The sun set, dipping beneath the horizon as shadows crept long and sprawling across Evergreen Falls. Jun sat cross-legged on a moss-covered stone, his shoulders bent to support the coiled shape of the shadow snake. Mana pulsed about him, invisible and humming-a reminder that even the greatest mage cannot touch everything that is there in Gaia. Jun had something more inside, however-weight deeper than any spell: one born of days in the Stigmata Tree simulation.

Fifty years of simulation had left their mark. He had lived, loved, fought, and lost countless times under the tight squeeze of trial. The losses of comrades, cities that he promised to defend fall down, and whispers of defeat haunting his mind awake and his sleep. Decades of experience, his head churned; guilt and doubts weigh heavily at his heart.

Tonight, he sought clarity.

You are not meditating," the shadow snake noted, its voice smooth and cool. "You are brooding.

Jun's eyes snapped open. His green gaze was dimmed in the twilight. "Do you think it's that easy to let go? Fifty years, Yogundr. Fifty years of mistakes and death." His fists clenched as his voice cracked. "I lost them all, again and again. Every time I thought I finally found a way to protect them, the world found a way to rip it apart.".

Yogundr shifted, its snake form curling a bit tighter around Jun's shoulders. "Loss is inevitable. Death is inevitable. The question is not how to avoid them, but how to endure their weight and move forward.".

Jun stood up abruptly, his breath quickening. "Tolerate? Progress? What if I can't? What if I'm just. broken?" He ran his hands through his hair, frustration building. The shadow snake didn't say a word, but its presence remained steady despite Jun's turmoil.

A rustling from far away made Jun snap out of his spinning thoughts. He was face to face with Riry, who emerged from the darkness. Her purple hair seemed to glow softly in the moonlight, and her Sleeping Leviathan drifted listlessly behind her, its form a glowing mist.

"Thought I might find you here," she said, light but tinged with worry. "You've been disappearing a lot lately."

Jun sighed, his tension easing slightly at the sight of her. "Just trying to figure things out."

Riry tilted her head, studying him. "Figuring things out or punishing yourself?" She stepped closer, her Leviathan circling curiously. "You're not the only one who's been through the ringer, you know. But bottling it up won't help."

"What do you suggest, then?" Jun asked, his tone sharper than intended.

Riry smiled, unruffled. "Magic. You have all this raw power, but you're too wrapped up in your head to apply it properly. Let's get you untangled."

Jun arched an eyebrow. "And you think sparring will cure my existential crisis?"

"Not sparring," Riry corrected. "Channeling. You have all this bottled-up energy. Let's put it to good use.

She raised her hand, and Leviathan brightened to match. Air above them etched with runes. "Those are resonance fields. They respond to magic, build on it. If you can't keep the magic contained, they will blow up, so don't go too wild."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Jun stopped to glance at Yogundr. The snake's eyes shone brightly with approval. "This should be interesting. Do not let me down, Jun.

Oh, great. No pressure," Jun muttered, stepping into the center of the resonance fields. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and reaching inward to the void where his magic resided.

At first, it was chaos. Shadow and light collided in his mind, the energy volatile and unyielding. Memories of the simulation surfaced unbidden, each one a jagged edge cutting into his concentration.

Riry's voice cut through the noise. "Focus, Jun. The magic isn't your enemy. It's part of you.".

He slowly exhaled and let himself fall into the chasm. They came still, memories; but this time he did not fight them. He let all of them come one after the other, each a thread in the vast tapestry of experience. He saw before him the faces of those he had lost, felt the weight of their absence, and finally… accepted it.

As the memories faded, so did the magic. A throb of rhythm fired the shadows around Jun as their edges sharpened then faded into fluid. The resonance fields flickered, sipping in that energy and amplifying it exponentially. Riry took a step back, respect gleaming in her eyes, as the changes in her Leviathan-approved hum.

"There you go," Riry said, her grin spreading wide. "Now let's see what you can really do with it."

Jun opened his eyes; the greenish glow within was steady and vivid now. He raised his hands; the shadows unfolded, coiled around themselves, moving like living bodies. He moved his wrist to send a slice of shadow streaming through the air, its sharp edge leaving behind a faint trail of shimmering void energy.

Riry clapped, coming closer with a teasing grin. "Not bad. But can you aim? Or are you just throwing shadow tantrums?"

Jun smirked. "Want to find out?

"Bring it," she shot back, her Leviathan brightening as she set her own magic to ready. They exchanged controlled bursts of energy, the resonance fields catching and amplifying the collision. The grove filled with flashes of light and shadow, their interplay growing more fluid with each exchange.

Their magic intertwined, Riry darted closer, her voice dropping to a softer tone. "You've got the power, Jun, but you hold back. Why?"

Jun hesitated, faltering in his shadows. "What if I lose control? What if I hurt someone I care about?"

Riry's Leviathan wrapped gently around her, its glow softening. "You're not alone anymore. You've got me, Yogundr, and everyone back at Evergreen Falls. We'll pull you back if you stumble.".

Her words settled in Jun's chest like a steadying pulse. He nodded, his shadows regaining their strength. "You're right. I've been holding back for too long."

He took a deep breath, then poured everything he had into one focused strike. The shadows coalesced into a spear of pure void energy, crackling with held-back power. He threw it at the biggest resonance field, which soaked up all that energy and exploded in a dazzling light-and-shadow display. The grove shook and air sparkled with leftover magic.

As the dust cleared, Jun stood in the grove, his chest heaving but his head clear. The shadows that surrounded him had settled into a faint aura, their presence no longer chaotic but harmonious.

Riry approached, grinning with satisfaction. "Now that's more like it. You might even be able to keep up with me someday."

Jun laughed softly. "Someday? I'd say I'm already there."

She playfully nudged him. "Dream on, shadow boy."

Yogundr's voice echoed in Jun's mind. "You have taken your first step toward mastery. But keep this in mind: the void is as boundless as it is unforgiving. You should show respect to power, and power will bestow respect upon you."

Riry clapped a hand on Jun's shoulder. "And maybe next time, let's not wait until you're about to implode to do something about it. Deal?

Jun nodded, a genuine smile forming. "Deal."

The moonlight lit up the path they were taking out of the grove, with long shadows dancing to the beat of Jun's new resolve. The weight of the past had not disappeared, but it was no longer impossible to bear. Jun felt lighter with each step, his bond with the void stronger, and his purpose clearer.

The fight was far from over, but for the first time, Jun felt ready to face it. Not as a broken survivor, but as a warrior of shadow and light, unbound and unstoppable.