The room was quiet again.
But not peaceful.
Kael stood still, his breathing steady—but his mind was anything but calm.
"…You're not human."
Those words echoed in his head.
Again.
And again.
"…Kael."
The voice snapped him back.
He turned.
The man from before was watching him closely.
"…Step forward."
Kael hesitated.
"…Why?"
"…Because we're not done."
The air shifted.
Subtle at first.
Then heavier.
The fragments in the room began to glow again—
But differently this time.
Not random.
Controlled.
"…We're going to test you."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Test?"
The man raised his hand slightly.
One fragment lifted into the air.
Slowly.
"…If you can't control your reaction to it…"
A pause.
"…you won't survive what's coming."
Kael clenched his fists.
"…Then let's do it."
The man allowed the smallest hint of a smile.
"…Good."
The fragment floated toward Kael.
This time—
Kael didn't step back.
He stayed still.
Focused.
"…Aetherion."
"…Active."
The moment the fragment came within arm's reach—
It reacted instantly.
Light surged.
Pressure exploded outward.
Kael's body tensed—
But he didn't fall.
"…Hold it…" he muttered.
The energy surged into him.
Fast.
Unstable.
Violent.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…Control it… don't resist… guide it…"
The fragment's energy entered his system—
But instead of overwhelming him—
It began to slow.
"…It's… stabilizing?" the man muttered quietly.
Kael's breathing became steady.
In… out…
The energy pulsed through him.
But now—
It followed him.
Not the other way around.
"…So this is what you meant…"
Kael opened his eyes.
They glowed faintly.
"…I don't fight it…"
A pause.
"…I direct it."
The man's expression changed slightly.
"…Interesting."
The fragment dimmed.
Its energy fully absorbed.
Silence returned.
But this time—
It felt different.
Kael looked at his hand.
A faint energy pulse flickered around his fingers.
Controlled.
"…I can feel it now…"
The man stepped closer.
"…You passed the first test."
Kael looked up.
"…First?"
The man nodded.
"…You've only learned how to hold power."
A pause.
"…Now we see what you do with it."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…What's next?"
The man turned toward the door.
"…A real mission."
The lights in the room dimmed slightly.
"…Something has been moving."
Kael's expression hardened.
"…Moving?"
The man stopped at the door.
"…And it's been reacting to fragments like you."
Silence.
"…Which means…"
Kael's voice lowered.
"…I'm not the only one."
The man glanced back.
"…No."
A pause.
"…You're not."
The door opened.
Cold air rushed in.
"…And some of them… aren't stable."
Kael stepped forward.
His energy still faintly pulsing.
"…Then let's find them."
The man smirked slightly.
"…Now you're thinking like a host."
Kael didn't respond.
Because deep down—
He already knew.
This was only the beginning.