Luc stepped into the dense fog of the forest, his heart pounding with the promise of danger. The cool air clung to his skin, but he didn't let it distract him. His eyes were sharp, searching the shifting shadows as they danced around him, and his mind raced, calculating every possible scenario.
Survive until sunrise.
Those were the only instructions given by Instructor Vael, who now stood at the edge of the forest, watching with detached interest. The other recruits were already scattering, using their magic to either hide or bolster their offensive capabilities.
Luc didn't have that luxury. The shadows that clung to him were unpredictable, a volatile extension of his emotions. If he wasn't careful, they could turn on him, swallowing him whole.
The first growl echoed through the mist, low and rumbling, reverberating against the trees. A chill ran down Luc's spine, not from fear, but from the sudden intensity of the moment.
He took a breath, his emotions steady, his will firm. If he was going to survive, he needed to rely on his intellect—not brute force.
The forest shifted around him. The trees loomed tall, casting long, crooked shadows. But it wasn't just the trees that moved; the air itself seemed alive, pulsating with magic. The creatures lurking here weren't mere beasts—they were manifestations of fear, hunger, and rage, driven by their connection to the Essence that permeated the forest.
Luc could sense their presence before he saw them—a flicker of energy in the mist, a ripple of emotion riding on the wind. He felt the growl before he heard it—a beast, strong and primal, its hunger almost palpable.
A figure emerged from the fog, its eyes glowing with a golden hue, its body a grotesque mix of man and shadow. It snarled, crouching low to the ground. The air around it shimmered with an unstable magic, the kind driven by unhinged emotion. Luc's instincts screamed at him to fight, but he resisted. His powers weren't meant for direct confrontation.
Instead, Luc stepped back, his eyes never leaving the creature. He reached within himself, pulling on the Void Essence. It surged under his control, flowing like a dark river, and his emotions stayed calm, still—his fear held at bay.
The creature lunged.
Luc's heart fluttered for a split second—the first crack in his emotional wall—but he exhaled slowly, pushing the fear back into the depths of his soul. His shadows stirred, alive and eager. In that brief moment of panic, the Void Essence flared, a dark wave that rushed out in front of him, freezing the creature mid-air.
System Alert: Void Essence response: Stabilized.
The creature was held in place, its movements sluggish, but it wasn't enough. Luc's shadow powers weren't precise yet, and the creature was beginning to fight back against the oppressive weight of the magic.
He needed to end it.
Luc's mind clicked into place, a plan forming as the creature struggled against the shadows. He focused on his emotions, narrowing them down to a single point: cold, detached clarity. Without the panic or anger the creature had brought to life, the magic was weak. He'd learned this much—his powers didn't thrive on emotions like the others. Instead, he could shape them, redirect them.
His focus sharpened, and he raised his hand, guiding the shadows like a force of nature. They shifted, wrapping tighter around the creature, choking its energy. A moment later, it collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Luc exhaled, sweat beading at his forehead. His powers were still unstable, a force waiting to break free, but at least for now, he had control.
"Good," a voice called from the edge of the forest.
Instructor Vael stood, her sharp eyes watching him, but there was no praise in her tone—only assessment.
"You'll survive," she said, her voice a mixture of approval and warning. "But this is only the beginning."