A feeling of dread washed over Rowan as the Green-Core monster’s gaze settled on him. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. It felt like his legs were rooted in place, and it took him longer than he’d care to admit to gather his scattered thoughts.

  [Iron Will] flared, barely managing to clear his mind and push away the fear.

  Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and rushed to Kai, scooping his familiar into his arms.

  Kai stirred instantly, his eyes widening in alarm as he sensed Rowan’s panic. He trilled in confusion, quickly perching on Rowan’s shoulder and darting a worried glance toward the cave entrance. When the creature outside came into view, Kai instinctively clung even tighter.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck!

  Rowan’s mind raced, trying to find a solution to the shitstorm that he’d just dropped on their heads.

  Why did I scan it? He thought frantically. Why in the Nine Hells did I scan it?

  A Storm Elemental wasn’t something he could deal with—or really any other type of Elemental for that matter. They were as much natural disasters as they were monsters. A sentient grouping of mana brought to life by an overwhelming density of Intent.

  Scholars have been debating what made them manifest for centuries, and usually, Rowan would have found the topic fascinating. Something that could occupy his mind for hours. But right now, he didn’t care about it in the slightest. Not when there was a living storm steadily making its way towards him.

  Do I just leave? he asked himself.

  After a brief, agonizing pause, Rowan sent a sliver of Intent into the ring on his finger and summoned a token—an exact copy of the one that he’d used to reach the Heights in the first place.

  Another heartbeat later, he activated it.

  The enchantment flared to life, starting the countdown.

  As Rowan stared at the approaching calamity, he felt something that he hadn’t since the day Eiseylth burned.

  Helplessness.

  Right now, even with all the progress he’d made, Rowan was once again at the mercy of Fate.

  He gritted his teeth, fists clenched tightly at his side.

  As if to defy his dread, Kai let out a resounding caw, spreading his powerful wings wide. His familiar’s protective defiance, as if daring the Elemental to come any closer, coaxed a small, strained smile onto Rowan’s face.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, buddy,” he muttered, willing the token to affix faster.

  Space magic was a finicky affair. The runes adorning the enchanted parchment were at a level of complexity Rowan couldn’t even begin to comprehend. They outlined concepts that transcended normal affinities and moved into the realm of High Magic, something reserved for Blue-Core mages and above.

  Thunder boomed.

  From between the mountain ranges, the Elemental drew closer. The trees it passed over bent under the powerful gusts of Wind emanating from its body. Through the occasional flash of thunder, Rowan could see the other monsters that had settled in the mountains fleeing in terror—birds of prey desperately flapping their wings, Stalkers jumping from branch to branch—all attempting to escape the storm’s wrath.

  But the Elemental seemed to only be focused on one thing—Rowan himself.

  His palms grew sweaty as it approached, eyes flickering to the token every few seconds, knowing exactly what he’d see but still hoping otherwise.

  It was barely a quarter of the way done.

  He was stuck.

  Rowan couldn’t leave the cave. Out in the open—in the dark, the wind, and the rain—he’d be defenseless. At least here, he had some sort of natural protection.

  He moved to the back of the cave, huddling up against the far wall.

  Kai trilled softly, nuzzling his beak against Rowan’s cheek in a silent offer of support. Yet even that gesture did little to calm the frantic pounding of his heart.

  Desperation clawed at his thoughts, forcing him to act. Rowan sank down onto the ground, crossing his legs and closing his eyes in an attempt to find calm amidst the chaos.

  There had only been two times since his Awakening that Rowan felt like his magic wouldn’t be enough to deal with the threat he faced. Once in the Plateau, when seven Wyrmlings tried to make him their dinner, and now here, facing a monster leagues beyond him in power.

  He could stand here and launch a thousand [Fireball]’s at the Storm Elemental, but he doubted they’d amount to much. This monster wasn't something he was capable of winning against, and if he wanted to survive, Rowan needed to dig deep.

  Come on, he urged himself. I managed it once. I can sure as hell manage it again.

  That calm sea had eluded him for far too long. It was a part of him, just waiting to be claimed. All Rowan needed to do was step into it.

  [Iron Will] kept his thoughts steady, not allowing the fear to get a permanent foothold. It was still there—more prominent than ever—only muted.

  Rowan tried to sink deeper into himself, each slow, measured breath a struggle—like swimming through thick, viscous honey. He’d expected to find something—anything—yet the only thing that greeted him was darkness.

  It’s not working, he thought, his hands trembling. Why isn’t it working?

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  The harder he tried to force it, the more the tension built. He opened his eyes and glanced back at the token.

  Not even half.

  Rowan shifted his gaze to the entrance, and while he couldn’t be sure, it seemed like the Elemental was almost here. Its thunder was louder now, and the steady patter of raindrops against stone filled the cavern with an ominous rhythm.

  With a frustrated grimace, he dropped [Iron Will].

  In an instant, all the emotions it had been holding back fell against him like physical blows.

  The panic. The fear. The doubt.

  What if this really was how his Path ended? In some insignificant cave, alone and forgotten.

  No, Rowan thought firmly. This isn’t how I go out. This isn’t how a Great House ends.

  Images of his family passed through his mind—his father's gentle voice, his mother’s kind smile, his siblings’ laughter echoing through the castle. Rowan clung to them like a familiar shield, a guiding light through the storm.

  This was something he could deal with. Something he could overcome.

  Eyes closing, Rowan once again tried to meditate.

  Slowly, he receded into his psyche, pushing past old wounds and painful memories.

  More thunder. Closer. The weight of it almost tangible against his skin.

  Then, from one moment to the next, Rowan felt soft sand beneath his feet. His heartbeat quickened, pounding in his chest like the drums of war.

  Hesitantly, his eyelids fluttered open, and the sight that greeted him was like a bucket of ice-cold water dousing his hopes.

  He was still inside the cavern, the token’s soft hum still resonating in his hand, and the Storm Elemental nearly upon him.

  A knot formed in his stomach.

  “Fuck,” he whispered, his voice strained.

  A weight fell on his shoulders. Then, with a soundless whisper, the token burned away into ethereal dust, the enchantment shattered.

  What? Rowan thought in bewilderment, a deep dread washing over him. It… it broke?

  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he realized what had happened. The Storm had reached him, its Domain now encompassing the cavern, disturbing the sensitive enchantments and leaving Rowan utterly stranded.

  On shaky legs, he stood up.

  Kai tried to fly up onto his shoulder, but Rowan firmly shook his head. “Stay here at the back,” he ordered. “And if something happens, don’t intervene, alright?”

  His familiar spread his wings wide, letting out a fierce, determined caw that warmed Rowan’s heart, but even still, he didn’t budge.

  Dropping to one knee, he looked into the dark eyes of his black-feather guardian.

  “Kai, please,” he said softly, scratching the little menace under his beak. “Trust me, okay? I’ll get us through this.”

  Kai nuzzled against his palm, letting out a wary trill.

  Rowan closed his eyes. Eldara, if you’re listening, could really use some help.

  He’d never been one for prayers, but right now, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

  He slowly stood, taking in his surroundings. The cavern was dark and damp, with little more than his makeshift fire pit and the rocky contours of stone for company. He’d chosen this place for shelter—high enough to stay dry, deep enough to stay hidden—but now, as the temperature plummeted and the air grew heavy, Rowan felt what seemed like the weight of the mountains overhead pressing down on him.

  The wind picked up, and with a shaky breath, Rowan made his way towards the entrance.

  The mist outside was restless now, swirling unnaturally as if caught in the grip of some unseen force. The faint blue glow of lighting began to flicker within the fog, pulses of light illuminating the jagged rocks.

  Then he saw it.

  At first, it was little more than a shape, an amorphous blur of motion within the storm. But as it drew closer, the figure became clearer—a towering form of crackling energy, humanoid in shape, but as far from human as it got.

  The Elemental’s body was composed entirely of swirling storm clouds, coiled and writhing like living things. Bolts of lightning danced across its surface, leaping from shoulder to shoulder and tracing the jagged edges of its massive, shifting limbs.

  The wind surged again, this time stronger, howling through the narrow pass and rattling loose stones from the walls. Rowan braced himself, trying to keep his breathing steady as the Elemental’s approach became deliberate.

  It moved with purpose, each massive stride swallowing the distance between them and causing the ground to tremble.

  Rowan felt the buildup of mana in the air, similar to when Tremil fought the Warlock. Only this time, it was on an entirely different scale.

  He’d grown up around mages capable of dissipating this monster with an errant wave of their hands, witnessed feats of magic that dwarfed this manifestation of mana by an order of magnitude, yet even still, there was something visceral about the experience.

  Once again, Rowan closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to calm and the shaking in his hands to still.

  Something inside him stirred—a quiet determination that swallowed his fear in one smooth wave. If he was going to die here, then so be it. But it wouldn’t happen without him doing everything in his power to try and change that fact.

  He needed a clear head, and the shaking wasn’t helping.

  A strange sense of calm overtook him, and this time, it wasn’t because of [Iron Will] pulling its weight. Then he activated it, and everything came back into sharp focus. Rowan’s mind whirled, searching for a solution he knew had to be there—hidden, waiting to be uncovered.

  Lessons from his youth flashed across his mind. Books read and lectures endured, studying under the tutelage of some of the greatest minds in the kingdom.

  Elementals… what do I know about them?

  They were similar to Spirits, following their own rules, and considering them from the viewpoint of humanity wasn’t going to cut it.

  Rowan needed to switch his thinking.

  They’re made up of mana. Intent given form, he thought. Yelling at a storm isn’t going to change its course.

  An idea popped into his head. It was reckless. Possibly suicidal. But with nothing left to lose, Rowan fully stepped out of the cavern.

  Rain pelted him, the wind tried to sweep him away, and the thunder threatened to blind him, but still he pressed forward.

  Slowly, he knelt on the muddy ground, his arms folded in his lap.

  A small [Gust] flared to life in the palm of his hand, growing stronger as it tried to push away the gale-force winds blowing around him. It barely helped, but Rowan wasn’t discouraged.

  The spell wasn’t meant to act as a shield—that was an effort doomed to fail against the Elemental’s raw might—instead, Rowan took a different approach.

  Diplomacy.

  The Spirits that hounded them throughout the last week hadn’t all been hostile. Some were just curious, and Rowan’s only chance of making it out alive was if this creature was the same.

  Eyes tightly shut, he ignored the static build-up in the air and the biting cold that gnawed at his skin. Rowan’s entire focus was on keeping the [Gust] blowing, trying to imbue his Intent with a sense of calm and tranquility. He had no way of knowing if his gamble would work, but if it didn’t, he doubted he’d have time to regret it.

  The sharp metallic scent of ozone reached his nose as the air crackled with static.

  The elemental stopped right over the ledge, its massive form towering over Rowan. Blue arcs of lightning flared in its chest, illuminating the air with an eerie, strobe-like glow.

  Rowan exhaled slowly, grounding himself against the mounting pressure. Then, he opened his eyes, meeting the Elemental's gaze.