The village braced for an unknown threat as each day dissolved into the next. Barricades were bolstered while patrols grew alert, yet an unease lingered like a shadow defying the sun.
Ethan doubled his training in search of control. The flicker in his chest flared unpredictably, its warmth steadfast even in sleep. But mastery eluded him as it flared then faded without cause.
One eve as colors bathed the sky, Ethan found solace where first he felt the flicker's kiss. Drills met precision yet the energy evaded his grasp however focused.
Frustration seized him and his sword struck with a crackle's force. "Reveal yourself," he muttered. "I feel your fire within."
As if in answer, the flicker burst into a spread of warmth through limbs and steel aglow. Sparks danced upon the blade as Ethan's heart swelled, beholding what he'd awaited - the fire's command at hand.
But just as quickly as it had come, the energy faded, leaving him feeling drained and disoriented. He sank to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Not bad," a voice said from the edge of the clearing. His head snapped up sharply, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword as relief washed over him at the familiar voice. Gerard stood there, arms crossed, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Grandfather," Ethan replied, trying to steady his ragged breathing. "I didn't hear your approach."
"You were preoccupied," Gerard remarked calmly, stepping into the clearing to retrieve Ethan's fallen sword. His expression was thoughtful as he handed it back. "Closer, yes, but still trying too hard. The bloodline isn't a thing that can be forced or controlled. It's part of you, intrinsic as your pulse or your respiration. Those things just occur without conscious effort, do they not?"
Ethan frowned, taking the sword but still confused. "How can I stop thinking about it then? Each time I attempt to focus my energy slips away."
"That is the problem," Gerard replied gently, a hand resting on Ethan's shoulder. "You focus on the wrong facet. The bloodline isn't about mastery but trust. You must learn to trust yourself, releasing the fear and doubt holding you back from your true potential."
Ethan gazed down at the gleaming blade, questions still swirling in his mind. Trust himself? It sounded simple but felt impossible when he didn't even understand this power within. How could he trust what he couldn't comprehend?
Gerard seemed to sense his lingering uncertainty. "Change will not happen overnight. But with practice, you will learn to relinquish control and have faith. When the moment arises, you will know what to do."
Ethan nodded slowly as the weight of Gerard's words settled heavily upon him. Could he truly shoulder such responsibility? The future of the village and his family's legacy now rested on his shoulders alone. Doubt and uncertainty gripped him, but regardless of his readiness, there was no other choice.
As they made the journey back to Willowbrook, the forest seemed deathly still and silent. Even the gentle whispers of the wind had faded into quiet. Within his heart, Ethan felt the faintest flickering of a spark—small but undeniable. Though barely more than a glimmer, it offered the merest glimmer of hope in the darkness. There remained a long road ahead, but for now it was enough. This faint flickering could grow, in time, into the flame that what was needed to light the way forward for all.