Chapter 71: The Weight of Power

The next morning, the motel room smelled like old coffee and anxiety.

Elias sat on the edge of the battered bed, lacing his boots, feeling the heavy presence of the Watch on his wrist — heavier than usual.

Almost like it knew.

Sophia paced the floor, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

She hadn't said much since their meeting with Seraphine and Callum.

"You don't have to do this alone," she said finally, her voice small.

Elias smiled faintly.

"I know."

But some battles had to be fought inside your own head, he thought.

And right now, his mind was a battlefield.

---

They met Seraphine and Callum outside the motel in the thin gray light of dawn.

Seraphine wore the same crisp suit, not a wrinkle in sight, while Callum looked like he'd rolled out of bed and into the nearest coffee shop — mismatched sneakers and a hoodie pulled over his blond hair.

"First lesson," Seraphine announced, tossing Elias a heavy black backpack.

"Survival. Because flashy skills won't save you if you're dead."

Callum grinned.

"Don't worry, we only lost three recruits last month."

Elias paled slightly.

Callum winked. "Kidding. Mostly."

Sophia elbowed him in the ribs. Hard.

---

Elias opened the bag.

Inside:

A battered map

A canteen of water

A Swiss Army knife

A first aid kit

A bag of trail mix

A rusty old compass

A single flare gun

No phone. No weapons.

Definitely no backup.

"You're dropping me in the woods," Elias realized.

Seraphine nodded.

"Thirty miles outside the city. Find your way back within twenty-four hours. No shortcuts. No Watch abilities."

Elias raised an eyebrow.

"No abilities?"

Callum chuckled.

"Skills you earned through blood and sweat are fine. Skills the Watch gave you... locked out."

Elias felt a cold shiver slide down his spine.

Without the Watch's bonuses...

He was just a regular kid again.

---

They blindfolded him for the ride.

Callum cracked jokes the entire time.

Sophia, before he got out, pressed a small folded note into his palm.

"For luck," she whispered.

And then the van door slammed shut behind him.

He stood in the middle of nowhere, trees towering around him like ancient sentinels.

The sun was already dipping low, bleeding pink into the sky.

He had twenty-four hours to make it back.

Or fail.

And if he failed...

he had no idea what would happen to him next.

---

At first, it wasn't too bad.

Elias moved quickly, sticking to animal trails, using the compass when the stars weren't enough.

The survival lessons from his Watch tasks kicked in.

Starting a fire.

Finding water.

The night air grew cold fast, gnawing at his bones.

He pulled his jacket tighter and pressed on.

---

Then Came the Wolves

Somewhere deep in the forest, he heard the first low growl.

His heart slammed into his ribs.

Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Not one.

Not two.

Three.

Wild dogs, maybe — or wolves — thin, desperate, and very interested in him.

Elias knew he couldn't outrun them.

He couldn't overpower them.

But he could outthink them.

He yanked open the bag, grabbed the flare gun.

Only one shot.

He waited...

Waited until they crept closer...

And then fired straight into the air.

The flare screamed up, a blinding sunburst in the night.

The wolves bolted, startled and scared.

Elias didn't wait to celebrate.

He ran.

---

Bleeding from a shallow gash on his arm, exhausted, hungry, and half-frozen —

Elias finally stumbled onto a cracked stretch of asphalt.

The old highway.

Civilization.

He limped down the road, not even sure if he was going the right way anymore.

Then —

a battered black van screeched to a halt beside him.

Callum leaned out the window, grinning like a maniac.

"Nice work, city boy."

Seraphine was in the passenger seat, stoic as ever.

"You made it," she said simply.

Elias managed a crooked smile.

"Barely."

Sophia rushed out of the back and threw her arms around him.

"You idiot," she whispered fiercely.

Elias hugged her back, wincing a little.

But for the first time in what felt like forever —

he felt strong.

Not because of a reward.

Not because of magic.

Because of himself.

---

Later That Day

As he lay in a real bed for the first time in days, the Watch buzzed.

New Reward Unlocked:

> "Unyielding Spirit" — You will never faint from pain, exhaustion, or fear again.

Elias smiled, a real, tired smile.

For once, the reward felt earned.

Not a cheat.

Not a shortcut.

But a badge of survival.

---