Orion hurried through the forest as the last rays of sun cast long, jagged shadows across the trail. The sun had already set, but the sounds of the woods—the chirps of crickets, the rustle of leaves—now sounded louder in the late twilight. He gripped the hilt of his sword more tightly, glancing over his shoulder every few minutes.
His talk with Adi went through his mind again; each word seemed imbued with an importance he could not shake. An Ember Aura? Suddenly, all he could think of was how weak and flickering his Aura was in comparison to Adi's. On the better account, was he ever to reach that extent of might? Or this again, just another dream that would slip away like so many others before it?
"I'm not ready"—he said the words for his ear alone, as though they could protect him from echoing into the bushes and trees. He wished he could believe Adi—that somehow, there was some source of latent strength lying buried deep within him. Yet the specter of fear coiled about him and would not let go.
As Orion came out of the forest, the trees thinned. Just beyond them, the lights of the colony flickered dully, a guiding beacon back home to safety. Orion walked faster; the thought of home was a steadying tide against the swirling storm of questions in his mind.
The colony was silent when Orion arrived, nearly empty of any signs of life except for the dim stirrings in the main square. Most of the settlers had already retreated to their homes, bracing themselves for yet another long night under the energy lanterns. The settlement, a very small enclosed community, had always been a refuge for Orion, a predictable and peaceful place for him. But tonight its familiarity felt remote in place.
As he wound his way along the narrow town streets, he caught sight of two figures, familiar but indistinct, hovering on the far edge of the square. Caden and Lara were fixed beneath the scant light of a lantern. Caden was tall and broad-shouldered, leaning against the post with a relaxed posture; Lara was pacing in the loose-company way of someone who would give trouble for sitting too long, tirelessly braided red hair bobbing over her back.
"Orion!" Caden shouted, his voice carrying well over the still air. "Where've you been? Cuttin' really close. You know the council takes the curfew seriously."
Orion hesitated, his gaze jumping between the two of them. These were his closest friends, still standing by him through every hardship he could recall. If anyone knew his troubles regarding Adi, it's they who could give him some advice.
"I ran into someone in the woods," he said carefully, stopping about two feet away from them.
Lara abruptly stopped pacing, her sharp green eyes narrowing. "Someone? Who?"
Orion peered around to make sure nobody else was in their vicinity. "His name is Adi. He is...different. He's got an Ember Aura."
The words, once spoken, drew immediate reactions: Caden straightened from his relaxed position, and Lara darkened her expression.
"An Ember Aura?" Caden repeated it, barely audible. "Orion, you know what that means. He's no traveler."
"And that's not the only thing," Orion blurted out, the words flying out of him before he could stop them. "He said he came here to train me. He thinks my aura has potential."
Lara took a step closer, her voice urgent. "And what did you say? Agree to what?"
"No," Orion quickly interjected. "I told him I wasn't ready. But... I don't know. What if he's right? What if I really can-a-"
"Stop," Lara interrupted him, firmness in her voice. "You can't get involved with someone like that, Orion. Do you even know what it means to deal with some clan people?"
Orion frowned, confused. "So what if he is from a clan? He just wants to help me."
As he walked away, he could feel their eyes on him, heavy with concern. But he didn't look back. His thoughts were already elsewhere, spinning with possibilities and questions.
Who was Adi, really? Why had he chosen Orion? And most importantly—what would happen if he chose to accept Adi's offer?
The night was quiet, but inside Orion, the storm raged on.