Episode 14 — Shadows and Coffins
Clover paused at the edge of the wrought-iron gate, staring up at Ryker's house. The place looked… normal enough from the outside, yet the faint flicker of strange lights from the windows hinted at the chaos within.
Aurora hovered near his shoulder, her light flickering playfully. "You do realize that entering this place without permission is technically illegal, right? Trespassing into a hero legend's private crypt I mean, house.
Clover scowled, gripping Aetherfang. "Yeah, yeah. But he said he'd go into a deep sleep. Who's going to stop me? You? Me? Oh, I'm just here to make sure you don't trip over a trap that will turn your legs into… soup," Aurora said, her tone teasing yet sharp.
Nyx padded silently behind them, ears flicking nervously. Clover raised an eyebrow. Nyx's tail twitched, and the lynx held up a paw like a stop sign, then pointed toward the front door—clearly warning something. Clover squinted. Funny… but informative.
He shook his head. "Yeah, thanks, I think…
Aurora chuckled. "You'll see soon enough. That's not even the scary part.
The front door creaked as they slipped inside. Shadows stretched along the walls, twisting unnaturally in the dim lamplight. The house smelled faintly of old wood, herbs, and something metallic.Nyx suddenly froze and tapped her paw against the floor, then drew a jagged zigzag in the air, clearly signaling danger. Clover followed her gaze—and froze.There it was: Ryker. Or rather, the top half of him. The rest was buried in a large, ominous coffin in the center of the room. Only his face and hands protruded, peaceful yet… vaguely intimidating. Even in deep sleep, Ryker exuded authority.
Clover gulped. "Uh… she didn't mention he sleeps in a… coffin."
Aurora floated closer, giggling. "Did you expect him to nap like a normal human? No. The man sleeps like a king, and he commands even his own coffin. Look at that serenity."
Nyx, clearly unsettled, tapped the coffin with a paw, then pointed at Clover as if saying, Careful, human. Don't do anything stupid.
Yeah, I see it," Clover muttered, inching past with a mixture of awe and caution. "Funny… and creepy… all at once."
Aurora zipped around him, scanning the room. "Traps? Please. They're basically decorative here. A beginner like you would trip over his entire collection of magical… wait, we don't call it magic anymore. Essentia traps. Anyway, I can bypass them without breaking a sweat."
Clover blinked, eyes wide. "Seriously? You're that good?"
Aurora grinned, floating through a web of subtle energy threads that shimmered faintly in the lamplight. "Watch and learn, Clover. Don't worry, Nyx—this is part of the fun."
Nyx, unimpressed, swished her tail and sketched a small exclamation mark in the air, clearly signaling I'm judging you, human.
Clover sighed. "I already feel judged by a cat, a floating sword, and a sleeping coffin-man. Perfect."
They made their way deeper into the house, Aurora flipping open hidden panels and skimming over runes in the walls. Clover followed cautiously, trying not to trip over his own feet. Nyx continued signaling with her paws—zigzags, arrows, and even a paw raised like a tiny facepalm—but Clover ignored most of it, assuming the lynx was just being dramatic.
At last, they arrived at a massive steel door in the basement, etched with strange Essentia runes. Aurora hovered in front of it. "Here it is. The chamber where time… bends. Step carefully, Clover."
Clover swallowed. "Yeah, I was hoping for a normal gym or something. Instead, we get time-warping chambers beneath my mentor's coffin.
Aurora tilted her head. "Trust me, you'll survive. Probably. Maybe."
Nyx tapped the floor with her paw twice, then drew a spiral in the air—clearly saying, Prepare yourself, this is going to be wild.
Clover muttered under his breath, gripping Aetherfang. "Great. Wild. Just what I needed before my first real training."
From the coffin, Ryker let out a deep, rumbling snore, shaking the floor slightly. The sound was so… ominous that Clover flinched. Aurora giggled. "See? Even sleeping, he dominates the room. Classic Ryker.
Clover rubbed his eyes. "I swear… every day gets weirder."
Aurora zipped toward the door, hovering with her usual confidence. "After you, hero-in-training. But don't die before I show you the fun part."
Nyx gave one last warning paw, pointing straight at Clover's chest—don't mess up—before turning and curling at the side of the chamber door, ready to watch and maybe judge silently.
Clover took a deep breath. "Okay… here goes nothing.With a push, the massive door swung open, revealing a glowing, pulsing interior. The air shimmered, the light bending strangely, as if the chamber itself were alive. Clover stepped inside cautiously, Aurora floating beside him, her playful hum echoing softly.
Outside, Ryker's coffin remained still. The room around it quieted. Nyx blinked slowly, tail flicking. Even in his deep sleep, Ryker's presence loomed like a shadow, both comforting and terrifying.
Clover exhaled sharply. "This is… insane.
Aurora's light danced along the walls. "Welcome to the real training, Clover. Buckle up."
The chamber hummed, time beginning to stretch and compress around him. The adventure, the danger, and the Essentia mastery—all waiting inside.
And Nyx? The lynx sat calmly by the door, giving a tiny, unimpressed paw-sign: Good luck, human.
Clover couldn't help but groan. "Thanks… I think.
Clover stepped fully inside, and the door swung shut behind him with a gentle thud. The chamber hummed, a soft vibration coursing through the air, as if the walls themselves were breathing. Light bent in strange angles, shifting colors like water catching the sun—lavender, gold, and soft blue streaks blending seamlessly.Aurora floated ahead, her glow reflecting off the swirling surfaces. "Welcome to the chamber where time isn't exactly… conventional," she said, voice playful. "One hour here, a few minutes outside. Fun, huh?
Clover blinked. "I… don't think I've ever had fun measured in weird fractions of time.
Nyx, curled on a floating platform near the chamber wall, gave a lazy stretch. Her tail flicked, forming what Clover swore looked like a thumbs-up in midair—a silent sign: You're going to regret this.
Aurora zipped around him, flickering like a living spark. "Alright, first lesson: let's start simple. Enhancer Essentia. That's your raw power—speed, reflexes, strength, endurance. Think of it as… cranking yourself up to eleven without breaking yourself."
Clover adjusted his stance, gripping Aetherfang. "Okay… cranking up to eleven. Got it."
Aurora chuckled. "Exactly. Now, don't panic. Just focus on feeling your own pulse, your energy… your core. The chamber will react. Watch.
With a playful flick, she waved her hand at the air. The swirling colors around Clover bent closer, almost like the chamber itself was watching. He felt his heartbeat echo in the room, then his muscles tingle, limbs lighter, faster. His first jump, clumsy at first, suddenly carried him farther than he expected. He landed softly, grinning despite himself.
Nyx tapped the floor with her paw, then traced a spiral in the air. Clover laughed nervously. Yes, yes… impressed cat. Got it.
Aurora zipped above, creating shimmering clones of Aetherfang in the air. "Next: Conjurer/Creator Essentia. You can manifest constructs, tools, anything really. Let's start small."
Clover focused, and the hilt of Aetherfang pulsed with a faint glow. A sliver of energy flickered outward, forming a delicate blade of light alongside his sword. Aurora clapped her glowing hands. "Yes! Look at that! Beautiful, isn't it?
He blinked. "I… made a floating sword? That's… actually kind of awesome."
Aurora's light shimmered mischievously. "See? Told you it'd be fun. But don't get cocky. Specialist Essentia comes next. Unique abilities, bending the rules just a bit. Think outside the box, Clover. The chamber will reward creativity."
Clover hesitated. "Outside the box? You mean… reality?"
Aurora winked. "Exactly. But don't break the walls. Literally."
Nyx, perched silently, gave a slow, deliberate paw point toward Clover, then curled her tail into a question mark. Clover grinned. Yep, cat agrees: don't destroy the house. Got it.
As he practiced, the chamber seemed to hum with approval, the lights pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Every jump, swing, and spark of Essentia made the space shimmer and swirl around him, reflecting his growing connection with his own powers. Aurora floated alongside, teasing, laughing, and encouraging, making each attempt feel like both a lesson and a game.
Time warped smoothly, blending speed and quiet serenity. Outside, the city slept, unaware of the tiny hero training beneath their feet, while inside, Clover felt like the center of a glowing, living universe.
And Nyx? The lynx's silent commentary—paw signals, tail twitches, and rolling eyes—kept the room lively, reminding Clover that even in mysterious chambers of power, humor and judgment had a place.
Clover exhaled, chest rising and falling, eyes shining. "This… this is amazing. I feel… alive."
Aurora twirled around him, light sparkling like fireflies. "And we're just getting started, Clover. Welcome to the beginning of everything."