Chapter 4: The Weight of Shadows

It was morning over Vaelthar, the warm rays streaming through Zephyr's window and splashing across the myriad of runes etched across his journal. Each symbol reminded him of a fragment of training, another piece in his struggle to harness the shadows without succumbing to their chaos. Little was that light to pour in and dispel the residual doubts clinging to him like cold shadow.

Zephyr sat up in bed, drew a determined breath in through his nose, and prepared for another day awaiting him at the Abyssal Guild. Today was important. Ever since that chaos in his last training session, he had set himself on proving it-proving he would be able to control Kael'thar's power and would not be consumed by it.

On his way to the training grounds, the street churned with life as people moved with a purpose, their conversations hushed with talk of runes and spells, their eyes ablaze with ambition. That was why he joined the Guild in the first place: protection, amassing strength, making sure no one needed to feel that helplessness he did whenever the Eldritch invaded his village.

"Zephyr!" Mira yelled, waving at a clump of Initiates standing around a makeshift practice area. She was standing beside Kieran, who demonstrated a series of defensive moves. It was a warm, friendly setup, but Zephyr's heart drove a crazy rhythm in his chest. Would these people view him as a failure or would expectations evolve into support?

Ready to show us your skills today?" Mira chimed, the brightness of her grin infectious.

"I have been practicing," he said, forcing a smile onto his face to veil the inner turmoil.

Kieran stepped forward, looking much more serious. "You know what happened last time. You really need to keep your focus, or you're going to end up hurting someone all over again."

Zephyr nodded, the weight of Kieran's words heavy on his shoulders. "I know. I shall be careful."

"Good," Kieron said, his hand clapping onto Zephyr's shoulder. "You've got potential, Crowne. Just don't let it slip through your fingers."

As the group made its way to the training area, Zephyr's stomach did its now-familiar flip. He focused on the warm sun on his skin, anchoring himself in the present. Today was about getting his confidence back.

It started with exercises of increasing control over the respective abilities: Initiates summoning fire, scribing a barrier of light, and an almost otherworldly manipulation of water. Beautiful and terrifying all at once, it was just another omen toward how small the line was that separated control and chaos.

"Alright, Zephyr. Your turn," Kieran yelled after one Trickster who really outdid himself. The eyes of the group fell to him, the weight of expectation almost palpable within the air.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, his senses assuring him the shadows stirred already for his call, ready to rise at his command. "I can do this," he whispered to himself in an attempt to quiet the remnants of his doubt.

He concentrated on space around him and saw darkness churning, boiling about his feet. "Come forth, Kael'thar," he whispered, his hand reaching out to draw from the power of the Eldritch Being imprisoned within his body. Shadows contorted, shifted, flowed upwards, coalesced to swirl around his hands in a mass of churning night.

He stretched out his fingers, and energy suddenly coursed through him as he willed the shadows to take form. "Form a barrier!" he shouted, willing it further into the dark.

The shadows listened, coalescing into the firm shape of a see-through shield. It shone purple black, absorbing all light around it. Onlookers gasped in amazement, and for one moment, Zeph felt a surge of excitement. He did it! He shaped the shadows, bending to his will.

"Now, let's see if it holds!" Kieran challenged, stepping back and readying a strike with a burst of arcane energy.

"Wait!" Mira cut in, her tone taut with insistence. "Are you sure of this?"

"I have to prove myself," Zephyr replied with the resolute force that stemmed from his will to act. "I can do this."

Kieran shot a dazzling column of pure energy at Zephyr, the light ripped through the air with breathtaking speed. As it had reached him, time would soon slow down to a crawl. Zephyr focused much more strongly; his will commanded the shadows to keep firm.

The bolt exploded against the barrier with a blinding flash, sending a brilliant flash across the training grounds. For one deep-seated instant, Zephyr thought that the shadows around them would shatter under its intensity. As the light faded, however, he found the barrier whole, shimmering with residual energy.

Cheers exploded from his friends, and pride swelled, tugging at Zephyr's breast. "I did it!" he shouted in pride, the confidence new.

But this was short-lived. The barrier began to sputter erratically, pulsing as the shadows inside it shook in their contortions, like they were alive. Panic swirled in Zephyr's chest; he felt Kael'thar's influence surge, begging him to let the shadows extend outside his control.

"Concentrate, Zephyr!" Kieran shouted, but it was too late. In an instant, the barrier exploded in a wave of spiraling chaotic shadows that threatened to engulf everything in their path.

No!" Zephyr cried instinctively reaching out to rein them in-but the shadows resisted, twisting and curling with a madcap wildness. The one laughter and cheers turned into gasps of horror as the darkness danced precariously near those who were watching.

Amidst all the mayhem around him, the shadows had slipped from his grasp and pulled him into that very abyss he tried to avoid. His insides tore with desperation, knowing that he had to act fast.

"Kael'thar! Hear me!" he yelled, channeling his will into the churning abyssal essence in him. "I call you back!"

There was silence for the duration of a heartbeat. Then all the shadows were still once more, perhaps waiting on his next word. Zephyr took a deep breath and attuned to the energy of the shadows. He churned his fear into determination. "I am your master! Return to me!"

They started to recoil, coiling back to him like a snake returning to its nest. He let the weight of them settle around him and embraced them, refusing to let the choices be made by fear anymore.

The silence in the training ground was heavy with tension, as the last of the darkness finally receded. Zephyr simply stood there, his heart pounding loudly, the residue of the shadows dissolving in the air. This time, he had controlled them.

Impressive recovery, " Kieran said then, quiet, respectful to break the silence between them. "But you really need to work on your control. You cannot afford to let the shadows show you what to do.

Zephyr nodded, his hard breathing laboring its way through the mechanisms of what had just occurred. He'd stared into the abyss and back, but it had shaken him.

"Are you okay?" Mira asked, closer now with apprehension in her eyes. "That was. intense.

"I'm fine," he lied, forcing a smile. "Just. still getting used to everything."

It was just that the shadows had been too unpredictable; each time, it was a growing risk to lose control over them completely. He knew pretty well what chaos was capable of causing, and he did not want to become dangerous for friends and himself.

And as the training session finally finally drew to a close, he remained behind-observing his fellow Initiates laughing and talking with each other in friendship. The ache of longing would not let go of him for the connection always just out of grasp. Shadows powerfully walled him off from others, setting him apart from those who did not share his burden.

"Hey, Zephyr!" Mira called out, bright and cheery. "Join us! Off to the tavern we go-to celebrate with a victory drink!"

He demurred, and the shadows still whispered their cautions from dark corners. Yet something in Mira's inviting smile made him feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps there was still a chance for contact, a bond to forge that would hold the darkness at bay.

Fine, I shall go, he said to himself, pleading with himself, and together they strode out into the pulsating streets of Vaelthar. The sun had begun to set across the sky, shades of orange and purple in the sky, and in the air there was the sound of laughter and joy-and for a moment Zephyr let himself forget the onus of the shadows that he carried.

Energy buzzed through the tavern, and over time, he found Zephyr wrapped in their company labeled as friendship. He raised a mug of ale in toast with Mira and Kieran as cheers of comrades rung in his ears.

"To new beginnings and victories!" Kieran toasted, pride gleaming in his face.

"To friendship!" Mira added, her bright laughter lighting up the air.

And with every glass, with every tale being told, Zephyr felt a sense of belonging he hadn't known in a very long while. The shadows seemed to menace him less strongly now-even they knew of that strength found in unity.

But in all that joy, the shadow of those thoughts would not leave the back of his mind and reminded him of the path he chose, which he was going to have to face again one day and learn how to operate the chaos inside him. But for now, he let the light of companionship befall him.

What was it about the shadows that they pulled him in so completely? he thought, the weight of Kael'thar's presence heavy at the edges of his mind. They promise power, yes; but at what cost?

The laughter swirled around him until he lost himself in thought.