Eryndor stood at the edge of the alley, eyes narrowed, testing the sensation again. He planted one foot lightly and pushed off the stone, expecting… nothing.
Instead, he slid forward, almost gliding, a soft whoosh of air at his heels. His body felt lighter, faster—almost as if the city itself was lending him momentum. He blinked, then tried again, leaping farther this time. The air hummed around him, wind teasing the edges of his coat. Pulse Step. He had a name for it already.
From behind, a soft cough broke his concentration.
Lyanna stepped into view, her brows raised, hands on her hips. "What… are you doing?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and amusement.
Eryndor didn't break his stance. He smirked, letting a small arc of lightning dance along his fingertips, the sparks flickering in the dim light. "Testing a new trick," he said, his tone teasingly arrogant. "Seems like I can move faster than I thought."
Lyanna's eyes widened, and she tilted her head, studying him closely. "Faster?" she repeated, stepping closer. "Eryndor… are those—" she paused, pointing at the tiny sparks. "Lightning?"
He grinned, flexing his fingers as a short arc jumped between them. "Just a little," he admitted. "And this," he added, gesturing to the subtle wind stirring at his feet, "is the support element. Helps me move, helps me control my speed."
Lyanna shook her head, a mixture of awe and exasperation on her face. "You really are full of surprises… I can't believe I didn't notice this sooner."
Eryndor's smirk widened. "You'll get used to it," he said. Then, without warning, he pushed off again. This time, he combined the Pulse Step with a subtle lean, sliding across the alley floor and coming to a near-silent stop before her. The wind swirled around him like a whisper, and the faint electric hum danced across his skin.
Lyanna gasped, eyes sparkling with excitement. "That… that was amazing!" she exclaimed. "It's like you're… gliding!"
He chuckled, letting the sparks die down slightly. "Gliding, sliding… call it whatever you want. Just remember, you saw it first." His tone was playful, but there was a sharp edge of pride in it.
For the first time, Eryndor felt a thrill beyond raw power—the thrill of control, of discovering a new edge he could wield. And Lyanna's gaze, full of admiration and disbelief, made him feel… almost untouchable.
Almost.
Because somewhere in the shadows, the cloaked figure was still waiting. And soon, they would learn that the boy who once only relied on instinct now commanded lightning itself.