Rise Of The Unchosen

The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the Clearing of Aeloria. Kael stood at its center, the amulet warm against his chest, pulsing softly like a heartbeat. Facing him was Elysia, her expression a mix of excitement and seriousness.

"Ready, Kael?" she asked, her voice weighted with anticipation.

He nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Good! We're about to unravel the mysteries of the universe—or at least the secrets of this ancient amulet," she quipped.

"Right. No pressure," Kael replied, rolling his eyes but smiling nonetheless.

"Just focus! Let's start with lifting some stones," Elysia instructed, her tone shifting to seriousness. "Visualize them floating in the air."

Kael looked down at the ground where a handful of small stones were scattered. They felt cool in his hand, a sharp contrast to the amulet's warmth. He picked a few, trying to muster confidence—though if he were honest, the only thing floating was his anxiety.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered under his breath.

He imagined the energy of the amulet streaming through him, wrapping around him like an overenthusiastic cat. The ground seemed alive, the rustling leaves creating a charged silence as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

Opening his eyes, he stretched his hand toward the stones. "Rise!" he commanded, sounding more like he was scolding a stubborn dog than attempting ancient magic.

Nothing happened at first, and doubt began to swell within him like a dark tide. "Come on, Kael! You can do this," he muttered. "It's just a few rocks, not memorizing the history of Verenthia."

As if sensing his desperation, one stone trembled before lifting off the ground. Kael's heart leaped with excitement. "I did it!" he exclaimed. But his focus faltered, and the stone wobbled before clattering back to the earth.

"You really ought to work on your enthusiasm," Elysia deadpanned, though a smirk tugged at her lips.

Kael groaned, his shoulders sagging. "Why can't I hold it? I'd have better luck juggling a dragon."

"Don't let your emotions control you," Elysia reminded, stepping closer. "You're the conduit for the energy, not its puppet."

Kael caught her gaze, her fiery determination igniting something within him. "Alright. Let's try again before the shadows decide we're hopeless."

This time, he focused on the warmth radiating from the amulet, letting it wash over him like a warm bath—minus the rubber duck. He reached out to the stones, concentrating hard.

One… two… three.

With every ounce of focus, he lifted all three stones, feeling the energy hum through him. They hovered before him, only slightly wobbling. "Yes! I'm doing it!" Kael shouted triumphantly.

"Great! Just don't—" Elysia began, but before she could finish, the stones dropped, hitting Kael squarely on the foot.

"Ow! Not how I pictured this going!" he yelped, hopping on one foot and clutching the other.

Elysia chuckled. "Maybe you should work on your footwork too."

"Don't tease! These are serious injuries!" Kael protested with mock indignation, though he couldn't help but smile.

Suddenly, a chill swept through the clearing, making him shiver. The amulet's warmth seemed distant, as though a shadow had passed over his spirit.

"What was that?" Elysia asked, her expression shifting from amusement to concern.

"I don't know. It felt like… a bad omen wrapped in low-hanging clouds," Kael murmured.

"Focus! We're not letting shadows—or bad weather jokes—distract us," she said, trying to steer the moment back to seriousness.

But Kael couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He scanned the edge of the clearing. "Seriously, though. Are we alone?"

Before they could resume, a rustling noise came from the thicket. It was louder this time. Kael froze, his heart pounding. He glanced at Elysia, who had lowered into a defensive stance.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered, trying to keep calm as his eyes widened.

"Don't panic… just—" Elysia began, but she stopped abruptly.

The underbrush parted, revealing a shadowed figure cloaked in darkness. It lingered at the edge of the clearing, a menacing silhouette against the backdrop of trees.

"Who are you?" Kael called out, his voice steadier than he felt.

The figure didn't respond, stepping forward instead. The dark fabric swirled as if alive. Kael felt the amulet pulse fiercely against his chest, a warning vibrating deep within him.

As the tension peaked and Kael's heart raced, the figure's eyes glinted with unsettling intensity, unmistakably drawing closer. His breath quickened as the realization hit: their training was about to take a much darker turn.