Pain still rippled through Kael's body as he pushed himself off the electrified floor. His muscles burned, his nerves screamed, and every inch of him begged for a moment of rest. But he knew better.
Serra Voss didn't believe in rest.
She stood before him, her stance loose, almost relaxed, but Kael knew better than to mistake that for mercy. The Stormblade of Velkaar wasn't just any fighter. She had mastered the very force that had only just awakened in him.
"You think because you can summon a little lightning, you're strong?" Serra's voice carried no amusement, only cold certainty. "Raw power means nothing if you don't know how to wield it."
Kael didn't argue. He could still feel the impact of her first strike, a pulse of controlled electricity that had left him on his back in an instant. She was right. He had been reckless, relying on instinct rather than skill. He had felt the current but hadn't known how to control it.
He steadied his breathing, forcing his hands to stop shaking. "Then teach me."
Serra raised an eyebrow. "Fine."
The floor hummed with energy again.
Kael barely had time to react before she vanished in a blur of movement. A second later, a bolt of electricity arced toward his chest. He twisted at the last moment, but it brushed his shoulder, sending a jolt of pain down his arm.
Serra stopped behind him, arms crossed. "Better. But you're still thinking too slow."
Kael clenched his fists. He had dodged purely on instinct, but that wouldn't be enough. If he wanted to survive in the Crucible, he needed to understand how his power truly worked.
He took a breath, feeling the static charge in the air. The chamber was saturated with electromagnetic energy, its currents flowing invisibly around him. If he could just—
Serra lunged again.
This time, Kael didn't move his body. He felt the charge in the air shift, sensed the flicker of energy as her attack approached. His muscles tensed a fraction of a second earlier, just enough for him to lean barely out of reach.
Serra stopped mid-strike, her lips curling into the hint of a smile. "Not bad."
Kael exhaled. His instincts had always been sharp, but now, it was something more. It was like he could feel the world around him through the invisible pulse of energy flowing in the air.
Serra stepped back, folding her arms. "You're starting to get it. Electricity isn't just about attack. It's about sensitivity, control, and awareness. The stronger you get, the more you'll start to feel the currents around you. The best electromancers don't just dodge attacks. They predict them before they happen."
Kael rolled his shoulder, still sore from her earlier hit. "Then what's next?"
Serra smirked. "Next, you learn how to strike back."
She raised her hand, and lightning danced across her fingertips.
Kael felt the charge in the air shift before she even attacked.
This time, he was ready.
His training had truly begun.
The next few hours were brutal. Serra didn't just teach through words—she taught through pain. Every failed attempt to counter was met with a sharp shock, every mistake punished with another knock to the ground.
Kael learned quickly. Not because he wanted to, but because he had no other choice.
He started to extend his senses, feeling the natural magnetic fields in the room. He learned that the floor itself was an energy conductor, that every step he took displaced electrical charge, and that the very air around them hummed with potential power.
Serra watched him closely. "You're picking this up faster than most."
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands still crackling with residual charge. "Not fast enough."
She tilted her head. "No, but you have something rare. Most people rely on their power. You're starting to listen to it."
Kael wasn't sure how to respond. He had always trusted his instincts, but now, it was different. His instincts weren't just reactionary—they were becoming proactive.
And he was only getting started.
Serra lowered her hands, the electricity fading. "That's enough for today."
Kael exhaled in relief. His body was on the verge of collapse, but his mind was sharper than ever. He understood his power now in a way he hadn't before.
Serra studied him for a long moment. "You'll do well in the next trial."
Kael tensed. "Next trial?"
"The Overseer isn't done testing you," she said. "You survived the Crucible, but that was just the beginning."
He should have known. Nothing in this place was given freely.
Serra turned, already heading toward the exit. "Rest while you can. Tomorrow, you fight again."
Kael didn't move as she left. His heartbeat was still steady, the faint hum of electricity still flowing through his veins.
Tomorrow, another fight awaited him.
But this time, he wouldn't just react.
This time, he'd strike first.