The group rested at the edge of the newly stabilized fragment, the faint hum of Yggdrasil's glow offering some comfort. Aiden sat with his back against a broken wall, staring at the ring on his finger. Its light pulsed faintly, but a dark edge lingered beneath its glow.
"You're getting better with it," Rowan said, sitting beside him. She twirled her spear absently, her sharp eyes glancing at him. "But that last move looked like it took a lot out of you."
Aiden sighed. "Every time I use the ring, it feels… heavier. Like the more I try to draw on its power, the more it pushes back."
Rowan shrugged. "That's what happens when you try to play with both light and dark, rookie. You're walking a thin line."
Sylva floated closer, her light warm. "Balance is not easy, Aiden. The darkness within you is not your enemy, but it is not your ally either. You must understand it, control it, and ensure it does not control you."
Aiden frowned, turning the ring over in his fingers. "I just want to make sure it's enough. For her."
"You don't have to do this alone," Kieran said, his voice calm but firm. "That's why we're here."