Morning came quietly.
For the first time in days—there was no chaos, no destruction, no screaming sky.
Only… stillness.
Elian opened his eyes slowly.
The ground beneath him was cold, covered in thin grass and scattered stone. Above, the sky stretched wide and pale, untouched by the darkness from before.
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal again.
Then he remembered.
He sat up quickly.
The village.
His mother.
The storm.
His chest tightened.
"Elian…"
The wind.
Soft.
Careful.
"I'm here," he whispered.
A gentle breeze brushed past his face.
Stronger than before.
Alive again.
"Good…" the wind replied.
A voice interrupted.
"Then you can start."
Elian turned.
The man stood a few meters away, already awake, already watching.
"You don't waste time, do you?" Elian muttered.
"Time is the only thing you don't have," the man replied.
Elian stood up slowly.
"…You said you'd teach me."
"I did."
The man stepped closer.
"First lesson," he said,
"Stop listening."
Elian blinked.
"…What?"
"You rely too much on what you hear," the man continued. "The wind speaks, and you follow."
"That's how I survive," Elian said.
"For now," the man replied.
A pause.
"But survival is not strength."
Elian clenched his fists.
"…Then what do I do?"
The man pointed at him.
"Feel."
Before Elian could react—
The man moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Elian barely had time to raise his arms before an invisible force struck him, throwing him backward across the ground.
"UGH—!"
Dust scattered as he rolled to a stop.
Pain shot through his body.
"Get up," the man said calmly.
Elian groaned.
"You really like doing that, huh…"
"Get up."
Elian pushed himself to his feet again.
His breathing heavy.
His body aching.
"…Fine."
The wind stirred slightly around him.
"Elian… listen…"
"No," Elian said under his breath.
The wind paused.
"…what?"
Elian steadied himself.
His eyes locked onto the man.
"I won't listen."
Silence.
The man watched him carefully.
"Good," he said.
Another attack came.
This time—
Elian didn't wait.
He moved.
Not because he heard it.
But because he felt it.
A shift in pressure.
A slight distortion in the air.
He stepped aside just in time.
The invisible force slammed into the ground beside him, cracking the earth.
Elian's eyes widened.
"I… did it…"
"Again," the man said.
The attacks didn't stop.
One after another.
Faster.
Sharper.
Stronger.
Elian kept moving.
Dodging.
Falling.
Getting back up.
Each time—
He got a little better.
His breathing became more controlled.
His movements more precise.
The wind circled him—restless.
"Elian… why are you ignoring me…?"
He didn't answer.
For the first time—
He wasn't relying on it.
He was relying on himself.
"Focus…" he whispered.
Another attack.
He didn't dodge.
This time—
He raised his hand.
And stopped.
The air in front of him—
Trembled.
The force slowed.
Not completely.
But enough.
Elian gritted his teeth.
"…move…"
The attack split slightly—
Sliding past him instead of hitting directly.
Silence.
The man lowered his hand.
For the first time—
There was clear interest in his eyes.
"…so you can shape it," he murmured.
Elian looked at his hand, shaking.
"I didn't even know what I did…"
"That," the man said,
"is your first step."
The wind returned softly.
"…Elian…"
This time—
He listened.
But differently.
Not blindly.
"I hear you," he said quietly.
The wind felt… calmer.
Stronger.
"Good…"
The man turned away.
"That's enough for today."
Elian frowned.
"That's it?"
"You survived," the man replied. "That's already more than most."
Elian exhaled, exhausted.
"…Hey," he called.
The man stopped.
"You still haven't told me your name."
A pause.
For a moment—
The wind stilled.
Then—
"…Kael," he said.
Elian nodded slowly.
"…Elian."
Kael glanced at him briefly.
"I know."
The wind whispered softly.
And for the first time since everything began—
Elian felt something new.
Not fear.
Not loss.
But the beginning…
Of strength.