Paths of Power

Kael stood motionless, staring at the carnage around him, completely amazed by the display of sheer power and precision he had just witnessed. Elowen, standing in the midst of the fallen beasts, pulled her massive axe free from the body of the last abomination with an effortless motion. The blood-slicked blade glistened in the dim light filtering through the trees, but to Kael, it wasn't the gore that held his attention—it was the ease with which she had done it all.

No wasted movement. No hesitation. The entire fight had been a dance, a brutal, graceful performance that left him in awe.

"Will I ever be able to do that?" Kael found himself asking aloud, his voice a mix of wonder and disbelief. He stepped closer to Elowen as she calmly wiped her axe down with a piece of cloth she kept at her side, cleaning off the blood as if this were a daily chore.

Elowen glanced at him, her expression unreadable for a moment.

"In time," she said after a brief pause.

"But don't expect to be swinging an axe like mine anytime soon." Her tone was flat, but there was a slight hint of amusement behind it, as though she found Kael's awe endearing.

Kael frowned slightly, determined but still daunted by the gulf in skill between them.

"Can you teach me, then?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

Elowen didn't answer immediately. She continued cleaning her axe in silence, her eyes focused on her task. Kael thought she might have ignored the question altogether until, after a long pause, she finally spoke.

"It's not that simple," Elowen said, her tone more serious now.

"The breathing technique I use—it's from my Noble House. And it's not up to me to decide who gets to learn it. Bestowing a technique from the House of Ironshard is a responsibility that falls to the higher-ups, not to someone like me."

Kael's shoulders slumped, but he tried to mask his disappointment. He had been hoping, even in this short time, that Elowen might take him under her wing and teach him how to harness the power of essence, how to wield it with the same mastery she displayed. But, of course, it wasn't that easy.

Seeing his reaction, Elowen softened her tone slightly.

"Don't worry," she said, waving a hand as if to brush off the weight of her own words.

"You'll learn soon enough. There are plenty of ways for Fatewalkers to grow, and you won't be stuck without a path. Thats what places like The Argent Academy in the Central Region is for. Noble houses need soldiers, after all."

Her eyes glinted with a knowing look.

"Especially now that things aren't so… friendly behind the scenes."

Kael noticed the shift in her tone. Something in her words held an edge of tension, a quiet warning beneath her casual remark. He turned his head slightly, as if to process her statement. There was a deeper story there, one he wasn't yet privy to. Something about the noble houses.

"Not friendly?" he echoed quietly, glancing at her.

Elowen chuckled, though the sound was humorless.

"No. Not at all. The Noble houses are… well, let's just say that they've got their own agendas. They always did. Ever since they came to power, it's been a constant power struggle. Alliances, betrayals, infighting—it's all a game to them. And we're the pieces on the board."

Kael didn't reply immediately. He could hear the bitterness in her voice, the quiet frustration that simmered just beneath the surface. He had barely scraped the surface of this world, and already, it seemed tangled in a web of politics and hidden agendas. But what could he do? He was just a Challenger—barely scraping by with no breathing technique, no knowledge, no real power.

As if sensing his thoughts, Elowen sighed and shook her head.

"Look, don't overthink it. You've got a long way to go before you need to worry about the Noble Houses and their machinations. For now, just focus on surviving and growing stronger."

Kael nodded, though inwardly, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that there was much more to this world than anyone was willing to tell him.

They started moving again, the forest still eerily quiet around them, though the faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant creatures reminded Kael that they were never truly alone. His thoughts drifted as they walked, a mixture of awe, confusion, and growing curiosity bubbling up inside him. There was so much to learn, so much he didn't understand about the Tower, the authorities, the noble houses… and yet, it all felt like a world he was being pulled into without choice.

As they navigated the forest's winding paths, Kael broke the silence with another question, this time less about immediate survival and more about the strange, broader world he was starting to glimpse.

"What's the deal with this Argent Academy you mentioned before? You said it's a place where Fatewalkers grow and train?"

Elowen's eyes brightened slightly, as if she appreciated the shift to a more straightforward topic.

"Yeah. The Argent Academy is where all Fatewalkers go once they've Awakened. It's an institution, sponsored by the Royal House of Solaris, meant to help Fatewalkers reach their full potential. It's where most of us learn the basics, practice combat, study the intricacies of essence… you get the idea."

"And it's not tied to any of the noble houses?"

"That's the best part," Elowen replied with a small grin.

"Technically, the academy is neutral. It's under the jurisdiction of the Royal House, but its purpose is to serve Fatewalkers regardless of their allegiance. Of course, the noble houses send their recruits there to train and grow stronger. The academy is a breeding ground for talent, and that's where most of us start—before any House decides to offer us a place."

Kael furrowed his brow, still trying to make sense of the system.

"So, anyone can go there?"

"Any Fatewalker, yes," Elowen confirmed.

"Once you've passed your first trial and received a core, you're considered part of the academy. It's up to you whether you stay unaffiliated or pledge yourself to a house. Some challengers go straight into a noble house, but most take their time at the academy, refining their skills before they commit to anything."

Kael nodded thoughtfully.

"And this Academy… it's in the Central Region of the Tower?"

"That's right," Elowen said, her tone light.

"In Elysium, the capital city of the Central Region, the Free City. It's the one of the most powerful regions in the Tower, with connections to many Noble Houses and destination to the Tower's greatest mysteries. It's where most Fatewalkers dream of going."

Kael's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Elysium. The more he learned about the Tower, the more he realized how little he knew. But the central region… that sounded like the place where everything happened. And this Argent Academy—it seemed like a beacon of hope for someone like him, who had no real knowledge, no background, and no training.

But he also knew that nothing in this world came for free.

As they walked, Kael felt the weight of the path ahead of him growing heavier. The more he learned, the more complicated it all became. He had stumbled into this world blindly, with no real understanding of the forces at play. Now, it seemed like the only way forward was to become stronger, to learn, to survive.

"I've got a long way to go," he muttered, half to himself.

Elowen glanced over at him, catching the quiet determination in his voice. She smirked and gave him a friendly nudge.

"That's the spirit. You've survived this long, haven't you?"

Kael chuckled dryly, shaking his head.

"Barely."

"That's all that matters. As long as you're still standing, you're making progress. One step at a time, Kael. That's how every Fatewalker begins their journey."

He nodded, her words giving him a small measure of comfort. It didn't matter that he had been thrown into this world without warning. It didn't matter that he was clueless and unprepared. What mattered was that he was still alive, still standing, and that meant he had a chance.

He would have to take it.

The wind picked up slightly, rustling the leaves overhead as they continued their journey. The towering trees seemed to stretch endlessly around them, but there was a sense of direction now, a goal on the horizon. Kael glanced up at the sky, watching the sunlight filter through the branches.

The Tower was vast, full of mysteries and dangers he had yet to discover. But for the first time since he had awakened, Kael felt a glimmer of purpose—a path that stretched out before him, one he would have to walk.

Whether he liked it or not.