The return to the village was a mix of relief and unease. As Riku and Erynn walked through the narrow streets, villagers emerged cautiously from their homes. They whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between the priestess and the boy with the mark of the Shadow Star.
Riku felt the heaviness of their gazes, but said nothing. He had saved them from the shadow hounds, but their fear clung more tenaciously than any gratitude.
A stooped elder stepped forward, his cane tapping on the ground. His weathered face wore a skeptical frown. "Is it true?" he asked, his voice raspy. "This boy carries the Shadow Star?"
Erynn nodded. "He does. But he is not our enemy."
He gazed at Riku piercingly. "That yet is to be seen. Such power as this is a sword double-edged. It could save us or be the very thing to condemn us all."
"I never wanted this power," Riku said flatly. "But I am here, so I will do my part."
The elder grunted at this and retreated into his house. "Reckless stars," he muttered. "And naive priests.".
Erynn sighed and put a hand on Riku's shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. They've lived in fear of the Shadow Star for generations. It will take time to change that."
"Yeah, sure," Riku muttered, though the doubt in his voice betrayed him.
The next morning, Riku woke to find Erynn waiting for him outside the modest hut the villagers had prepared. The kitten from before had made itself at home, curling up on a pile of blankets near the window.
"Come with me," Erynn said, her tone brisk but not unkind.
"Where are we going?"
"To train," she replied.
Riku blinked. "Train? I just got here. Can't I get a day off or something?"
She smiled wryly at him. "You fought shadow hounds yesterday. If you want to survive the next attack, you'll need to learn how to control your power."
Riku groaned and trailed after her.
Erynn led him to a clearing just outside the village. The air here felt different-charged, as if the very ground hummed with energy. In the center of the clearing stood a circle of ancient stones, each carved with glowing runes.
"This is a starbound sanctum," Erynn explained. "A place where celestial energy gathers. It will help us channel your power safely."
Riku glanced around, skeptical. "And what if it doesn't work?
"Then we'll both be in trouble," she said with a teasing smile, though her eyes carried a hint of seriousness.
She raised her staff, and the runes on the stones flared to life. A barrier of light formed around the clearing, isolating them from the outside world.
"Now," Erynn said, turning to face him, "show me what you can do."
Riku hesitated. "I don't exactly have a manual for this, you know."
Start with what you felt yesterday," she said. "When you faced the hounds. What did the power feel like?"
He thought back to the fight—the surge of energy, the dark tendrils, the overwhelming sense of strength. "It felt. alive," he admitted. "Like it had a mind of its own. It was powerful, but also. heavy.
Erynn nodded. "The Shadow Star's power is tied to emotion, especially strong emotions like fear, anger, or determination. If you want to control it, you'll need to understand those feelings-and master them."
"Sounds easy," Riku said dryly.
Erynn stepped back, giving him space. "Focus on the mark. Let the energy flow through you, but don't let it consume you.
Riku closed his eyes and breathed. He focused on the mark on his chest and thought of it as a door. Slowly he pushed it open.
He felt an electric rush pour into him, dark and cold, but somehow exciting. His hands tingled as energy swirled up them and condensed into fragile, snapping tendrils of shadow.
"Good," Erynn said. "Now, focus it. Try to hit that stone." She pointed to one of the runes.
Riku raised his hand, willing the energy to move. The tendrils lashed out, striking the stone with a sharp crack. It left a scorch mark, but the force was wild and unfocused.
"You're holding back," Erynn said. "The Shadow Star feeds on conviction. You need to commit fully."
Riku scrunched his face. "What if I lose control?"
"There's that," she replied firmly. "This place is a place of balance. The sanctum'll keep the energy in control. Trust yourself, Riku."
He took another deep breath and tried again. This time, he let the energy flow easier, trusting his instincts this time. The tendrils struck the stone with just the right amount of finesse, shattering a chunk off it.
"Better," said Erynn with her voice carrying a note of approval.
Riku felt a flicker of pride, but it was quickly replaced by exhaustion. The energy receded, leaving him drained and shaky.
"You're doing well," Erynn said, offering him a canteen of water. "But you'll need to build your stamina. The Shadow Star's power is vast, but it will take time to make it your own."
For the next days, Riku settled into a routine. Mornings were spent in the sanctum, practicing his mastery over the Shadow Star's energy. Erynn patiently guided him, showing him techniques on how to harness his power and channel it so that he would not be overpowered by it.
Afternoons were spent assisting the villagers with their tasks—fixing fences, carrying supplies, or watering the glowing crops. Not exactly glamorous, but at least he was getting close to Astraelion's special magic.
The villagers still kept their distance, though their hostility was slowly starting to mellow. A few of them started nodding to him when they passed or giving him a brief smile.
One evening, when the stars above the village seemed brighter than ever, Riku found himself sitting with Erynn near the edge of the forest. The kitten had followed him, curling up in his lap as he stared at the unfamiliar constellations.
"Do you ever wonder why you were chosen?" Erynn asked suddenly.
"All the time," Riku admitted. "I mean, I'm just a normal guy. There's nothing special about me.
And this way, Erynn glanced at him with a meaningful consideration. "Maybe the stars saw something in you which you haven't seen of yourself yet."
Or, maybe they just made an error, he shrugged.
With a soft laughter, She corrected his point; the stars don't make mistakes; still, they challenge us, to rise up to occasion.
He didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the sky. Deep down in his chest, he wanted to believe her. But still, he felt the weight of the Shadow Star hanging over him. Its purpose and power he was not yet ready to solve.
As the weeks piled up, Riku discovered his connection to the Shadow Star strengthened. He was increasingly able to call on energy with less effort, making it easier to bind energy, create shields, and sometimes even manipulate the shadows close to him.
But the power was a double-edged sword. Every time he touched it, he felt a dark, insistent tug at the edge of his mind.
Erynn was his friend, but even she could not grasp what the burden was that weighed heavily on him.
It had been a quiet night. Riku was wide open, lying awake in this village. And yet he heard the whisper once again, louder and clearer than ever.
Come.
He sat up. His heart was pounding. He was feeling the pulse on his chest, like a beating response to the call.
What's happening? he thought.
He took his coat and walked out. The village was quiet, except for the rustling of leaves under the cool night breeze.
The whisper grew louder, nudging him toward the forest.
"Riku?"
He turned to see Erynn standing in the doorway of her hut, her face concerned.
"I. I need to check something," he said, his voice uncertain.
She hesitated, then took her staff. "I'm coming with you."
Together, they disappeared into the trees, following the call of the Shadow Star.