The morning began differently that day.
There was no shouting from Kael.
No iron chains thrown across the sand.
No wooden sword flying toward Thalren's face.
Instead, when Thalren stepped outside the cabin, Kael was already sitting on a flat rock near the shore.
He was simply watching the waves.
Thalren walked over cautiously.
"Are we not training today?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
The old man picked up a small stone and tossed it into the water.
Ripples spread outward across the surface.
"Tell me what you see."
Thalren frowned.
"Ripples."
Kael nodded.
"And why did they appear?"
"Because you threw the stone."
Kael pointed toward the water again.
"And if I didn't throw it?"
"The water would stay calm."
Kael finally looked at him.
"Exactly."
Thalren crossed his arms.
"I don't understand what this has to do with training."
Kael stood up slowly.
"It has everything to do with it."
He stepped closer to the shoreline.
"Your mind right now is like this water after the stone falls."
Thalren tilted his head.
"Disturbed?"
"Exactly," Kael replied.
"Every time you try to force the relic's power, you create waves inside yourself."
The boy looked down at the crystal necklace.
"So the power becomes unstable."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
He pointed toward the calm sea again.
"But the deeper the water becomes…"
"The calmer it gets."
Thalren remembered the same words Kael had said the previous day.
The deeper parts are calm.
"So I need to be like that?" he asked.
Kael smirked slightly.
"Now you're thinking."
The old man walked toward the water.
"Come with me."
They stepped into the shallow waves.
The water reached their knees before Kael stopped.
"Sit."
Thalren blinked.
"Sit?"
"In the water."
The boy slowly lowered himself until he was sitting in the gentle waves.
Cold water surrounded him.
Kael remained standing.
"Close your eyes."
Thalren obeyed.
For a moment, he only heard the wind and the water.
The waves brushed softly against his body.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Kael's voice became quiet.
"Breathe slowly."
Thalren inhaled.
Then exhaled.
The rhythm of his breathing slowly matched the rhythm of the waves.
The warmth inside the crystal necklace appeared again.
But this time, it didn't surge violently.
It was calm.
Gentle.
Almost peaceful.
"Do you feel it?" Kael asked.
Thalren nodded without opening his eyes.
"Yes."
"Good."
The old man continued.
"Don't chase the power."
"Let it come to you."
Thalren focused on the warmth.
The crystal began to glow faintly.
The water around him moved slightly.
Not violently like before.
Just small ripples.
The waves seemed to respond to his breathing.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Thalren slowly opened his eyes.
The water around him was moving in a slow circle.
But it was stable.
Controlled.
Kael watched quietly.
"Well done."
Thalren looked surprised.
"I didn't even swing my sword."
Kael smiled faintly.
"That means you're starting to understand."
The boy looked down at the glowing crystal.
"So the power doesn't only come from fighting."
"Correct," Kael replied.
"It comes from connection."
The water slowly returned to normal as the glow faded.
Thalren stood up again.
"That felt different."
Kael nodded.
"Because for the first time…"
"You didn't try to dominate the power."
Thalren thought about that for a moment.
"So controlling it is more like… cooperating with it?"
Kael laughed.
"That's the closest answer you've given so far."
The two returned to the beach.
The sun had begun climbing higher into the sky.
Kael picked up the wooden sword and tossed it to Thalren.
"Now let's see if you can keep that calm mind while fighting."
Thalren caught the sword.
"I'll try."
They began sparring again.
This time something had changed.
Thalren's movements were slower at first.
But they were more precise.
More controlled.
When he swung the blade, the crystal glowed again.
A thin stream of water followed the strike.
Kael blocked the attack, but his eyes narrowed with interest.
"You're improving faster than I expected."
Thalren swung again.
Another ribbon of water followed the blade.
The splash was stronger than before.
The boy smiled slightly.
"This is actually working."
Kael stepped back and lowered his weapon.
"Yes."
"But remember something."
Thalren paused.
"What?"
Kael pointed toward the endless horizon.
"The power you're touching now…"
"…is only a tiny fraction of what exists in the depths."
The wind grew slightly stronger.
The waves rolled steadily against the shore.
Thalren looked out toward the distant water.
Far beyond the island.
Somewhere out there were creatures larger than ships.
Sea Kings that ruled the deep.
And something even greater than them.
But instead of fear, Thalren felt determination rising inside him.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"Then I'll keep going."
Kael watched him quietly.
The boy still had a long path ahead.
But the first real step had finally begun.
And deep beneath the endless waters…
Something ancient continued to observe his progress.