The city moved on.
Cars passed.
People talked.
Life continued like nothing had happened.
But for Ethan—
Everything had shifted.
He stood still at the edge of the street long after the figures disappeared.
Not chasing.
Not reacting.
Just… thinking.
"…Ethan."
Lena's voice was gentle.
Careful.
He didn't answer.
Because if he spoke right now—
He wasn't sure what would come out.
Kai stepped beside him.
"You felt it," he said.
Not a question.
A statement.
Ethan nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…I lost it."
Lena shook her head immediately.
"No, you didn't."
Ethan exhaled.
"…I was close."
Closer than he wanted to admit.
Closer than he was ready for.
Kai crossed his arms.
"Close is not the same as lost."
Ethan clenched his fist slightly.
"…It didn't feel that way."
Because in that moment—
He hadn't been thinking.
He hadn't been calculating.
He hadn't been controlling.
He had been reacting.
Driven by something sharper.
Something heavier.
"…That's the point," Kai said.
Ethan looked at him.
"…What?"
Kai's gaze was steady.
"You felt the shift."
A pause.
"Most don't."
Silence.
Ethan frowned slightly.
"…So what, that's supposed to make it better?"
Kai didn't respond immediately.
"…No," he said.
A beat.
"But it means you can stop it."
That word again.
Stop.
Ethan looked down at his hand.
Still steady.
Now.
But earlier—
It hadn't been.
"…I didn't stop it," he said quietly.
Lena stepped closer.
"…You did."
He shook his head.
"…You stopped me."
She didn't deny it.
But she didn't agree either.
"…You listened," she said.
That mattered more.
Ethan didn't respond.
Because that part was true.
Somewhere in the middle of that surge—
He had heard her.
And that had been enough.
"…That connection," Kai said, "is your anchor."
Ethan looked up.
"…I know."
Kai shook his head slightly.
"No. You depend on it."
Silence.
That hit differently.
"…And that's a problem?" Ethan asked.
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Lena frowned.
"…Why?"
Kai's gaze shifted to her briefly.
"Because if she's not there—"
He looked back at Ethan.
"What happens then?"
The question lingered.
Unanswered.
Because Ethan didn't have one.
Not a real one.
"…Then I adapt," he said.
Kai's expression didn't change.
"Or you lose control."
That possibility—
Hung heavy.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Then I won't let that happen."
Kai nodded slightly.
"Good."
But his tone said something else.
That it wouldn't be that simple.
They moved again.
Not rushing.
Not lingering.
Just… walking.
The tension hadn't disappeared.
It had settled.
Deeper.
More dangerous.
"…They used me," Lena said quietly after a while.
Ethan stopped.
"…No."
She shook her head.
"Yes."
A pause.
"They targeted me to control you."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"…They tried."
Lena looked at him.
"…And it worked."
Silence.
Because that—
Was true.
"…I reacted," Ethan admitted.
Lena stepped closer.
"…You cared."
That was different.
But the result—
Had been the same.
Ethan looked away slightly.
"…That's the problem."
Because caring made him predictable.
And predictable—
Made him vulnerable.
Kai spoke again.
"Then you refine it."
Ethan frowned.
"…Refine what?"
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That reaction."
Silence.
"…You want me to not care?" Ethan asked.
Kai shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"I want you to control how you care."
That—
Was harder.
Because it wasn't about removing emotion.
It was about mastering it.
"…That's not simple," Ethan said.
Kai smirked faintly.
"Good."
Because simple wouldn't be enough.
They reached a quieter part of the city.
Less crowded.
Less noise.
More space to think.
Ethan leaned slightly against a wall.
"…So what now?" he asked.
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Now we fix the weakness."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"…How?"
Kai looked at him directly.
"We break your dependence."
Lena stiffened slightly.
"…What does that mean?"
Kai's voice remained calm.
"It means you fight without her."
Silence.
Ethan didn't like that.
Not even a little.
"…That's a bad idea," he said.
Kai shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"It's a necessary one."
Lena stepped forward.
"…And if he loses control?"
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Then he learns why he can't afford to."
That answer—
Wasn't comforting.
At all.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…You're serious."
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
Silence stretched.
Because this wasn't training.
This was risk.
Real risk.
Ethan looked at Lena.
She met his gaze.
No hesitation.
"…If this helps you," she said, "…then do it."
Ethan frowned.
"…You're okay with that?"
She smiled slightly.
"…I'm not."
A pause.
"But I trust you."
That—
Hit harder than anything else.
Ethan looked away briefly.
Then back.
"…Fine."
Kai nodded once.
"Good."
Then—
He stepped back.
"…We start now."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"…Now?"
Kai's expression didn't change.
"While it's still fresh."
Of course.
No delay.
No comfort.
Just pressure.
"…Lena," Kai said, "step back."
She hesitated—
Just for a second—
Then nodded.
And moved away.
Far enough.
Ethan felt it immediately.
The difference.
The connection—
Weakened.
Not gone.
But distant.
Less stable.
"…You feel that?" Kai asked.
Ethan nodded.
"…Yeah."
Kai stepped forward.
"Good."
Then—
The pressure hit.
Instant.
Sharp.
Focused.
Ethan's body tensed.
"…You're attacking?" he asked.
Kai didn't answer.
Because he already had.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Ethan felt it—
A disruption.
Subtle.
But precise.
Targeting his control.
"…Focus," Kai said.
Ethan steadied himself.
Reached for the connection—
But it felt—
Far.
Unstable.
"…Don't rely on it," Kai said.
Ethan clenched his jaw.
"…Then what do I use?"
Kai's voice came calmly.
"Yourself."
That wasn't helpful.
But it was the answer.
Ethan inhaled slowly.
Then—
He adjusted.
Not reaching outward.
Not searching for Lena.
Just—
Centering.
His breathing.
His awareness.
His control.
The disruption hit again.
Stronger this time.
Ethan's focus wavered—
Just slightly—
But he held it.
"…Again," Kai said.
The pressure increased.
Layered.
More complex.
Ethan's mind strained.
Because this—
Was harder than any fight.
No movement.
No opponent to read.
Just—
Himself.
"…Stay steady," Kai said.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Then—
Something shifted.
Not outside.
Inside.
His control—
Didn't break.
It adjusted.
Not anchored.
Not supported.
But—
Stable.
On its own.
Kai stopped.
"…There it is," he said quietly.
Ethan opened his eyes.
Breathing steady.
Clear.
"…I felt that," he said.
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"That's your baseline."
Baseline.
Not enhanced.
Not supported.
Just—
Him.
Ethan looked toward Lena.
She was still there.
Watching.
Waiting.
But this time—
He didn't need to reach for her.
Not to stay in control.
He exhaled slowly.
"…So this is where it starts."
Kai nodded.
"No."
A pause.
"This is where it gets harder."
Of course it was.
Because now—
There were no excuses.
No shortcuts.
Just growth.
Real growth.
Ethan straightened slightly.
Eyes sharper than before.
"…Good."
Because if they were going to push him—
Then he'd push back.
Not with power.
Not blindly.
But with control.
And next time—
When they came again—
He wouldn't come close to losing it.
He wouldn't rely on anyone else.
He would stand on his own.
And that—
Would change everything.
[Author Note: guys this is where it gets interesting and I would like your thoughts about the book as it is my first time writing a book
Please gift this author some power stones]