Elara's small hands were holding his sleeve.
"Brother… why are you crying?" she asked softly, her black eyes full of worry. "Mom and Dad will be fine. Don't worry."
Ethan forced a smile. His chest felt tight, like something heavy was pressing on it.
"Your brother isn't crying," he said gently, turning his face away. "Come on. Let's go eat something."
Elara's face lit up at once. "Sure! I'm hungry!"
Before Ethan could say anything more, she started running ahead, her blonde hair bouncing as she moved.
"Hey—don't run so fast," Ethan called out. "I won't be able to find you!"
But she was already laughing, already too far.
They were in a big shopping mall now. Bright lights shone from above. People walked everywhere—voices, footsteps, music, all mixed together. The air smelled sweet, like sugar and cold cream.
"Elara?" Ethan called again.
No answer.
His steps slowed. His heart began to beat faster.
"Elara…?" he said, louder this time.
He turned in circles, looking left and right. There were too many people. Too many faces. No small blonde head. No familiar laugh.
A cold feeling crawled up his spine.
"Elara!" he shouted.
Then—just for a moment—he saw her. Just a glimpse. She was turning into an ice cream shop at the corner.
Relief hit him hard.
"There you are!" Ethan ran.
He pushed open the glass door and rushed inside.
"Elara—"
His voice broke.
The shop was quiet. Too quiet.
His eyes slowly moved upward.
And then his world stopped.
Elara was hanging from the ceiling.
Her small body was still. Her eyes were closed. Her blonde hair hung down like it had no life left in it.
"Elaraaaaaaaaa!"
His scream tore out of his chest.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
Ethan jolted awake.
His body was soaked in cold sweat. His breath came fast and shallow. His heart felt like it was going to tear itself apart.
He wasn't in a mall.
He wasn't surrounded by lights or people.
There were only trees.
Tall trees. Thick trees. Trees that blocked the sky.
Different kinds of trees stood quietly around him, their leaves barely moving. The forest felt old. Deep. Silent.
Ethan pressed his hand against his face.
"I couldn't save you… even in my dream," he whispered. "How pathetic."
His voice sounded small, even to himself.
He stood up slowly and climbed a nearby tree. He didn't know its name, but it was huge. Its trunk was thick, and its branches spread wide like arms. He sat on one of the branches, high above the ground, letting his legs hang freely.
Closing his eyes, he focused.
Inside his mind, light gathered.
A triangle appeared—bright and clear. Lines and faint stripes ran across its surface.
Three sides.
Disorient.
Creation.
Destruction.
The triangle glowed softly at first, then brighter.
Slowly, Disorient faded away.
Then Creation disappeared too.
Only one side remained.
Destruction.
The light changed.
A sharp, heavy feeling flowed through his body. It rushed through his veins, into his shoulders, down his arms, and settled in his hands.
Ethan opened his eyes.
His gaze landed on a large stone below the tree.
He stood up on the branch. His body lowered slightly, knees bent. His hands were surrounded by a pale white glow, thin and trembling, like weak fire.
Jump.
His body dropped.
In midair, his right hand came forward, flat and straight—like a blade.
"Slash—!"
His palm cut through the stone.
The sound was sharp and loud.
The stone split cleanly into two pieces.
Ethan landed on the ground, knees bending to absorb the impact. He looked down at his hand.
Blood slowly seeped from his palm.
A thin line. Shallow, but real.
He clenched his fist.
"Not enough," he said quietly.
....
The forest was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Ethan stood in a small clearing, bare feet pressing into the cold soil. His breathing was steady as he moved his body again and again, repeating simple motions. Step forward. Turn. Step back. His arms cut through the air, not striking anything, only following the memory of power inside him.
He was alone.
That was how he practiced now.
A faint glow appeared and vanished around his legs—Disorient. His body became lighter. Faster. Each movement felt smoother, like the air itself was helping him.
Crack.
Ethan froze.
The sound didn't belong to him.
Another crack echoed from behind the trees.
Slow. Heavy.
Something big was moving.
Ethan turned just as the bushes exploded outward.
A wild bear charged into the clearing.
It was massive. Dark brown fur covered its body, thick and rough. Its eyes were red with anger or hunger—Ethan couldn't tell. Its mouth opened wide, showing long, yellowed teeth. Saliva dripped as it roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath Ethan's feet.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
Run.
His instincts screamed at him to run.
The bear charged.
Ethan activated Disorient.
His body shot sideways just as the bear's claws slammed into where he had been standing. The ground exploded with dirt and broken grass.
Too close.
Way too close.
Ethan stumbled, barely keeping his balance. He raised his hand and focused.
Creation.
The air felt heavy.
A thin wooden stick formed in his hand—uneven, weak, but real.
The bear turned fast. Faster than Ethan expected.
Its paw struck him.
Pain exploded.
Ethan was thrown into a tree. His back slammed hard against the trunk, knocking the air out of his lungs.
"Gah—!"
He fell to the ground, coughing, gasping for breath. His vision blurred.
The bear walked toward him slowly now. Confident.
Ethan forced himself to stand.
His hands trembled as he formed another stick, this one slightly longer. He swung it at the bear's face.
Crack.
The stick snapped instantly.
The bear roared in anger and lunged.
Claws tore into Ethan's shoulder.
Warm blood flowed down his arm.
Ethan screamed, rolling away just in time to avoid the bear's jaws snapping shut where his head had been.
He couldn't feel his arm properly anymore.
His legs felt weak.
If this continued, he would die.
"Focus," Ethan whispered to himself, teeth clenched.
Inside his mind, the triangle appeared again.
Disorient. Creation. Destruction.
One chance.
Only one.
The bear charged again, rising on its back legs, towering above him.
Ethan activated Disorient and dashed forward—not away, but toward the beast.
At the same time, he let Creation shape his position, forming a short spike of hardened earth beneath his foot to push him higher.
Pain screamed through his body as he forced the last side of the triangle to glow.
Destruction.
White light wrapped around his right hand, sharper and heavier than before.
As the bear swiped down, Ethan swung up with his palm.
Slash.
The air screamed.
The white light cut deep across the bear's chest.
Blood sprayed.
The bear let out a broken roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shaking once… then going still.
The light vanished from Ethan's hand.
So did his strength.
His legs gave out. He fell beside the dead bear, his vision darkening.
His body hurt everywhere. Blood soaked into the soil beneath him.
"Still… not enough…" he whispered weakly.