Kael woke to the pale light of dawn spilling through the window. For a moment, he thought he was alone—but then a faint shimmer at the edge of his vision caught him.
There she was. Sitting silently in the corner of the room, long black hair cascading around her shoulders, crimson eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. Her gown's red-trimmed edges rippled as if stirred by an unseen breeze. She didn't move, didn't speak—simply observed.
Kael froze. His hand instinctively reached for the cursed sword—but it was gone. Vanished.
She tilted her head ever so slightly, and a playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips, visible only to him. Relax, my Master. I won't touch you… yet.
Kael's pulse raced, mind swirling. All this time… the voices… it was her.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. No. Not now. Focus. Training.
The old man entered shortly after, eyes sharp, cloak fluttering with each step. "Ready for today?" he asked, voice calm but commanding.
Kael nodded, setting himself into position on the floor, cross-legged, core pulsing faintly. The week of intense training had already strengthened him. His movements were smoother, his Essence more responsive, but the master's scrutiny would push him further.
As his master began guiding him through the circulation exercises, Kael could feel her presence silently hovering in the room, her crimson gaze fixed entirely on him. She didn't interfere, didn't speak, only watched. He could sense her attention in his mind, teasing, curious, playful—but restrained.
Kael tried not to let it distract him, though every flicker of her gaze sent a shiver through his spine. He focused on the flow of Essence, opening channels, directing the energy from his core through heart, mind, limbs, and back. The familiar hum of the cursed sword accompanied his efforts, now quieter, almost respectful.
She's watching me… he thought, a mix of awe and unease in his chest. Every movement… every mistake… she sees it all.
The master crouched beside him, guiding his posture, correcting the flow. "Good, now focus on integrating your Essence with your movements. Let it flow naturally, don't force it. Your core will respond if you're patient."
Kael nodded, breathing slowly, visualizing the silver-blue threads of Essence coursing through him. Keep your mind steady. Don't let her… distract me.
She leaned slightly forward, still silent, her crimson eyes gleaming, as if challenging him without saying a word. Kael felt his heartbeat quicken, but he let the thought pass, focusing entirely on the master's instructions.
The master instructed him to perform precise circulation patterns—moving Essence from core to head, then down the arms and legs, forming a continuous circuit. Kael's body shook with strain, sweat dripping down his face, but he held firm. He could sense her fascination, the way she studied his every move, yet she didn't intervene.
"Not bad," the old man murmured, watching the silver-blue glow of Kael's veins, "but push further. Test the limits of your core."
Kael clenched his fists, forcing Essence into the last dormant channels. Pain flared, energy surged, the cursed sword pulsed faintly beside him—but he endured.
In the corner, her crimson eyes glimmered brighter for a fleeting moment. He's improving… quickly. Interesting.
Hours passed. Kael's core glowed steadily, the circulation fully established. The old man stepped back, nodding in approval. "Good. You've done well. This is only the beginning, but your control is improving fast."
Kael exhaled, chest heaving, sweat soaking his hair. He felt stronger, more alive. Yet in the back of his mind, her presence lingered. He could feel her observing him, silently marking his progress, noting each improvement and hesitation.
She didn't speak. She didn't intervene. Just watched.
Finally, the master stepped away, satisfied. "Rest now. Your body and core will consolidate the training."
Kael sat back, wiping his brow. He dared a glance toward the corner where she sat. Her crimson eyes met his, warm and playful, yet mysterious. She's not going to say a word… not yet.
She leaned slightly forward, a teasing gleam in her gaze, then leaned back again, as if enjoying the spectacle of him recovering from the training. Kael's lips twitched, a mixture of frustration and curiosity stirring inside him.
So… she's really here. Watching. Waiting.
Kael knew this presence would become a constant in his life, a hidden companion, teasing, observing, always just out of reach of anyone else. The master wouldn't see her, wouldn't feel her influence. It was a secret that belonged only to him.
He exhaled, shoulders heavy but strengthened, core still glowing faintly. One day… I'll understand her. One day… I'll know why she's here.
For now, though, she remained in the shadows, silent and beautiful, watching as he rested—silent, playful, and utterly mysterious.
****
The sun had climbed higher, pouring golden light into the room. Kael's body ached from the previous week's exertions, but his core pulsed steadily, silver-blue light dancing beneath his skin. Today, his master had him practicing advanced circulation and integration techniques—precise flows, refining the Essence pathways through every limb and joint.
Kael knelt cross-legged, sweat dripping into the wooden floor. The master circled him, eyes sharp, hands occasionally adjusting Kael's posture or directing subtle corrections.
"Good, but you're letting the flow stagnate in your arms," the master said, pointing to Kael's left arm. "Focus on directing the Essence as a river, not a puddle."
Kael inhaled deeply, sending threads of silver-blue Essence upward, following the pathways his master had outlined. The cursed sword sat leaning against the wall, silent, its hum barely perceptible now—almost like it was waiting, watching, testing him.
And then, her voice came.
Don't fight it. Let it flow along the natural path of your body. Don't try to control it fully yet.
Kael blinked, heart skipping a beat. The master hadn't spoken. No one else was near. Only her—the mysterious woman. He focused, mentally acknowledging her guidance.
He let the cursed Essence pulse, thread along his arm, weaving into his own Essence rather than trying to dominate it. Instantly, the silver-blue light felt smoother, warmer, alive in a way it hadn't before.
See? It isn't just about force. Let it merge with your own rhythm.
Kael's eyes narrowed, a spark of understanding igniting in his mind. "I see…" he muttered, almost to himself. The cursed sword's hum shifted, subtler now, no longer aggressive. The energy felt less like a predator and more like an instrument, responsive and patient.
The master crouched beside him, observing Kael's movements. "Better. That's more like it. Your Essence flows with purpose now. Control without forcing—it comes naturally to the awakened body. But you need to push further. Merge control with motion."
Kael exhaled, mentally listening for her voice again.
Don't overthink the sword. Think of it as another part of yourself, not a separate enemy. It feeds on hesitation. When you hesitate, it tests you.
He did as she said. His Essence and the cursed sword's energy began to intertwine, pulsing together as if they were two halves of a single current. Where before he had struggled with flickering, unstable flow, now the currents merged seamlessly, silver-blue tinged with a faint obsidian undertone that made his veins glow in mesmerizing patterns.
Kael felt a thrill—a power that was his, but also shared, coexisting with the cursed blade rather than being consumed by it.
The master's gaze flicked to the sword, his expression unreadable. "Huh… that's… improved faster than I expected," he said, though his voice carried no surprise, only observation. "Don't stop. Push your core. Integrate fully."
Kael's breath came in ragged bursts as he obeyed, spinning the flow through his torso, down to the limbs, upward again. Every pulse made him shiver, not from pain, but from exhilaration—the cursed essence no longer a burden, but a part of him he was beginning to understand.
Yes… good… her voice whispered again. Feel it respond to you. It isn't random, it's reactive. Learn its habits, its rhythm. It will never lie to you.
Kael gritted his teeth. "I understand." The blade's faint hum shifted in tandem with his heartbeat, responsive and almost… familiar.
Hours passed. Kael was outside in the opening, swinging his sword.
Kael moved with increasing precision, his master guiding, correcting, encouraging—but unaware of the silent teacher at his side. The woman remained unseen, her voice only audible in his mind, subtle and teasing at times, guiding him without revealing herself.
When it resists, don't fight. Pull back slightly, let it test you, then guide it. It responds to confidence, not force.
Kael's eyes narrowed. So the sword isn't an enemy… it's a mirror. He adjusted his flow again, allowing the cursed energy to ripple with his Essence rather than against it. Every pulse brought a stronger resonance.
The master nodded approvingly. "Excellent. That's the integration I was waiting to see. You're beginning to move as one with your core."
Kael exhaled slowly, feeling both pride and an unusual warmth. He glanced toward the corner, catching the faintest shimmer—her presence. She tilted her head, crimson eyes gleaming mischievously. You're learning faster than I expected, my Master.
Kael froze for a moment. Master? He shook his head, forcing himself to focus, yet a faint smile tugged at his lips.
The session continued, and Kael moved through increasingly complex circuits of Essence, each step guided by his master's precise instructions, and subtly refined by her whispered insights. She never interfered directly, never touched, never revealed herself—but her presence felt reassuring, like a shadow at his side that helped him navigate the sword's intricate, dangerous currents.
By the end of the session, Kael's body gleamed with sweat, veins lit with silver-blue energy entwined with the faintest obsidian streaks—the mark of cursed Essence finally harmonized with his own. His breathing was heavy, but his core pulsed steadily, full and strong.
The master stepped back, arms folded, expression neutral. "Enough for today. Your integration is… impressive for a week of work. Rest, let your body and mind consolidate."
Kael collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving, eyes scanning the room. She was still there, sitting elegantly in the corner, crimson eyes shining softly. He could almost feel her amusement at his exhaustion.
Good work today, she whispered in his mind, playful yet approving. Rest now, Master. Tomorrow, we will see just how far you've come.
Kael's lips twitched in a reluctant smile. Tomorrow… he thought, heart pounding. The subtle boost from her guidance had made the difference. He could feel it—his cursed sword no longer a threat, but a part of him he could finally control.
For now, though, she simply watched, a hidden observer, leaving Kael with a sense of awe and curiosity that burned hotter than any training fatigue.
The master, still unaware of her, left him alone to rest. Kael's eyelids grew heavy, the silver-blue glow of his veins dimming as sleep claimed him—but in the corner of his mind, her laughter echoed softly, playful and teasing, like the wind brushing through the trees outside.
Kael drifted off with one thought lingering: She's here… and I don't know why… but somehow… I trust her.