Astral Epoch

The night was as dark as ink, and the air was eerily still, with the surrounding world swallowed by the darkness. Adrian sat cross-legged on the cold, unforgiving ground, the Thunder Spear resting beside him. His breath gradually steadied. The Azure Dragon's power surged within him like a tidal wave. Though he felt the weight of exhaustion, his mind remained restless. The confrontation with Calem the previous night had not yet dissipated. His anger still churned within him, and each swing of his spear carried a trace of the violence that had yet to fade. Every time he closed his eyes, Calem's mocking face would appear, and those words, "One day, you'll understand my choice," felt like a blade, constantly cutting into the fragile balance within him.

Not far off, on a stone pillar, Lia stood silently, her figure blending with the night, as if part of the very ruins themselves. Moonlight spilled across her profile, but even that could not conceal the complex emotions flickering in her eyes. A gentle breeze stirred her sleeves, and the strings of her zither vibrated faintly in the wind, as though the power within her was flowing through the very air. Her gaze remained fixed on Adrian, her eyes betraying a trace of concern she had not fully acknowledged. Adrian's innate Azure Dragon power was formidable, but it lacked the control she had hoped for. She could sense the power evolving, but she also understood that this transformation might eventually lead him down a path with an unpredictable future—one she might no longer be able to stay apart from.

Her fingers tightened imperceptibly, and without realizing it, she gently plucked the strings of her zither. A barely perceptible wave of spiritual sound slipped into the night air, weaving its way into Adrian's body, easing the restless energy within him and helping him better control the flow of the thunderous power. As the notes resonated, Adrian's body slowly relaxed, his breathing becoming more even. Each time he focused on adjusting his breath, his soul found a brief moment of peace. Yet, the weighty pressure that hung over him still lingered—like the shadow of death inching ever closer in the darkness, keeping him from finding true rest.

Adrian slowly opened his eyes, a slight turn of his head betraying that something felt unusual. The atmosphere had grown even quieter, as though the wind had vanished altogether. His eyes scanned the darkness, alert and instinctive, but there was no sign of danger. He turned again, still finding no threat—only the shifting shadows of the trees and the starlight, cutting through the black curtain like tiny, distant blades. The wind carried no strange scent, and the air remained cold and still. Every movement, every sound, seemed buried within the profound silence.

Adrian turned back, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, beginning to regulate his breathing once more. The pressure from battle and the confusion within his heart were momentarily subdued. He began to reflect on the true meaning of the Azure Dragon's power. It had granted him strength, but it had also come with endless struggles and fears. No matter how hard he tried, Calem's whispered words still echoed in his mind: "One day, you'll understand my choice." Those words were like a brand, deeply engraved on his heart, echoing at intervals and making him hesitate after each strike. It felt as if he were constantly searching for some form of confirmation—where should he go?

But as his mind gradually calmed, the world around him began to blur, as if he were being separated from it. His spiritual energy flowed more smoothly, and he felt his control over his internal power becoming more refined. The thunderous strength seemed to fuse with his body, becoming a part of him. His palm grew slightly warm, and the Thunder Spear felt more stable in his grasp. Just as he thought he had fully mastered it, though, a subtle shift occurred—an unusual presence quietly stirred around him, like an invisible wave, gently vibrating through his chest.

The night breeze brushed past him again, carrying a trace of chill. Adrian suddenly opened his eyes, turning toward the darkness behind him. He felt every subtle shift in the air, as if that ethereal blue light had never left, still lingering in the shadows, a quiet reminder of something hidden.

From the darkness, a barely perceptible ethereal blue glow began to emerge. Adrian focused his gaze, recognizing the faint presence, like a ripple through the air. It wasn't an illusion—this subtle disturbance was real, seeping from the space around him. Adrian dared not underestimate it. His eyes narrowed with caution, and he raised his Thunder Spear slightly, the tip flickering with a faint glow of lightning.

But he did not strike. Instead, he remained still, observing, quietly waiting. The ethereal blue wave slowly faded into the night, as if its only purpose had been to remind him of the anomaly in that moment. The air grew still again, and the only sound Adrian could hear was the rhythmic pounding of his own heartbeat, growing clearer in his ears. In that instant, a strange, unfamiliar force surged into his body. The powerful energy resonated with the Azure Dragon's might within him, creating a mysterious connection. His consciousness began to blur, as though something irresistible was calling to him, drawing him toward an unseen fate.

Everything felt as though it were a sign of something greater, something inevitable, and Adrian could not shake the feeling that destiny itself was unfolding before him.