The next day came faster than Adrian expected.
Too fast.
He stood once again in the center of the training arena—but this time, he wasn't alone with Kai.
Riven stood at the edge of the circle, arms crossed, watching like a judge ready to pass sentence.
Behind him, several hunters lined the walls.
Silent.
Observing.
Evaluating.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…This feels like an execution."
Riven smirked faintly.
"Depends on how well you perform."
Adrian rolled his shoulders.
"Comforting."
Kai stood beside him, expression calm but focused.
"This is a test," Kai said quietly.
Adrian glanced at him.
"I figured."
Kai's voice lowered.
"Don't rely on me."
Adrian nodded.
"…Got it."
Riven stepped forward slightly.
"Let's make this simple."
Adrian looked at him.
"You hold control… while fighting."
Adrian frowned.
"That's it?"
Riven's smirk widened.
"For ten minutes."
Adrian blinked.
"…That's it?"
Riven raised a finger.
"Against them."
The hunters behind him stepped forward.
Four of them.
All armed.
All serious.
Adrian stared.
"…You're joking."
"No," Riven replied.
"Begin."
---
The Test Begins
The moment Riven stepped back—
The hunters moved.
Fast.
Two rushed from the front.
One from the side.
One stayed back—watching.
Adrian's heart kicked into overdrive.
"…Okay—!"
He raised his hand.
The shadows responded instantly.
They wrapped around his arm—
Armor forming.
Stable.
Controlled.
Just like yesterday.
"…Good start," he muttered.
The first attacker lunged.
Adrian reacted.
His arm moved—
The shadows extended into a blade—
Clash!
The impact sent a jolt through his arm.
"Fast," Adrian muttered.
Too fast.
The second attacker came from the side.
Adrian barely blocked in time.
The shadows shifted, forming a barrier.
But the force—
Pushed him back.
"…Okay, this is different from training…"
Riven's voice echoed from the side.
"Less talking. More surviving."
Adrian gritted his teeth.
"Helpful."
Another attack came—
This time from behind.
Adrian turned quickly—
Too slow.
The strike grazed his shoulder.
"Ah—!"
Pain shot through him.
The mark pulsed instantly.
The shadows reacted—
Violently.
They surged outward—
Unstable.
"Not now—!"
"…You're slipping…"
The voice.
Adrian's breath hitched.
"…Focus…"
"I am focused!"
The shadows lashed out wildly, forcing the hunters back.
But it wasn't controlled.
Not like before.
Kai's voice cut through sharply.
"Adrian—anchor."
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"…Right…"
I don't want to disappear.
The thought came again.
Clear.
Strong.
The shadows slowed.
Stabilized.
"…Okay… okay…"
He exhaled.
"I've got it…"
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Again."
The hunters moved once more.
Faster this time.
Stronger.
Adrian stepped forward instead of back.
"Fine… let's go."
He swung his arm—
The shadows extended—
Precise.
Controlled.
They struck one hunter's weapon aside.
Another came in low—
Adrian reacted—
A shield formed instantly.
Blocked.
"…This is working…"
But then—
The mark pulsed.
Harder.
"…Not enough…"
Adrian's vision flickered.
"…Stop…"
The shadows trembled.
The voice pressed harder.
"…You need more power…"
Adrian's breath shook.
"No… I don't…"
The hunters attacked again.
This time—
All at once.
Adrian raised his arm—
The shadows surged—
Bigger.
Stronger.
Faster.
Too fast.
"…Wait—!"
The energy spiked.
Unstable.
Kai stepped forward instinctively—
But stopped.
Watching.
Testing.
Adrian gritted his teeth.
"I said… no!"
The shadows froze.
Then—
Compressed.
Condensed into his arm.
Tight.
Controlled.
The attacks hit—
But the shadows held.
Adrian stood his ground.
"…I'm not losing control."
The hunters pulled back slightly.
Re-evaluating.
Riven's smirk faded.
Now—
He looked interested.
"…Again," he said quietly.
The test continued.
Minutes passed.
Five.
Seven.
Nine.
Adrian's breathing grew heavier.
Sweat dripped down his face.
The shadows flickered—
But didn't break.
"…Almost there…"
The voice whispered again.
Weaker now.
"…You're limiting yourself…"
Adrian shoo his head.
"…I'm choosing myself."
The mark pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It went still.
The shadows stabilized completely.
Ten minutes.
Silence.
Riven raised a hand.
"Stop."
The hunters stepped back.
Adrian dropped his arm.
The shadows faded.
His legs nearly gave out—
But he stayed standing.
"…Did I pass?" he asked, breathless.
Riven walked forward slowly.
Studying him.
For a long moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
"…You didn't lose control."
Adrian smirked faintly.
"I noticed."
Riven's eyes met his.
"But you came close."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Riven crossed his arms.
"That's the difference between alive and dead."
Adrian didn't respond.
Kai stepped beside him.
"…He held it."
Riven glanced at Kai.
"…For now."
That phrase again.
But this time
It didn't hit as hard.
Because Adrian knew something they didn't.
He looked down at his wrist.
The mark was still there.
Still dangerous.
But quieter.
"…I'm getting stronger," Adrian said.
Riven studied him.
"…Or it's letting you think you are."
Adrian met his gaze.
"…Then I'll prove it wrong."
Silence.
Then
Riven smirked slightly.
"…Good."
He turned away.
"Training continues tomorrow."
The hunters began to leave.
One by one.
Kai stayed.
Adrian let out a long breath.
"…That was insane."
Kai glanced at him.
"You did well."
Adrian blinked.
"…That's it?"
Kai's lips curved slightly.
"Do you want more?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"…No. That's enough."
A pause.
Then Adrian added quietly
"…Thanks."
Kai didn't respond immediately.
But he didn't look away either.
And this time
The silence between them wasn't painful.
It was steady.
Like something slowly being rebuilt.