Chapter 6: The Burden of Power

The clearing was silent except for Zeryn’s ragged breaths. The obelisk loomed behind her, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across the ground. The leader’s words echoed in her mind: “Then the darkness will choose for you.”

“I didn’t ask for this,” Zeryn said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t want any of this!”

The leader stepped forward, his gray eyes locking onto hers. “None of us do. But the world rarely cares for what we want. It only demands what we must become.”

One of the cloaked figures muttered something under their breath, their tone scornful. “She’s weak. She’ll break before she learns.”

Zeryn’s hands clenched into fists. The anger she had felt earlier bubbled up again, fierce and raw. “Say that to my face,” she snapped, her voice stronger than she expected.

The figure turned toward her, pulling back their hood to reveal a sharp, angular face with piercing green eyes. “Gladly,” they said, their voice dripping with disdain. “You think this is a game? That you can just stumble through life, ignoring what you are? People like you get others killed.”

“That’s enough,” the leader said sharply, cutting through the tension. He turned to Zeryn, his expression unreadable. “They’re not wrong, though. You have power, but without discipline, it will destroy you and everyone around you. The question is, are you willing to learn?”

Zeryn hesitated, the weight of the question pressing down on her. Her entire life, she had fought to keep her head down, to survive unnoticed. But now the shadows she had feared were forcing her into the light, demanding she choose a path.

“I… I’ll try,” she said finally, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest.

The leader nodded. “Good. Then we begin now.”

Before Zeryn could ask what he meant, the clearing seemed to shift. The shadows cast by the obelisk stretched unnaturally, curling around her like tendrils. The leader raised his hand, and the air grew thick with energy.

“Control the darkness,” he said, his voice firm. “Bend it to your will, or it will consume you.”

The shadows surged forward, crashing over Zeryn like a wave. She gasped, struggling to keep her footing as the cold, suffocating darkness wrapped around her. Panic set in, and her mind raced with thoughts of escape.

“Focus!” the leader’s voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. “Feel the power. Command it. Do not let it command you.”

Zeryn clenched her fists, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. The shadows pressed against her, testing her resolve, whispering in her mind.

Let go, they urged. Surrender, and we will make you strong.

“No,” Zeryn said through gritted teeth. “You don’t control me.”

She reached deep within herself, searching for the spark she had felt earlier in the forest. It was faint, barely a flicker, but it was there. She latched onto it, pouring her fear and anger into the tiny ember.

The shadows hesitated, their movements slowing. Zeryn took a deep breath, steadying herself. She pushed back against the darkness, forcing it to retreat.

The clearing came back into focus, and the shadows receded, curling around her feet like obedient hounds. Zeryn stood, her chest heaving, but her eyes were steady.

The leader watched her with an approving nod. “You’ve taken your first step. But this is only the beginning.”

The green-eyed figure scoffed, pulling their hood back up. “Beginner’s luck.”

Zeryn glared at them but said nothing. She didn’t need their approval.

“What now?” she asked, turning back to the leader.

“Now, we move,” he said, his tone grim. “The Obelisk’s activation will not go unnoticed. Others will come for you—hunters, soldiers, and worse. You must be ready.”

“Ready for what?”

The leader’s gray eyes darkened, a shadow passing over his face. “For war.”