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## Chapter Five: First Steps of Taming: Tracking the Hidden Trail
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After John shook Kael's hand, he felt the weight of responsibility, but also a glimmer of hope he hadn't known since his nightly nightmares began. Kael stood before him, calm, confident, as if he held the world's secrets in his eyes.
"The first step in taming 'the Hidden Star' isn't about directly controlling the 'Possessed Shadow'," Kael began in his quiet voice, gazing at the ancient book John had placed on the table. "Control comes after understanding. And awareness is your first key."
"What do you mean?" John asked.
"You don't remember what happens when the 'Possessed Shadow' takes control, do you?" John nodded slowly. "That's the first barrier we must break. Not with magic, but with meticulous observation and tracking."
Kael looked at John seriously. "Your first task is to become your own 'shadow'. When you feel the 'Possessed Shadow' coming, and before the darkness engulfs you, you must focus all your consciousness on what is happening. Don't try to resist, just observe. Observe its movements, its targets, and even the thoughts that might flicker in your mind during those moments. You must become a silent observer within your own body."
"But I don't remember anything!" John protested.
"That's true," Kael nodded. "But you will. Memory won't be lost forever. I will teach you techniques to enhance this awareness, to have an 'eye' watching even when the Shadow takes over. And more importantly, I will teach you how to track the 'Possessed Shadow' after it leaves you."
John was confused. "How do I track something I don't remember?"
"It's not you who will track, but the 'Shadow's' own trail," Kael explained. "Every magical entity leaves a signature, an energetic trace behind. The 'Possessed Shadow' leaves a unique trail—a subtle scent, a vibration in the air, or even a slight alteration in the shadows surrounding the place where it operates. I will teach you how to sense these traces, how to read them, and how to use them to follow the 'Possessed Shadow's' path after it finishes its 'purge' and returns to slumber within your body."
"Is this 'Taming the Hidden Star'?" John asked, expecting something more magical or spiritual.
"This is its foundation," Kael replied. "Understanding the nature of the shadow that dwells within you. When you can track its footsteps and comprehend its motives, even if they are instinctual, you will be able to begin guiding it. It's a slow process, John, and it requires patience and risk. For the deeper you delve into understanding the Shadow, the closer you get to madness. But it is the only way to regain control."
Then Kael added, with a more serious tone: "In addition, you will need to completely disappear from public view. Baron Vitus is not the only one watching you. The Royal Guard, led by the Knight of Light, will hunt the 'Night Killer' relentlessly. You must become a ghost by day as you are by night. Minimize your contact with anyone, even Liam. The less you are present at court, the less chance there is of being exposed."
Kael began to lay out a plan for John. He would teach him advanced stealth techniques and how to use shadows to his advantage even in broad daylight. He would teach him how to read body language, how to anticipate guards' movements, and how to use simple disguises. The Academy would be the only place John could appear regularly, but even there, he would become more isolated, focusing on his studies and secret research.
"Tonight," Kael said, rising, "when you feel the Shadow coming, focus. Don't resist. Observe. And in the morning, follow the trail. Start with the place where you wake up. Look for anything strange, anything that doesn't belong. Anything that indicates the 'Possessed Shadow's' presence."
Kael left John's room with the same quietness he had entered, leaving John with a strange and frightening task. It wasn't a magic spell, nor an ancient ritual, but a journey into the depths of the darkness that dwelled within him—a journey that required him to become a hunter of his own shadow.