Tale of Vanguard

When the quiet embrace of the evening gradually change into the deep hours of the night, Kaelen dedicates himself to rigourous training under Serephira's guidance at the arena, perfecting his swordmanship.

But when the dawn breaks and the morning sun casts its light, Kaelen commit himself to mastered his astral resonance and the intricate workings of his veil. He honed these skills with the meticulous instruction of Master Cronos at the site of his astral attunement.

This routine back and forth trainings are what strives him to push beyond his limits in pursuit of true mastery.

Kaelen sat cross-legged in the same intricate circle where he underwent his astral attunement. His eyes were closed and his breathing were steady. His focus was intense, with each breath hinted a silent mantra as he sought to draw the power of the veil into his very essence. The air around him shimmered faintly, as he slowly felt like he was on the verge of something tangible, a sudden sharp thwack jolted him on the head.

Pain radiated from the sudden strike, causing his eyes to snapped open, where he find Master Cronos standing over him, the old man's staff poised for another blow. Kaelen flinched, rubbing the sore spot and glaring up at his master with a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

"What the hell, old man? What's the purpose of you hitting me like that every time i meditate?"

Master Cronos regarded him with an inscrutable expression

"If a simple bonk to the head is enough to disrupt your focus, then you can forget about resonating your soul with the veil."

He paused as he tapped his staff into the ground

"The distrations of the world will never cease, boy; your task right now is to learn to center yourself amidst the chaos, not in the absence of it."

Kaelen grimaced at the old man's response, even though he hated it, he had to admit that the sting of the old man's word settles deeper than the sting of his staff. He knew Master Cronos was right.

The reason he was meditating in the first place hung heavily between them. When Master Cronos ordered Kaelen to cast the power of the dark flame again, as he had done instinctively in the arena, nothing came out. The very flames that had once answered him with its destructive fervor now seemed so distant and unresponsive.

It was as though the connection between him and the flames had slipped away, leaving only a cold void where the searing heat should have been—Not that Kaelen knew how the connection even formed in the first place.

Hence the meditation: an effort to resonate his soul with the veil that governs that very flames.

'Shit! Why is it not working!'

With each attempt, the flicker of power evaded him, like a shadow slipping through his fingers.

Observing Kaelen's struggle, Master Cronos tapped his staff lightly on the ground.

"You seek to control the flame, but it is not control you need—it's harmony. The veil does not bend to will alone; it requires understanding, a resonance that goes beyond mere intent. Until you learn that, all the power in the world will remain just out of reach."

He continued to observe the boy's renewed effort with a thoughtful gaze, accompanied by the rhythmically tapping of his staff against the ground as if in quite contemplation. Breaking the silence, he asked:

"Boy, why did you ask Serephira to train you with a sword? Of all the weapons that a seeker can possess, why a sword?"

Hearing the old man's question, kaelen slowly opened his eyes. He knew that the old man wasn't one to ask idle questions; as there was always a deeper meaning behind his inquiries. With his steady voice that are tinged with the weight of his memories, he answered

"When i was undergoing my astral attunement, i fought against... something. But it wasn't just any ordinary adversary—it wielded a sword, one that contained the very dark flame I possess now. It was like staring at a reflection of something that I hadn't fully claimed yet."

He paused, glancing down at his hands

"And then, during my fight with Serephira, she said I went on a rampage. In that moment, the very same sword appeared—she said it came out of me."

Master Cronos listened intently with his unchanging expression, but his eyes began to flicker with interest. Kaelen's hand curled into fists, frustration seeping into his voice as he continued:

"But now, I can't seem to materialize that sword again. No matter how much I try, it just doesn't come to me. It's like… it's there, somewhere deep, but out of reach."

Master Cronos tilted his head slightly, responding to Kaelen's words

"So, you seek a connection to this sword because it mirrors the power you felt during your attunement. It is a weapon tied to your veil, a manifestation of your inner strength—or perhaps, your inner turmoil."

He took a step closer, resting the end of his staff lightly against the ground beside Kaelen.

"I believe the sword could represents more than just a weapon; maybe it's an extension of your soul's resonance with the veil, a conduit for the dark flame. But if you cannot summon it now, perhaps there is a reason."

Kaelen looked up and met the old man's gaze.

"What reason?"

Master Cronos simply gave him a small, knowing smile

"Power is not just about feeling; it's about understanding. The sword isn't something you can force into being with sheer willpower or raw emotion. It's an embodiment of the connection between you and your veil, and that connection is fragile. If there's hesitation, doubt, or a lack of clarity in your intent, the sword will remain beyond your grasp."

He lifted his staff again and gave Kaelen another tap on the head with it, though this time the gesture felt more guiding than punitive.

"You're focusing too much on the 'how' and not enough on the 'why.' Why does the sword matter to you? What does it represent? Power, protection, vengeance, or something else? Until you can answer that, fully and without hesitation, it will continue to elude you."

Kaelen sat in thoughtful silence as the weight of Master Cronos's words pressing down on him. He had always seen the sword as a means to an end—a way to wield the dark flame, But maybe it was more than that, and maybe, just maybe, the answer wasn't as simple as he had hoped.

"Resonance is not a straight path, boy. It's a journey through the shadows of your own soul. Embrace that journey, and the sword will come. Chase it blindly, and it will remain a mere echo."

With that, Master Cronos stepped back, giving Kaelen space to continue his training. Kaelen closed his eyes once more, letting the words sink in. It wasn't just about fighting or winning; it was about his understanding of the deeper connection between himself, the veil, and the dark flame that surged within. Only by bridging these gap could he hope to obtained the full power of his astral resonance.