Chronicles of Destiny

Kaelem sat on the floor in Selkor's room, fixated on his hands as he replayed the events of the dungeon in his mind. The uncontrollable surges of magic, how easy it was to lose control, left him in a pit of anxiety. The thrill of using magic for the first time had been stained by his inability to control it. He knew he needed to do better, but he didn't know how.

A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought.

"Ready to continue?" Selkor asked as he peered into the room, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, radiating reassurance.

"I'm not sure," Kaelem openly admitted. "It feels like when I'm using magic, it has a mind of its own. I don't get how I'm supposed to control it."

Selkor nodded; from his perspective, every mage encountered this hurdle. But Kaelem's circumstances - being thrown into this unknown situation with magic they both knew little about - had exaggerated this stage beyond Selkor's expectations.

"You know, you're not the first mage to feel this way. And you certainly won't be the last," Selkor said, pulling a chair from across the room to sit facing him. "Magic is wild and unruly by nature, but with time and patience, you can learn to master it. Without the natural boundaries, I can't fathom your experience, but we will find a way for you to tether it."

Kaelem let out a defeated sigh, his frustrations obvious. "But how? How am I meant to control something that cannot be controlled? That I can barely feel to begin with?"

Selkor simply smiled, rising to his feet as he walked over to the cabinet in the corner of his room. He waved his hand against it, releasing several seals that revealed themselves in the air and turned like gears. He then opened the door and retrieved an aged metal band with a blue stone embedded in the center. The stone pulsated with a faint blue light, almost like a living heartbeat. Selkor took the bracelet and began whispering an incantation under his breath.

The stone glistened, fading into the air as blue runes began to swirl around it, glowing brighter with each passing second. Kaelem watched in awe as the runes formed an invisible bracer with intricate glowing patterns around it.

"This," Selkor said, holding up the bracer, "is a focus stone designed to help mages channel and stabilize their magic. Once attuned to the wearer, it will amplify your connection to the flow of magic within you and guide the energy through the runes. Wearing this and feeling your magic flow through the runes should give you a better understanding of what you're missing."

Kaelem accepted the bracer as Selkor handed it to him. It was lighter than he expected. The runes seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. "A bracer?"

Selkor nodded and ushered him to try it on. "It's much more versatile than a simple focus stone. The runes help direct your magic, acting as a buffer between your power and your intent. It also serves as a learning device, so you can feel your magic and how it reacts when it's being directed. Try it on."

Kaelem slipped it over his wrist, the cool metal fitting perfectly against his skin. As soon as it was in place, the runes flared with a soft blue light, and he felt a surge of energy flow through his body - controlled and focused, unlike what he had experienced previously.

"Focus on your magic," Selkor advised, stepping back to give him some space. "Let it guide you."

Kaelem nodded, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He imagined the magic within him as a river, but this time, instead of surging uncontrollably or turning into wild rapids, the current felt gentle. It flowed like a stream. The bracer's runes glowed steadily as he channeled the energy, and for the first time, he didn't feel like he was fighting internally with himself.

He extended his hand, and a small orb of light formed above his palm, with three smaller orbs rotating around it. The runes on his forearm pulsed in rhythm with his magic and his heartbeat, stabilizing the flow of his magic as the orb hovered and rotated above his hand.

A smile spread across Kaelem's face; he finally felt like he had achieved something.

Selkor's eyes glistened with approval as he smiled. "Indeed, you did. But remember, true control must come from within. The bracer is just there to help you, not something to depend on."

Kaelem nodded again, still staring at the magic floating above his hand in awe. He released the magic, allowing it to fade into the air. "What happens if I take it off?"

Selkor let out a playful chuckle. "That's the challenge. You can't rely on it forever. We'll use it for now until you get a feel for what it's actually doing, but eventually, you'll need to learn to control your magic without the bracer. Remember, emotions can also affect your power, so you need to learn to harness your feelings to your advantage."

Kaelem continued to inspect the runes before asking, "So, what's next?"

Selkor casually gestured to the door. "We return to the dungeon. Finish what you started."

Kaelem's heart skipped a beat at the thought; he didn't want to lose control again. But he steeled himself and nodded. "Let's do this."

They traveled the same path they had taken before, through the streets of Ashbarrow, out the main gate, and off the beaten track into the woods. Before long, they were approaching the familiar structure of the dungeon, imposing in the evening light as the clawed ruins cast elongated shadows across the ground.

As they approached the gate, Selkor stopped. "This time will be different. With the bracer, you'll have more control. If you can harness your magic properly in a fight, we can look at adding some spells to your repertoire."

Kaelem nodded, gripping his arm tightly as they descended into the depths of the dungeon once more. The familiar stench of decay filled the caverns, and before long, the faint sounds of pattering feet echoed through the halls as they ventured further in.

Before long, they encountered another group of goblins, snarling and foaming at the mouth as they waved the same primitive weapons as before.

"Focus," Selkor said softly from behind, providing Kaelem with the reassurance that he had his back.

Kaelem raised his hand, feeling the familiar surge of energy as the runes on the bracer began to grow brighter. The magic felt stable, flowing smoothly as he channeled it. He felt in control, and it was exhilarating. The goblins charged forward, and Kaelem remained calm, ready to unleash his power.

He unleashed a bolt of magic, striking one of the goblins directly in the chest. The goblin crumpled to the ground, and the magic dissipated without spiraling out of control. A second goblin lunged forward; Kaelem sent another bolt of energy out, guided by his bracer, as it once again made contact before dissipating.

With each bolt, Kaelem felt more confident, more in control. The runes pulsed in sync with him, stabilizing his power. It felt as if the uncontrollable storm inside him had been soothed, directed towards the runes as if releasing steam.

As the last goblin fell, Kaelem lowered his hands and took a moment to catch his breath. Exerting the magic took a toll on his body, but without the magic spiraling out of control, it felt much more efficient than last time.

"Well done, Kaelem. You're learning," Selkor said as he stepped forward, smiling proudly. "We'll continue to push your limits until you instinctively process your magic as the bracer does. The connection will gradually weaken until it's barely guiding you."

Kaelem nodded, his resolve strengthened. He wanted to master his magic completely so that he could do more than fire bolts of energy.