The cold morning mist hadn't yet lifted from the reefs when Kael awoke.
His body ached. Every bone screamed. But something inside him—beneath the pain—was changing. The Tideborn Flame didn't just burn now… it pulsed.
Like a heartbeat.
A second life.
---
Gravik sat near the edge of the reef, sharpening a curved blade with what looked like a dragon's tooth. "You're still breathing," he muttered. "That's more than I expected."
Kael stood, wobbling. "She said training starts at dawn."
Gravik nodded toward a distant cliff. "Then get going. Lirien doesn't wait."
---
🧭 The Trial Grounds – Arena of Echoes
Kael climbed the reef's spiral path to reach what looked like a broken temple, its columns wrapped in seaweed, its floor etched with runes that glowed blue.
Lirien stood at its center, arms crossed.
"Today," she said without turning, "we awaken your connection to the sea."
Kael stepped forward. "I thought I already had."
Her eyes narrowed. "You've touched the Tideborn Flame. But to use it properly, you must learn to feel what the ocean feels."
She slammed her trident into the ground.
The floor split—revealing a circular pit filled with shallow water and metallic discs floating just above the surface.
"Your trial: cross this pool without falling in. The discs shift with current. The deeper your emotions, the stronger the waves."
Kael frowned. "That's it?"
She smirked. "The current reads your soul. Good luck hiding from that."
---
⚔️ Trial 1 – "Steps of the Soul"
Kael stepped onto the first disc. It wobbled, but held. Then he moved to the second—instantly, a wave burst up and nearly threw him off.
"Stay calm," he told himself.
He took another step. This time, two discs shifted. The sea wasn't reacting to his balance—it was reacting to his thoughts.
Each doubt, each memory of the village's destruction, made the water rise against him.
Midway through the path, he paused, trembling.
Then came the voice again.
"You carry your pain like an anchor."
He looked up. The voice wasn't Lirien's.
Across the arena stood a young man in silver robes, arms behind his back, watching him calmly. His hair was wet, but his eyes—his eyes looked ancient.
Lirien turned. "You? What are you doing here?"
The stranger smiled. "I was curious. The Tideborn doesn't choose often."
---
Kael's foot slipped.
He landed in the water—but instead of sinking, the discs rose again beneath him.
Lirien raised an eyebrow.
The stranger nodded.
"Interesting. The sea catches him… because it wants to see more."
---
💠 New Ability Unlocked: "Echo Balance"
Allows Kael to stabilize his footing using emotional control. The calmer his mind, the stronger his control over moving surfaces.
---
After the trial, Kael sat dripping on a coral bench. Lirien tossed him a cloth.
"You did better than I expected," she said. "Barely."
The stranger walked closer. "Name's Selrik. If you live long enough, we'll meet again."
Then he vanished into mist.
Kael looked to Lirien. "Who was he?"
She didn't answer.
---
🌑 End of Chapter Five
In the distance, the sea began to whisper.
Another power was watching now.
And it was not pleased.