The training room was cold, sterile, and silent.
Marcus stood in the center of the room, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and deliberate. The dark energy was there, pulsing in the background of his consciousness, a constant presence that he'd learned to live with.
But Victor wanted him to do more than just live with it. He wanted Marcus to master it.
"Focus," Victor said, his voice calm and measured. "Feel the dark energy. Not as an enemy, but as an extension of yourself."
Marcus opened his eyes, frustration flickering across his face. "I've been trying. But every time I reach for it, it pushes back."
Victor moved closer, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe that's the problem. You're trying to control it, to dominate it. That's not how connection works."
Marcus shook his head. "Then
