Morning came again.
But this time—
It did not feel like peace.
The sky above the divine realm remained dim, clouds stretching across the horizon as if the heavens themselves had yet to recover from what had happened.
The land was quiet.
Too quiet.
Heron stood at the edge of a vast stone platform high within the realm of the gods. Below him, the world stretched endlessly—mountains, rivers, forests—all untouched on the surface.
But he knew the truth.
Everything had changed.
He clenched his fist slowly.
A faint glow flickered across his skin.
Then disappeared.
"…Still there," he muttered.
"You expected it to just vanish?"
Heron turned.
Kaelion leaned casually against one of the pillars, arms crossed, though his eyes were serious.
Heron sighed. "I was hoping."
Kaelion pushed himself off the pillar and walked closer.
"That thing is part of you now," he said. "You don't just 'hope' something like that away."
Heron didn't respond.
Because he knew.
Ever since the sealing—
He could feel it.
Not loud.
Not violent.
But present.
Like something sleeping inside him.
Watching.
Waiting.
"You ready?" Kaelion asked.
Heron frowned slightly. "Ready for what?"
Kaelion smirked faintly.
"For the part where you stop being weak."
Heron narrowed his eyes.
"…You really don't know how to encourage someone."
Kaelion shrugged. "It works."
Before Heron could reply—
A powerful presence filled the space.
Aethrion.
He appeared without sound, his form steady, his gaze fixed directly on Heron.
"It begins now," he said.
Heron straightened slightly.
"Training?" he asked.
Aethrion nodded.
"You must learn control."
He stepped forward, raising his hand slightly.
"Not just over your power… but over yourself."
The air shifted.
Energy gathered.
Heron felt it immediately.
Different from before.
This power—
Was calm.
Controlled.
"Power is not strength alone," Aethrion continued. "It is balance. Discipline. Awareness."
Heron listened carefully.
"For you," Aethrion said, "this will be far more difficult."
Heron frowned.
"…Because of it?"
Aethrion didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Silence followed.
Then Aethrion raised his hand.
"Show me."
Heron blinked. "Show you what?"
"Your power."
Heron hesitated.
"…I don't fully control it."
Aethrion's voice remained calm.
"That is why we begin."
Heron took a slow breath.
Then—
He focused.
Deep inside.
Where the power rested.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint glow appeared.
It spread slowly across his arm, the same ancient symbols flickering into existence, though much weaker than before.
Kaelion watched closely.
"Not bad," he muttered.
But then—
The glow changed.
Darkness mixed into it.
Heron's expression tightened.
"No… not that—"
The energy surged suddenly.
Violently.
The symbols flared brighter—
Then twisted.
Heron's eyes widened.
"I can't stop it!"
The power exploded outward.
A shockwave burst across the platform, cracking the stone beneath his feet.
Kaelion jumped back instantly.
"Okay—still weak but dangerous," he said.
Aethrion didn't move.
He raised his hand—
And the energy stopped.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
Heron dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"…I lost it again."
Aethrion lowered his hand slowly.
"No," he said.
Heron looked up.
"You resisted it."
Heron blinked.
"That… was resisting?"
Aethrion nodded.
"For someone in your position… yes."
Heron let out a breath.
"…That's not very encouraging."
Kaelion chuckled slightly.
"Told you."
Aethrion stepped closer.
"Your power has two forces," he explained. "Your own… and the one bound within you."
Heron listened carefully.
"If you treat them as one," Aethrion continued, "you will lose yourself."
Heron's chest tightened slightly.
"…Then what do I do?"
Aethrion's answer was simple.
"Separate them."
Heron frowned.
"…How?"
Aethrion's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You will learn."
That didn't sound easy.
Not even close.
Far above—
The sky darkened further.
Unnoticed.
A faint ripple moved through the clouds.
Something watching.
Back on the platform—
Aethrion stepped back.
"Again."
Heron sighed.
Then stood.
"Yeah… I figured."
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
Again.
The power responded faster this time.
Light flickered across his arm—
But so did darkness.
Heron clenched his teeth.
"No… not this time…"
The energy trembled.
Unstable.
But he held it.
For a moment.
Then—
A whisper.
"Let go…"
Heron's eyes snapped open.
"No!"
The power surged again—
Stronger.
Faster.
And this time—
It didn't explode outward.
It wrapped around him.
Like something trying to take control.
Heron froze.
"I… can't move…"
Kaelion stepped forward slightly. "That's new."
Aethrion's eyes narrowed.
"Fight it."
Heron's breathing became uneven.
"I'm trying!"
The darkness tightened.
The symbols burned brighter.
And for a moment—
Heron's eyes changed.
Not fully.
But enough.
A faint darkness flickered within them.
Kaelion noticed immediately.
"…That's not good."
Aethrion stepped forward quickly.
"HERON."
Heron's body trembled.
His voice came out strained.
"…It's stronger…"
The presence inside him—
Was pushing back.
Harder than before.
Then—
It spoke.
Not in his mind.
Out loud.
Through him.
"He is not ready…"
Silence.
Kaelion froze.
"…Did that just—"
"Yes," Aethrion said.
Heron's eyes widened in horror.
"I didn't say that…"
The voice continued.
"You cannot stop what is coming…"
The air grew colder.
Heavier.
Then—
It vanished.
Heron collapsed to his knees.
The energy disappeared.
Silence returned.
But this time—
It was worse.
Heron looked down at his shaking hands.
"…It spoke…"
Aethrion's expression was darker than ever.
"Yes."
Kaelion exhaled slowly.
"…So that's what we're dealing with."
Heron looked up.
Fear in his eyes.
"…What if I lose control?"
Aethrion didn't answer immediately.
Because the answer—
Was dangerous.
Far in the distance—
That same roar echoed again.
Louder.
Closer.
Everyone turned.
The war—
Was approaching faster than expected.