The valley was eerily silent. Even the wind seemed to hesitate, curling around the silver-leaved trees like a cautious observer. Ivan's chest burned with the Seal's pulse, each heartbeat echoing in his ears. Every step he took felt heavy, yet purposeful. His eyes scanned the terrain, tracing the lines of light that ran like veins through the ground.
He had practiced small bursts of energy yesterday with the silver-eyed stranger. A controlled release. A minor display. That had been… manageable. But something told him that calm would not last.
A low rumble resonated through the valley floor. Ivan froze. The runes on his arms flared, brightening with every tremor. Then came the first signs: cracks in the stone, small at first, then spreading, glowing with raw energy.
"They're coming," the stranger said behind him. "Creatures drawn by the Seal. They'll test you — whether you survive is the first step toward mastering your power."
Ivan's stomach churned. "Creatures? I— I can't even control what's inside me yet."
Her eyes were steady. "Then you will learn, or you will die. The choice isn't yours to make."
The first wave appeared on the ridge above. Not beasts like any mortal had ever seen, but distorted forms of fire and stone, twisted into jagged humanoid shapes. They didn't speak, didn't breathe — they simply existed, drawn to the energy that pulsed from Ivan's chest. Each step they took scorched the ground. The closer they came, the more the air shimmered, as if reality itself was bending around their heat.
Ivan raised his trembling hands instinctively. A flicker of golden light surged from the runes. The nearest creature screamed — a soundless, piercing cry — and leapt at him.
The energy lashed out, unrefined but violent. Sparks flew, lighting up the valley in brilliant flashes. Ivan stumbled backward, tripping over a rock. The runes burned brighter, tearing through the silver fabric of his tunic, but he didn't care. Survival mattered more than pain.
"You can't just panic!" the stranger shouted, sprinting beside him. "Focus! Let the Seal guide you!"
Ivan swallowed, forcing himself to center his mind. The Seal pulsed like a tide, rising and falling. Slowly, he extended his arms again. The light flowed outward, a radiant barrier forming just in time to block another charge.
The creatures recoiled, but only briefly. They adapted instantly, circling him, probing, testing. Ivan realized they weren't mindless — they were mirrors of his own instability. The more he panicked, the stronger and more aggressive they became.
"I… I have to control it," he muttered under his breath. "I have to…"
He clenched his fists, feeling the Seal's energy converge within his chest. A second pulse shot outward, this time deliberate, cutting through the nearest enemy with a crackle of blue-white light. The impact threw the creature backward, embedding it in the soil.
The stranger nodded approvingly. "Better. That's the control I'm talking about. Not perfect, but you're starting to understand."
A third wave came from the trees, faster, more coordinated. Ivan felt his chest tighten, sweat dripping down his face. His hands glowed, tendrils of energy weaving through the air like snakes. A momentary surge of fear made the light waver — and one creature lunged at him, its jagged claws slicing through the energy.
Ivan dodged instinctively, heart hammering. The Seal responded, flowing out of him almost of its own accord, forming a protective sphere around his body. Each impact from the creatures pushed him closer to exhaustion, but also forced him to understand how his power reacted.
"You're learning faster than I expected," the stranger said, eyes narrowing. "But do not get cocky. The Seal is dangerous — one misstep, and it consumes you."
Ivan nodded, teeth gritted. "I won't fail."
Another creature charged, faster than the rest. Ivan reacted instinctively, his arms forming an arc of energy that collided with the attacker. The creature screamed silently, its form dissolving into smoke and light as the energy consumed it completely.
For a moment, everything stopped. Ivan's chest heaved, sweat streaking his face. He looked around — the valley was littered with the remains of creatures he had defeated, some shattered into pieces of glowing stone, others evaporated into sparks.
"Good," the stranger said softly. "You survived your first trial. But this was just the beginning. The Seal doesn't just test your strength. It tests your heart, your control, and your resolve."
Ivan sank to his knees, exhaustion threatening to drag him under. He touched the glowing mark on his chest, feeling the energy pulse steadily now, calmer, more deliberate.
"I… I did it," he whispered, voice hoarse. "I… survived."
A shadow stirred among the silver trees, crimson eyes glowing brighter. Ivan did not notice it, lost in the adrenaline and the relief. But the watcher did not blink. Its presence, patient and silent, observed every movement, every pulse of the Seal.
"The heir awakens," it murmured. "And the fires have just begun."