Chapter 6: The Flicker Within

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the secluded training grounds. Rian Ashford stood at the edge of the clearing, his muscles aching, his lungs burning from the hours of relentless training. He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced toward the centre of the field, where Master Olric stood with his arms crossed, watching with his usual unshakable calm.

Olric was a veteran Essentium wielder, his control over the Element of Stone making him a living fortress. His presence alone was intimidating—a towering figure with a grizzled beard and deep-set eyes that seemed to see straight through Rian. But despite his tough exterior, there was wisdom and patience in the old man's gaze, and Rian had come to respect him deeply.

Today, however, respect didn't seem like enough.

"I don't get it," Rian muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over. He paced back and forth, clenching his fists. "I've been training for weeks, and my Flicker hasn't gotten any stronger. I'm faster, sure, but it's not enough. I can feel something inside me—like there's a power I haven't tapped into yet, something… bigger."

Olric raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "What makes you think that?"

Rian stopped pacing and turned to face his master. "It's like… every time I use the Flicker, there's this spark. I feel it for a second, like lightning ready to burst out, but then it just fades. It's like I'm on the edge of something powerful, but I can't reach it."

The older man remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. He then walked toward Rian, the ground beneath his feet barely shifting as his stone-bound essence rippled through the earth. When he spoke, his voice was deep, steady.

"Power isn't just something that comes when you call it, Rian," Olric said. "It's something you have to learn to harness, something you need to understand. That spark you feel? It's real, but if you can't control it, it's just a wild force."

Rian grit his teeth. "But I can control it—at least, I think I can. There's more to the Flicker than just speed, isn't there? It's like there's this storm inside me, waiting to be unleashed."

Olric studied him for a long time before nodding slowly. "The Flicker is not just about quick movements, that's true. It's an embodiment of transience, of brief but potent power. You're feeling the essence of Voltaris, the lightning within. But lightning is dangerous—it strikes hard and fast, but without control, it can burn everything in its path."

Rian's mind raced. He had felt that surge before, during the battle at the Citadel, when he'd barely escaped with his life. And again, when he'd stood against enemies far more powerful than himself. It was as if something deep within him was awakening, but he didn't know how to make it come forth on command.

"So how do I control it?" Rian asked, his voice more desperate than he intended. "How do I stop it from slipping away?"

Olric let out a slow breath, then turned his gaze toward the horizon. "You learn by understanding your own limitations. Power without discipline is chaos. Lightning without focus will only scorch the ground beneath you."

He turned back to Rian, his eyes hardening. "To harness the true power of Voltaris, you must let go of the idea that it's about overwhelming force. Speed is part of it, yes, but so is precision. A well-timed strike can do more damage than a thousand wild attacks. It's not about having more power—it's about using what you have with intent."

Rian's frustration simmered, but he knew Olric was right. He had been pushing himself harder and harder, trying to force the power to emerge, but in doing so, he was only chasing after shadows. Power wasn't just about brute strength or flashy displays—it was about understanding the core of his ability, the essence of the Flicker.

Olric's voice softened, though his tone remained stern. "You're chasing after something that can't be caught. Instead of trying to control the storm, be a part of it. Move with it, let it guide you. When you can learn to become one with the storm inside, only then will you truly harness the power you feel."

Rian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to let Olric's words sink in. He pictured the flicker of lightning in his mind, that spark of energy that had eluded him for so long. He had always thought of it as something external, something to be commanded. But what if it wasn't? What if it was part of him, something to be embraced rather than controlled?

"Try again," Olric said, stepping back to give Rian space.

Rian opened his eyes and focused. He felt the familiar tingle of the Flicker beginning to build, the energy coiling inside him. But this time, instead of forcing it, he let it flow. He didn't push it out or try to direct it—instead, he moved with it, letting the spark guide him.

In an instant, his body flickered across the training ground, faster than he had ever moved before. For a brief moment, Rian felt something new—a surge of power, not just in his limbs but in his very core. It was raw, electric, and thrilling. The storm was there, inside him, and for the first time, he wasn't fighting it.

He was part of it.

When he reappeared, panting but exhilarated, Olric gave a rare smile, nodding in approval. "Good. Now you're starting to understand."

Rian grinned, wiping the sweat from his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt hopeful—hopeful that the storm within him wasn't something to fear, but something that might one day become his greatest strength.