Episode 4: Phase 1
"The Awakening Within"
Rylen woke to the sound of metal clanking and voices murmuring in the distance. For a moment, he forgot where he was. The dimly lit room with its humming monitors and sparse furnishings didn't scream "home."
"Oh, right," he muttered, sitting up. "Secret underground base, weird powers, life completely upended. Totally normal."
Before he could wallow further in self-pity, the stranger from last night walked in, carrying a tray of something that might've once been food.
"Breakfast," they said, setting it down in front of him.
Rylen eyed the grayish lump on the plate. "Is it edible, or do I need to sign a waiver first?"
The stranger smirked. "It's not a five-star meal, but it'll keep you alive."
"That's… comforting," Rylen muttered, poking at the lump with a fork.
"Eat quickly," the stranger said, leaning against the wall. "Your training starts in fifteen minutes."
"Training?" Rylen asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean you're actually going to teach me how not to accidentally blow things up?"
"That's the idea," they replied. "But don't get too excited. It's not exactly a walk in the park."
"Great," Rylen said, shoving a forkful of mystery food into his mouth. It tasted like someone had boiled cardboard in saltwater.
Fifteen minutes later, Rylen found himself standing in a cavernous room lined with reinforced walls. Aris was there, along with a few other Vanguard members he didn't recognize.
"Welcome to the training room," Aris said. "This is where you'll learn to control your abilities and harness the energy within you."
Rylen glanced around. "Any chance this comes with a manual? Or maybe a YouTube tutorial?"
One of the Vanguard members, a tall woman with a no-nonsense expression, stepped forward. "I'm Lyra. I'll be overseeing your training. First lesson: stop talking and start focusing."
Rylen opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it.
"Good," Lyra said, nodding. "Now, let's see what we're working with. Rylen, step into the center of the room."
He hesitated but obeyed, walking to the middle of the space. The floor beneath him was marked with strange symbols that pulsed faintly.
"Don't be alarmed," Lyra said. "The symbols are designed to absorb and redirect energy. They'll keep you from destroying the room—or yourself."
"Comforting," Rylen muttered.
"Now," Lyra continued, "focus on the energy inside you. Try to bring it to the surface."
Rylen frowned. "You make it sound like I have a switch I can just flip."
"Stop overthinking," she said sharply. "Close your eyes and feel it."
Rylen sighed but did as he was told. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. At first, all he could feel was the steady thump of his heartbeat. Then, faintly, a warmth began to spread through his chest.
"There," Lyra said. "You feel that?"
"Yeah," Rylen said, his voice quieter now. "It's… like a spark."
"Good. Now focus on it. Let it grow."
The warmth intensified, spreading through his arms and legs. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, like holding a live wire.
"Okay, I feel it," he said. "Now what?"
"Now, release it," Lyra instructed. "But control it. Don't let it overwhelm you."
Rylen swallowed hard and raised his hand. The energy surged, crackling like static electricity. He gritted his teeth, trying to direct it toward the nearest target—a metal dummy set up against the wall.
With a sudden burst, the energy shot out, striking the dummy and leaving a scorch mark. Rylen staggered backward, his heart racing.
"Well done," Lyra said, a hint of approval in her voice. "Not bad for a first attempt."
"Not bad?" Rylen repeated, panting. "I didn't blow myself up. I'd call that a win."
"Don't get cocky," she warned. "You've barely scratched the surface of what you're capable of."
Aris stepped forward, their voice calm but firm. "This is only the beginning, Rylen. There's a long road ahead, and you'll need to be ready for what's coming."
Rylen looked at the scorched dummy, then back at Aris. "No pressure, right?"
The room fell silent, the weight of Aris's words sinking in. Whatever lay ahead, Rylen knew he couldn't turn back now.
---
Episode 4: Phase 2
"The Awakening Within" (continued)
Rylen sat slumped against the wall of the training room, sweat dripping down his face. His arms felt like jelly, and his head buzzed with the aftereffects of channeling his energy.
"Is this what it feels like to be hit by a bus?" he muttered.
Lyra smirked, tossing him a towel. "You'll get used to it. Eventually."
"Define 'eventually,'" Rylen said, dabbing at his face. "Because right now, I feel like a human battery that's about to short-circuit."
"Good," she said. "That means you're pushing your limits."
"Yeah, great," Rylen grumbled. "I've always wanted to be a science experiment."
Aris approached, holding a sleek tablet. "You did well, Rylen. But this is only the first step. Harnessing your energy is one thing; learning to use it effectively is another."
"Great pep talk," Rylen said dryly. "Any other motivational quotes you want to throw at me?"
"Just one," Aris said, their gaze steady. "If you don't master your power, it will master you."
Rylen blinked. "Okay, that's... ominous."
"It's the truth," Aris said. "The artifact's energy isn't something you can take lightly. If you're not careful, it could consume you."
"Cool, so no pressure," Rylen muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lyra crossed her arms. "Enough talk. Time for the next exercise."
"Next exercise?" Rylen groaned. "Can I at least get a five-minute break? Maybe a snack?"
"No breaks," Lyra said firmly. "You need to build stamina. Your enemies won't wait for you to catch your breath."
Rylen sighed, dragging himself to his feet. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Lyra led him to a circular platform in the middle of the room. It was surrounded by hovering drones, each equipped with glowing sensors.
"What's this?" Rylen asked. "A sci-fi version of dodgeball?"
"Close," Lyra said, a sly grin on her face. "The drones will fire energy blasts at random intervals. Your job is to deflect them using your powers."
"Deflect?" Rylen repeated. "I just learned how to shoot energy out of my hand. Now you want me to play Jedi?"
"Exactly," Lyra said, stepping back. "Good luck."
Before Rylen could protest, the drones activated, whirring to life. One of them shot a glowing projectile straight at him. He yelped, throwing up his hands instinctively. The energy from his body surged, forming a crude shield that absorbed the blast.
"Not bad," Lyra called out. "But you'll need to react faster."
Another drone fired, followed by two more in quick succession. Rylen stumbled as he tried to keep up, barely managing to deflect the attacks.
"This is insane!" he shouted. "How am I supposed to—"
His words were cut off as a blast grazed his shoulder, sending him spinning to the ground. The drones powered down, and Lyra approached, shaking her head.
"You're hesitating," she said. "That hesitation will get you killed."
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," Rylen said, wincing as he sat up. "Got any tips that don't involve me getting zapped?"
"Stop overthinking," Lyra said. "Trust your instincts. The energy is part of you. Let it flow naturally."
Rylen frowned, her words bouncing around in his head. Let it flow. Easier said than done.
"All right," he said, getting to his feet. "Let's try again."
The drones reactivated, and this time, Rylen focused on the warmth in his chest. He let it spread through his body, not forcing it, just letting it guide him.
When the first drone fired, he moved without thinking. The energy surged to his hands, forming a glowing shield that absorbed the blast.
"Good," Lyra said. "Keep going."
The drones fired again, faster this time. Rylen deflected one blast, then another, moving more fluidly with each attack.
By the end of the session, he was panting but grinning. "I didn't die," he said. "That's progress, right?"
Lyra nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Not bad for a rookie. But don't get cocky. This was the easy part."
Rylen groaned. "Of course it was."
Aris stepped forward, their expression serious. "You've taken your first steps, Rylen. But there's a long road ahead. Tomorrow, we begin advanced training."
"Advanced?" Rylen said, his grin fading. "I'm still working on the basics!"
"You'll adapt," Aris said. "You don't have a choice."
As the session ended, Rylen felt a strange mix of exhaustion and determination. For the first time, he started to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could do this.