The platform responded the moment Kael stepped fully onto it.
Light spread beneath his feet—
Not bright…
Precise.
Lines forming patterns that shifted with his movement.
"…It's reading you."
Kael didn't look back.
"…Feels like it."
Riven stood at the edge.
Watching.
"…This platform maps output, flow, and control."
"…It doesn't care about raw power."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
His core pulsed.
Aetherion responded instantly—
Energy rising through him.
The platform reacted—
Patterns shifting rapidly.
Then—
A sharp distortion.
The lines broke.
Flickered.
Glitched.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…That doesn't look stable."
"…It isn't."
Riven's voice was calm.
"…That's you."
Silence.
Kael steadied his breathing.
Slowed the flow.
The platform stabilized slightly—
But not fully.
"…Again."
Kael didn't argue.
He reset.
I tried again.
And again.
Each time—
The same result.
Power.
Instability.
Imperfect control.