The night didn't feel normal anymore.
It hadn't since Adrian appeared.
But now—
Standing under the dim streetlight with Kai in front of him—
Ethan felt something else entirely.
Expectation.
"…Under pressure?" Ethan repeated.
Kai nodded once.
"You've learned what not to do," he said. "Now you learn what happens when you don't have time to think."
Lena frowned slightly.
"That doesn't sound like training. That sounds like throwing him into danger."
Kai glanced at her.
"That's because it is."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…You're serious."
"Completely."
Silence settled for a moment.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"…Fine," Ethan said.
Lena turned to him immediately.
"Ethan—"
"I can't keep reacting like before," he said quietly. "If someone like Adrian comes again…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Lena looked at him.
Then at Kai.
Then back at Ethan.
"…Don't lose control," she said softly.
Ethan nodded.
"I'll try."
Kai shook his head.
"Don't try."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
Kai's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Trying is hesitation," he said. "And hesitation is failure."
That wasn't comforting.
But it felt true.
"Focus," Kai continued. "One source. One emotion. Nothing else."
Ethan took a slow breath.
Then closed his eyes.
The world shifted again.
He reached outward—
Carefully this time.
The street.
The people passing by.
Faint emotions brushed against him—
But he ignored them.
Instead—
He focused.
On Lena.
The connection formed.
Warm.
Stable.
Ethan held it there.
Didn't push.
Didn't change it.
"…Good," Kai said.
Then—
Everything changed.
A sudden ripple cut through the air.
Sharp.
Cold.
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
"…Someone's here."
Kai didn't react.
"Of course."
Lena's body tensed.
"Already?"
Footsteps echoed from the end of the street.
Slow.
Measured.
Ethan felt it immediately.
Not Adrian.
But similar.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"…Don't lose focus," Kai said quietly.
Ethan swallowed.
The connection wavered—
Then steadied.
The figure stepped into the light.
A woman.
Tall.
Sharp eyes.
Cold expression.
"…So this is him," she said calmly.
Ethan's chest tightened.
"Who are you?"
The woman ignored the question.
Instead, she looked at Kai.
"You're interfering again."
Kai shrugged lightly.
"I'm observing."
"That's not your role."
"Neither is yours," Kai replied calmly.
Silence.
Tense.
The woman's gaze shifted to Ethan.
"…You're unstable," she said.
Ethan didn't respond.
He focused.
On Lena.
On the connection.
"Let's test that," the woman added.
She moved.
Fast.
Ethan barely had time to react.
"Now," Kai said.
Ethan didn't think.
He acted.
The connection tightened.
Focused.
A pulse formed—
Not wide—
Not chaotic—
Controlled.
He pushed—
The force met her movement—
And slowed it.
Just slightly.
But enough.
She stopped.
Mid-step.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…You've improved."
Ethan's breathing stayed steady.
Barely.
He didn't push further.
Didn't lose control.
Just held it.
Kai nodded once.
"Better."
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"…Interesting."
Then—
She moved again.
Faster this time.
The pressure hit Ethan immediately.
Stronger than before.
His focus wavered—
The connection flickered—
"No," he muttered.
He forced it back.
Focused again.
On Lena.
Her presence.
Her voice.
Her steadiness.
The connection stabilized.
The pressure eased.
"…So that's your anchor," the woman said.
Ethan's eyes sharpened.
"Don't—"
She shifted direction.
Toward Lena.
Ethan's chest spiked.
"No."
The pulse surged—
Stronger.
Sharper.
But this time—
He didn't lose it.
He controlled it.
The force hit her—
Stopping her completely.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Silence.
Then—
She stepped back.
"…Enough," she said.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Ethan staggered slightly—
But didn't fall.
Kai smiled faintly.
"See?" he said. "Progress."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
His body still tense.
But stable.
The woman looked at him one last time.
"…You won't stay like this for long," she said.
Ethan didn't answer.
She turned—
And walked away.
Just like that.
Lena let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"…That's your idea of training?"
Kai shrugged.
"You're both still standing."
"That's not reassuring."
Ethan remained quiet.
Because something had changed.
Not just outside.
But inside him.
"…I held it," he said quietly.
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Ethan looked at his hands.
For the first time—
His power didn't feel wild.
It felt…
Reachable.
"…Again," Ethan said.
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
Ethan looked up.
"I need to be ready."
Kai smiled slightly.
"Good answer."
Because this time—
Ethan wasn't reacting.
He was preparing.
And the next time someone came—
He wouldn't just survive.
He would fight back.