The next morning, a chill lingered in the air as Ashar and Elara woke in the ruins, the forest around them blanketed in a low, hazy mist. Sunlight streamed through the trees, casting rays of golden light that illuminated the dust hanging in the air. Ashar stretched, feeling the ache in his muscles from the previous day's training. But despite the soreness, he felt a new sense of determination—a pull toward understanding the mark on his arm and the mysteries it held.

Elara was already awake, practicing with a calm intensity as she traced her fingers along her own mark, focusing. Small flickers of energy sparked around her fingertips, and her brow furrowed as she concentrated.

Noticing Ashar watching, she glanced over, a slight grin on her face.

"Looks like we're not wasting any time today."

He nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Figured we'd take advantage of the quiet while it lasts."

They walked a short distance away from the ruins, where the trees opened into a small clearing. Ashar could feel the shadows around him responding as he moved, a dark energy humming just beneath his skin. The sensation was both thrilling and unnerving, as though the power inside him was a living thing, waiting to be commanded.

Standing across from him, Elara drew in a slow breath, her eyes sharpening with focus. She raised her hand, and Ashar felt a faint prickling in the air. Her mark flickered softly as she whispered,

"Mirrored Affliction."

The energy around her shifted, and a slight shimmer seemed to ripple in the space between them. Ashar didn't feel any pain himself, but he could sense the intensity radiating from Elara's stance. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like in a real battle, to face an enemy and have their own pain or fear reflected back upon them. She gave a small nod of satisfaction, as if feeling that she'd strengthened her control over the ability.

"Nice work," Ashar said, genuinely impressed.

Elara smirked, shrugging casually.

"Still a work in progress. But it's getting easier." She paused, looking thoughtful. "It's strange, though. When I use it, it's like… I'm connected to something deeper. Not just to the mark, but almost to the person I'm focusing on."

Ashar absorbed her words, his mind turning over the possibilities. It felt like every ability came with its own hidden layers, its own personality. His own powers certainly felt that way, the shadows felt ancient, untamed, and even a bit resentful of his attempts to control them. It made him wonder if his abilities, too, would come with some unforeseen cost.

He took a step back, raising his hand as he prepared to focus. The mark on his arm pulsed softly, and he spoke the name of his next ability,

"Shadow Clone."

A flicker of dark energy gathered around him, and in an instant, a hazy, spectral form appeared at his side. The figure looked like him, similar height, same dark hair, and piercing gaze but it was insubstantial, like a shadow given shape. The clone stood beside him, moving with a faint delay, echoing his stance.

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Ashar grinned, glancing at Elara, who raised an eyebrow.

"Impressive," she said, crossing her arms, clearly intrigued.

"I bet that could be useful to confuse an enemy."

Ashar nodded, a bit surprised by how natural it felt to command the clone. The figure moved as he did, mirroring his gestures, and he felt an odd connection to it, like it was an extension of his own consciousness.

They trained with their abilities for hours, practicing until their bodies and minds felt stretched to their limits. Ashar focused on moving with his clone, using it to outmaneuver Elara in a series of sparring exercises. Each time he moved, the clone matched his steps, allowing him to attack from two angles at once. Elara, in turn, experimented with her abilities, allowing her to briefly synchronize her senses with Ashar's to anticipate his attacks.

The training was intense, but a certain rhythm settled between them as they moved, a shared understanding growing between each strike and dodge. Even without Kaelen there to guide them, Ashar could feel himself growing stronger, more attuned to the shadows.

Finally, as the sun began its descent, they both sank to the ground, exhausted but exhilarated.

Elara lay on her back, staring up at the sky.

"You know… I think we're stronger than we realize. I mean, look how far we've come since we first met Kaelen."

Ashar nodded, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.

"Yeah. Feels like only yesterday I could barely control a single shadow. Now I have this."

He glanced at the mark on his arm, feeling the steady pulse of its energy.

Elara turned her head to look at him, her expression serious.

"But we still have no idea what else is out there, Ashar. Or who else. We've barely scratched the surface, and Kaelen… he wouldn't just leave if there wasn't something big he had to deal with."

The reminder sobered Ashar. He had felt the same sense of foreboding gnawing at him ever since Kaelen's departure. Despite their progress, he knew they were still vulnerable, still at the mercy of powers they didn't fully understand.

"I know," he said quietly, his gaze distant.

"But we can't turn back now. Whatever's out there, we'll just have to face it when it comes."

Elara sat up, nodding resolutely.

"Agreed. And we'll face it together."

Just as she spoke, the shadows around them seemed to deepen, darkening in a way that was almost unnatural. Ashar's pulse quickened, and he instinctively reached for his mark, ready to summon his abilities. But as he focused, the strange darkness receded, leaving only the dim light of dusk.

Elara frowned, glancing around.

"Did you… feel that?"

Ashar nodded slowly.

"Yeah. Like something was… watching us."

A tense silence settled over them, both feeling the unspoken fear that something more dangerous was drawing closer. It was as if the powers they wielded were a beacon, drawing attention from unseen forces lurking in the shadows.

They exchanged a look, each of them feeling the weight of their situation more heavily than ever before. But neither was willing to voice their fears. Whatever was coming, they knew they would face it together, even if the path ahead was shrouded in darkness.

As they walked back toward the ruins, Elara glanced at Ashar, her expression guarded.

"Do you think we'll ever get answers about these powers? Or why we were chosen?"

Ashar shook his head.

"I don't know. But I think… maybe we're meant to find those answers ourselves. Kaelen wouldn't have left us here if he didn't think we could handle it."

Elara looked ahead, her eyes reflecting the fading light.

"Then I guess we'll just have to keep pushing forward."

They returned to the ruins, the quiet settling around them once more. As they lay down to rest, Ashar found himself thinking of Kaelen, of his stern guidance and quiet strength. Somewhere, their mentor was facing battles of his own. And even though they were miles apart, Ashar felt that they were connected, bound by the same purpose and driven by the same will to uncover the truth.

But as he closed his eyes, he couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows around him were watching, waiting, and that his journey was only just beginning.