Capítulo 4 The First Lesson

The days blurred together after that night in the sanctuary. I spent hours training, absorbing the strange new world around me, and trying to make sense of the power that had surged through me during the attack. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pulled into something much larger than myself-something I had no control over.

Each morning, I woke early, before the sun had even risen, to find Kael waiting for me. He was patient but relentless, always pushing me harder, always demanding more. The clan's teachings were harsh, and there was little time for rest. But I wasn't complaining-not anymore. Not after what Nyra had said. The Balance was on the brink of collapse, and I was somehow connected to it. I couldn't ignore that.

Today, we were heading into the forest for another lesson. I had barely slept the night before, my mind racing with questions. But Kael didn't seem to care about my exhaustion. His presence was always steady, always controlled, and I hated how easy it was for him to hide his own struggles. He moved like a shadow, silent and fluid, the wolf always nearby, never straying too far from his side.

"Ready?" Kael asked, turning to face me as I stepped out of the sanctuary.

I nodded, swallowing the nervous lump in my throat. The forest was a labyrinth of ancient trees and thick underbrush, each step pulling me deeper into the unknown. The air was cool, crisp, and smelled faintly of earth and pine. It should have been peaceful, but everything about this felt wrong-like I was walking on the edge of something that could break at any moment.

We walked in silence, the only sound being the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. The wolf padded ahead, always watching us with those penetrating eyes. I couldn't help but feel like it was waiting for something, like it was testing me in ways I didn't understand.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Kael stopped in a small clearing. The trees here were older, their trunks thick and gnarled.

"This is where we begin," Kael said, turning to face me. "Today, you will learn to control your energy. Not just the raw power that you unleashed, but the deeper connection you have to the primal forces. The Balance is fragile, and if you don't learn to control what's inside you, it will consume you."

I stared at him, unsure of how to even begin. "How do I control it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kael's eyes softened, but only slightly. "You've already felt it. The connection. The power that's inside you. You have to learn to channel it, to make it yours, not the other way around. Feel the earth beneath your feet, the wind on your skin. Everything in this forest is connected. You're connected to it."

I nodded slowly, closing my eyes and focusing on the sounds around me. The wind rustling through the trees, the distant call of birds, the way the earth seemed to pulse beneath my feet-it was all there, waiting for me. I took a deep breath, trying to reach out to it, trying to feel what Kael was talking about.

The air around me thickened, almost as if it were responding to my attempts. I reached out with my mind, trying to grasp something-anything-but it was like trying to hold water in my hands. The power was there, but I couldn't hold onto it.

"Focus," Kael's voice came again, this time a little sharper. "Feel the earth. Let it anchor you."

I closed my eyes tighter, trying to block out everything else. I felt the weight of the earth beneath me, the cool breeze brushing against my face. And then, as if on instinct, I reached for it-the pulse of energy that thrummed through the world. The power was there, but this time, it felt more tangible. I could almost taste it.

And then, suddenly, the ground beneath me shifted. My senses exploded-everything became more vivid, more alive. I gasped as the energy surged through me, and I could feel the forest-every tree, every leaf, every animal, every stone. It was all connected, all tied to me in a way I couldn't explain.

"Good," Kael said, his voice soft but approving. "Now, hold it. Don't let it consume you."

But it was hard. The power surged through me like a storm, and I felt myself being pulled in every direction. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold onto it, to control it. But just as quickly as it had come, it slipped through my fingers, and I fell to my knees, gasping for breath.

Kael was by my side in an instant, his hand steadying me. "You're not ready," he said, but there was no judgment in his voice, only quiet resolve. "But you're closer than you think. You just need to learn patience. The power is there, but you have to be willing to wait for it."

I nodded, still panting. My mind was spinning, my body weak from the strain. But I felt it-that connection. It was real. And I knew that I couldn't stop now.

"I'll try again," I said, determination creeping into my voice.

Kael nodded, stepping back. "You'll have plenty of chances. But remember, control is everything. The power inside you is both a gift and a curse. If you can't learn to control it, it will control you."