The First Test

Chapter 2: The First Test

Ethan sat at his kitchen table, staring at the open Codex. The weight of the mysterious book seemed to press down on him, the strange symbols glowing faintly against the dim light of the room. The words from the night before echoed in his mind: "You are the chosen one, Ethan Cross. The Codex has chosen you to wield its power."

It was all so overwhelming. Ethan had never believed in anything supernatural, never thought his life would change in such a profound way. But here he was, staring at a book that seemed to have a mind of its own, its pages glowing as if they were alive.

He picked up the book, tracing his fingers over the symbols on the page. "A power of creation, manipulation, and defense," he muttered to himself. "I'm supposed to learn how to use this?"

Ethan's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. His heart jumped, the Codex slipping from his hands onto the table. He hadn't told anyone about the book, about the strange events of the past few days. Who could it be?

He hesitated for a moment, then went to answer the door. When he opened it, he found Kaden standing on the other side, his eyes narrow and his expression unreadable.

"Kaden," Ethan said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Kaden stepped inside, his gaze flicking to the open Codex on the table. "You got it, didn't you?"

Ethan nodded slowly. "Yeah. My grandfather… he left it for me. I don't understand any of it, though."

Kaden sighed, his eyes dark. "You don't have to. Not yet, anyway. But you need to know something. That book is powerful—dangerous. And there are people out there who would do anything to get their hands on it."

Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kaden's expression hardened. "The Codex isn't just a book. It's a source of power, a cheat that belongs to a long line of users. People want that power, Ethan. And they'll do whatever it takes to get it."

Ethan's stomach churned. "I don't… I don't want any part of this. I just want to go back to my normal life."

Kaden shook his head. "It doesn't work that way. You're a cheat user now, whether you like it or not. And you're going to have to learn to use that power, or risk losing it."

Ethan's heart sank. "But… I don't know anything about this. I don't know how to use it."

Kaden's expression softened a little. "That's why I'm here. I can help you. I've been a cheat user for years. I can teach you how to use your power, how to control it."

Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. But… I still don't understand what this all means."

Kaden studied him for a moment, then gestured towards the Codex. "Let's start with the basics. The Codex contains the key to your cheat, the source of your power. But it's not just a book—it's alive, Ethan. It has its own will, its own desires. You have to learn to listen to it, to understand it."

Ethan frowned. "How do I do that?"

Kaden shrugged. "I don't know. It's different for everyone. But the Codex will guide you. You just have to be willing to listen."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And what if I don't want to?"

Kaden's expression hardened. "Then you're going to have a tough time, Cross. The Codex isn't going to just let you go back to your normal life. It's going to push you, force you to grow."

Ethan sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Great. Just what I needed."

Kaden smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Trust me, Cross. This isn't going to be easy. But if you can learn to harness the power of the Codex, you'll be unstoppable."

Ethan stared at the Codex, his mind racing. Could he really do this? Could he really learn to use this power?

"Alright," he said finally. "What do I do first?"

Kaden's eyes were sharp. "First, you need to learn to control your aura. The Codex gives you power, but it doesn't come without risks. You have to learn to harness it, to control it."

Ethan nodded, his heart pounding. "Okay. How do I do that?"

Kaden gestured towards the Codex. "The first step is to open yourself up to the energy within the book. Let it flow through you, connect with it. The Codex will guide you."

Ethan hesitated, then reached out and touched the book. The moment his fingers made contact, a surge of energy shot through him, the air around him heavy with power.

"Okay," Kaden said, his voice low. "Now, I want you to close your eyes and focus on the energy inside you. Feel it. Let it flow through you."

Ethan did as he was instructed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. The energy from the Codex seemed to pulse in his chest, filling him with warmth and light.

"Good," Kaden said. "Now, I want you to try and manipulate that energy. Push it outwards, see if you can form it into a shape."

Ethan's brow furrowed. "Like… what kind of shape?"

Kaden shrugged. "I don't know. Something. Just… try."

Ethan concentrated, the energy inside him swirling and shifting. Suddenly, a jagged sword of dark energy appeared in his hand, crackling with power.

Kaden's eyes widened. "Whoa. Not bad, Cross."

Ethan stared at the sword, his heart racing. "I… I did it?"

Kaden nodded. "Yeah. That's your cheat—your power. But it's just the beginning. You have to learn to control it, to make it stronger, more versatile."

Ethan's eyes were wide. "How do I do that?"

Kaden's smile was thin. "That's the hard part, Cross. But we'll get there. One step at a time."

---