Shattered Note

e: The Shad

ng between solid and shadow. The creature he had just defeated lay still, but this new p

ep it took seemed to warp the ground beneath it, like reality was bending around its presence. Aether could feel

gure's voice was low, echoing like a distant thun

s still there, but it felt different now-unstable. His victory over the creature felt distant, like a memory

ont of them, took a step closer to Aether. "Be careful," she warn

n the figure. He could feel his heart pounding in his

rs of this realm, and they don't interfere unless they sense a great thr

hard. "And that's

n nodded

ical weight. "You are an anomaly," it said, its voice resonating through the air. "This

nes. He tried to remain calm, to hold onto the control he had barely managed to grasp, but the sheer intensity of the

king a step forward. "I was thrown into thi

rance will not protect you here," it said. "Your emotions are your power, but they are a

uld feel the fear creeping in-the same fear he had felt when he first realized his emotions were returning. He had fought so hard to su

ime to react before a wave of force slammed into him, sending him crashing to the ground. Pain shot through

ear. Des

im. He could feel the energy pulsing through his veins, erratic and un

oice cutting through the chaos in his

y and oppressive, and he could feel the power inside him slipping through his fingers. He wante

e, something was different. Instead of fear, he felt something else stirring inside him-a dete

he emotions that had been running wild inside him. He didn't try to suppress them this

een swirling uncontrollably inside him began to stabilize, and he could fe

energy. The Guardian paused, as if assess

Guardian said, its tone unreadable. "Bu

hrow up a shield of energy in time, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the air. The

her did

dy, the pull of his emotions threatening to slip out of his control again. But this time, he didn't let

g Aether closely. "Impressive," it said, though its

ould feel the exhaustion setting in, but he wasn't about to gi

g, but strength alone will not save you. This world is unforgiving, and the challenge

holding the energy in check. "Then teach me," he said, his voice hoarse but

ay, its back now facing Aether. "Your journey is your own," it said. "I cannot guide you. But I will offer you this warning: t

in the Underbelly and now in this strange world. He didn't want to become a monste

happen," Aether sa

ck, its glowing eyes na

Aether standing alone in the desolate field. The storm had

ng, but this time it felt different. More controlled. More

ing echoing in his mind, he knew