Dawn broke over the Frontier with a pale, washed-out light.
Cold wind swept across the ridge, carrying the scent of dust and something older—something that didn't belong to the natural world.
Aren stood on the fractured cliff where yesterday's training nearly killed him.
He was exhausted.
His muscles burned.
But his eyes were steady.
Today's lesson wasn't about running or resisting.
It was about choice.
About control.
About calling the void on purpose.
The female operative checked her scanner uneasily.
"Readings spike every time you get tense. You sure you're ready?"
Aren nodded.
"If I don't learn this, the void will control me instead."
The older operative leaned against a stone, arms crossed.
"Kid… most people would quit."
Aren tightened his grip on his own wrist.
"I'm not most people."
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The fog rolled in again.
Quiet.
Measured.
Intentional.
The Remnant stepped from the mist, runes glowing like dull moons.
Unlike before, it carried no killing intent.
Just presence.
Ancient.
Heavy.
Watchful.
"Voidscar bearer."
Aren bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
"Remnant."
"Yesterday you resisted the void.
Today you embrace it."
Aren exhaled slowly.
"Show me how."
The Remnant lowered its torso.
"Summoning the void is not difficult.
Controlling the void you summon…
is nearly impossible."
Aren swallowed.
"I'll manage."
The Remnant pointed at his chest with a stone limb.
"The scar is wound and well.
Reach inward."
Aren closed his eyes.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Inside himself…
he found the flicker.
The faint, unstable pulse left behind when he severed the void king's chain.
Small.
Weak.
Barely a spark.
But alive.
Aren focused on it—
not with desperation—
but with deliberate breath.
It answered.
th-thump
Aren exhaled.
The Remnant spoke:
"Call it."
Aren hesitated.
"What if it reacts too strongly?"
"Then you are not ready."
Right.
No other option.
He reached inward—
not grabbing—
not forcing—
but acknowledging.
The spark warmed.
A faint glow appeared around his fingertips.
Violet.
Unsteady.
Alive.
The female operative gasped quietly.
"He's actually doing it…"
The Remnant's gaze sharpened.
"Do not let it rise on instinct.
Invite it."
Aren whispered:
"…Come."
The spark flared.
Void energy crawled across Aren's palm—
not violently—
but with trembling eagerness.
Aren's breath hitched.
"I… I have it."
"Now hold it."
The Remnant stepped closer.
Aren's vision dimmed.
The void began creeping up his wrist—
slow but hungry.
He clenched his jaw.
"Stop.
Stay there."
The void pushed back.
His arm burned.
His pulse raced.
His vision blurred.
But he didn't let it climb higher.
He held the line.
He commanded.
The void hesitated—
then obeyed.
The Remnant froze for a full second.
"…Impressive."
Aren gulped for air.
"Did… did I do it?"
"You began."
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The Remnant extended a limb.
"Now shape it."
Aren blinked.
"Shape it? How?"
"What form does your instinct desire?"
Aren frowned.
"My instinct?"
"Void answers will, but echoes instinct."
Aren closed his eyes.
When he imagined power—
he imagined a bow.
His bow.
The first weapon he ever held.
The only weapon that felt like home.
He raised his hand.
And the void reacted—
Light gathering—
forming—
taking shape—
A faint outline appeared.
Curved.
Elegant.
Familiar.
A bow of flickering violet distortion.
Not solid.
Not stable.
But there.
The operatives stared in shock.
"He… he manifested a weapon!"
The Remnant nodded without surprise.
"Your form is chosen."
Aren's heart raced.
"It's incomplete."
"So are you."
Aren tightened his grip.
"Then let's complete it."
The Remnant stepped back—
runic plates shifting—
And struck Aren full-force.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The bow shattered instantly.
Aren flew backward, slamming into the ridge wall.
Dust exploded.
He coughed violently.
The female operative rushed forward.
"AREN!"
The Remnant blocked her path.
"Do not interfere."
Aren forced himself to stand, chest heaving.
"You broke it…"
"Yes."
"Why?!"
"If a single blow can destroy your focus, you have no mastery."
Aren clenched his fists.
Fine.
He summoned the spark again.
Void crawled over his palm.
He shaped it again.
A violet bow reformed—
more stable.
Less flickering.
The Remnant lunged again.
WHAM—
This time Aren kept the form alive for half a second longer.
Then it shattered.
He crashed to the ground.
His vision blurred.
He got up anyway.
"Again."
WHAM—
"Again."
BOOM—
"Again!"
The Remnant's blows kept breaking the bow.
Aren's knuckles tore.
His ribs screamed.
He couldn't breathe.
But he didn't stop.
He shaped the void again and again.
Each time stronger.
Each time clearer.
Each time closer.
━━━━━━━
Until finally—
Aren raised his hand.
The Voidscar answered fully.
Light curved.
Solidified.
Stabilized.
A bow formed in his grip—
smooth, silent, alive with restrained power.
Not flickering.
Not unstable.
Whole.
The Remnant lunged one last time—
Aren didn't dodge.
He drew the voidstring.
Violet energy formed an arrow.
He released.
THOOM—!!
The arrow struck the Remnant's limb—
and for the first time—
the ancient creature staggered back.
Aren's knees nearly gave out.
But he held the bow steady.
The Remnant straightened.
Runes dimming.
Voice approving.
"Weapon formed."
"Instinct aligned."
"Void answered your will."
Aren exhaled, chest burning.
"…So what now?"
The Remnant turned away.
Fog gathered around its frame.
"Now…
we teach you how to shoot."
Aren smiled despite the pain.
Finally—
he was evolving again.
By choice.
By will.
By mastery.
Not by the void king.