The storm did not slow.
If anything, it grew stronger.
Thunder rolled across Aetherfall Valley like a giant awakening from a deep sleep. The sky darkened as thick clouds swallowed the sun, and violent winds swept through the cliffs.
Kael stood frozen in the center of the ridge.
Electricity danced across his fingers.
Blue sparks snapped and flickered between his hands like tiny living snakes of lightning.
His eyes widened.
"Ryn… look at this."
Ryn was already looking.
Very carefully.
The calm boy slowly lowered the stone shield he had raised moments earlier. The earth beneath them settled again, though faint cracks remained where his power had surged.
He stepped closer.
"Hold still," he said.
"I am holding still," Kael replied quickly.
Another spark burst from his palm.
CRACK.
Kael yelped.
"Okay maybe I'm not!"
Ryn grabbed Kael's wrist before the electricity could jump again.
For a brief moment, both of them froze.
The lightning stopped.
Silence.
Then—
WHOOSH.
The wind around Kael spiraled violently upward, forming a twisting vortex that lifted dust, grass, and loose stones into the air.
Kael's hair lifted with the current, glowing faintly under the flashing sky.
Ryn narrowed his eyes.
"…Your power awakened."
Kael blinked.
"My what?"
Ryn released his wrist.
"Elemental resonance."
Kael stared blankly.
Ryn sighed slightly.
"You really never listen during lessons."
"HEY, those lessons were boring!"
Ryn ignored him and continued.
"Every generation, a few people are born with the ability to resonate with one of the Prime Elements."
He pointed upward.
"Storm."
Then he tapped the ground with his foot.
"Stone."
Kael looked down.
Then back at Ryn.
"Wait… you're saying…"
He pointed excitedly at the ground.
"You have powers too?"
Ryn gave him a flat look.
"I literally just lifted half the cliff to block lightning."
"Oh right."
Kael scratched his head.
"Yeah… that did happen."
Another thunderclap echoed through the sky.
BOOOOM.
The ground trembled again.
But this time—
It wasn't just the storm.
Ryn's expression changed.
"Do you feel that?"
Kael tilted his head.
"Feel what?"
The ground beneath them vibrated slightly.
Not like thunder.
Something deeper.
Something moving through the valley.
Ryn suddenly stepped forward.
"Stay behind me."
Kael laughed.
"You say that like something scary is coming."
Then they heard it.
CRACK.
A section of the cliffside below them split apart.
Massive stones tumbled down the slope, smashing into the valley floor.
Kael leaned forward.
"Whoa…"
Something moved inside the dust cloud.
Huge.
Heavy.
Then a massive stone hand rose from the rubble.
Kael blinked.
"…That's not normal."
The creature slowly stood.
A giant figure made entirely of rock and earth towered over the valley floor. Its glowing amber eyes burned from deep within its stone skull.
A Stone Warden.
Ancient protectors of the valley.
But this one looked… different.
Cracks covered its body.
Dark energy seeped from inside them.
Ryn's face tightened.
"That's impossible."
Kael crossed his arms.
"You know what that is?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"It shouldn't be alive."
The Stone Warden lifted one enormous foot.
Then stepped forward.
The ground shook violently.
Kael grinned.
"Well…"
Lightning flickered around his hands again.
"I guess we should introduce ourselves."
Ryn turned to him.
"You have never fought anything in your life."
Kael stretched his arms.
"I've fought you."
"You lost every time."
Kael shrugged.
"Details."
Another lightning flash tore through the sky.
CRACK.
The Stone Warden roared, its rocky voice echoing across the valley.
Villagers below began shouting in panic.
Kael looked down.
People were running.
Houses shaking.
Fear spreading through the valley.
His grin slowly disappeared.
"…We can't let it reach the village."
Ryn nodded once.
"Agreed."
He stepped forward.
The ground beneath him began to glow faintly.
Golden cracks spread across the stone.
His power responding.
Kael cracked his knuckles.
"Alright."
Wind whipped around him.
Electricity surged across his arms.
"First real fight."
Ryn raised one hand.
Massive stone pillars erupted from the ground beside him.
Kael leaned forward like a sprinter ready to launch.
Lightning flickered through the air.
Storm and Stone.
Awakening together.
Kael grinned.
"Let's see what we can do."
Then both of them jumped from the cliff.
Straight toward the monster.