CHAPTER EIGHT: COLLISION OF FATE
1943 Words
COLLISION OF FATE
Morning came slowly over the forest.
Mist covered the ground, turning the trees into dark shapes against the pale sky.
The camp was quiet.
For a few minutes, nothing moved.
Then Lucan stepped into the clearing.
His boots were wet from the morning dew.
He stretched his arms and looked toward the trees.
Another day.
Another training session.
He wasn't sure whether to be excited or exhausted.
Probably both.
Vaeron was already waiting.
Seris stood several meters away, her arms folded.
Lyris sat beneath a tree, watching.
Lucan looked at Vaeron.
"Again?"
Vaeron nodded.
"Again."
Lucan sighed.
"You really don't get tired."
"No."
"You're not human."
Vaeron raised an eyebrow.
Lucan smiled.
"Just checking."
He stepped into position.
Vaeron studied him.
"Today, we're doing something different."
Lucan became serious.
"What?"
"You'll fight without choosing which Curse to use."
Lucan frowned.
"How?"
"Let your emotions decide."
Lucan looked uncertain.
"That sounds dangerous."
"It is."
Seris glanced at Vaeron.
"Very."
Vaeron continued.
"Your problem isn't that you lack power."
He looked at Lucan.
"Your problem is that you try to control everything."
Lucan lowered his hands.
"I thought that was the point."
"Control comes later."
Vaeron stepped backward.
"First, you need to understand what your body is doing."
Lucan nodded.
"Okay."
Vaeron attacked.
Lucan reacted immediately.
Thunder exploded from his feet.
He moved sideways.
Vaeron's strike missed.
Lucan turned and attacked.
Vaeron blocked.
Lucan moved again.
The lightning carried him across the clearing.
He landed.
Vaeron nodded.
"Better."
Lucan smiled.
"Thunder."
He looked at his hand.
Lightning crawled across his fingers.
"Fear."
Vaeron nodded.
"Exactly."
Lucan took a breath.
Then Vaeron attacked again.
Lucan dodged.
Another attack.
He blocked.
Another.
He moved.
The training became faster.
Lucan stopped thinking about each movement.
He simply reacted.
Thunder appeared whenever he felt threatened.
Then Vaeron changed his attacks.
Lucan couldn't predict them.
He became confused.
Frost appeared.
Ice spread beneath his feet.
Lucan slipped.
He barely recovered.
Vaeron stopped.
"Good."
Lucan looked down.
"Good?"
"Frost appeared naturally."
Lucan stared at the ice.
He hadn't summoned it.
He hadn't forced it.
His confusion had done it.
He smiled.
"I'm getting better."
"Again."
Lucan groaned.
---
The training continued for another hour.
Lucan became faster.
His Thunder was more controlled than before.
His Frost still wasn't.
Sometimes it appeared when he became confused.
Sometimes it appeared when he became frustrated.
Sometimes it appeared without warning.
Lucan hated that.
He wanted to understand it.
He wanted to control it.
He raised his hand.
Thunder appeared.
Then Frost.
The two powers touched.
The lightning crawled through the ice.
Lucan stared.
Vaeron immediately stepped forward.
"Don't."
Lucan stopped.
The combined energy disappeared.
"What?"
"You're not ready."
Lucan frowned.
"I almost had it."
"You almost lost control."
"But I didn't."
"Because you stopped."
Lucan looked at his hands.
"One day I'll control it."
"Yes."
Vaeron's voice softened slightly.
"But not today."
Lucan nodded.
He looked toward Seris.
"Your turn?"
Seris smiled.
"You need a rest first."
"I don't."
"You do."
Lyris laughed.
Lucan looked at her.
"You agree with her?"
"Completely."
Lucan sighed.
"Everyone against me."
Seris smiled.
Then she suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed.
Lucan noticed.
"What?"
Seris looked toward the trees.
"Something's wrong."
Vaeron turned.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Nothing.
Vaeron's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone move."
The ground froze.
Lucan jumped backward.
An enormous wall of ice erupted from the ground.
Seris moved.
Lyris screamed.
Vaeron raised Dominion.
Too late.
Ice surrounded them.
A second wall rose.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
Within seconds, they were trapped inside a massive cage of ice.
Lucan struck the wall with Thunder.
The lightning spread across the surface.
The ice remained intact.
He attacked again.
Nothing.
Vaeron pressed his hand against the wall.
Dominion pushed against Elena's Frost.
The cage shook.
But it didn't break.
A figure stepped from the trees.
Darius.
Another figure followed.
Elena.
Vearon's expression hardened.
"Darius."
Darius smiled.
"You remember me."
Elena looked at the frozen cage.
"You've improved."
Lucan raised his hand.
Thunder sparked.
"Let us out."
Darius laughed.
"No."
Seris stepped forward.
"Why?"
"You know why."
"The Entity."
Darius nodded.
"Our contract."
Seris looked at Elena.
"You both know he doesn't care about you."
Elena remained silent.
"He forced you into that contract."
Darius's expression hardened.
"That doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything."
Seris stepped closer.
"You were never his followers."
Darius said nothing.
"You've never served anyone."
Still nothing.
"You've spent your lives choosing your own side."
Darius looked at her.
"And now?"
"Now you're letting someone else choose for you."
Darius's jaw tightened.
Elena looked away.
Seris noticed.
"You don't have to."
Elena looked at her.
"The contract is binding."
"Then break it."
"We don't know how."
"Help us."
Darius laughed.
"And what?"
"Defeat the Entity."
Darius stared at her.
"You think it's that simple?"
"No."
Seris looked directly at him.
"But at least we'd be fighting for our own choice."
Darius shook his head.
"You don't understand what happens if we disobey."
"I understand fear."
Darius's eyes narrowed.
Seris continued.
"You're afraid of what he'll do."
Darius said nothing.
"So am I."
That caught his attention.
Seris looked at Elena.
"But fear doesn't have to decide everything."
Elena stared at her.
For a moment, uncertainty crossed her face.
Then the contract mark on her arm glowed.
She winced.
Darius noticed.
"We can't."
Seris frowned.
"What?"
"We can't betray him."
Darius looked at the mark.
"The contract won't allow it."
Seris's eyes hardened.
"Then we'll find another way."
She stepped back.
Her hands began glowing.
Thunder gathered around her fingers.
Darius's expression changed.
"Seris."
She smiled.
"Move."
Thunder exploded.
The ice cracked.
Elena raised both hands.
Frost strengthened the cage.
Seris pushed harder.
Lightning raced through the walls.
Cracks spread across the ice.
Lucan stepped beside her.
Thunder surrounded his arms.
Lyris activated Blood.
Vaeron activated Dominion.
The cage began shaking violently.
Seris shouted:
"Now!"
Everyone attacked.
Thunder.
Blood.
Dominion.
The ice shattered.
Pieces of frozen crystal flew through the air.
The group escaped.
Darius attacked immediately.
Lucan blocked.
The impact threw him backward.
Seris struck Darius with Thunder.
Elena froze the ground.
Vaeron shouted:
"Run!"
They disappeared into the trees.
Darius and Elena followed.
---
The forest became a maze.
Lucan ran until his lungs burned.
Branches struck his face.
His feet slipped over roots.
Lyris stayed close to Seris.
Vaeron led them deeper into the forest.
Finally, they reached a narrow rocky passage.
Vaeron stopped.
"Inside."
They entered.
The passage led into a small cave hidden behind thick roots.
Everyone crouched inside.
Lucan tried to slow his breathing.
Seris looked outside.
Nothing.
Darius and Elena were still searching.
Lucan whispered:
"We can't keep running."
Vaeron looked at him.
"I know."
"We have to fight."
Seris shook her head.
"Not like this."
Lucan looked at her.
"We're trapped either way."
Vaeron remained silent.
Lucan stared at him.
Then an idea came to him.
"Vaeron."
Vaeron looked at him.
"Use Dominion on me."
Silence.
Seris immediately understood.
"No."
Lucan looked at her.
"You haven't even heard the plan."
"I know enough."
Vaeron shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
Lucan stepped closer.
"You can guide my movements."
"I can."
"Then use it."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if I make one mistake, I could hurt you."
Lucan stared at him.
"You said Dominion can enhance control."
"Yes."
"Then control me."
"That's not how it works."
"Then teach me how."
Vaeron's expression hardened.
"You don't understand the risk."
Lucan looked toward the cave entrance.
"They're stronger than me."
"You don't need to fight them."
"They'll keep coming."
Vaeron said nothing.
Lucan continued.
"We can't run forever."
Seris looked between them.
Lucan's voice became quieter.
"I know I'm not strong enough."
He looked at Vaeron.
"But you are."
Vaeron remained silent.
"So use what you have."
Lyris looked at Lucan.
"You're sure?"
"No."
Lucan smiled faintly.
"But I'm going to do it anyway."
Vaeron sighed.
"You are unbelievably stubborn."
Lucan smiled.
"I've been told."
Vaeron stepped closer.
"Listen carefully."
Lucan nodded.
"I will not take control of your mind."
"Okay."
"I will guide your movements."
"Okay."
"You remain conscious."
"Okay."
"If I tell you to stop, you stop."
Lucan nodded.
"And if you feel pain?"
"I tell you."
Vaeron stared at him.
"Promise."
"I promise."
Vaeron placed his hand against Lucan's shoulder.
Dominion activated.
A strange pressure entered Lucan's body.
His vision sharpened.
Every sound became clearer.
He could hear the wind outside.
He could hear Lyris breathing.
He could hear Seris's heartbeat.
His body felt lighter.
Faster.
More precise.
Lucan opened his eyes.
"Whoa."
Vaeron stepped back.
"How do you feel?"
"Different."
"Good."
Lucan looked at his hands.
Thunder appeared.
Frost formed beneath his feet.
Vaeron's eyes narrowed.
"Don't combine them yet."
Lucan smiled.
"No promises."
---
Outside the cave, Darius stopped.
He looked around.
"They're here."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Darius raised his hand.
Decay spread across the ground.
Trees began to weaken.
The hidden cave entrance became exposed.
Seris looked toward Lucan.
"It's time."
Lucan stepped forward.
Vaeron activated Dominion.
The battle began.
Darius attacked first.
Decay spread across the ground.
Lucan moved.
Vaeron guided him.
He slipped past the attack.
Thunder exploded from his legs.
He shot forward.
Darius blocked.
Lucan struck again.
Darius staggered.
Elena attacked.
Frost spread through the air.
Lucan jumped.
Vaeron redirected his body.
The ice missed.
Lucan landed behind Elena.
Thunder struck.
She blocked.
The impact sent her backward.
Seris entered.
Lightning flashed.
Elena countered with Frost.
The two powers collided.
Lyris attacked Darius.
Blood energy tore through the ground.
Darius dodged.
Vaeron raised Dominion.
Darius's movement slowed.
Lucan attacked.
Thunder struck.
Darius blocked.
Decay erupted.
Lucan moved faster.
The Dominion guided him around the attack.
Darius's eyes widened.
"He's using Dominion."
Vaeron didn't answer.
Lucan attacked again.
Darius fell to one knee.
Elena tried to help him.
Seris blocked her.
Thunder crashed against Frost.
Elena pushed back.
Seris pushed harder.
The battle continued.
Lucan's body moved faster than ever.
But the strain was becoming painful.
Vaeron felt it.
"Slow down."
Lucan ignored him.
Thunder appeared.
Frost followed.
The two powers combined.
Vaeron's eyes widened.
"Lucan!"
The energy exploded.
Lucan pushed forward.
A frozen wave of lightning tore across the battlefield.
Elena raised a massive Frost barrier.
The attack shattered it.
She fell backward.
Darius turned toward her.
Lucan attacked.
Thunder struck his shoulder.
He fell.
Lyris's Blood surrounded his legs.
He couldn't move.
Seris stepped forward.
Thunder gathered around her hand.
Darius stopped fighting.
Elena slowly rose.
She looked at Darius.
They both knew.
They had lost.
Vaeron released Dominion.
Lucan fell to one knee.
His breathing was heavy.
Darius and Elena were restrained.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Darius laughed quietly.
"So this is how it ends."
Seris looked at him.
"No."
Darius looked up.
"It's only the beginning."
Elena looked at the contract mark on her arm.
It was still glowing.
Vaeron noticed.
His expression became serious.
"The contract is still active."
Lucan looked at the mark.
"So the Entity still has control."
Darius nodded.
"Yes."
Seris looked at him.
"Then we'll find a way to break it."
Darius stared at her.
"You really don't know when to stop."
Seris smiled.
"No."
Lyris laughed softly.
Lucan looked around.
The battlefield was destroyed.
Trees were frozen.
The ground was cracked.
Decay had blackened the earth.
But they had won.
For now.
They had captured two members of the Seven.
Two people who had been sent to hunt Lucan.
Yet the contract remained.
And somewhere far away...
The Entity knew exactly what had happened.
The collision of their paths had only just begun.
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