The street felt quieter now.
Not because it actually was—
But because Ethan's focus had shifted.
Completely.
Kai stood a few steps in front of him, relaxed, hands in his pockets, like none of this mattered.
Like this wasn't dangerous.
Like Ethan wasn't unstable.
"Start," Kai said simply.
Ethan frowned.
"…Start what?"
Kai sighed softly.
"This is already a problem."
Lena crossed her arms slightly.
"You said you'd teach him."
"I am," Kai replied. "Lesson one: don't wait to be told everything."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
On what Kai said earlier.
You don't control emotions… you resonate with them.
Ethan inhaled.
Then reached—
Not outward blindly.
But carefully.
The world shifted.
Faint feelings brushed against him.
People passing by.
Their emotions—
Light.
Scattered.
Not overwhelming.
"…Good," Kai said.
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
"How do you—"
"I can tell," Kai interrupted. "You stopped forcing it."
Ethan paused.
"…So that's it?"
Kai shook his head slightly.
"No. That's just you not messing it up."
Lena almost laughed.
"Wow. Harsh."
Kai ignored her.
"Now focus on one source," he said. "Not everything."
Ethan nodded slowly.
One source.
His eyes shifted—
To Lena.
She noticed immediately.
"…What?"
Ethan didn't answer.
He just focused.
Not on everything around her.
Not on the environment.
Just her.
Her presence.
Her emotions.
The connection formed almost instantly.
Warm.
Steady.
Not chaotic.
Ethan's breathing slowed.
"…I feel it," he said quietly.
Kai nodded once.
"Now don't touch it."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
"Don't change it," Kai clarified. "Don't amplify it. Just… observe."
Ethan hesitated.
That felt harder.
Because his instinct—
Was to react.
To push.
To influence.
Now he had to do nothing.
"…This is harder than fighting," Ethan muttered.
"Of course it is," Kai said. "Fighting is instinct. Control is discipline."
Ethan steadied himself.
Focused again.
The feeling stayed.
Stable.
No surge.
No pulse.
Just… there.
"…Good," Kai said again.
Ethan opened his eyes slowly.
"…That's it?"
Kai shook his head.
"No. Now comes the part where you fail."
Ethan blinked.
"What?"
Kai stepped closer.
"Now," he said, "amplify it."
Ethan froze slightly.
"…You just told me not to."
"That was step one," Kai replied. "This is step two."
Ethan exhaled.
"…Fine."
He focused again.
On Lena.
On that same feeling.
Then—
He pushed.
A pulse formed instantly.
Too fast.
Too strong.
The air shifted.
Lena's expression changed.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Ethan—"
The feeling spiked.
Unstable.
Ethan's control slipped.
"No—wait—"
The pulse burst outward.
Stronger than intended.
Lena staggered slightly.
Grabbing his arm.
"…That's too much…"
Ethan's eyes widened.
He pulled back immediately.
The connection snapped.
Everything returned to normal.
Silence.
Ethan stepped back quickly.
"I'm sorry—"
Lena shook her head slightly, steadying herself.
"I'm okay," she said.
But her breathing was uneven.
Ethan clenched his fists.
"…I messed it up."
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Ethan looked at him sharply.
"That's it?"
Kai tilted his head.
"What were you expecting? Encouragement?"
Ethan frowned.
"…Maybe."
Kai shook his head.
"You lost control because you rushed it," he said. "Same mistake as before."
Ethan looked down.
"…Yeah."
Kai continued.
"You're skipping the most important part."
Ethan looked up again.
"…Which is?"
"Understanding the emotion before changing it."
That hit.
Because Ethan hadn't done that.
He just felt it—
And pushed.
"…So I need to slow down," Ethan said.
"Not just slow down," Kai corrected. "Be precise."
Lena exhaled softly.
"Easier said than done."
Kai glanced at her briefly.
"Of course it is," he said. "That's why most people fail."
Ethan frowned.
"Most people?"
Kai didn't answer directly.
"…You're not the only one with an ability," he said instead.
Ethan's expression hardened slightly.
"…I figured."
"But you are one of the few with that type," Kai added.
Ethan blinked.
"That type?"
Kai looked at him carefully.
"Emotional resonance abilities are rare," he said. "And dangerous."
Ethan swallowed slightly.
"…Because they affect people directly."
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Silence.
"…Then why help me?" Ethan asked.
Kai paused.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"Because if you don't learn control," he said, "someone else will control you instead."
Ethan's chest tightened.
Adrian.
"…So this is survival," Ethan said.
Kai smiled faintly.
"Now you're understanding."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Then teach me properly," he said.
Kai stepped back slightly.
"I will," he replied.
Then his expression shifted.
Slightly more serious.
"But next time—"
Ethan looked up.
"—we won't be practicing on her."
Lena blinked.
"Wait, what?"
Kai turned away.
"Because next time," he added calmly…
"…you'll be doing it under pressure."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Meaning?"
Kai didn't look back.
"Meaning," he said…
"…you'll learn while being hunted."
Silence.
Ethan's grip tightened.
Because deep down—
He knew.
That part had already started.