Baltimore stirred awake to the steady rhythm of rain against the windows, a muted backdrop to the early morning light that struggled to pierce the thick gray clouds. Kairo sat on the edge of his bed, his hands clasped tightly together as if to hold himself steady. Sleep had been elusive, his mind a labyrinth of questions and half-formed thoughts. The events of the previous days played on repeat in his head—golden light, shadows, whispers, and the terrifying realization that his life had irrevocably changed.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, snapping him out of his thoughts. He picked it up to find a message from Lina:
"I'm making pancakes. Don't burn the kitchen down with your 'training.' 😜"
Kairo chuckled softly, a welcome break in his otherwise stormy mood. Lina always had a way of grounding him, even when the world around them felt like it was spinning out of control. He typed back a quick reply:
"No promises."
He set the phone down and took a deep breath, trying to steady the swirling energy within him. It wasn't just his mind that felt restless; the golden warmth in his chest was alive and insistent, like a caged animal pacing back and forth. Zephyr had called it Aeterna, the essence of life and existence itself. Kairo wasn't sure what to make of that yet. All he knew was that it was both a gift and a burden—and he needed to learn to control it.
In the kitchen, the scent of pancakes mingled with the faint tang of rain-soaked air drifting in through a cracked window. Lina stood at the stove, flipping a pancake with practiced ease. She was wearing her favorite hoodie—bright yellow with a faded cartoon sun on the front—and humming a tune Kairo didn't recognize.
"Morning, sleepyhead," she said without looking up. "Thought you'd never get out of bed."
"Could've used a few more hours," Kairo admitted, grabbing a plate and sliding onto one of the rickety stools at the counter.
Lina turned, a sly smile on her face. "Rough night saving the world?"
Kairo gave her a look. "You don't even know the half of it."
"Then maybe you should tell me," she said, setting a plate of pancakes in front of him. "You've been acting weird lately, Kai. Like, weirder than usual. Is it... you know, what happened the other night?"
He hesitated, cutting into his pancake to buy himself time. He wanted to protect her from the truth, to keep her out of whatever mess he'd stumbled into. But Lina was sharp, and she'd already seen enough to know that something was wrong.
"It's... complicated," he said finally. "I don't even fully understand it yet. But yeah, it's about what happened. There's this... energy inside me. It's hard to explain, but it's powerful. And dangerous."
Lina's expression shifted from playful to serious. "Dangerous how?"
Kairo put down his fork, his appetite fading. "There are things out there—things that want to hurt me. Hurt us. Because of this energy. That's why I'm learning to control it."
Lina nodded slowly, her brow furrowed. "And this Zephyr guy? He's teaching you?"
"Yeah," Kairo said, his tone uncertain. "At least, I think he is. Half the time, he talks in riddles and expects me to figure it out on my own."
"That sounds annoying," Lina said with a small smile.
Kairo chuckled. "You have no idea."
Later that morning, Zephyr arrived without warning, as was becoming his habit. The door hadn't even finished closing behind him when he started issuing orders.
"Outside," he said briskly. "We're taking your training to the next level."
Kairo raised a brow. "What happened to warming up? Meditation? Starting slow?"
Zephyr gave him a pointed look. "Do you think the shadows will wait for you to warm up?"
Kairo sighed, shooting Lina a glance. She shrugged, mouthing, "Good luck," before retreating to her room.
The rain had eased to a drizzle by the time Kairo and Zephyr stepped outside. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet asphalt and earth. Zephyr led him to a nearby park, its paths slick with rainwater and its benches empty save for the occasional pigeon.
They stopped in a clearing surrounded by towering oaks. Zephyr turned to face Kairo, his expression unreadable. "Today, we focus on intention. Aeterna is not merely a tool; it is an extension of your will. To control it, you must first understand what you want it to do."
"Sounds simple enough," Kairo said. "What's the catch?"
"The catch," Zephyr said, pulling a smooth, flat stone from his pocket, "is that Aeterna doesn't respond to half-measures. If your intention is unclear or conflicted, it will falter. Like this." He tossed the stone lightly into the air, and a faint shimmer of blue energy surrounded it. The stone hovered for a moment before dropping back into his hand.
"You need to be precise," Zephyr continued. "Think of it as directing a river. Without proper guidance, it will carve its own chaotic path."
Kairo frowned, nodding slowly. "Okay, so how do I practice that?"
Zephyr gestured to a cluster of small rocks scattered across the clearing. "Lift those."
Kairo blinked. "Lift them? With what, my energy?"
"Yes," Zephyr said as though it were obvious. "Focus on one. Feel the energy flow through you and into it. Visualize the outcome you desire."
Kairo stared at the rocks, feeling the familiar warmth of frustration bubbling up inside him. "Right. Sure. Because that's not vague at all."
Zephyr smirked. "Stop complaining and try."
Kairo closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The golden warmth stirred in his chest, tentative but present. He reached for it, letting it flow down his arms and into his hands. When he opened his eyes, the faint glow had returned, tracing lines across his skin.
He focused on a small rock, willing the energy to reach out to it. At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the rock began to tremble, lifting an inch off the ground before clattering back down.
"Not bad," Zephyr said. "But not good enough. Try again."
Kairo bit back a retort and focused once more. This time, the rock rose higher, hovering unsteadily for several seconds before dropping again.
"Better," Zephyr said. "But you're hesitating. The energy can sense your doubt."
"I'm not doubting!" Kairo snapped, though his tone betrayed him.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "Then why are you holding back?"
Kairo didn't have an answer. He clenched his fists, the golden light flaring brighter as his frustration grew. He wanted to prove himself—not to Zephyr, but to himself. He wanted to show that he wasn't weak, that he could do this.
The next attempt was different. The golden energy surged, wrapping around the rock like a cocoon. It rose higher, steadier, until it hovered at eye level.
Kairo grinned, sweat beading on his forehead. "I did it."
Zephyr nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. Now do it again."