Training Begins

The sunlight hit Kaelith's face the moment he stepped out of the chamber. The warmth was stark compared to the cool, dark interior where he had just experienced his awakening. Blinking against the brightness, he found himself in an open courtyard surrounded by towering stone pillars. The sky above was a deep azure, the kind of sky that stretched endlessly, giving a false sense of peace. But Kaelith knew better—nothing in this world was ever truly peaceful.

Elowen stood in the center of the courtyard, her back to him as she surveyed the area. Her white hair, long and flowing, shimmered in the sunlight, making her look otherworldly. Her stance was elegant yet commanding, and her greatsword was strapped to her back, gleaming in the light. Despite her aloof nature, there was a quiet power in her every movement, a regal charm that made it clear she was not someone to be trifled with.

"You're slower than I thought," she remarked, not turning around.

Kaelith grunted in response, rolling his shoulders as he approached her. His body still felt strange, as if he hadn't fully adjusted to the changes the soul trial had wrought. There was a new strength coursing through him, but it was unrefined, raw. He felt faster, stronger, but uncoordinated—like a child learning to walk again.

"You expect me to move like you after just waking up?" he muttered under his breath.

"I expect you to adapt quickly," Elowen replied, turning to face him. Her cool blue eyes assessed him with a critical gaze. "In this world, only the adaptable survive. If you linger too long in weakness, it will consume you."

Kaelith frowned but said nothing. She wasn't wrong. His entire life had been a struggle to survive, to claw his way through the unforgiving reality he was born into. The only difference now was that he had a sliver of power—something he could finally use to defend himself. But it was far from enough.

"You're going to teach me to use this power, then?" he asked, his voice steady.

Elowen nodded once, but her expression remained cold. "I will guide you, but you must learn for yourself. Power is not given, Kaelith—it's taken. You'll need to work harder than ever if you want to understand your law."

"And what is my law, exactly?" Kaelith asked, crossing his arms. "You said it was something dangerous. Ancient. What does that mean?"

Elowen's gaze sharpened. "You carry the 'Umbral Nexus,' a law tied to shadows and death. It's rare—ancient even, as I said. Your ability allows you to summon the essence of those you kill, but only if they were stronger than you at the time of their death."

Kaelith's heart skipped a beat. Shadows. Death. Summoning the essence of the fallen. It sounded… dangerous, just as she had warned. But it also sounded powerful. If he could summon the strength of those stronger than him, it meant he could grow exponentially by defeating enemies far beyond his current capability.

But there had to be a catch.

"And what's the downside?" he asked warily. "There's always a downside."

Elowen's lips twitched, but it wasn't a smile. More of a grim acknowledgment. "Summoning the dead is not without cost. Every time you use this ability, a part of their essence remains with you. It can corrupt you over time, twisting your mind and soul if you're not careful. The stronger the being you summon, the heavier the burden."

Kaelith's mouth went dry. Corruption. The very idea sent a chill down his spine. He had heard of people losing themselves to power, of becoming monsters as they pursued strength at any cost. Could he resist that temptation?

"So, I have to kill stronger enemies to grow… but if I rely too much on this power, I could lose myself." Kaelith ran a hand through his dark hair, feeling the weight of the revelation settle in. "Great."

Elowen's eyes softened for just a moment, and she stepped closer to him. Her presence was overwhelming, but not in the way one might expect. It wasn't just her beauty or grace, but the raw intensity of her power that made her seem larger than life.

"You must learn balance," she said, her voice lower now, almost gentle. "Your power can be both a weapon and a curse. It will push you to your limits and beyond, but if you lose control, it will devour you."

Kaelith stared at her, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. He wasn't sure if he could handle this power, but he had no choice. The world they lived in was unforgiving, and without power, he was as good as dead. He clenched his fists, determination hardening within him.

"I'll control it," he said firmly. "I have to."

Elowen nodded, her cool exterior returning. "Good. Now, let's see what you can do."

She gestured to the courtyard, and Kaelith realized that it was far from an ordinary training ground. The stone floor was etched with intricate patterns, symbols of the various laws that governed their world. Fire, water, lightning, and earth—the basic elements—were all represented in the design, along with more abstract symbols for time, space, and life itself.

"Your first task," Elowen said, "is to summon."

Kaelith blinked. "Summon? But I haven't—"

"You've already killed during your trial, haven't you?" she interrupted, her tone sharp. "That shadow… the reflection of yourself. You defeated it. It was stronger than you at the time, wasn't it?"

Kaelith froze, the memory of the trial flooding back to him. The shadowy figure that had mirrored his every move, that had nearly torn him apart. He had killed it—if it could be called killing.

"Yes," he said slowly. "It was stronger than me."

Elowen's gaze was piercing. "Then you can summon it. Call upon its essence, and let's see if you truly understand the power you've gained."

Kaelith hesitated. How was he supposed to do that? Summoning a dead entity? It sounded absurd, but then again, everything about this world defied logic. He closed his eyes, focusing inward. He reached deep within himself, searching for the power that had been unlocked during the trial. The air around him grew still, the sounds of the courtyard fading away as he concentrated.

He felt it then—a flicker of something dark and cold, like a shadow lurking just out of sight. It wasn't a part of him, but it was connected to him somehow, bound by the trial.

Kaelith's eyes snapped open, and he extended his hand. "Come forth," he muttered, unsure if he was doing it right.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the air around him began to ripple, dark tendrils of shadow coiling at his feet like living smoke. The shadows twisted and writhed, slowly taking shape in front of him. Kaelith's breath caught in his throat as the figure materialized—a dark, translucent version of himself, the same shadowy form he had fought in the trial.

The shadow stood silently, its dark eyes locked onto Kaelith's. There was no malice in its gaze, but it was unsettling all the same.

Elowen stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she studied the shadow. "Not bad for a first attempt," she said, though her tone was more critical than praising. "But you'll need to do better. Much better."

Kaelith exhaled, his body trembling slightly from the effort. "It worked," he muttered in disbelief. "I actually summoned it."

"Don't get too comfortable," Elowen warned, her voice cold. "This is only the beginning. You'll need to learn control—true control—if you want to survive the battles ahead."

Kaelith nodded, sweat beading on his forehead. He could feel the connection between him and the shadow, a tenuous thread of energy that bound them. It was a strange, unsettling sensation, but also one filled with potential.

"Again," Elowen commanded, stepping back. "Summon it again, and this time, control it. Make it fight."

Kaelith took a deep breath, steadying himself. The road ahead was long and dangerous, but for the first time, he felt like he was starting to understand the power within him. And with Elowen's guidance, he would learn to master it—no matter the cost.