The next week, whispers of Jonathan's awakening had spread. A low-ranking Morvan heir, Edric Morvan, sought to test him. Jonathan didn't hesitate. The two met in an abandoned warehouse along the Thames.
Edric's Ether Mark, Shadefang, emerged: a serpentine shadow that could strike unseen. Jonathan's Aetherion flared in response, silver and jagged, coiling around him protectively.
"Your bloodline is weak!" Edric spat. "I will prove the Morvans superior!"
Sparks of silver collided with living darkness. Jonathan barely dodged a strike from Shadefang that could have impaled him. He felt his Ether Mark respond instinctively, splitting into twin limbs that forced Edric backward.
The battle ended with Jonathan landing a spectacular, multi-strike finishing blow, sending Shadefang dissipating into smoke.
Breathing heavily, Jonathan realized: victory wasn't just about strength. Control, instinct, and quick thinking were as vital as raw power. The feud with the Morvans had truly begun.