Chapter 7: Forged Bonds
The warehouse is quiet, the air heavy with the lingering tension of a city that's never truly at rest. Outside, the rumble of distant traffic and the occasional shout from a street vendor seep through the cracks in the walls, but in here, in this cold, concrete room, it's just me and Rune.
I stand at the center of the space, feeling the sweat dripping down my back. My breath comes in shallow gasps. In my hands, lightning flickers, arcing through the air like a hungry beast waiting to be tamed. The raw power surges within me, pulsing and electric. It feels alive. Wild. But it's not enough. Not yet.
I focus harder, trying to guide it, but it's like trying to hold water in my palms. The lightning's power hums and thrums, but it won't obey. I scowl, frustration beginning to bubble up inside me.
Rune doesn't say anything. I can feel his gaze, though — it's sharp, like a knife, always watching, always assessing. His eyes don't miss a thing.
"You're getting better," he says, his voice soft, almost a whisper.
Better? I don't feel better. The lightning is still wild in my hands, barely under my control. But I don't say that. I swallow the frustration and force a nod.
"Better? I can barely control it. It's still all over the place."
Rune steps forward, his boots making no sound against the floor, his presence heavy in the silence. He's calm, always calm, his eyes unreadable as they meet mine. He doesn't respond immediately, letting the quiet stretch between us. It's unnerving, but I'm used to it by now.
"You're young," he finally says, his voice steady and measured. "You're unrefined. But the power you have... it's something else. I haven't seen anything like it."
I shift my weight, feeling the heat of his gaze on me. "So what now? Am I supposed to just wait for it to magically work?"
Rune tilts his head slightly, considering me. His eyes narrow. "No. You're going to learn discipline. Power like that... it's not something you can just throw around. If you don't control it, it'll control you."
I clench my fists, trying to ignore the way my heart beats faster at his words. Control. Discipline. Those words keep coming up, and I can't help but think of how often I've been reckless. But this time is different. This time, I have something to prove. To him. To myself.
"I won't fail," I mutter, my voice tight with determination. "I've never failed before."
Rune's gaze softens just a fraction, though he hides it quickly. "Everyone fails eventually, Damian. But how you handle that failure? That's what matters."
I don't say anything to that. I'm not sure I believe him, but I don't challenge him either. The idea of failure is something I've always avoided, always pushed against. But what if he's right? What if failure isn't the end?
He steps closer, his presence a quiet force, pulling my attention back to him. "You have power, Damian. But power is nothing without control. You have to control yourself first. Your emotions. Your thoughts. The lightning responds to your state of mind. It's your focus that will shape the power."
I stare at him, trying to process his words. The idea of controlling my thoughts... controlling my emotions? It feels impossible. My entire life has been about fighting back, surviving. I've never had the luxury of thinking before acting.
I glance down at my hands, the crackling energy still pulsing beneath my skin. "I don't have time for that. I need to learn how to control this power now. I'm not waiting."
Rune's expression doesn't change. "You'll wait as long as it takes," he says, the words clipped and firm. "You won't control this power by rushing into it. And you won't master it with impatience."
I grit my teeth, frustration clawing at me again, but I bite it back. His words stick with me, not because I like them, but because they're starting to make sense.
Rune takes a step back, his eyes scanning me like I'm a puzzle he's piecing together. "You think this is about speed. But power isn't just about going fast or hitting hard. It's about patience, about precision. About being in complete control of your actions."
I force myself to relax, to listen, even though my instincts scream at me to keep pushing. "So... what, I wait? I sit around, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?"
"No." Rune's voice is sharp, the answer immediate. "You practice. Over and over. Until it's second nature. Until your mind and your body are in perfect harmony. Then you strike. Then you control the power."
I take a deep breath, letting it fill my chest. Rune's right, I know that. It's not going to be easy. Nothing worth having ever is. But I've come this far. I'm not going to stop now.
"I'm ready," I say, more to myself than to Rune. "Teach me."
He nods, his expression softening just enough that I can see the approval in his eyes, though it's quickly masked by his usual indifference. "Good. Then let's begin. The first lesson is this: Control is the foundation of everything. Without control, you're just a wild storm. And a storm destroys everything in its path."
I stare at him, the weight of his words settling deep within me. Control.
I step forward, my mind clearer than it's been in days. It's not just about unleashing the lightning, or even mastering it. It's about learning to hold it, to use it without losing myself to it.
And with Rune at my side, maybe — just maybe — I can learn to control everything.