The city slept fitfully beneath them, unaware of the storm stirring above. Kael clutched his arms, trying to steady the pulse of magic that still raced through his veins. Every time he thought he had control, a flicker of fire danced along his fingertips, reminding him that he was no longer just a street thief.
Lysandra watched him quietly, her silver eyes reflecting the dim glow of Shadowreach's lanterns. Her posture was calm, almost effortless, but Kael sensed a tension beneath her composure—as if every movement was calculated, every breath measured.
"You need to decide quickly, Kael," she said finally, her voice cutting through the silence. "Power like this doesn't wait for anyone. You either take control, or it consumes you."
Kael's stomach churned. He had spent his life running, stealing, surviving in the shadows, but he had never been offered a choice like this. "Control… what? What are you saying?"
"I'm offering to train you," Lysandra replied, stepping closer. "To teach you how to use what you've touched. The artifact chose you for a reason, whether you like it or not. You can try to hide, continue your petty thievery, and maybe survive for a few months… or you can learn to harness the power inside you and stand a chance against what's coming."
Kael laughed bitterly, though it sounded hollow even to him. "Learn magic? Control it? I don't even know where to start, and these—these visions, these… flames, they scare me. I don't even know who I am anymore."
"You're still Kael," Lysandra said softly, almost a whisper. "But the Kael you were is gone. That life is over. What you do now—how you choose to use this power—will define you."
The wind whispered through the alleys, carrying distant shouts and the faint clatter of boots. Kael's heart jumped. The Veilmaster's agents were still out there, hunting him. He could feel them, their intentions like a shadow pressing against his skin.
"And if I refuse?" Kael asked, swallowing hard.
Lysandra's expression darkened. "Refuse, and you become a target. Not just for them, but for others who would exploit this power. There are forces in the world you cannot even imagine… forces that will not hesitate to use you, or destroy you, to claim it."
Kael's mind raced. He had always been clever, always careful. He had survived thefts, fights, and betrayals, but this… this was different. This wasn't about money or survival—it was about life and death on a scale he had never known.
He shook his head, stepping back. "I… I can't just jump into something like this. I don't even know who you are, or why I should trust you."
"You don't have to trust me," Lysandra said, a shadow of a smile tugging at her lips. "Trust the truth: your life changed the moment you touched that artifact. You have a choice: learn or perish. The world will not wait for you to make up your mind."
Kael looked down at his hands. The warmth of magic still hummed beneath his skin, almost pleading with him, testing him. Every instinct told him to run, hide, and hope the danger would pass. But another voice—a deeper, insistent whisper—called him forward.
"Control it," the voice inside him seemed to say. "Or be destroyed."
His chest tightened. He had always survived because he was clever, fast, unpredictable. But no amount of cunning could keep him safe now. He needed guidance. He needed someone who understood this strange new world he had stumbled into.
Kael's gaze met Lysandra's, and he saw patience, steel, and a quiet intensity that made his heart race. "Alright," he said finally, his voice trembling but firm. "I'll… I'll learn. Teach me."
Lysandra's eyes softened slightly. "Good. But know this—training is dangerous. Mistakes can kill, or worse, leave you… changed in ways you might never recover from."
Kael swallowed hard, feeling the truth of her words settle like a stone in his chest. He had chosen the path. There was no turning back.
For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the distant hum of the city below. Then Lysandra extended her hand. "Come with me. Your first lesson begins tonight."
Kael hesitated, then placed his hand in hers. A jolt ran through him, not unlike the first time he touched the artifact, but steadier—controlled. The warmth spread through him again, this time a little less frightening, a little more promising.
As they disappeared into the winding alleys of Shadowreach, Kael glanced back at the rooftops where he had once ruled as a thief. Everything familiar was gone. Shadows no longer offered protection—they were only a reminder that the world was bigger, darker, and far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
And somewhere in the distance, Kael could feel it: the presence of those who were hunting him. Watching him. Waiting.
The war for his power had already begun.