The forest was quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. Arun sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed and his hands resting on his knees. Kael stood before him, his staff planted firmly in the earth, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

“Focus,” Kael said, his voice calm but firm. “The Leviathan’s power is not something you can force. You must learn to listen to it, to understand it. Only then can you control it.”

Arun took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. The Leviathan’s energy pulsed within him, a chaotic force that seemed to have a mind of its own. Every time he tried to grasp it, it slipped through his fingers like water.

“I’m trying,” Arun said through gritted teeth. “But it’s like… it’s like it doesn’t want to be controlled.”

“That’s because it doesn’t,” Kael replied. “The Leviathan is a force of chaos, of destruction. It thrives on unpredictability. But chaos can be harnessed, if you learn to bend it to your will.”

Arun opened his eyes, frustration bubbling to the surface. “How? How am I supposed to bend something that feels like it’s tearing me apart from the inside?”

Kael’s expression softened, and he knelt in front of Arun. “You’re thinking of it as an enemy. It’s not. The Leviathan’s power is a part of you now. You must learn to coexist with it, to understand its nature. Only then can you truly master it.”

Arun frowned, his gaze dropping to his hands. The faint glow of the Leviathan’s energy flickered beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power within him. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Start by listening,” Kael said. “Close your eyes again. Focus on the energy within you. Don’t try to control it. Just… listen.”

Arun hesitated, then closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, trying to quiet his mind. At first, all he could feel was the chaos—the erratic pulsing of the Leviathan’s energy, the whispers that seemed to echo in the back of his mind. But as he focused, he began to notice something else. Beneath the chaos, there was a rhythm, a pattern. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

“I… I think I feel something,” Arun said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” Kael said. “Now, follow it. Let it guide you.”

Arun nodded, his concentration deepening. He followed the rhythm, letting it pull him deeper into the Leviathan’s energy. The whispers grew louder, more distinct. They weren’t words, exactly, but emotions—anger, fear, longing. It was as if the Leviathan was trying to communicate with him, to show him something.

Suddenly, the energy surged, and Arun’s eyes snapped open. A wave of blue light erupted from his hands, slamming into a nearby tree and reducing it to splinters. Arun stared at the destruction, his heart pounding.

“I… I didn’t mean to do that,” he said, his voice trembling.

Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. “The Leviathan’s power is unpredictable. But you’re making progress. You’re starting to understand it.”

“Progress?” Arun said, his frustration returning. “I just destroyed a tree! What if that had been a person? What if it had been my mother? Or Lira?”

Kael’s gaze hardened. “Then you’ll learn to control it. But you can’t let fear hold you back. The Leviathan’s power responds to your emotions. If you’re afraid, it will consume you. If you’re angry, it will destroy. But if you’re calm, if you’re focused, you can channel it.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Arun looked down at his hands, the glow of the Leviathan’s energy fading. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Kael said, his voice firm. “The soldiers won’t stop until they find you. And when they do, you’ll need to be ready. Not just for their sake, but for yours.”

Arun’s stomach churned at the thought. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. But he also didn’t want to be hunted like an animal. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Alright. What’s next?”

Kael stood, his staff in hand. “Next, we test your limits. But remember, Arun—this power is a part of you. It’s not something to be feared. It’s something to be understood.”

As they moved deeper into the forest, Kael’s tone shifted, becoming more reflective. “Your father… he struggled with this too, you know.”

Arun’s head snapped up. “My father? What do you mean?”

Kael’s gaze was distant, as if he were recalling a memory. “When he first discovered his power, it was overwhelming. He didn’t know how to control it, how to channel it. But he learned. And so will you.”

Arun’s heart ached at the mention of his father. “What was he like? Back then?”

Kael hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “He was… determined. Strong-willed. But he was also kind. He never wanted this power, but he accepted it because he knew it was his duty. Just as you must accept yours.”

Arun frowned. “But he left Drakoria. He gave up his duty.”

Kael’s expression darkened. “He left because he believed in something greater than duty. He believed in love. In family. And he paid the price for it.”

Arun’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”

Kael shook his head. “That’s a story for another time. For now, focus on your training. The more you understand the Leviathan’s power, the more you’ll understand your father’s choices.”

Arun wanted to press further, but he could tell Kael wasn’t ready to share more. Instead, he nodded, his resolve hardening. If understanding the Leviathan’s power would help him understand his father, then he would do whatever it took to master it.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, Kael led Arun to a small clearing. In the center stood a stone altar, covered in moss and etched with ancient runes. The air around it felt heavy, charged with an energy that made Arun’s skin prickle.

“What is this place?” Arun asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“A place of power,” Kael replied. “Long ago, the Leviathan’s essence was bound here by the first Essentia. It’s a place of beginnings… and endings.”

Arun stepped closer, his eyes drawn to the runes. They seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive. “Why did you bring me here?”

Kael’s gaze was solemn. “Because this is where your father first confronted the Leviathan’s power. And it’s where you must do the same.”

Before Arun could respond, a low growl echoed through the clearing. He turned, his heart racing, as a massive shadow emerged from the trees. It was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen—a wolf, but larger, its fur shimmering with an unnatural glow. Its eyes burned with a familiar blue light, the same light that flickered within Arun.

“What… what is that?” Arun stammered, taking a step back.

“A guardian,” Kael said, his voice calm but firm. “A test. If you want to understand the Leviathan’s power, you must face it.”

The creature lunged, its jaws snapping inches from Arun’s face. He stumbled back, his hands instinctively glowing with the Leviathan’s energy. The whispers in his mind grew louder, more urgent, as if urging him to fight.

“Focus, Arun!” Kael shouted. “Control it, or it will control you!”

Arun clenched his fists, the energy surging through him. He didn’t know if he could do this. But he didn’t have a choice. The creature lunged again, and this time, Arun raised his hands, unleashing a wave of blue light that sent the beast sprawling.

For a moment, there was silence. Then the creature rose, its glowing eyes locked on Arun. But instead of attacking, it bowed its head, as if in submission.

Kael stepped forward, a faint smile on his lips. “You see, Arun? The Leviathan’s power is not just destruction. It’s also respect. You’ve taken the first step.”

Arun stared at the creature, his heart still pounding. “What happens now?”

Kael’s expression grew serious. “Now, the real training begins. Because if you can command a guardian, you can command the Leviathan. But be warned—the path ahead is not an easy one.”

As the creature disappeared into the shadows, Arun felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing: he was no longer the boy who had fled his village. He was something more. And the Leviathan’s power was just the beginning...