---
The night was thick with the smell of burnt earth and the lingering crackle of the storm. As the group stood in the clearing, Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling that something far worse than the Avatar awaited them at the temple. The energy from the battle still buzzed in the air, his connection to the storm thrumming with each passing moment. He had unleashed its power before, but the more he used it, the more he realized he didn't fully understand it. What would happen if he pushed it too far?
"We move at first light," Seraphine said, pulling Kaelen from his thoughts. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were sharp, scanning the edges of the clearing for any sign of more enemies. She was always the vigilant one, and Kaelen was beginning to understand why.
He nodded, the weight of the storm inside him making every breath feel like it took more effort. The power was a constant hum beneath his skin, like a hungry beast waiting to be fed. His hands twitched at his sides, and he clenched them into fists, trying to hold back the urge to unleash it again. Not yet. There was something Seraphine wasn't telling them, something about this temple that had her on edge.
The group settled into a hasty camp, a small fire flickering in the center of their circle. Lira kept her distance, ever the cynic, but her eyes never stopped darting around, watching for any movement. Garak, on the other hand, was unbothered, propping his feet up and munching on a ration with a content grin.
"Can't be all bad, right?" he said, his voice muffled by a mouthful of dried meat. "I mean, sure, the storm's all over the place, and monsters pop up like bad jokes, but it's all part of the adventure, isn't it?"
Kaelen managed a tired grin. "If you say so."
Seraphine ignored their banter and pulled Kaelen aside. "I know you've got questions," she said softly, her gaze unwavering. "And I know you're not comfortable with all of this—neither am I. But trust me, the temple will provide the answers you need. The storm will show you more than you can imagine."
"I don't even understand why this is happening," Kaelen admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "One minute, I'm just another guy in this world, and the next I've got an ancient storm inside me trying to break out every five minutes."
Seraphine's eyes softened, just for a moment. "Because you're the only one who can control it. You've been chosen, Kaelen. The storm inside you isn't just chaos. It's a force of nature—something far older than even I can understand. But that power is yours now, and with it comes a responsibility."
A cold shiver ran down Kaelen's spine. "Responsibility? You make it sound like I'm supposed to save the world or something."
"There are forces at work that even I don't fully comprehend," she said, her voice low and serious. "But you're the key. You always have been. And the storm has chosen you to wield it."
"What if I'm not ready?" Kaelen muttered, looking at the fire. "What if I screw it up and end up making things worse?"
"Then you learn from it," Seraphine replied firmly. "That's the journey. You won't know until you try, and you won't get any stronger unless you face the consequences."
Kaelen didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure if he was ready for any of this. But he also knew that he didn't have a choice. The storm was part of him now, and there was no turning back.
---
**The next morning** came too quickly. The sun was still low on the horizon when they packed up camp and set out toward the eastern cliffs, the path winding through the dense forest. The further they walked, the more the trees seemed to close in around them, the sky above darkening with the weight of the storm.
Garak walked beside Kaelen, humming a tuneless song as he swung his axe casually over his shoulder. He seemed unfazed by everything, as usual. "You know," Garak said, his voice light, "this whole thing's kind of exciting. I mean, we're walking toward an ancient temple, fighting monsters, learning to control storms. Feels like we're in one of those old legends. It's almost like we're heroes or something."
"Something like that," Kaelen muttered, his mind still on the storm. He could feel the storm stirring inside him, its energy palpable, almost like an itch he couldn't scratch. The deeper they went, the more restless it became.
Seraphine led the way, her pace steady and unhurried, though her eyes never stopped scanning the surroundings. Lira followed close behind, her expression unreadable, but Kaelen could see the flickers of concern in her eyes every now and then.
As the hours passed, they finally reached the cliffs. The towering rocks loomed ahead, jagged and sharp against the sky. At the base of the cliffs, hidden in the shadows, was the entrance to the temple—a massive archway carved into the stone, flanked by two towering statues of unknown creatures.
"This is it," Seraphine said, stopping in front of the entrance. Her voice held an unspoken reverence. "The Temple of Echoes. It's said to hold the knowledge of the storm's origins. The answers we've been searching for."
Kaelen swallowed hard, a feeling of unease settling in his stomach. He glanced at Garak, who was grinning widely, as if this was just another day. But Kaelen could see that even the big man's usual bravado faltered slightly as they stepped closer to the entrance.
Lira was the first to step forward, her bow slung across her back, her expression focused. "Well, let's get this over with. The sooner we find out what's waiting for us in there, the better."
Seraphine nodded, then turned to Kaelen. "Remember, Kaelen. The storm inside you is tied to this place. It will test you. Don't let it overwhelm you."
Kaelen nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt the storm's energy grow, pushing against his skin, begging to be unleashed. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and followed Seraphine into the temple.
---
The air inside the temple was thick and cold, the stone walls seeming to absorb the light. The entrance led into a vast hall, lit by flickering torches set into the walls. Massive pillars rose up toward the ceiling, and strange carvings covered every surface—symbols Kaelen couldn't understand, but that seemed to vibrate with an unsettling energy.
"The storm's power is strongest here," Seraphine murmured, her eyes scanning the room. "We're not alone."
As if on cue, the ground beneath their feet trembled, and a low growl echoed from the shadows.
Something was coming.
---