Chapter 6: The Shadow of the Past
The days passed slowly as Ethan continued his training under Galen Torin. Each lesson was more grueling than the last, but with every day, the chaotic power inside him became more manageable. The Void Art, once a raging storm, was now more like a distant thunderclap—always there, but not overwhelming.
However, despite the progress, Ethan knew that this was only the beginning. The power still called to him, and each moment he spent training felt like a temporary reprieve before something worse would come.
It was early morning when Galen took him to a new location—a clearing deep within the forest, far from their usual training ground. The air was damp, the sky overcast with dark clouds that seemed to foreshadow something ominous. The trees here were taller, older, their trunks twisted and gnarled as if they had witnessed the passing of centuries.
"This is the place," Galen said, his voice low as he scanned the area. "It's where the first wielder of the Void Art was said to have fallen."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the fallen immortal. "What do you mean by 'fallen'?" he asked, his voice cautious.
Galen gave him a sharp glance. "The Void Art does not simply grant power—it changes you. The first immortal who unlocked it grew too ambitious, too hungry for strength. He sought to transcend death, to become something beyond mortal comprehension. But in the end, the power consumed him. His mind shattered, his soul fractured. He became a dark shadow of what he once was, and he turned on everything he had ever loved."
Ethan's stomach twisted at the thought. "That sounds... terrifying."
"It was. And it still is." Galen's gaze darkened, his voice tinged with something that bordered on regret. "The first wielder didn't just fall in battle. He fell because he lost himself. His desire for immortality twisted his very soul. The same can happen to you, Ethan. The power you wield is not a gift. It is a test. It will show you your true nature—and it will expose your darkest desires. If you let it, the Void Art will corrupt you, just as it did him."
Ethan swallowed hard. His thoughts were a whirlwind. He had always known that power came with a price, but hearing Galen's words made the danger feel far more real, far more personal. "So, what should I do? How do I stop it from happening to me?"
Galen's eyes locked onto his. "You don't stop it. You learn to accept it. You must face the darkness within yourself. Only then can you truly control the Void Art."
Ethan was silent for a long moment, the weight of Galen's words sinking in. He thought about his family, about the village he had left behind. He thought about the people he cared about—and the thought of losing them to this dark power made his chest tighten with fear.
"But I'm not like him," Ethan said finally, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. "I won't let it control me. I'll fight it."
Galen's gaze softened, but only slightly. "It's not about fighting it, Ethan. It's about understanding it. The Void Art is a reflection of your own soul. If you fight it without understanding it, you will lose yourself. But if you can accept it as part of you—if you can learn to wield it without becoming consumed by it—then you will be able to control it. The first immortal failed because he refused to accept his own darkness."
"So you're saying I have to face my demons?" Ethan asked, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Seems easy enough."
"It's not easy," Galen said quietly. "And it won't be quick. But it is necessary."
Galen stepped forward, drawing a circle in the dirt with the end of his staff. "This is where your next lesson begins. To truly understand the Void Art, you must first face the shadows of your past. The things you have buried deep within yourself. Only then can you see what the power has the potential to become."
Ethan stared at the circle, a strange sense of foreboding rising in his chest. "What are we doing?"
"You're going to enter the circle." Galen's voice was firm, unwavering. "And when you do, the shadows of your past will manifest before you. Face them. Confront them. And only then will you be able to move forward."
"This is another test, isn't it?" Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not a test," Galen replied. "It's the only way to truly control the Void Art. The power you hold inside you is not just something you can learn to wield. It's a part of you. And to master it, you must first understand yourself."
Ethan stood still for a moment, uncertainty creeping into his mind. The thought of facing his past—the things he had left behind, the people he had failed—was almost too much to bear. But if this was the key to understanding the Void Art, then he had no choice. He had to confront the shadows.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan stepped into the circle.
Immediately, the world around him seemed to shift. The air grew thick, charged with an unnatural energy. The trees around him bent and warped, as if distorting into something darker, something more menacing. And then, before him, a figure appeared—tall, cloaked in shadow, with hollow eyes that seemed to pierce through his very soul.
Ethan's breath caught in his throat. "No... this isn't real."
But the figure spoke in a voice that was all too familiar.
"You abandoned us."
It was the voice of his mother—her tone filled with pain, accusation. The figure before him was a shadow of her, a twisted reflection of the past he had tried so hard to bury.
"I had no choice," Ethan whispered, taking a step back. "I had to leave. To protect you... to protect everyone."
The shadow of his mother took a step forward, its hollow eyes boring into his. "You left us to die, Ethan. You were too weak to protect anyone. You failed."
The words cut deeper than any sword. Ethan could feel the sting of regret and guilt rising in his chest. "I didn't fail," he said, but his voice trembled with doubt. "I tried... I tried to save you."
The shadow flickered, its form shifting like smoke. "You failed. You couldn't save anyone. And now, you're running from the truth. You're running from yourself."
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the Void Art stirring inside him, reacting to the emotions that were flooding his mind. The darkness wanted to break free, to lash out, but Ethan clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm.
"No," he said, his voice shaking with determination. "I won't let you control me. I'm not the person you think I am. I'm not the person I used to be. I've changed. I've learned."
The shadow of his mother paused, and for a moment, the world seemed still. Then, slowly, it faded, dissolving into the air like smoke.
But the feeling of dread didn't leave.
Ethan stood alone in the clearing once more, the weight of the encounter heavy on his shoulders. The lesson was clear: the darkness within him was real. It wasn't just a product of the Void Art. It was part of him—his fears, his regrets, his guilt.
And if he was ever going to control the Void Art, he would have to face it again—and again.
End of the chapter 6