a last violent push, they broke through the surface, nearly catapulting to the shore at the opposite side of the pool.
Gasping for air, Ethan and Andrew scrambled onto solid ground, their bodies trembling from the exertion. They quickly scanned their surroundings, relieved to see no sign of the smoke tendrils that had pursued them earlier. As they caught their breath, Andrew motioned for Ethan to relax.
In the meantime, the liquid again evaporated, leaving them both dry and clean. Both immediately felt a few pounds lighter.
Looking at his watch, Andrew took his backpack off his shoulders, opened it, and retrieved a plastic bag from inside. "Let's eat a little and regain our strength," he said, dangling a sandwich in front of Ethan.
Ethan gratefully accepted the sandwich, realizing just how hungry he was after their ordeal. As they ate in silence, he couldn't help but marvel at how surreal their situation was—sitting in an otherworldly realm, casually having a snack. He glanced at Andrew, wondering what else his friend had in store for them.
As they downed the last bites with some water that they had brought along, Andrew's gaze turned solemn. "Ethan, we need to talk about what's coming next," he said, his voice low and measured. "To get back to the portal, we will need to enter that creature's area again. But before we do that, I would like to run a few tests with your help."
"Sure, what do you need me to do?"