Theos heart burned with determination as he vowed to train until his body could no longer endure. The weight of his promise pressed heavily on him, but he welcomed it—it was a burden he was willing to carry. Roseville stepped out of the house, her presence serene yet commanding, like a calming breeze before a storm.
"Come," she said, her voice warm and inviting. He followed her to a clearing where the forest seemed alive with anticipation. The soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds faded as the world narrowed to the two of them.
As they sat together on the grass, Theos noticed a soothing energy radiating from Roseville, like sunlight breaking through clouds. It crept into the air between them, gentle yet undeniably powerful.
"I will guide you in mastering energy control," she said, her gaze steady. "Once you learn this, we will uncover the truth of your affinity. But first, you must trust yourself—and me."
The moment her words ended, a radiant energy surged through Theo's body. It was as if his very being had awakened to something ancient and primal. His vision blurred, and his hands trembled as an immense force burst forth from within him, beyond his control.
Roseville's eyes widened in shock, her calm demeanor slipping. "Theo..." she whispered, her voice tinged with awe and alarm.
The forest around them vibrated, leaves trembling and branches swaying, though there was no wind. Energy poured from Theo like a river breaking free of its dam, flooding the clearing with an intensity that made the air hum. Animals scattered, and the ground itself seemed to pulse with life.
Roseville held up her hands, her voice now firm and commanding. "Focus, Theo! You must contain it! Channel it inward before it overwhelms you!"
But Theo couldn't hear her over the roaring power within him. It wasn't just energy; it was raw, unbridled potential demanding to be unleashed.
Theos eyes fluttered open to an endless void. Darkness stretched infinitely, devouring all sense of place and time. It was a peerless abyss—vast, unyielding, and alive. A low hum vibrated in the emptiness, like a heartbeat, rhythmic and oppressive. The sound seeped into his bones, carrying with it a chilling presence. He shivered, his once-burning determination now a fragile flicker under the weight of an unknowable fear.
Panic clawed at the edges of his mind, threatening to consume him. His breaths came in shallow gasps, the air thick and suffocating, pressing against his chest like a smothering flame. He clenched his fists, willing himself to stay grounded. I can't stay here forever, he thought, his inner voice trembling against the oppressive silence.
A spark ignited deep within him—a fragile ember of defiance. With a guttural cry, Theo forced himself to move, breaking free from the paralysis of fear. He pushed forward—or perhaps upward; the void made direction meaningless. Yet, with each step, he felt lighter, as if shedding the chains of doubt that had bound him.
The void shifted. A path emerged from the shadows, carved from darkness but lined with a faint, otherworldly glow. The light pulsed faintly, like veins coursing with life, guiding him toward a throne. It loomed ahead, massive and imposing, crafted from obsidian streaked with pulsating crimson threads. It exuded a tangible power, and Theo's skin prickled as he approached. Each step felt heavier, the air thickening as the throne's aura grew stronger.
"You've come far, Theo," a voice echoed, low and resonant, each word cutting through the silence like a blade.
Theos froze, his heart hammering in his chest. His eyes snapped to the throne. Seated there was a figure—a man with hair like spun gold, his eyes piercing and glacial. His presence was magnetic, a force that demanded attention and submission, as though the void itself bowed to him.
"Who are you? What are you?" Theos shouted, his voice faltering under the weight of his fear and defiance. Each word was an effort, a rebellion against the oppressive heat suffusing the void.
The man tilted his head, a faint, amused smirk curving his lips. His voice, calm yet commanding, seemed to resonate within Theo's very soul. "I am Klen. Once the King of the Elves. The Monarch of Life. And the one who dared to challenge the god who created us."
Theo's breath hitched. Klen's words hung heavy in the air, like thunder rumbling on the edge of a storm. Questions swirled in Theo's mind, but he was too overwhelmed to voice them. Who was this man truly? What was his purpose in this endless void? And why had Theo been brought here?
In the silence that followed, Theo found himself speaking almost without thought. "What am I?" he whispered, the words slipping free like fragile leaves on the wind.
Klen's expression remained calm, yet his eyes glimmered with something dangerous and knowing. "You are too weak to know that truth," he said, his voice edged with finality. "If I told you now, your mind would shatter. If you truly wish to understand, grow stronger. When you are ready, we will meet again."
The void seemed to pulse around them, as if acknowledging Klen's words. Then, without warning, the path began to dissolve, and the throne faded into the shadows. Theos was left alone, standing in the infinite dark, his heart heavy with questions and his resolve trembling under the weight of what lay ahead.
The throne vanished in an instant, dissolving into the shadows like smoke. The void, once vast and all-encompassing, began to collapse inward, as if drawn into Theos very being. Darkness spiraled around him, narrowing, tightening, and then—nothing.
He jolted awake, gasping for breath. His chest heaved, his heart pounding like a war drum in his ears. Disoriented, he blinked against the warm sunlight streaming through an unfamiliar window. His body felt heavy, as though the weight of the void still lingered in his veins. Slowly, he turned his head to see a familiar face gazing at him with a mixture of relief and worry.
"Theos!" Roseville cried, rushing to his side. Her arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace, her voice trembling. "You're awake! I thought— I thought I'd lost you."
Theos hesitated, his body stiff against her warmth. The memory of the void, of Klen's piercing gaze and cryptic words, still clung to him like a shadow. Slowly, he raised his hand to touch his chest, half expecting to feel the oppressive heat of that otherworldly place. Instead, his fingers met only the reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Roseville," Theos rasped, his voice hoarse. "What… what happened? Where am I?"
Roseville pulled back, her expression softening into something like regret. "I should have prepared you better," she murmured, almost to herself. "I should have taught you the concept of Primal before throwing you into the training."
"Primal?" Theo echoed, frowning. The word stirred something in him, a faint spark of recognition, though he couldn't place it.
Roseville nodded, her gaze steady now. "Primal is the energy of life itself. It's the essence that flows through all living things—the foundation of all power. To survive, to thrive, you must learn to harness it. But before we go any further, I need to understand your affinities. Only then can we unlock your true potential."
Theos mind swirled with questions. Affinities? True potential? The weight of the throne room, Klen's words, and now this new revelation pressed down on him. "Roseville," he began hesitantly, "in the void, I saw… someone. He called himself Klen. He said he challenged the gods and that I was too weak to know the truth about myself. What does that mean?"
Roseville's face darkened at the mention of Klen's name, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Klen," she repeated, the word heavy with both familiarity and caution. "If you've met him, then things are worse than I feared."
She rose from the bedside, pacing as she spoke. "Klen is a being of legend—and infamy. If he appeared to you, it means he sees something in you, Theos. Something that could either save us… or destroy us all."
Theo felt a chill creep up his spine. "Destroy us? I don't understand. What does he want from me?"
"That," Roseville said, stopping to look at him with a grim expression, "is what we need to find out. But first, we must focus on your Primal training. Only through it will you gain the strength to face whatever path lies ahead."
Her words carried a sense of urgency, yet Theos couldn't shake the lingering fear in her eyes. Whatever he had stumbled into, it was far greater than anything he had ever imagined. And it was only just beginning.