Rossi Mansion — 11:11 p.m.

  Night had fallen over Aarush like a heavy veil. The sky was moonless. Only black clouds dragged by an icy wind. Inside the mansion, the lights were off, except for a dim lamp glowing in the main hall.

  Skyler stood at the center of the room. She had cleared the space entirely. No furniture, no paintings, no decorations. Only polished marble floors... and three young people who were no longer the same.

  "Good," Skyler said, without raising her voice. "What happened today wasn't luck. It was instinct. Tonight... you're going to learn to control it."

  Her eyes scanned the three. Kali stood tall, serious, her hair tied up. Dahlia wore black gloves. Nicco rubbed his hands together, small sparks flickering unknowingly between his fingers.

  "First: you're not normal. You never were. What happened with Umbrosar marked your soul. That doesn't go away. But it can be shaped."

  Skyler extended a hand toward Kali.

  "You first."

  Kali swallowed hard.

  "What do I have to do?"

  "Kill me," Skyler replied.

  Kali froze.

  "What?"

  "Touch me. Like you did with Ethan. No rage. No fear. Just... touch."

  Dahlia stepped forward.

  "Are you insane? What if—?"

  "She won't," Skyler interrupted. "Because she'll learn to choose."

  Kali slowly lifted her hand. Her pulse quickened. She remembered Ethan's body disintegrating. The crack of his soul. The emptiness that followed.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  But Skyler looked at her without fear.

  Kali placed her fingers on Skyler's arm.

  Nothing.

  Not a spark. Not an explosion.

  Just warmth.

  Skyler smiled.

  "See? Your power responds to your will. If you trigger it with rage, it kills. If you master it... you choose when and who."

  Kali lowered her hand, trembling.

  "I've never felt so dangerous... or so alive."

  Skyler nodded.

  "Good. Now, Dahlia."

  Dahlia removed her gloves.

  "What do I do?"

  Skyler offered a black dagger, ancient, with a runed hilt.

  "Summon. Like you did with Verónica. But this time, give them form. Name. Purpose."

  Dahlia inhaled deeply. Closed her eyes. Her voice was low, nearly a whisper:

  "Come to me, fragments of shadow. Children of the void, guardians of the abyss.

  Do not fight for hatred... fight for me."

  The floor shook. Liquid darkness spilled from beneath her feet. And from it, figures emerged. Tall, humanoid, with blades of smoke and ember-like eyes. One, two... ten. Fifteen.

  But this time... they were not chaotic. They lined up. Straight. Obedient.

  "They're... mine," Dahlia whispered.

  "And as long as you have will, they will be," said Skyler. "If you break, they'll turn against you. Never forget that."

  Finally, Skyler turned to Nicco.

  "Your turn."

  Nicco grinned nervously.

  "This, I've got down," he said, rubbing his hands.

  But Skyler shook her head.

  "It's not about shooting lightning. It's about feeling it. You're not a weapon. You're a core. Conduct, don't explode."

  Nicco closed his eyes. This time he didn't strike. He focused. His veins glowed faintly. The air around him buzzed—but in harmony. The energy condensed in his palm... and hovered.

  A perfect orb of pure electricity. Controlled. Alive.

  "I've never seen you this calm," Dahlia said.

  "I've never felt this... whole," he replied.

  Skyler watched, satisfied.

  "Now... together."

  Kali and Dahlia looked at each other.

  "Are you sure?" Kali asked.

  "Never been more," Dahlia answered.

  They stepped closer. Kali extended her right hand, Dahlia her left. When their fingers touched... the room darkened.

  The lights flickered. The air thickened.

  From the contact, a silent explosion of purple energy burst.

  And then, a creature of living shadow rose between them. Tall. Majestic. With a face that resembled both of them. Eyes of fire and frost. Wings made of dark mist. A sword burning with violet flames.

  Skyler took a step back.

  "That... is the echo of Umbrosar."

  "What?" they both said at once.

  "It's what you took from him. And what binds you. His power... divided. But now, fused again. And under your will."

  The being hovered in the middle of the hall. Watching them. Waiting.

  "You can destroy with this," said Skyler. "Or save. Only you can decide."

  The creature slowly unraveled into smoke. Kali and Dahlia stepped apart, exhausted but intact.

  Nicco stared, amazed.

  "And this is just the beginning?"

  Skyler smiled.

  "This... hasn't even started."