Aric stood in the clearing, muscles tense as anticipation gnawed at him. The morning mist clung to the village, winding between the simple wooden houses and hanging in the air like an omen. The scent of damp earth mixed with the faint tang of smoke from early fires. All around, the world felt still, as if holding its breath for what was to come.
Krael's eyes, cold and unyielding, pinned Aric in place. "Today, we begin," he said, his voice slicing through the quiet. "This is not training you can afford to take lightly. You will learn discipline, control, and balance—or you will break."
Aric's jaw clenched. The memories of their past encounters, Krael's dismissive words and harsh tests, simmered within him. He forced down the defiance bubbling in his chest. He needed this training, no matter how much he disliked the man delivering it.
"I'm ready," Aric said, his voice low but resolute.
Krael's mouth curved into a hint of a smirk, more a challenge than an acknowledgment. "We'll see." He motioned to a circle of smooth stones laid out in the center of the clearing, each stone etched with symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly in the mist. "Step in."
The air thickened as Aric crossed the perimeter. The ground felt different underfoot, humming with energy that sent a shiver up his spine. He glanced at Lyra, who stood on the edge of the clearing, her expression guarded but attentive. Her presence was both reassuring and a reminder that failure wasn't an option.
"Your task is simple," Krael said, folding his arms across his chest. "Hold your ground."
Before Aric could ask what he meant, Krael raised his hand. A low rumble emanated from the earth, and thin streams of light crackled to life, weaving through the stones and forming a glowing barrier around him. The force pressed down immediately, like an invisible weight trying to push him out of the circle.
Aric's muscles tensed, his body instinctively resisting the pressure. His heart pounded as he dug his heels in, shifting his stance to stay upright. The energy bore down on him, relentless and cold, making every movement feel like trudging through a storm.
"Focus!" Krael's voice was sharp. "Feel the energy. Don't fight it blindly—guide it."
Guide it? Aric's frustration flared. How was he supposed to control something so immense? The instinct to push back with sheer force was overwhelming, but each time he did, the pressure only grew, pressing harder, threatening to crush him. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes and mixing with the tightness in his jaw.
Lyra's voice broke through the noise, steady and calm. "Feel the current, Aric. Find the flow."
Aric forced a ragged breath and closed his eyes, searching for anything beyond the chaos. The energy wasn't just random—it had a rhythm, a pulse that he could almost sense beneath the surface. He shifted his weight, bending slightly, not to resist but to move with it. The pressure lightened, just a touch, enough for him to regain his footing.
A brief glimmer of triumph surged through him, only for Krael to snuff it out. "Too slow," Krael snapped.
The pressure doubled, slamming into Aric like a wave. His knees buckled, and pain lanced up his legs as he fought to stay upright. The world around him blurred, sweat pouring down his neck and soaking his tunic. The force seemed determined to break him, to drive him from the circle.
A growl rumbled low in Aric's chest. He wouldn't fall. Not here, not with Krael's eyes boring into him. He gritted his teeth and reached deeper, feeling for the thread of energy that had teased him before. It pulsed, wild and fierce, but he latched onto it, forcing himself to align with its rhythm. He adjusted his stance, letting the energy flow through him instead of against him.
Slowly, the crushing weight relented. He took a shuddering breath, his legs trembling but steady, sweat dripping from his brow.
Krael's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—approval, maybe, or something sharper. "Better. But remember, strength without control is nothing." He lowered his hand, and the glowing light around the stones faded. The pressure lifted, leaving Aric gasping for breath, muscles burning with exhaustion.
"We're not done," Krael said. "Rest, then we continue."
Aric nodded numbly, dropping to one knee as he tried to steady his breathing. His chest heaved, the adrenaline mixing with the ache in his limbs. Lyra stepped forward, her eyes softening for a moment.
"You did well," she said, her voice low enough that only he could hear.
Aric looked up, surprise flickering in his expression. The tension between them had always been palpable, but in that moment, there was something else—an understanding. He managed a nod, the anger and doubt giving way to a realization that left him both weary and determined. Krael's training was brutal, but it was what he needed. And for the first time, he felt the weight of what this path demanded.
This was only the beginning, and Aric knew he couldn't falter. Not now, not with so much at stake.