Zayn heaved a slow breath, massaging his temple. "You hold the Eclipse of Sovereign Aetherian. You are not powerless, Chast."
Eclipse of Sovereign Aetherian?
Wait... I have magic!?
Chast's face lit up, the tension and frustration that had gripped him moments ago melting away. His shoulders relaxed, and a genuine smile tugged at his lips. He could feel his soul leaping in joy... a lightness he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. The weight of failure, the endless shards, the scorching heat and all of it faded, replaced by a rush of pure relief and disbelief.
An unfamiliar, electrifying current surged through his veins, igniting a storm in his chest as his eyes flickered uncontrollably. For the first time, he could feel the rhythm of his magic aligning with him, responding to his will instead of rejecting it.
Zayn smirked faintly, sensing Chast's aura swirling wildly in the air like static before a storm.
"Now, place your hand on the surface," Zayn ordered.
Chast obeyed immediately, pressing his palm against the Aether Crystal.
"Close your eyes. Listen closely to your heart. Push away every distraction, every sound, every breath around you," Zayn continued, his voice sharp yet oddly steady, like a blade guiding instead of cutting.
The crystal began to react to Chast's magic. It trembled violently beneath his touch, a soft hum building in the air as his hands started to shake.
"Don't fight it," Zayn said firmly. "Just breathe and follow the rhythm. Accept who you are."
Accept who I am?
Chast exhaled slowly, forcing the tension surging through his hands to melt away. "I am Chast Vaughn," he murmured, voice trembling. "I am... I have magic."
For a fleeting moment, the trembling stopped—until the crystal shattered again.
Zayn rolled his eyes and groaned under his breath before kicking Chast's leg lightly.
"Aw!" Chast yelped, clutching his shin in agony. He glared at Zayn, eyes blazing. "Why did you do that!?"
Zayn hissed, letting out a sharp sigh. "You're not leaving until you master the control of your magic!" His voice cut through the heat like a whip—stern, commanding, impossible to ignore.
Chast slumped back onto his cushion, his shoulders sagging in defeat. The joy that had filled his heart moments ago vanished instantly, bursting like a balloon pricked by a needle. Frustration replaced it, thick, suffocating, and heavy. He felt utterly hopeless.
How am I supposed to master this? I've been trying so hard! he thought bitterly, smacking his cheeks in surrender. Guess I'll be camping in this scorching desert for a while.
"You have no idea how much weight your magic carries," Zayn said sharply, his voice echoed in Chast's ears. "How do you expect to master it if you can't even control it? Every shard that breaks, every flicker of failure were all a reflection of your focus, your discipline, your very connection to yourself. Until you learn control, Chast, you will never truly wield the power you were born with!"
Zayn's words echoed in the air, heavy and warm as the scorching sun.
The other students had long departed, their footsteps fading into silence as they made sure not to disturb the two still in training.
Now, only Chast remained seated before the Aether Crystal, drenched in sweat, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion.
"Again," Zayn ordered.
Chast's palms were slick with sweat as he pressed them against the crystal's surface. He focused, inhaling deeply just as Zayn had instructed but the crystal trembled violently before shattering once more, scattering across the growing pile of shards.
"Damn it!" Chast growled, clutching his hair in frustration. "I did everything you said, boss!" His voice cracked, raw with exhaustion.
Zayn folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "Then do it again."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, a new Aether Crystal materialized before Chast.
Hours bled into each other as the cycle of failure repeated. The once-blazing desert around them shifted into a vast cosmic expanse, stars spreading above like scattered orbs, twinkling in the velvet dark. A full moon hung high, casting its gentle glow across the room.
Chast's muscles burned and stiffened, every breath scraping against his throat. His once-steady voice had gone hoarse, roughened by fatigue. Sweat drenched his clothes, clinging to his skin and thickening the air around him. His stomach grumbled, aching for food, but he didn't stop.
Zayn sat cross-legged on his floating cushion, watching in silence. His gaze never wavered, calm yet sharp, as if weighing every flicker of Chast's will.
Around them, the firefly-like creatures drifted lazily, their soft hums blending with the whispering wind that brushed against their bodies.
"Why... won't you work," Chast whispered to the crystal, his voice cracking. "Please..."
The Aether Crystal flickered weakly, then shattered once again.
Chast exhaled shakily, his shoulders sinking. As the crystal cracked, so did his resolve. His hope splintered alongside it. He was exhausted—tired of the endless shattering, tired of himself.
Zayn let out a slow sigh. "You're still fighting it."
Chast gave a dry, bitter laugh. "I'm trying!"
"You're not listening," Zayn shot back, his tone cutting through the quiet like a blade.
"I am... boss!" Chast snapped, slamming his hand against the cushion. Anger surged through his veins, hot and wild. Thunder rumbled above them, and a streak of lightning tore through the sky, echoing his fury.
Zayn's gaze softened, just slightly. "Then prove it."
Chast drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes once more. His chest rose and fell, the tension in his body easing. The anger faded, replaced by a quiet ache deep within.
Listen.
He placed a trembling hand over his heart, feeling it pound beneath his palm.
Accept who you are.
Zayn's words reverberated in his mind. Memories flashed—of being branded defective, of years spent believing he was broken. But those thoughts began to dissolve, replaced by truth.
I'm a Celestial. And I belong here... in this place I can finally call home.
He opened his eyes slowly, then placed both palms on the cold surface of the Aether Crystal.
It pulsed beneath his touch—softly at first, then stronger, its faint light flickering in rhythm with his heartbeat. This time, it didn't tremble. It didn't resist. It responded.
Zayn's eyes widened, a rare smile tugging at his lips. Finally!
Chast froze. There was no shattering sound this time.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. A soft white haze hovered around the crystal, swirling gently as a tingling sensation traveled from his fingertips into its core. The crystal pulsed in harmony with his touch, its faint light flickering like a heartbeat—steady, alive.
For the first time... it didn't break.
A delighted smile spread across Chast's face, bright and unrestrained—as if he'd just won the greatest prize of his life. He looked up at Zayn, eyes gleaming with pride and joy.
"Control isn't about forcing your magic," Zayn said calmly. "It's about trusting it will answer when you call."
He rose from his seat, adjusting his robe, the faintest trace of satisfaction in his voice.
"It finally answered my call!" Chast said with a wide grin, meeting Zayn's gaze.
Zayn smirked. "Took you long enough."
Before the first light of dawn, Chast had not only learned to control his magic—he had finally learned to trust himself. And in that quiet space, between the fading stars and the rising sun, an unexpected bond formed between mentor and student.
When morning came, the students trickled back into the room, yawning and chatting softly. But the moment they stepped inside, their voices fell silent.
They stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with awe.
The blazing desert had vanished. In its place was a vast, galaxy-like expanse—constellations shimmered above them, casting a soft silver glow across the room. The air hummed with quiet wonder, as if the universe itself had settled there overnight.
In the center of the room, Chast and Zayn lay sprawled on the floor, fast asleep, soft snores echoing in the still air.
Above them, a gentle white haze floated around the Aether Crystal, which hovered midair—glowing faintly like a chandelier made of starlight.
The professors stood at a distance, watching the pair with quiet smiles. A sense of peace washed over them.
"He finally did it," Professor Vrynth said, his voice carrying both pride and relief.
The students, awestruck by the sight, broke into cheers that filled the galaxy-lit room.
"They both never gave up," Professor Valkiery whispered, her lips curving into a proud, tender smile.