Chapter 7: The Secrets We Keep

Chapter 7: The Secrets We Keep

Kael paced back and forth in the scrapyard, his thoughts spinning as he replayed Rian's words in his mind. The rogue cultivator had offered him something tantalizing: power. Not just the basics Garran was teaching him, but a shortcut to mastery.

And yet, Garran's warning echoed just as strongly: "Strength isn't everything. It's about how you use it."

The duality of the choice gnawed at him, and despite his better judgment, Kael found himself slipping out of the scrapyard late that night, the pull of Rian's offer too strong to resist.

The lower levels of Zenith were eerily quiet at night, the usual hum of activity replaced by the distant clatter of machinery and the occasional hiss of steam pipes. Kael stuck to the shadows, his footsteps light as he navigated the labyrinthine alleys. He scanned the sky for the signal Rian had mentioned: follow the smoke.

It didn't take long. A faint plume of black rose in the distance, barely visible against the perpetual smog. Kael quickened his pace, his heart pounding in anticipation.

When he arrived, he found himself in a derelict courtyard surrounded by crumbling buildings. Rian stood at the center, a small fire crackling at his feet. He looked up as Kael approached, a smug smile curling his lips.

"Figured you'd show," Rian said, tossing a piece of scrap metal into the fire. The flames flared momentarily, casting eerie shadows across his face. "Curiosity gets the better of everyone eventually."

Kael crossed his arms, his posture stiff. "I'm not here to join you. I just want to learn."

Rian chuckled, circling Kael like a predator sizing up its prey. "Fair enough. But if you're here, it means you're already questioning your old man's methods. That's the first step."

"I'm not questioning him," Kael snapped. "I just want to get stronger. Faster."

"Ah, impatience," Rian said, stopping in front of him. "The hallmark of every great cultivator. Fine, then. Let's get started."

Rian motioned for Kael to follow him into one of the abandoned buildings. Inside, the air was stifling, and the walls were covered in crude markings—symbols Kael didn't recognize. In the center of the room was a makeshift training area, complete with battered dummies and an assortment of strange devices.

"We'll start with something simple," Rian said, holding out his hand. His palm began to glow with crimson light, the energy condensing into sharp, jagged shapes. "This is a technique I call Crimson Shards. It's a ranged attack, good for keeping enemies at a distance. But it's not about brute force. It's about control."

Kael watched, mesmerized, as Rian flicked his wrist, sending the shards flying toward a distant target. Each one hit its mark with pinpoint accuracy, embedding themselves in the wall.

"Your turn," Rian said, stepping aside.

Kael hesitated. He'd barely mastered channeling his energy into his fists, let alone shaping it into something as precise as shards. But he wasn't about to back down now.

He raised his hand, focusing on the hum of Bio-Energy within him. Slowly, the glow began to gather in his palm, forming a faint, unstable orb.

"Not bad for a beginner," Rian said, watching closely. "But you're holding back. Let it flow."

Kael gritted his teeth, pushing harder. The energy in his hand flickered, then split into jagged fragments. They hovered in the air for a moment before collapsing in a burst of light.

"Damn it," Kael muttered, his arm trembling.

"Relax," Rian said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're overthinking it. Remember what I said—it's not a tool; it's a part of you. Try again."

Kael took a deep breath, centering himself. This time, he focused on the feeling of the energy, letting it flow naturally instead of forcing it. The shards began to form again, steadier this time. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them flying toward the target.

Two hit their mark. The third veered off course and disintegrated mid-air, but it was progress.

"Not bad," Rian said, nodding. "You've got potential, kid."

Kael couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride, though it was quickly overshadowed by guilt. He glanced toward the exit, imagining Garran back at the scrapyard. If he knew what Kael was doing...

"Something on your mind?" Rian asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kael shook his head. "No. Let's keep going."

Over the next few nights, Kael returned to train with Rian in secret. The rogue cultivator's techniques were brutal and unorthodox, pushing Kael far beyond his comfort zone. Unlike Garran's methodical approach, Rian's style was raw and unpredictable, forcing Kael to adapt on the fly.

But Kael couldn't deny the results. His control over Bio-Energy improved dramatically, and he began to understand the nuances of shaping and manipulating it. The techniques Rian taught him—Crimson Shards, Phantom Strikes, and Pulse Wave—were unlike anything Garran had shown him.

Still, the weight of his deception grew heavier with each passing day. He tried to hide his exhaustion during training sessions with Garran, but the older man wasn't blind.

"You've been pushing yourself too hard," Garran said one morning, his tone suspicious. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," Kael lied, avoiding Garran's gaze. "Just...trying to improve."

Garran narrowed his eyes but didn't press the issue. "Don't overdo it. You'll burn yourself out."

Kael nodded, but the guilt gnawed at him. He hated lying to Garran, but he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not until he was strong enough to stand on his own.

One night, during another secret training session, Rian pushed Kael to his limits.

"You're getting better," Rian said, pacing around the training area. "But there's one thing you still don't understand."

"What's that?" Kael asked, breathing heavily.

"Fear," Rian replied, his crimson energy flaring to life. "You can't control it. You can't fight it. The only way to conquer fear is to embrace it."

Before Kael could react, Rian lunged at him, his energy slashing through the air like a blade. Kael barely had time to raise his arms in defense, the force of the attack knocking him off his feet.

"What the hell are you doing?" Kael shouted, scrambling to his feet.

"Teaching you," Rian said, his expression deadly serious. "You want power? Then prove you can handle it."

Kael clenched his fists, the glow of his energy building around him. He didn't have time to think. He just had to survive.

The Test of Fear

Kael's heart pounded as Rian came at him again, the crimson glow of the rogue cultivator's energy blazing like fire. He barely managed to sidestep the attack, feeling the heat of the strike scorch the air beside him.

"Stop holding back!" Rian shouted, his voice booming through the empty space. "You think the world is going to give you time to think? Fight or die, kid!"

Kael gritted his teeth, raising his hands. He channeled the Bio-Energy coursing through him, the blue-green glow of his aura shimmering to life. With a sharp cry, he unleashed a burst of energy toward Rian, aiming for his midsection.

Rian deflected the attack with ease, a single crimson shard materializing in his hand to block the blow. "Pathetic," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "You call that an attack?"

Kael didn't respond. He couldn't. His mind raced as he tried to anticipate Rian's next move, his body trembling with both exertion and fear. This wasn't training—it was survival. And he was losing.

Rian moved again, faster this time, his energy forming into a blade that slashed through the air. Kael ducked, the weapon missing his head by inches. He rolled to the side and retaliated with a pulse of energy, but his aim was wild, the attack dissipating harmlessly in the distance.

"You're thinking too much," Rian said, circling Kael like a predator stalking its prey. "Stop analyzing. Stop hesitating. Let your instincts take over."

Kael clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. Instincts? he thought bitterly. How am I supposed to trust something I barely understand?

But as Rian closed the distance again, something inside Kael shifted. His exhaustion faded into the background, replaced by a single, overwhelming thought: Survive.

When Rian lunged, Kael didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, his body moving on its own. His hand shot out, a jagged shard of energy forming in his palm. He struck upward, the shard colliding with Rian's blade in a shower of sparks.

Rian's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, twisting his weapon to disarm Kael. The younger cultivator anticipated the move, releasing the shard before it could be wrenched from his grip. He ducked low and swept his leg, catching Rian off guard and knocking him off balance.

Kael didn't stop. He poured his remaining energy into a concentrated blast, aiming for Rian's chest. The rogue cultivator barely had time to throw up a barrier, the force of the attack sending him skidding backward.

For a moment, the room was silent, the air thick with the lingering hum of Bio-Energy. Kael stood panting, his arms trembling as he struggled to maintain his stance.

Rian straightened, brushing dust off his cloak. "Now that was interesting," he said, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "You've got fight in you after all."

Kael didn't respond, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He wanted to feel proud of himself, but the truth was, he'd barely survived. If Rian had been serious, he would've been dead.

"That's enough for tonight," Rian said, his tone surprisingly calm. He extinguished the crimson energy around him with a flick of his wrist and gestured for Kael to sit.

Kael hesitated, then lowered himself onto the floor, still wary of the man in front of him. "What was the point of that?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"To push you," Rian replied. "You'll never reach your full potential if you're coddled. Garran might be teaching you how to fight, but I'm teaching you how to survive. There's a difference."

Kael frowned, wiping sweat from his brow. "You sound like you hate him."

Rian chuckled, shaking his head. "Hate him? No. Garran's one of the few decent people left in this hellhole. But decent doesn't win wars. It doesn't protect you when the world turns on you."

He leaned closer, his gaze piercing. "You think the megacorporations care about you? They'll crush you the moment you become a threat. And if you're not strong enough to fight back, you'll end up just like the others—forgotten and discarded."

Kael swallowed hard, the weight of Rian's words settling on his shoulders. He didn't want to believe him, but deep down, he knew there was truth in what he said. The world didn't care about people like him. If he wanted to survive, he had to be strong enough to carve his own path.

"I'll keep coming back," Kael said, his voice firm despite his exhaustion. "But I'm not abandoning Garran. He's my teacher."

Rian smirked, leaning back. "Suit yourself. But remember, kid—loyalty has its limits. One day, you'll have to choose."

Kael returned to the scrapyard just before dawn, slipping back into his makeshift shelter as quietly as possible. His body ached from the night's training, and his mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

When Garran arrived for their morning session, Kael did his best to mask his fatigue. But as the days passed, the strain of juggling two teachers began to show. His movements became sluggish, his focus wavered, and Garran's patience started to wear thin.

"You've been distracted lately," Garran said one afternoon, watching Kael fumble through a basic drill. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Kael said quickly, avoiding his mentor's gaze. "I'm just tired."

Garran didn't look convinced. "Tired from what? You've been sneaking out at night, haven't you?"

Kael froze, his heart pounding. "I—"

"Don't lie to me, kid," Garran said, his tone sharp. "I've been around long enough to know when someone's hiding something."

Kael opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He couldn't bring himself to admit the truth—not yet.

"Fine," Garran said, stepping back. "If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you. But whatever you're doing, you'd better be careful. This city has a way of chewing people up and spitting them out."

Kael nodded, guilt gnawing at him. He wanted to trust Garran, but how could he? Rian's teachings had given him a glimpse of what he could become, and he wasn't ready to give that up. Not yet.

As Garran turned and walked away, Kael clenched his fists, the blue-green glow of his Bio-Energy flickering faintly around him. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up the charade, but one thing was certain: his journey was only just beginning.