Elian's eyes snapped open, and he stumbled backward, gasping for air. Zain caught him by the elbow, steadying him.
"Whoa, easy there," Zain said, her voice laced with concern. "What did you see?"
Elian shook his head, trying to process the jumble of emotions and thoughts that had flooded his mind. He had seen the world through Kael's eyes – the constant struggle to control his powers, the weight of his family's legacy, and the deep-seated anger that simmered just below the surface.
"It's...it's not easy being him," Elian said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zain nodded, a small smile on her face. "That's the point. Now it's Kael's turn."
Kael's eyes narrowed, but he nodded, agreeing to participate. Zain guided him through the same exercise, and Kael's eyes snapped shut, his face scrunched in concentration.
As Kael walked a mile in Elian's shoes, he saw the world in a different light. He felt the pressure of being a creation god's son, the weight of expectation that came with it, and the deep-seated fear of not living up to his mother's standards.
Kael's eyes snapped open, and he looked at Elian with a newfound understanding. "I had no idea," he said, his voice laced with a hint of apology.
Elian nodded, a small smile on his face. "I know how you feel."
For a moment, the two boys just looked at each other, a sense of understanding and empathy passing between them. Zain watched, a satisfied smile on her face.
"See? I told you it would work," Zain said, patting both boys on the back.
But as they stood there, basking in the warmth of their newfound understanding, a voice echoed across the courtyard, shattering the moment.
"Well, well, well. Looks like we've got a little love fest going on here."
The voice was laced with sarcasm, and Elian's eyes narrowed as he turned to face the speaker...