Chapter 35: Sparks of Instability
The boy's name was Mateo. Sixteen, quiet, eyes sharp but uncertain. He had never thought of himself as anything more than ordinary, but the visions and the pendant's reaction had shattered that illusion.
Adrian brought him to the warehouse. Elias wasn't pleased.
"You're reckless," Elias muttered, arms crossed. "Dragging a child into this before he understands the danger."
Adrian clenched his fists. "He's already connected. Hunters will find him whether we train him or not. Better he learns now than dies confused."
Leah stood beside Mateo, her presence steady. "He's not helpless. He's already seeing symbols. He's already carrying fragments. That means the relic chose him too."
Elias studied Mateo, silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. "Fine. But understand this — training isn't kindness. It's survival. If he falters, if he breaks, it will cost all of us."
Mateo swallowed hard, clutching his sketchbook. "I don't want to be a burden. I just… want to understand what's happening to me."
Adrian placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll start small."
The training began that night. Adrian guided Mateo through breathing exercises, teaching him how to feel the flow of Qi. Leah demonstrated footwork, sharp and precise, while Elias watched from the shadows, correcting every mistake with blunt words.
At first, Mateo struggled. His breaths were uneven, his movements clumsy. But then, something shifted. His sketchbook fell open, symbols glowing faintly on the page. The pendant pulsed harder, reacting to him.
Emerald light flickered around Mateo's hands.
Adrian gasped. "He's channeling already."
But the glow was unstable. It flared too bright, too fast, burning against his skin. Mateo cried out, staggering, the light spiraling out of control.
"Stop!" Elias barked, stepping forward. He struck Mateo's chest lightly, dispersing the energy. The glow faded, leaving the boy trembling, sweat dripping down his face.
Adrian steadied him, heart pounding. "You're strong. But you need control."
Mateo's voice shook. "It feels like fire. Like it's burning me from the inside."
Elias's gaze hardened. "That's raw power. Untamed. Dangerous. If you don't learn discipline, it will consume you."
Leah knelt beside him, her voice softer. "But it also means you're chosen. The relic wouldn't react if you weren't meant to carry it."
Mateo looked at Adrian, eyes wide. "Then teach me. Please."
Adrian swallowed hard, pendant glowing faintly against his chest. He thought of the visions — ordinary people carrying fragments, hunters scattering, the city bathed in emerald light. Mateo was part of it. But he was unstable. A spark that could ignite or destroy.
He whispered to himself, voice hoarse. "I'll rise. I'll uncover the truth. And I'll guide them. One by one."
The pendant pulsed brighter, flooding the warehouse with emerald light. Elias frowned, Leah stared, and Mateo trembled, but for the first time, he didn't look afraid.
He looked ready.