The sun was setting by the time Lyra and Kael reached the edge of the forest. The charred remains of the battlefield still lingered in Kael's mind—the crimson fire, the power coursing through him, the way the beasts had cowered. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white.
"What are you thinking about?" Lyra asked, not bothering to look back as she led the way.
Kael hesitated. "The power... It didn't feel like it was mine. It felt like... something else."
Lyra stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her expression was unreadable, but her tone was firm. "That's because it isn't yours. Not yet, anyway. Right now, you're a conduit. A vessel for something ancient and wild."
Kael frowned. "How do you know all this? What aren't you telling me?"
For a moment, Lyra seemed torn, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, she sighed. "Because I've seen it before. You're not the first to awaken this power, Kael. But you might be the first to survive it."
Her words sent a chill down his spine. "What happened to the others?"
"They failed," Lyra said simply. "And when they failed, the power consumed them."
---
The Training Begins
As the night deepened, Lyra led Kael to a hidden grove nestled between jagged cliffs. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and a faint glow emanated from clusters of luminescent mushrooms growing along the rocks.
"This will do," Lyra said, setting her bag down and unsheathing her blade.
Kael looked around, confused. "For what?"
"For training," Lyra replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You can't keep relying on luck and instinct. If you don't learn to control that power, it'll destroy you—and everyone around you."
Kael opened his mouth to protest but stopped when Lyra leveled her blade at him. "No excuses. If you want to live, you'll fight."
---
The Trial of Control
The first lesson was brutal. Lyra didn't hold back, and Kael quickly realized how outmatched he was. Her strikes were precise, her movements effortless, while he stumbled and flailed, barely managing to block her attacks.
"You're thinking too much," Lyra snapped, knocking him off balance with a quick sweep of her leg. "Power like yours doesn't come from your head—it comes from here." She tapped her chest.
Kael groaned, picking himself up. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one with a storm inside you."
Lyra's expression softened, just for a moment. "No, I'm not. But I've fought alongside those who were. And I've seen what happens when they let it control them."
Kael took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The fire in his chest flared, responding to his frustration. He focused on it, trying to reign it in, but it only seemed to grow wilder.
"Stop fighting it," Lyra said. "The more you resist, the stronger it gets. You need to accept it."
Kael closed his eyes, letting the heat wash over him. Slowly, he began to understand what Lyra meant. The power wasn't his enemy—it was a part of him, wild and untamed but not malicious.
When he opened his eyes, the crimson glow returned, but this time it was steady, controlled.
Lyra nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Good. Now let's see what you can do."
---
The Council's Wrath
Far away, in the celestial realms, the gods watched Kael's progress with growing unease.
"He's learning too quickly," Ankaras growled, his massive form casting a shadow over the obsidian table. "If we don't act now, he'll become unstoppable."
"Let him learn," Aesyr countered, her calm voice a stark contrast to Ankaras's rage. "Knowledge alone is not enough to tame the beasts. He still has to prove himself worthy."
"Enough," Tharek interjected, his golden eyes narrowing. "Send the Heralds. Let the boy understand the cost of defiance."
---
A New Threat
Back in the grove, Kael's training was interrupted by a sudden chill. The air grew heavy, the faint glow of the mushrooms dimming as an unnatural darkness crept in.
Lyra's hand went to her blade instantly. "We're not alone."
Kael turned, his pulse quickening. From the shadows, figures began to emerge—tall, gaunt beings clad in robes that seemed to shimmer like liquid shadow. Their faces were obscured, but their presence radiated malice.
"The Heralds," Lyra whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kael's grip tightened on his blade of energy, the crimson light flaring to life once more. "What do they want?"
"They're here for you," Lyra said grimly. "The gods have sent them to stop you."
The lead Herald raised a hand, its voice echoing like a thousand whispers. "Surrender the flame, mortal, and we will grant you a swift end."
Kael stepped forward, the fire in his chest roaring to life. "Come and take it."
The battle began.
---