Valmor — The Whispering Falls
The early dawn sky was painted in pale silver as mist curled above the forest outside Valmor. The rhythmic roar of water echoed through the valley, a deep and endless sound — the sound of life and silence intertwined.
Aryan stood before the Whispering Falls, the city's sacred waterfall known to test a warrior's spirit and purify their soul. The icy water thundered down from a cliff high above, crashing into a pool surrounded by ancient stones carved with glowing runes.
Beside him stood Officer Roy, his arms crossed, eyes sharp as ever.
"Day four," Roy said. "You've trained your body. Now, it's time to train your soul."
Aryan looked at the freezing water, his breath visible in the cold air. "Meditation? Under that?"
Roy nodded. "This isn't simple meditation, kid. The waterfall's force will break your focus. The cold will numb your body. Only your soul can keep you awake. You'll enter deep silence — and maybe, if you're ready, your soul will speak."
Aryan took a deep breath. "And if I'm not ready?"
Roy's voice turned grave. "Then the waterfall will crush your will before your body even freezes."
Aryan smirked faintly. "Then I guess I better be ready."
Roy gave a rare smile. "Good. Remember — to control your soul, you must first face your own fear."
The Meditation Begins
Aryan stepped into the water.The instant the icy current touched his skin, a violent shiver ran through his body. Each breath felt like knives in his chest. But he gritted his teeth, wading deeper until he stood beneath the roaring fall.
The water pounded against his shoulders and skull like hammers, threatening to knock him down. His mind screamed to move away — to run.
But he didn't.
He closed his eyes.And began to breathe.
In… out… in… out…
Time blurred. The sound of water faded into something else — a distant hum. The cold no longer bit into him; instead, it pulled him deeper, into stillness.
Then, the world around him disappeared.
The Vision of the Soul
Aryan opened his eyes — and found himself standing in pitch-black void again. The same eternal darkness from before.
He whispered, "The Void…"
But this time, it was different. The air vibrated faintly, rippling with silver waves of light. Within them, he saw fleeting images — his mother's gentle smile, his father's proud gaze, his brother's laughter.
Then, blood.Flames.A shattered home.
And finally — a dark figure, cloaked in shadow, standing over the bodies of his family. Its eyes glowed crimson, and its voice echoed across the void:
"Power… always comes with sacrifice."
Aryan fell to his knees. "You… were the one… who killed them…"
But the figure vanished, leaving behind only whispers and echoes.
Suddenly, another voice emerged — calm, layered, neither male nor female. It resonated deep within him.
"Do not chase the shadow… understand it."
Aryan's eyes widened. "Who's there?"
"I am what you awakened that night in the lake. The Copy Soul."
The air rippled with light as a ghostly reflection of Aryan appeared before him — an exact copy of himself, eyes glowing faint blue.
"To copy another's soul… you must first understand your own. You cannot wield what you fear to face."
Aryan clenched his fists. "Then tell me — how do I do that?"
"Accept your weakness. Accept your pain. Let it flow through you like water — only then will you resonate."
The waterfall's sound began to return, thundering above him. Aryan felt the connection between his body and soul tightening, fusing. His heartbeat synchronized with the world around him — thump, thump, thump.
He could feel things — faint ripples in the energy nearby. The life of birds in trees, the steady breath of Roy standing by the shore, even the distant pulse of the earth itself.
The Copy Soul whispered one last time:
"You are beginning to feel them… the echoes of other souls. This is the first step."
And then the vision faded.
Awakening
Aryan gasped awake, his body half-submerged beneath the waterfall. The sun had risen higher — he had been meditating for hours. He stumbled out, his clothes soaked, his skin pale, but his eyes gleaming with newfound light.
Roy approached slowly. "You lasted longer than most who've trained here. Did you see something?"
Aryan nodded weakly. "Yes… I saw my family… and a shadow. But more than that…"He looked up toward the waterfall, where the sunlight refracted into small rainbows. "I felt something inside me change."
Roy's gaze softened. "Good. Then today wasn't just training — it was rebirth."
Aryan clenched his hand, feeling faint energy humming through it. "I can feel… others around me. Like echoes of their souls."
Roy smiled faintly. "That's called Soul Resonance. You've taken your first step into true power, Aryan. Remember — strength isn't just about how hard you strike, but how deeply your soul connects."
Aryan nodded, standing taller now. The water still dripped from his hair, but his spirit burned brighter than ever.
He whispered to himself,
"To copy… I must first understand."
The waterfall thundered behind him, its roar now calm and comforting — like the voice of his awakening soul.