Rael trailed Selene through the thick woods, his footsteps weighed down by uncertainty. The quietness surrounding them was heavy, disturbed only by the occasional creaks of leaves or the far-off chirp of unseen animals. It had been a couple of hours since they departed the bandit camp, and with each step, Rael felt more and more like he was stepping into a foreign world.
Where are we going?" he asked, attempting to maintain a steady voice. His hand automatically gripped the rusty axe at his waist, though he knew it was no use against whatever lay ahead.
"Patience," Selene said, not slowing her pace. "We're going to a place of safety—where you can begin your training."
Rael's eyebrow rose. "Training for what?
Selene gave him a sidelong look, her eyes sparkling in the shadows. "For survival. For control."
Rael experienced a surge of frustration. He wasn't stupid. He knew that something amazing was happening to him. But whenever he questioned her, Selene only provided him with evasive answers.
"Control over what exactly?"
Selene had then stopped and stood facing him. Her eyes now sharper, bordering on looking right through him. "Over yourself, Rael," she said sternly. "And over the power within you. You can't keep doing it this way, stumbling through all of this blind. That's how people die."
Rael swallowed hard. He was not accustomed to people talking to him this way. He was not accustomed to being informed that he would die if he didn't do what he was being told.
"Dammit, I don't even know what this power is," Rael grumbled, having a frustration bubble up within him. "I'm nobody, one minute, and the next, I'm fighting like it's something I've been doing my whole life. Then I wake up somewhere I don't know how I got there. And now. you're saying I have this 'power' that I must learn to control?"
Selene looked at him with a combination of pity and determination. "It's not power, Rael. It's something much older, something more than you. And until you can control it, you'll be lost."
"Lost?" Rael echoed, moving in closer to her. "I'm not lost. I'm just. trying to understand all of this."
Selene's eyes softened, if only for an instant. "I understand. But the sooner you accept what's happening to you, the better. There's no turning back now."
The heaviness of her words weighed on Rael. There really was no turning back. He had no choice left.
"I'll instruct you," Selene went on, "but you must trust me. Trust that I am doing this right."
Rael hesitated, still not completely convinced of this woman and her mysterious offers. But one thing was certain—he had no other choice.
"Okay," Rael said at last. "I trust you… for now."
Selene smiled, a faint one that mellowed out her normally icy attitude. "Good. Then we proceed now."
She took him deeper into the woods, moving fluid and sure as if she had trodden these paths a thousand times. Rael's best efforts kept him close, but some unknown drive propelled him on. He didn't know what lay in wait for him, but he knew it would mold him into something he did not yet comprehended.
After another hour's walk, they came to a clearing. The air here seemed different—cooler, calmer. A small brook babbled close by, its water crystal clear. In the middle of the clearing was a stone altar, old and worn, with bizarre symbols etched into its face.
"This is where you'll begin," Selene said, stepping to the side. "This altar is a focal point. It's where you'll learn to tap into your power."
Rael looked at her, confused. "A stone? You're serious?"
Selene's eyes darkened slightly. "It's not the stone that's important. It's what the stone represents. Focus on it, and you'll start to feel the connection."
Rael looked at the altar warily. He didn't have any idea what Selene was referring to, but something about the location seemed… important.
Bending down, he took a deep breath and put his hand on the chilled stone.
For a moment, nothing. He could feel the chill of the stone against his skin, but no rush of power, no crushing sense of energy. He opened his eyes and looked over at Selene.
"Nothing," he replied, annoyed.
Selene stood a few feet back, arms folded. "You're working too hard. Relax. Concentrate on what you feel within, not on what you believe you should feel. Don't try to force it."
Rael closed his eyes once more, attempting to concentrate. He breathed slowly and deeply, paying attention only to the sensation of the rock under his palm. It was nothing special—it was simply a rock. Yet there was a beat, a humming, far down in the ground under him.
Abruptly, a sudden shock of energy coursed through his arm, making him jump back in shock. The feeling was agonizing and thrilling, like a rush of raw energy running through his veins.
He staggered, breathing hard, his body trembling from the strength of the sensation.
Selene was by his side in an instant, steadying him. "That's it," she said, her voice calm. "You felt it, didn't you? That's the connection."
Rael nodded, still trying to steady his breath. "What was that?"
"That," she said, "was the first step. Now, you'll learn to control it."