Morning light slowly spread across the courtyard, replacing the darkness of the night. The air felt different now—calmer, steadier, yet filled with a quiet pressure Zarek hadn't noticed before.
He stood in the center of the courtyard, his body still sore from the previous night.
The man stood a few steps away, watching him.
"You felt it, didn't you?" he asked.
Zarek nodded slightly. "…The difference."
The man folded his arms. "Good. That means you're not completely hopeless."
Zarek didn't react to the comment. His focus remained on the feeling inside his body—the energy he had gained through devouring.
It was there.
But unstable.
Hard to control.
"What you have is raw power," the man continued. "But raw power without control is useless. Worse… it's dangerous."
Zarek raised his hand slightly, staring at his palm.
"…Then teach me how to control it."
The man's expression didn't change. "Control doesn't come from force. It comes from understanding."
He stepped forward and tapped Zarek lightly on the chest.
"Energy flows through the body like a current. Cultivators guide it, refine it, and make it their own."
Zarek listened carefully.
"And you?" the man added. "You take energy from others. That gives you an advantage—but also a risk. Your body isn't used to what you're absorbing."
Zarek's eyes narrowed slightly. "…So it can reject it?"
"Yes," the man replied simply. "Or worse, it can tear you apart from the inside."
Silence fell between them.
Zarek lowered his hand slowly.
"…Then what do I do?"
The man stepped back. "Sit."
Zarek hesitated for only a moment before lowering himself to the ground, crossing his legs.
"Close your eyes," the man instructed.
Zarek did.
At first, there was nothing.
Just darkness.
And the faint sound of the wind.
"Now," the man said, "focus on your breathing."
Zarek inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
Again.
And again.
At first, it felt pointless.
But gradually…
Something changed.
He began to feel it.
A faint presence inside his body.
Weak.
Unstable.
But real.
"…I can feel it," Zarek said quietly.
"Of course you can," the man replied. "That's your energy. Right now, it's scattered. You need to gather it."
Zarek focused harder.
The energy flickered, shifting unpredictably.
It didn't listen.
It didn't obey.
It moved on its own.
"…It's not stable," Zarek said.
"It won't be," the man answered. "Not yet."
Zarek frowned slightly.
"…Then how do I control it?"
"Guide it," the man said. "Not force. Guide."
Zarek took a slow breath and tried again.
This time, he didn't try to dominate the energy.
He followed it.
Watched it.
Understood it.
Little by little…
It began to settle.
Not fully.
But enough.
A faint warmth spread through his body.
For the first time since gaining the system…
Zarek felt something close to control.
Then—
The system activated.
[Energy Stabilization Detected]
[Control Efficiency Increased]
Zarek's eyes snapped open.
"…It's reacting."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Reacting?"
Zarek hesitated, then nodded. "…Something like that."
The man studied him for a moment, then sighed softly. "You really are unusual."
Zarek stood up slowly, feeling the difference in his body.
The energy was still there.
Still unstable.
But no longer completely wild.
"…This is just the beginning," the man said.
Zarek nodded.
"…I know."
The man turned and began walking toward the edge of the courtyard.
"From today onward, your training begins," he said. "And it won't be easy."
Zarek followed.
"…What's your name?"
The man stopped briefly.
Then, without turning—
"Call me Rovan."
Zarek repeated it silently.
Rovan.
"Remember this, Zarek," Rovan continued. "Power is not just about strength. It's about control, discipline… and survival."
He glanced back slightly.
"And in your case… it's about not losing yourself."
Zarek's eyes darkened slightly.
But he didn't respond.
Inside him, the system remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.