The morning air inside the cave was sharp and cold, and Kahel's breath hung in faint wisps as he exhaled. Thalen stood at the far side of the chamber, arms crossed, watching him with an expression as hard as stone. Velka, the small fox, lay curled near the wall, golden eyes half-open, quietly observing.
Kahel felt the weight of the Qi Stone in his palm, its faint warmth pulsing against his skin. The ember in his chest stirred in response, subtle yet insistent.
"Again," Thalen commanded, voice firm and cold.
Kahel closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, and focused on the warmth in his hand. He pictured the ember in his chest, a faint spark waiting for fuel. Slowly, he tried to guide the energy from the stone into that flicker of warmth, as Thalen had instructed.
For a moment, he felt it, a faint pulse, like water seeping into dry earth. His heartbeat quickened, hope flaring.
Then the pulse wavered. A jolt of pain shot through his chest, sharp and sudden, and his body tensed. He gasped, the stone slipping from his grasp as he doubled over, coughing hard.
Thalen did not move.
"You are forcing it," he said evenly. "The ember is not a tool to command. It is part of you. Your will must shape it, but it will not submit to brute strength. Again."
Kahel gritted his teeth, wiping sweat from his brow. His arms ached, his chest felt tight, and the cut on his arm throbbed faintly beneath the makeshift bandage.
He picked up the stone, closed his eyes, and tried again.
Hours passed in silence, broken only by the sound of Kahel's strained breathing. Each attempt left him weaker, but the ember inside him pulsed steadily, a quiet, burning presence.
At last, Thalen spoke.
"That is enough for today."
Kahel slumped forward, barely able to hold himself upright. His body trembled, and his hands felt numb.
"Stand," Thalen ordered.
Kahel forced himself to his feet, legs shaking. His vision blurred at the edges, but he kept his gaze fixed on Thalen, refusing to show weakness.
Thalen regarded him for a long moment, then spoke in a tone that left no room for argument.
"You have power inside you, but power without discipline is chaos. The ember is only the beginning. Your body must be tempered, your mind sharpened, or it will consume you the moment you face a true challenge."
Kahel's chest tightened. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay upright.
Thalen's eyes narrowed.
"It is time for your first trial. If you truly wish to become a cultivator, you must earn it."
Kahel's pulse quickened, a mix of fear and excitement rushing through him.
"A trial?" he asked.
Thalen nodded, his voice low and firm.
"You will spend three days and three nights in the forest. No supplies, no weapons. You will rely only on your body, your instincts, and the ember inside you. Survive. Endure. Return here alive, or not at all."
Kahel's breath caught.
Three days. Alone, in the woods. The memory of the wolf flashed through his mind, the weight of the fox in his arms when he had found it bleeding and weak.
He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"What if something... attacks?" he asked quietly.
Thalen's gaze did not waver.
"Then you fight. Or you run. Or you die. The world will not wait for you to grow strong, Kahel. Strength must be claimed, not given."
Kahel's hands trembled, but he met Thalen's gaze, a spark of determination flaring in his chest.
"I'll survive," he said quietly.
Thalen inclined his head, a faint nod of acknowledgment.
"Then go. At sunrise tomorrow, you begin."
Kahel turned to Velka, who blinked up at him, golden eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light. Kahel reached out, brushing his fingers over the soft fur.
"Stay here," he whispered.
Velka gave a faint, almost reluctant sound, then settled back down, watching him with an unreadable gaze.
Kahel's body ached, his mind swirled with uncertainty, but the ember in his chest pulsed steady and strong, as if it too accepted the challenge.
He had one night to rest. Tomorrow, the forest would test him.
And he would not break.