The morning sunlight streamed through the cracked windows of the small room Azhaan and Kaela had retreated to after the chaos. Dust particles danced in the beams of light as if unaware of the battle that had torn through the place just hours ago.
Azhaan sat slumped in a chair, his head in his hands, replaying the events over and over. The Shadow Stalker lay curled at his feet, its breathing steady, though its red eyes were fixed on the door, as if expecting another attack.
Kaela leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her sharp amber gaze fixed on Azhaan. She was silent, giving him a moment to process everything, but her patience had limits.
"Alright," she said finally, breaking the silence. "You're not going to get far in Aetheris if you don't start taking this seriously."
Azhaan lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. "You think I'm not taking this seriously? I just got attacked by a bunch of people I don't even know for reasons I don't understand. Excuse me for being a little overwhelmed."
Kaela pushed off the wall and stepped closer, her dragon, Lirian, chirping softly from her shoulder. "I get it, Azhaan. You're out of your depth. But the reality is, those people aren't going to stop coming after you. If you don't start preparing now, you're not going to survive the next time they find you."
Azhaan opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the intensity in her eyes. She wasn't trying to scare him—she was trying to help.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
Kaela sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting across from him. "First, we need to figure out what makes you so special. Bonding with a Shadow Stalker isn't just unusual—it's unheard of. And that mark on your arm?" She gestured to the glowing symbol etched into his skin. "That's not normal, either."
Azhaan looked down at the mark, his fingers brushing over its faintly pulsing surface. "I don't know why it happened. The Shadow Stalker just… asked me if I'd take the bond. I said yes, and then this appeared."
Kaela frowned, leaning forward. "It spoke to you?"
"Yeah," Azhaan replied. "In my head. Is that not supposed to happen?"
Kaela exchanged a glance with Lirian, her expression unreadable. "No," she said after a pause. "Beasts don't usually speak to their tamers, especially not during the bonding process. This isn't just unusual—it's… strange."
Azhaan let out a humorless laugh. "Great. Just what I needed—to be even more of a freak in a world I don't understand."
"You're not a freak," Kaela said firmly. "You're different. And in Aetheris, different can mean a lot of things—power, danger, opportunity. What matters is what you do with it."
Azhaan looked at her, a spark of determination flickering in his eyes. "So, what do I do?"
Kaela smirked, leaning back in her chair. "First, you learn how to fight. You can't rely on your Shadow Stalker to do all the work. If you're going to survive, you need to know how to defend yourself."
"Fight?" Azhaan repeated, the spark of determination quickly replaced by dread. "I'm not exactly a martial artist, you know."
Kaela shrugged. "You don't have to be. But you do need to be quick, smart, and adaptable. And luckily for you, I'm a pretty good teacher."
Azhaan raised an eyebrow. "You're offering to teach me? Why?"
"Because you're a walking target," Kaela replied bluntly. "And if you get yourself killed, I'll probably have to deal with whatever mess you leave behind. Besides…" She glanced at the Shadow Stalker, which was now watching her intently. "Something tells me you're worth the trouble."
Azhaan hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright. What's the first lesson?"
Kaela grinned, standing up and drawing her blade. "First lesson? Never let your guard down."
Before Azhaan could react, she lunged at him, the flat of her blade coming dangerously close to his shoulder. He yelped and stumbled out of his chair, barely avoiding the strike.
"Are you crazy?!" he shouted, his heart racing.
Kaela smirked, lowering her blade. "Lesson one complete: always be ready. Lesson two starts now—get up and grab that staff." She nodded toward a wooden training staff leaning against the wall.
Azhaan groaned but did as he was told, picking up the staff and holding it awkwardly in both hands. "I feel ridiculous," he muttered.
"Good," Kaela said. "You should. Now, try to hit me."
"What? No way!"
"If you don't try, I'll hit you," she said with a teasing grin, spinning her blade expertly in her hand.
Azhaan sighed, shifting his grip on the staff. "Fine. But don't blame me if I accidentally knock you out."
Kaela chuckled. "I'll take my chances."
The next few hours were a blur of fumbling, frustration, and a lot of bruises. Kaela was relentless, pushing Azhaan to react faster, think smarter, and stop hesitating. The Shadow Stalker watched the training session with what almost seemed like amusement, its red eyes glowing faintly as it occasionally let out soft growls of approval.
By the time Kaela finally called for a break, Azhaan was drenched in sweat and barely able to lift the staff. He collapsed onto the floor, groaning.
"You're not terrible," Kaela said, tossing him a canteen of water. "For a beginner, anyway."
Azhaan took a long drink, glaring at her over the rim. "Glad to know I'm meeting your high expectations."
She grinned, leaning back against the wall. "You'll get there. Just don't give up."
Azhaan glanced at the Shadow Stalker, which had curled up at his side. He reached out, his hand brushing its dark fur. The creature let out a soft, rumbling growl that almost sounded like approval.
For the first time since arriving in Aetheris, Azhaan felt a spark of hope. He didn't know what lay ahead, but with Kaela's guidance and the Shadow Stalker by his side, he was ready to face it.