Nathan stood in the endless expanse of the shadow-world, his expression unreadable. Around them, the darkness shifted like a restless ocean, waiting for his command.
"Again," he ordered, his voice cutting through the silence.
Kael tightened his grip on the shadow dagger, the weapon dripping with faint trails of purple and blue light. The air around him seemed heavier with each breath, his body aching from hours of drills, but he refused to stop.
Nathan blurred forward without warning, a shadow-lance materializing in his hand. Kael barely sidestepped the strike, the weapon grazing past his arm. The impact sent a cold rush of energy down his skin.
"You hesitate," Nathan growled. "Out there, hesitation will get you killed."
Kael exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. He bent his knees and darted forward, his dagger slashing in quick arcs. Sparks of shadow clashed against Nathan's lance, the collision echoing like steel on steel, though no real metal touched.
The older shadow entity moved with practiced ease, every counter flowing like water. Kael strained to keep up, his muscles burning. Sweat gathered on his forehead, though the shadow-world had no heat. Each strike rattled his bones, reminding him of how far he still had to climb.
Nathan swept Kael's legs with the shaft of his weapon, knocking him down into the dark surface. The boy hit hard, the air rushing from his lungs. He forced himself up, jaw clenched, refusing to show weakness.
"Good," Nathan said at last, circling him. "Pain sharpens you. Now—again."
Kael steadied his stance. This time he didn't wait for Nathan to come. He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing the shadows closer, feeling them stir like a tide under his skin. When he moved, it was instinct, his body flashing across the space in a blur.
Shadow Step.
The world flickered, and in less than a blink Kael appeared at Nathan's flank. His dagger drove forward, its edge cutting through the darkness with surprising speed.
Nathan deflected it at the last second, but his lips curled slightly—approval.
"That's it. You're starting to listen to the flow, not just your fear."
Kael's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. He tightened his grip on the dagger, the shadows around him pulsing faintly as if alive. For the first time, he felt like the weapon wasn't just borrowed power. It was his.
Nathan lowered his lance. "Enough for now. Tomorrow, we begin real combat drills. When you face an enemy, you won't think. You will move."
Kael nodded, exhausted but more determined than ever. The shadows around him coiled tighter, waiting for his next step.