The canyon was quiet, the stillness broken only by the faint whistle of wind cutting through the jagged rocks. Dark stood at the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss below. The shadows around him swirled lazily, almost in sync with his uneven breathing. The battle against Azraelis had shaken him more than he cared to admit.
Dark: (thinking, bitterly) He got under my skin. And I let him.
The weight of Kyuketsu on his back was comforting, a silent reminder that he wasn't completely powerless. But for the first time in a long while, Dark felt the gnawing edge of doubt creeping in. Azraelis was unlike anything he'd faced before—unpredictable, overwhelming, and far too confident.
His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps behind him. He turned sharply, Kyuketsu half-drawn, his crimson eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the shadows.
Kaelith: (casually) Easy there, shadow boy. I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway.
The woman who stood before him was a stark contrast to the barren wasteland around them. Her silver hair gleamed even in the dim light, and her sharp eyes seemed to pierce straight through him. She leaned lazily against a crumbling pillar, arms crossed, her smirk as irritating as it was confident.
Dark: (flatly) Who are you?
Kaelith: (mocking) No "thank you" for saving your life earlier? Rude.
Dark didn't lower Kyuketsu, his grip steady as his gaze burned into hers.
Dark: (coldly) I don't need saving.
Kaelith laughed, the sound echoing through the canyon like a bell.
Kaelith: (amused) Oh, that's cute. You really believe that, don't you?
Dark's patience was wearing thin. He took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous.
Dark: (warning) I don't know who you are, but if you're looking for a fight, I won't hold back.
Kaelith pushed off the pillar, her smirk widening as she closed the distance between them. Her movements were deliberate, calculated, and entirely too confident.
Kaelith: (calmly) Relax, I'm not here to kill you. If I were, you'd already be dead.
Dark: (thinking, irritated) Arrogant.
Kaelith stopped a few feet away, her gaze steady as she studied him.
Kaelith: (serious) You're strong, Dark. But you're sloppy. Reckless. If someone like Azraelis wanted to end you, he could've done it in that cathedral without breaking a sweat.
Dark's grip on Kyuketsu tightened, his jaw clenching.
Dark: (sharply) What do you want?
Kaelith's expression shifted slightly, the humor fading as her tone turned serious.
Kaelith: (softly) To make sure you don't die. Not yet, anyway.
Dark frowned, his crimson eyes narrowing.
Dark: (coldly) Why would you care?
Kaelith: (shrugging) Let's just say I've got my reasons. And maybe—just maybe—I think you've got potential. If you don't waste it, that is.
Dark didn't respond immediately. He didn't trust her, not entirely, but there was something about her presence that felt... different. She wasn't like Azraelis. She wasn't trying to intimidate him. If anything, she seemed amused by his defiance.
Kaelith: (firmly) Look, I'm not here to hold your hand or give you a pep talk. You want to get stronger? Fine. But it's not going to happen overnight, and it sure as hell won't happen if you keep fighting like an idiot.
Dark: (thinking, irritated) She talks too much.
Kaelith took a step back, her smirk returning.
Kaelith: (mocking) Don't worry, shadow boy. I'll make it easy for you. First lesson—put that fancy sword away. Kyuketsu's impressive, sure, but you rely on it too much. Time to see what you're really made of.
Dark hesitated, his instincts screaming against the idea of disarming himself. But the challenge in her eyes was impossible to ignore. Slowly, reluctantly, he sheathed Kyuketsu. The blade vanished into the void, leaving him feeling strangely exposed.
Kaelith: (grinning) Good. Now, let's see if you can actually keep up.
Without warning, she lunged. Her speed was blinding, her movements a blur as she closed the gap between them in an instant. Dark barely had time to react, his shadows surging to block her strike. But Kaelith twisted effortlessly, slipping past his defenses and landing a sharp jab to his ribs.
Dark staggered back, his eyes blazing with frustration.
Dark: (snarling) You're fast.
Kaelith: (mocking) And you're slow. Come on, Dark. You can do better than this.
Dark growled, the shadows around him flaring as he attacked again. He moved faster this time, his strikes more precise, but Kaelith was always one step ahead. She ducked, dodged, and countered with an ease that left him seething.
Kaelith: (sharply) Stop relying on brute force. Think. Use your environment. Use your shadows. They're not just a weapon—they're an extension of you.
Dark gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate her next move. He lashed out with a wave of shadow energy, forcing her to leap back. For a brief moment, he saw an opening and lunged, his fist aimed at her torso.
But Kaelith was ready. She caught his wrist mid-strike, twisting it with enough force to make him wince.
Kaelith: (calmly) Better. But still predictable.
She released him, stepping back with a faint smile.
Kaelith: (softly) You're getting there. Slowly.
Dark glared at her, his chest heaving with exertion.
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) She's toying with me.
Kaelith: (firmly) Again.
The training continued, each exchange pushing Dark closer to his limit. Kaelith didn't hold back, her strikes precise and unrelenting. But slowly, Dark began to adapt. His movements grew sharper, his shadows more fluid. He started to anticipate her attacks, countering with increasing efficiency.
By the time the sun began to set, the canyon was filled with the faint hum of energy. Dark stood across from Kaelith, his body bruised and battered but his resolve unshaken.
Kaelith: (smirking) Not bad, shadow boy. You might actually survive this.
Dark didn't respond, his gaze steady as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Kaelith: (softly) Get some rest. Tomorrow, we start the real work.
She turned, walking toward the edge of the canyon without another word. Dark watched her go, his mind a whirlwind of frustration and determination.
Dark: (thinking) Azraelis. The herald. Whatever's coming... I'll be ready.
Dark sat against the jagged canyon wall after Kaelith left, his chest rising and falling heavily. The sting of her words lingered more than the bruises on his body. She was right—he was sloppy, too reliant on Kyuketsu, and his arrogance had left him vulnerable.
Dark: (thinking) She's teaching me like I'm some amateur... but maybe that's exactly what I need.
His shadows flickered faintly, responding to his emotions. He stared at the cracks in the earth beneath him, clenching his fists. He didn't just want to grow stronger for himself—Lara's image flashed in his mind. He needed to be strong enough to keep her safe, to stand against anything that dared to take her away again.
As the sun dipped lower, casting the canyon in deep shadows, the air grew colder. Dark stood, brushing the dust off his cloak, his resolve hardened. Kaelith wanted him to push beyond his limits. He wouldn't wait for her to decide when training resumed.
Dark: (thinking) If she wants me to figure it out, I'll figure it out.
He raised his hand, summoning Kyuketsu once more. The blade materialized in his grasp, its dark aura pulsing faintly. The weapon felt like an extension of himself, but Kaelith's words echoed in his mind.
Kaelith: (memory) They're not just a weapon—they're an extension of you.
Dark: (muttering) Fine. Let's see what else I can do.
He focused, extending his will through the blade. The shadows around him reacted instantly, coiling like serpents, their movements more fluid than before. He swung Kyuketsu, sending an arc of shadow energy slicing through a nearby rock. The impact shattered the boulder into fragments, the shadows dissipating into the air.
Dark: (thinking) That's not enough. I need more control. More precision.
He closed his eyes, steadying his breathing. The shadows flickered, drawn to him like moths to a flame. He tried again, this time directing the shadows to form a barrier. The dark tendrils twisted and merged, creating a protective wall that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
Dark: (gritting his teeth) Good... but not good enough.
He dispelled the barrier, the shadows retreating as he turned his attention to the canyon walls. The jagged surfaces loomed above him, challenging him to climb. Without hesitation, he leapt, the shadows wrapping around his legs to propel him upward. His hands gripped the rough stone, and he began his ascent.
Kaelith's voice echoed in the back of his mind as he climbed.
Kaelith: (memory) Use your environment. Adapt.
He reached a ledge halfway up the canyon wall and paused, glancing back at the ground far below. The air was thinner here, colder. The view stretched endlessly, the barren wasteland giving way to distant mountains shrouded in mist. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to admire the desolation.
Dark: (thinking) This place is unforgiving... but so am I.
He continued upward, the shadows aiding his climb. By the time he reached the top, the stars had begun to appear, casting the canyon in a silvery light. He stood at the edge, his silhouette sharp against the night sky.
Kaelith's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Kaelith: (mockingly) Took you long enough.
Dark turned sharply, his crimson eyes locking onto her. She stood a few feet away, leaning casually against another pillar. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, and her smirk was as infuriating as ever.
Dark: (coldly) You've been watching me.
Kaelith: (grinning) Always. How else am I supposed to know if you're worth my time?
Dark: (irritated) I didn't need your help.
Kaelith stepped closer, her smirk softening into something more serious.
Kaelith: (firmly) You're right. You don't need my help. You need my training. There's a difference.
Dark: (snapping) Then stop wasting time and teach me.
Kaelith's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of approval in her eyes. She raised her hand, and the shadows around them twisted unnaturally, forming shapes and figures that danced in the moonlight.
Kaelith: (calmly) Shadows aren't just weapons, Dark. They're alive. They listen, they adapt, and they evolve. But only if you let them.
Dark watched as the shadowy forms shifted, their movements fluid and hypnotic. He felt a pull in his chest, an instinctive connection to the darkness around him.
Kaelith: (softly) You're trying to control them. That's your mistake. Shadows don't follow commands—they follow intent. Show them what you want, and they'll follow.
Dark: (thinking, frustrated) Intent? What does that even mean?
Kaelith stepped closer, her gaze intense.
Kaelith: (seriously) Close your eyes. Focus. Feel the shadows around you—their movement, their weight. Don't force them. Guide them.
Dark hesitated, but the determination in her voice left no room for argument. He closed his eyes, his breathing steadying as he reached out with his senses. The shadows responded, their presence like a faint heartbeat against his skin.
Kaelith: (softly) Good. Now, imagine what you want them to do. Don't think—feel.
Dark's grip on Kyuketsu loosened slightly as he allowed himself to focus entirely on the shadows. He pictured them coiling around him, forming a protective barrier, and the darkness responded. The tendrils of shadow wrapped around him like armor, their movements synchronized with his own.
Kaelith: (smirking) Not bad. Now, let's see if you can actually use it.
She raised her hand, and a blade of light materialized in her grasp. Without warning, she lunged at him, her strike aimed directly at his chest. Dark reacted instinctively, the shadow armor hardening just in time to block her attack. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but he held his ground.
Kaelith: (grinning) Better. But you're still too slow.
She attacked again, her movements faster and more precise. Dark countered with his shadows, the tendrils lashing out like whips to deflect her strikes. The canyon echoed with the clash of light and shadow, each exchange pushing him closer to his limit.
But for the first time, Dark felt in control. The shadows weren't just tools—they were an extension of himself, responding to his every thought and instinct. He pressed forward, his strikes growing more fluid, more unpredictable.
Kaelith: (thinking, impressed) He's learning. Fast.
The fight ended with a burst of energy, the shadows dissipating as Dark collapsed to one knee, his chest heaving. Kaelith stood a few feet away, her blade of light fading into nothingness.
Kaelith: (calmly) You're getting there, shadow boy. But don't get cocky. This is just the beginning.
Dark didn't respond immediately. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his crimson eyes burning with determination.
Dark: (quietly) I'm not stopping until I'm stronger than him.
Kaelith's smirk returned, but there was a flicker of something softer in her gaze—respect, perhaps.
Kaelith: (softly) Good. Because you'll need to be.
The night stretched on, the stars above shining cold and distant as the two prepared for the next stage of Dark's training.
End Of Arc 4 Chapter 2.