Chapter 5: No light this darkness

After forcing myself to use the water like I did, and still conjuring nothing, I took a break in the corner of the training room. Frustration boiled inside me, and with a sharp exhale, I squeezed the water bottle to trigger my powers, after seeing the undisturbed liquid within anger made me hurl it across the room. It hit the tiled floor with a dull smack, spilling its contents like my patience had spilled into exhaustion.

My friends continued their training, occasionally throwing me words of encouragement, but they felt empty against my growing frustration. I pushed myself harder, my body screaming in protest. A dull ache grew behind my eyes, creeping into a sharp headache, and then—hot, thick—blood trickled from my nose.

"I suggest you stop." Cleondra's voice cut through the haze. She stepped into the training area, arms crossed, an unimpressed expression on her face. "You'll only harm yourself at this point."

"I can do it," I panted, my hands balled into trembling fists. "Just give me a while, and I—"

"You've been at this for seven hours with no improvement," she interrupted, her tone sharp as a blade. "There's a difference between being a hard worker and working yourself into the ground."

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Cleondra turned to the others. "That goes for all of you. Enough for today."

A collective groan rippled through the room, but no one argued. They slumped to the floor, gasping like parched animals.

"Come," Cleondra commanded, her tone softer now. "I'll escort you to your dorms."

---

Later, in the quiet of my assigned room, I collapsed onto the soft white mattress and pulled out my phone. Missed calls. Texts. Mom. Amber. With a sigh, I hit the call button, bracing myself.

"I've been calling you for half the day!" Mom's voice was thick with worry. "Where are you, Darren?"

"I..." I took a slow breath. "I got a job. You wouldn't believe where."

Silence. I could picture her frowning on the other end.

"I'm at the Greek Institute," I continued smoothly, weaving the lie effortlessly. "They're interviewing me for an internship. Just waiting on results now."

"The Greek Institute?" she echoed, suspicion lacing her words. "You've never mentioned an interest in that."

"I have, for a while now." I forced a chuckle. "Guess I just never brought it up."

A defeated sigh. "Alright. Just... tell me next time, okay?"

"I will."

As soon as the call ended, I scrolled to Amber's number and dialed.

"Hey," she answered, her voice softer than usual.

"Hey," I smiled, leaning back against the pillows. "Sorry I didn't call sooner. Things have been... intense."

"I know."

A heavy pause.

"I might be here for a while, Amber." I exhaled, staring at the ceiling. "Me and the guys—there's a lot to do."

"Are you going to fight the people who did that to Chanel?" she asked quietly.

I froze, my fingers clenching the sheets. Eventually, I told her the truth.

"I can't avoid it." My voice was steady, but my gut twisted. "We just learned we're the only ones who can stop this... whatever it is. And when that thing tried to hurt you, I lost it. I watched Chanel die in front of me, and I never want to feel that powerless again. If something happened to you, I—"

"Just be careful," she whispered, cutting me off. "You know I feel the same about you..."

Silence stretched between us, heavy but comforting.

"Hey..." she broke it, voice barely above a breath. "I love you."

My chest tightened. "Me too."

She hung up. And for the first time in hours, my mind quieted. The mattress beneath me felt like an anchor, pulling me into deep, dreamless sleep.

---

Or so I thought.

I was back in the endless grasslands, my thoughts swirling like a storm. The sky stretched infinitely above, the rolling clouds glowing with an unnatural golden hue. I sat there, staring at the heavens, hoping to see my father.

Nothing.

With a groan, I laid back in the grass. "Why am I here again?"

"A quiet mind such as this is fascinating."

I bolted upright, scanning my surroundings. Hills. Grass. The same as before. Yet, the voice persisted.

"You truly are a man capable of stopping his madness."

The sky churned. The golden clouds twisted, forming a tunnel of light. And then—

She descended.

A figure too ethereal for this world, haloed in radiance. Golden hair flowing endlessly in the wind. Eyes like the ocean, calm yet boundless. Her white robe shimmered, adorned with celestial jewelry beyond earthly wealth.

"Who... who are you?" My voice wavered.

"Do not fear, Darren." Her smile unsettled me in a way I couldn't place. "I am Athena. You have shown me that your power can hold back an evil beyond this realm."

"You mean... the cult?"

"It's not a cult." She sat beside me, her presence both comforting and overwhelming. "Before the second war against humanity. Donavan, son of Hades, sought power beyond imagination. To prevent his plans, Hades had two choices—kill his son or imprison him. He chose the latter. But when the war came, most of the gods perished. We won, but mankind's Primordial Elements had to be sealed away. You and your friends were chosen by fate to wield them."

I exhaled sharply. "Still... how am I supposed to fight? I have no power."

Athena's gaze softened. "Your water crystal is destroyed. That's why. When you overused your power, did you hear something break?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

"There are four elements," she continued. "But the second war was sparked by a man and his brother who uncovered two meant only for the gods—the power of Day and Night."

My pulse quickened.

"You have the conditions to wield the power of Darkness, Darren."

"Really?"

She extended her hand, from which billowed a dark mist. "This is the soul of Malvick—the man who once held an eternal night in his grasp. He started the war. With your void crystal, you can imprint his soul. But beware, if he takes over... you will lose yourself."

I stared at the swirling void. Images of Chanel's death, my failures, the horrors yet to come flooded my mind.

This was a risk I had to take.

"I'll do it."

"Then place your hand on mine."

I did. And the world plunged into darkness.

"You are this world's final hope."

We're the last words I heard from Athena.