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Chapter 6 - The Body and the Destiny

Ivan woke slowly, his body aching from yesterday's trial. The valley was quiet now, almost serene, but the air remained heavy with residual energy. Every leaf seemed to shimmer faintly, as if watching him. Even the stones beneath his feet glowed faintly where his power had grazed them.

He flexed his fingers. The runes on his arms burned faintly, not with uncontrolled chaos, but with a steady, rhythmic pulse. He could feel the Seal responding to his thoughts now, subtle but undeniable.

"You're awake," the silver-eyed stranger said, stepping into the clearing. Her presence seemed to stabilize the air itself. "Good. Rest is part of mastery, as is understanding your body."

Ivan looked down at himself. His reflection in a small pool of water was unfamiliar. The face staring back was not entirely his own — sharper features, eyes brighter, skin marked with faint glowing lines. He touched his cheek. "I… I'm not me anymore."

"You are more than you were," she said, her voice firm but calm. "Your body is a vessel now, one attuned to the Seal. It will resist, it will ache, it will demand. But every discomfort is a lesson. Every pain is guidance."

Ivan's stomach tightened. "But… I feel like I'm breaking. Everything is different — my strength, my senses, even my thoughts feel… stretched."

"That is because you are," she replied. "You are no longer simply a shopkeeper, Ivan. Your destiny has been rewritten by the Seal. The body you occupy now is its conduit. You must learn to inhabit it fully — or it will betray you."

He took a deep breath, trying to center himself. He felt the energy within his chest, the Seal's heartbeat syncing with his own. A strange warmth spread through his limbs, a sensation both comforting and alien. Slowly, he lifted his hand, watching as the golden runes flared and then steadied.

"Focus," she said. "Feel the flow. Do not force it. Let it guide your movements."

Ivan extended both arms, concentrating on a small stone nearby. A thin ribbon of light shot from his hands, wrapping around it delicately, lifting it into the air without shattering. He exhaled slowly. "I… I can control it… a little."

"Good," she said. "Control grows with understanding. But mastery comes from pushing beyond your limits."

The ground trembled suddenly. Ivan froze, heart racing. From the silver forest, shadows emerged — smaller, humanoid figures made of condensed light. Unlike the creatures of fire from yesterday, these moved with intelligence, observing rather than attacking.

"What are they?" Ivan whispered, tension threading his voice.

"They are trials," the stranger said. "Extensions of the Seal itself. They will probe you, challenge you, and reveal weaknesses. You cannot ignore them."

The figures shifted closer. Ivan's hands glowed instinctively, tendrils of energy coiling around his arms. The Seal pulsed in anticipation. He could sense the creatures' intent, their probing not malicious, but instructive.

One stepped forward and extended a crystalline arm toward him. The Seal reacted instantly, forming a protective barrier that shimmered like liquid gold. Another tried to flank him, and Ivan moved instinctively, the body he now inhabited reacting faster than he ever could have imagined.

A flicker of exhilaration surged through him. For the first time, he felt capable, a strange blend of fear and empowerment coursing together.

"Good," the stranger said. "You are beginning to understand. The body is not a prison, Ivan. It is an instrument. You must learn its limits and push them."

Suddenly, one of the light figures recoiled and exploded in a shower of sparks, sending fragments of energy across the clearing. Ivan stumbled back, panic flaring. The Seal surged uncontrollably, its golden light spiraling upward.

"Do not panic!" the stranger shouted. "Breathe, focus, guide it!"

Ivan clenched his fists, forcing the energy inward. Slowly, he gained control. The remaining figures paused, observing him with silent patience. The Seal pulsed calmly now, obedient to his will.

Exhausted, he sank to his knees. Sweat streaked his face, his chest heaving with every heartbeat of the Seal. He touched the glowing mark on his chest. "I… I think I understand a little more."

The stranger nodded. "You're ready to take the next step. But know this — mastery is never final. Every time you grow stronger, the Seal tests you anew. Your body is a tool, but it can also betray you if your mind wavers."

Ivan's gaze drifted to the distant mountains, to the temple perched atop the crystalline peak. A storm swirled around its summit, dark clouds twisted with streaks of energy. The world was vast, dangerous, and filled with mysteries he could barely comprehend.

"I… I'm not ready," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

"You will never feel ready," the stranger replied. "That is why you must act anyway."

A shadow flickered across the trees, crimson eyes glinting. Ivan's stomach dropped. He didn't need to see the figure fully to understand its presence. The trials of Naaris were only beginning.

The Seal pulsed once more, a steady heartbeat echoing through Ivan's entire being. He rose slowly, chest burning, eyes fixed on the horizon.

"This body… this power… I will learn it," he said firmly. "No matter what awaits me."

The valley fell silent once again, but the watching shadow did not move. It waited, patient, its gaze fixed on the rising heir.

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