A Long Stretch

The sun was already sinking beyond the treetops, casting long shadows over the grey forest. Kael shifted his weight uneasily, glancing over at Elowen, who sat quietly by the small fire they had managed to make in a clearing. They had been traveling for several hours, and exhaustion was beginning to settle deep into his bones.

"Get some rest," Elowen said, leaning back against a tree.

"Tomorrow is a long stretch, and you'll need every ounce of energy."

Kael nodded but hesitated. His mind was still racing from the day's revelations, from the intricate system of essence, authorities, and ranks, to the fact that he had unknowingly entered a world of unimaginable power. He had so many questions, but Elowen seemed exhausted herself, her eyes half-closed as she settled into the silence of the night.

Still, curiosity got the better of him.

"Elowen," he began, his voice cutting through the stillness,

"if you have authority over the earth, why don't you use it more often? Wouldn't it make things easier?"

Elowen cracked one eye open and looked at him with a smirk.

"Why would I? Especially out here in a Grey Area?"

Kael frowned.

"Grey Area?"

"This region," she explained,

"is dangerous for low-level Fatewalkers like Challengers and weak Prospects, but for someone like me—an Acolyte—it's more or less routine. Simple essence application combined with breathing techniques is enough. I don't need to use my authority on simple spawns or devourers. Besides, using authority drains essence fast, and it's like bringing out a sledgehammer when you only need a knife."

Kael processed this for a moment.

"Essence application… breathing techniques?"

Elowen sat up a bit, her smirk fading into something more serious.

"Breathing techniques are how we channel and refine essence. Fancy name for a method to collect essence, store it, and apply it during combat or other tasks. The noble houses created most of these techniques or were perfected by powerful Fatewalkers individually. Without one, you can still use essence, but it's unrefined. Wild."

Kael leaned forward, intrigued.

"So, breathing techniques help control your power?"

"More than that," Elowen nodded.

"A sigil—like the one I have for Terra's Grasp—gives you access to an authority. But to wield it properly, you need the right technique. Without a breathing technique attuned to your authority, the power would run wild. You might manage to summon something like fire or earth, but you'd have no control over it. The result would be disastrous."

Kael let that sink in.

"And you've mastered yours?"

Elowen grinned.

"I wouldn't say mastered, but I've gotten good at it. It's second nature by now. I don't need to think about it—I just breathe, and the essence flows."

Kael admired her confidence. The way she spoke about these immense powers with such ease, it made his own experiences seem like childish fumbling in the dark. He wondered what it would feel like to reach that level of control, where breathing techniques and essence were like second nature, flowing effortlessly through him.

Still, as much as he wanted to ask more, exhaustion pulled at him. His limbs were heavy, and his mind felt sluggish. The endless walking, the constant bombardment of new information—it was all too much.

"How long did it take you to get good at it?" Kael asked, stifling a yawn.

"A few years," Elowen said, settling back against the tree.

"But you don't have time to think about that right now. What you need is sleep. We can talk more tomorrow, but for now, rest. You'll need every ounce of energy for the long road ahead."

Kael didn't need much convincing. His body was already screaming for rest. He nodded, casting a glance at the sky, where the last rays of the sun were disappearing, leaving behind a sky that was deepening into twilight.

"Right," he muttered, settling down onto the rough ground.

"Tomorrow, then."

He lay down, feeling the uneven ground beneath him. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but after everything he had been through, comfort wasn't exactly a priority. His eyelids grew heavy as he listened to the crackling fire, the warmth of the flames offering a small measure of security in the unfamiliar wilderness.

*****

Kael stirred from his sleep, feeling stiff from the rough ground beneath him. The dawn was creeping through the trees, casting a dim light over the forest. He groaned softly as he sat up, stretching his sore limbs. His muscles ached from the previous day's long walk, and his back protested against the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

Elowen was already awake, standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, her eyes scanning the horizon. She was calm and collected as always, and Kael wondered how she managed to be so alert after such a rough night. He could barely keep his eyes open, and she looked like she had already been up for hours.

"Morning," he muttered groggily, rubbing his eyes.

Elowen nodded.

"Morning."

Kael watched her for a moment, noticing how she casually reached for her axe, strapping it to her back as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He found it odd. She had seemed so relaxed the night before, and now, her movements were precise and calculated, as if she was expecting something.

It was then that he realized the subtle tension in her posture.

"Something wrong?" he asked, standing up slowly.

Elowen's gaze was still focused on the treeline, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her axe.

"Looks like we've got company."

Kael blinked, confused. He hadn't noticed anything unusual, but the change in Elowen's demeanor was unmistakable. Her body was coiled like a spring, ready to act at a moment's notice.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, but all he could see were the tall trees and the faint mist rolling through the forest. Everything seemed quiet. Too quiet.

Then he saw them.

Shadows moved between the trees, low to the ground, sleek and predatory. Their shapes were difficult to make out at first, blending in with the dim light of dawn, but as they crept closer, Kael's heart began to race.

"More of those devourers," Elowen muttered, her voice calm but serious.

Kael's stomach twisted. The memory of the pack that had hunted the crystal-eyed deer flashed through his mind. Creatures like those were relentless predators, moving silently through the underbrush, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Who knew what they would encounter now.

"Get ready," Elowen said, her tone low and commanding. She unsheathed her axe with a smooth motion, the blade gleaming faintly in the morning light.

"This'll be a good lesson for you."

Kael swallowed hard, reaching for his sword. His hands were shaking slightly, the weight of the weapon unfamiliar and awkward. He had barely managed to survive the trial, and now he was being thrust into another dangerous situation.

Elowen, however, looked completely at ease. Her stance was relaxed, her breathing steady, as if she had done this a thousand times before. She took a step forward, planting her feet firmly in the ground, and for a moment, Kael could feel the earth beneath him tremble.

"Pay attention," Elowen said, her eyes never leaving the approaching beasts.

"I'm going to show you what a real breathing technique looks like."

Kael nodded, his mouth dry. He watched as Elowen took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling in a slow, deliberate rhythm while entering her combat stance. There was something almost hypnotic about the way she moved, as if every breath was perfectly synchronized with the flow of energy around her.

The air around them seemed to change. It grew denser, more charged, as if the very essence of the forest was responding to Elowen's presence. Kael could feel it—an invisible force that pulsed through the ground beneath their feet, through the air they breathed.

The first beast lunged from the shadows, its massive form moving with terrifying speed. Kael's heart leapt into his throat, but Elowen didn't flinch.

With a single, fluid motion, she sidestepped the creature's attack, her axe flashing through the air in a deadly arc. The blade connected with the beast's side, and Kael heard the sickening crunch of bone as the creature was sent sprawling to the ground.

"Breathing techniques," Elowen said, her voice steady as she prepared for the next attack,

"are how we control essence. They allow us to channel power through our bodies, focusing it where it's needed most."

Another beast charged at her, but Elowen was faster. She ducked beneath its snapping jaws, pivoting on her heel as she brought her axe down in a powerful strike. The creature howled in pain, collapsing in a heap at her feet.

"The movements," Elowen continued,

"are just as important as the essence itself. They guide the flow, shaping it into something more refined. More effective."

Kael watched in awe as Elowen danced through the battle, her movements graceful and controlled. She was like a force of nature, each strike perfectly timed, each breath perfectly measured. There was no wasted motion, no hesitation. She moved with the precision of a master, and the beasts didn't stand a chance.

As the last of the creatures lunged at her, Elowen planted her feet firmly in the ground, pouring raw essence into her axe. Kael could feel the power radiating from her, a tangible force that made the air hum with energy.

With a final, brutal swing, Elowen cleaved the beast in two, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. The creature's body fell to the dirt, lifeless.

Elowen stood over the fallen beasts, her axe resting on her shoulder, her breathing steady and calm. She didn't even seem winded.

Kael, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded. He had never seen anything like it. The raw power, the skill, the control—it was all so far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Elowen glanced over at him, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

"Not bad for a morning warm-up, huh?"

Kael could only nod, still trying to wrap his mind around what he had just witnessed. He didn't know if he would ever be able to fight like that, but one thing was clear:

He had a long way to go.