The morning sun was just a pale glow on the horizon when Ashar awoke. His body was sore from the night's chase, muscles aching from the relentless flight. He sat up, still shaken by the encounter with the Seekers. The shadows of his dreams still clung to him, haunting visions of figures cloaked in darkness. Each face, each whispered promise of power, left him feeling more isolated than ever. And the Echo—or whatever it truly was—still pulsed within him, fierce and hungry.

Elara sat nearby, her back to him as she kept watch. She glanced over her shoulder, catching his eye with a faint, relieved smile.

"You're finally up,"

She murmured, keeping her voice low.

Ashar nodded, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes.

"Barely. I still feel like they're out there, just waiting for us to slip."

Elara's expression tightened, a shadow passing across her face.

"They won't stop hunting you, Ashar. But we can't keep running forever. You know that."

A shiver ran down his spine, and he looked away. Elara was right; their constant fleeing only delayed the inevitable confrontation. But he still felt uneasy—he wasn't sure if he could truly control the Echo, especially with the darkness that seemed to claw at his mind whenever he tried.

He swallowed hard.

"Then what do we do?"

Elara shifted closer, her gaze steady. "I think it's time we went to Kaelen."

"Kaelen?"

Ashar echoed, his brow furrowing. He'd heard the name spoken in whispers among those who had evaded the Seekers, the legend of a warrior who once walked the line between light and shadow. But it had always felt like a story told to comfort those too afraid to face reality.

"He's real,"

Elara said, as if reading his thoughts.

"And he knows more about the Echo than anyone alive. If there's anyone who can help you master it, it's him."

A ripple of hope spread through Ashar, followed quickly by doubt.

"How can we be sure he'll even help us?"

Elara offered a faint smile.

"Because he has more reason to hate the Seekers than even you or I. If anyone understands what you're going through, it's Kaelen. But it won't be easy to find him. We'll need to prove ourselves."

Ashar felt a sense of determination settle over him, pushing back the fear and uncertainty. He had to get control of this power—if not for himself, then for the others he had already put at risk.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"When do we leave?"

Elara stood, slinging her pack over her shoulder.

"Now. The longer we wait, the closer the Seekers will get."

The journey to find Kaelen took them deep into the rugged mountain paths, weaving through dense forests and steep cliffs. Days passed in silence, each step carrying them farther from the places Ashar had known, and deeper into the unknown.

They paused at a mountain overlook as dusk began to fall, the sky turning a bruised shade of violet. Ashar gazed out, the weight of the Echo a constant reminder within him, pressing against his ribs, whispering promises he dared not accept.

"Tell me about Kaelen,"

He asked as they set up camp.

Elara paused, a distant look in her eyes.

"Kaelen was once a Seeker. The best of them. He served directly under the Void Keeper and knew secrets that even the highest ranks never learned. But something changed him. He saw something in the Void, something that broke his loyalty and turned him against everything he once stood for."

Ashar frowned.

"And he survived that? Defying the Void Keeper?"

"Barely,"

Elara said, her tone grim.

"He was marked, just like you. But he did something no one else had ever done—he resisted, broke free. The Seekers call him 'the Betrayer,' but those of us who resist call him 'the Guardian.' Some say he's the only reason they haven't fully overtaken the land yet."

Ashar's pulse quickened. A sliver of hope sparked within him. If Kaelen could survive and fight back against the Void Keeper's influence, then maybe he could too. He looked at Elara, searching her face.

"Do you really think he can help me?"

She met his gaze with a fierce determination.

"I do. But there's one thing you need to understand, Ashar. Kaelen doesn't believe in half-measures. If he agrees to help you, he'll push you to your limits. You have to be ready for that."

Ashar took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"I'm ready. I have to be."

They reached Kaelen's domain a few days later, a secluded grove hidden within towering cliffs. The silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the whisper of leaves and the occasional call of distant birds. Ashar could feel something there—an energy that prickled his skin, like an invisible weight pressing down on him.

Elara signaled for him to halt as she scanned the surroundings.

"He's here."

Before Ashar could respond, a figure materialized from the shadows. He was tall and lean, his face concealed beneath a deep hood, yet his presence seemed to fill the space around him. Dark, unearthly symbols marked his arms, glowing faintly against the twilight. His voice was low and resonant, carrying an undeniable authority.

"So… you're the one they call Ashar."

Ashar nodded, his heart hammering in his chest. He felt the Echo stirring within him, as if drawn to the power radiating from Kaelen.

Kaelen's gaze bore into him, assessing, unyielding.

"You carry the mark of the Void. That is not something to be taken lightly."

"I didn't ask for this,"

Ashar replied, his voice laced with defiance.

"But I want to control it. To fight back."

Kaelen tilted his head, a trace of a smirk on his lips.

"Control… a common desire, but dangerous when dealing with the Echo. It's not something you can tame like a beast. To wield it, you must understand it. And to understand it, you must be willing to face the darkness within you."

Ashar's resolve wavered, but he held Kaelen's gaze, refusing to look away.

"I'll do whatever it takes."

Kaelen's expression softened, ever so slightly.

"Brave words. But bravery alone won't save you from the shadows. If you wish to survive, you must become more than what you are."

Ashar swallowed, nodding.

"Then teach me. Show me how to fight back."

Kaelen's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Very well. But be warned—this path will test you beyond anything you've faced before. There will be no mercy, no respite. If you fall, no one will catch you."

Ashar took a step forward, unflinching.

"I'm ready."

Kaelen's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he nodded.

"Then let us begin."

With a sweep of his hand, Kaelen beckoned Ashar forward, guiding him into the shadows of the grove. Ashar could feel the Echo rising within him, ready and waiting, a dark promise whispering at the edge of his mind. He knew this was only the beginning, but he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: hope.