The Pillar of Lightning stood tall in the middle of the grand hall. It was a stone column with nine holes, stacked from bottom to top.
To stay in the clan, disciples needed to send lightning through at least the first three holes. Failing the test meant exile, no matter how skilled they were at martial arts.
Today was Kaleb Bjorn's 15th birthday, and today was his turn to show his potential. He stood in the middle of the hall, surrounded by his clan, his heart pounding.
Lanterns glowed with fiery light, casting shadows on the stone walls. All eyes were on Kaleb, watching his every move.
Eldrin Veranthe, the clan leader, stood next to the Pillar. His ironwood staff tapped the floor as his voice filled the hall. "Kaleb Bjorn, today you will face the Pillar of Lightning. You must prove yourself or leave this hall forever."
Kaleb's chest tightened, but he stood tall. "I won't fail," he said quietly, mostly to himself.
"You all know the rules," Eldrin said, looking at the gathered crowd. "Only those who can wield the Path of Lightning and Fire are true members of this clan."
The whispers in the crowd grew louder. Kaleb felt their judgment like a storm pressing down on him.
His mother, stood near the edge of the hall. Her sapphire-blue robes shimmered in the light, but her hands fidgeted nervously.
Eldrin gestured to the Pillar. "Place your hand on the base," he ordered. "Show us your potential."
Kaleb stepped forward and placed his hand on the Pillar's cold, smooth surface. The nine holes stared back at him like silent judges.
He closed his eyes and focused on the energy inside him. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing happened.
The first few seconds passed, and the Pillar remained dark. The whispers in the crowd grew louder.
"Why isn't it working?" someone muttered. "He trained so hard."
Kaleb clenched his teeth, his muscles tensing as he pushed harder. A faint flicker of light appeared in the bottom hole but faded instantly.
"Is that all?" A clan elder, Vorrick Alsevar's mocking voice, broke through the murmurs. He stepped forward with a smirk. "The great Kaleb Bjorn can't even light one single hole? Pathetic."
Kaleb's fists tightened, but he didn't step back. "I'm not done," he said through gritted teeth.
Vorrick chuckled and shook his head. "Face it, boy. You're a failure. No spark, no future."
The crowd's whispers turned to agreement. Kaleb felt their stares cutting into him like knives.
Minutes passed, and the Pillar stayed dark. Eldrin's face hardened, his voice firm. "Enough. The Pillar has spoken. Kaleb Bjorn, you have no spiritual energy."
Kaleb's chest felt hollow as the words hit him. "This isn't possible," he said, his voice shaking. "I've trained harder than anyone. I deserve to be here."
"The laws are clear," Eldrin said coldly. "Without cultivation, you have no place in this clan."
Vorrick stepped closer, his grin growing wider. "You didn't just fail, Kaleb. You embarrassed us. Be grateful we're letting you walk away."
Kaleb's anger boiled over as he glared at Vorrick. "I'll prove you wrong," he said, his voice low but firm.
His Mother stepped forward, her eyes filled with silent pleading. "Enough," she said softly, but there was no room for argument in Eldrin's eyes.
Eldrin struck his staff on the floor, the sound echoing through the hall. "Kaleb Bjorn, you are exiled. Leave by dawn. Take nothing that belongs to this clan."
Gasps filled the room as Kaleb's fate was sealed. He turned and walked out of the hall, his footsteps echoing behind him. The whispers of disappointment followed him like shadows.
The Hidden Truth
Before Kaleb was born, the Bjorn Clan faced destruction by a powerful being called the Infernal Warden. This celestial creature, surrounded by lightning and fire, destroyed everything it touched. The elders, desperate to save their people, searched for a way to stop the Warden.
They discovered an ancient ritual that could bind the Warden's power. The ritual demanded a great sacrifice—something of immense value to anchor the Warden's destructive energy.
The elders chose Kaleb, who was still unborn, as the sacrifice. His parents, agreed to seal his spiritual core, knowing what it would cost him.
Kaleb was born powerless, Kaleb grew up thinking he was a failure. He never knew that his potential had been stolen from him.
His parents stayed silent, watching with heavy hearts. Their regret was buried beneath stern expressions and forced indifference.
The Elders' Hidden Guilt
As the crowd left the grand hall, their whispers of disappointment echoed behind them. The elders of the Bjorn Clan gathered in a hidden chamber beneath the altar room.
The stone walls were damp, a faint reminder of the ancient energies sealed within. Eldrin Veranthe placed his staff against the wall and faced the others.
For a moment, Eldrin's strong expression cracked, showing a flicker of regret. "It had to be done," he said softly.
One elder, a woman with silver hair and sharp eyes, crossed her arms. "Do you think it's easy to watch that boy suffer? He doesn't even know why he's powerless."
Eldrin sighed, running a hand over his face. "It's better this way. If he knew, he would try to break the seal. The Warden's power would destroy him—and us." If he survives, maybe there's a future for him beyond these walls."
Kaleb sat alone at the edge of the forest, his legs hanging over a rocky ledge. Below him, waves crashed loudly, and salty spray misted his face.
The Pillar of Lightning filled his mind, along with the mocking voices of the elders. Vorrick's sneer echoed in his memory. "Pathetic. No spark, no future."
Kaleb clenched his hands into fists, his nails digging into his palms. He stared at the horizon, where the setting sun cast long shadows over the land.
"No future," he muttered, his voice shaking with anger. "That's what they think of me."
He turned his gaze to the Bjorn stronghold in the distance. Its tall stone walls loomed like a fortress of judgment.
His chest tightened as rage and sadness swirled inside him. "They didn't even let me try," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I gave them everything, and it wasn't enough."
Memories of his training filled his mind. Early mornings sparring with wooden staffs and nights studying the Path of Lightning and Fire flashed before him.
He had worked harder than anyone else, desperate to prove he belonged. Now, it felt like all his effort had been for nothing.
His breath hitched as he thought of his mother during the ceremony. Something in her eyes had seemed off, something she didn't say.
"What aren't you telling me, Mother?" he said quietly, his voice barely audible. He shook his head, frustration growing.
The forest behind him rustled suddenly, breaking his thoughts. The wind carried the scent of damp earth and pine through the air.
Kaleb turned sharply, his instincts alert even though he lacked Chi. He scanned the trees, his body tense and ready.
A bird burst from the brush, its wings flapping loudly as it flew away. Kaleb sighed and let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Jumping at shadows now," he muttered with a bitter laugh. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his thoughts heavy.
He reached into his satchel and pulled out the only things he had been allowed to keep. A small, dull knife and a tattered cloth lay in his hands.
"These are what I'm worth to them," Kaleb said, bitterness lacing his voice. He tightened his grip on the knife, his jaw clenched.
Kaleb stood slowly, his legs shaky but holding firm. He looked down at the waves crashing violently against the rocks below.
For a moment, he thought about letting the sea take him. The idea hovered in his mind, cold and tempting.
But something deep inside him pushed the thought away. A faint ember of defiance refused to let him give up.
"If I'm going to disappear, it won't be like that," he said, his voice growing stronger. He adjusted the knife on his belt and wrapped the cloth tightly around his shoulders.
He turned from the ledge, his steps steady as he walked into the forest. "They think I'm nothing," he muttered, his blue eyes shining in the fading light. "I'll show them what nothing can become."
Floki's Arrival
As the forest grew darker, the air around Kaleb changed. The sounds of animals and rustling trees faded into an eerie silence.
Kaleb paused, his hand moving to the knife at his side. "What now?" he muttered under his breath.
A crackle of energy rippled through the air, making the hairs on his neck stand up. Before he could react, a smooth, mocking voice broke the quiet.
"Well, well," the voice said, filled with amusement. "A boy with no spark, wandering alone. How very poetic."
Kaleb spun around, gripping his knife tightly as his eyes scanned the darkness. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice steady but tense.
The shadows shifted, and a figure emerged. His spiky purple hair and mismatched robes glowed faintly under the moonlight.
"Now, this is interesting," the man said with a cutting grin. "I expected broken, maybe hopeless. But there's a storm brewing in you, little spark."
Kaleb narrowed his eyes, his grip on the knife tightening. "Who are you?" he asked sharply.
The man gave a playful bow, his grin widening. "Floki, God of Nothing. Or chaos, if you prefer."
Kaleb's glare stayed firm as he asked, "Why are you here?"
Floki tilted his head, his sly grin never fading. "Because you're not as powerless as you think, little storm. And because your dear family forgot to mention why you're really empty."
Kaleb's breath caught, his grip faltering. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice rough.
Floki's laughter echoed through the forest, sharp and mocking. "Oh, you'll love this story. But first, let's see if you survive what's coming next."