Tides of Dominion

The week had passed in a slow, quiet rhythm for Kaien.

Each day, he had spent hours in meditation, seated in the shaded corner of the training grounds or within the solitude of his room. His body remained still, but his mind drifted into the depths of his power, searching—for understanding, for control, for the key to the force that lurked within him.

The Negative Current was like a great black tide, swelling in the depths of his being. He could feel it, just beyond reach, waiting. It was no longer thrashing wildly, demanding to be used; it was watching him now, waiting for him to make a move.

And he hadn't. Not yet.

He took breaks when needed—meals were quiet affairs, where he ate in the company of the others but spoke little. He watched them train, their bodies moving through the drills with growing confidence, their Inner Tides responding with greater ease.

Lyra had improved the most—her Healing Tide now worked faster, her hands glowing with warm energy as she sealed wounds in record time. Thorn's Tide Shaper abilities had become sharper, his constructs more refined and stable. Even those with Tide Vortex and Tide Traveler abilities had gained control over their respective forces.

Kaien felt the distance growing.

It wasn't that they treated him differently—but he had kept a secret that none of them had.

And so, when Sunday came, the only day they were free to leave and roam the city, Kaien left on his own.

The Kingdom of Ardanth was alive with its usual Sunday vibrance.

The streets were packed with people moving about their business. Merchants called out from their stalls, selling fresh produce, spices, exotic fabrics, and crafted goods. Children darted through the alleys, laughing and playing games. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread drifted through the air, mingling with the salty breeze from the distant harbor.

Kaien moved through the city with no particular destination.

He passed a group of street performers in one of the main squares, where a Tide Vortex user sent swirling currents of air through floating rings of water, creating dazzling patterns that shimmered in the light.

Further along, he saw a Tide Traveler leap from rooftop to rooftop, vanishing into thin air for brief moments before reappearing farther ahead. The crowd cheered, tossing coins at his feet.

Kaien found himself stopping at a bridge, leaning against the stone railing as he gazed down at the river below. The water flowed gently, reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun.

For a long time, he simply stood there, lost in thought.

He wasn't afraid of his Negative Current—not exactly. It was part of him now, as much as his breath or his blood. But Aedric's words still echoed in his mind.

"You cannot suppress it forever. To control it, you must understand it."

Kaien exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping against the stone railing.

He would need to test it again—eventually. But not today.

For now, he let himself enjoy the calm of the city.

As the sun dipped lower, Kaien decided it was time to return. He turned away from the bridge and began making his way back through the twisting streets of Ardanth.

He took a different route this time, cutting through a quieter part of the city where the crowds thinned, and the streets grew narrower. The stone walls were old here, covered in creeping ivy, and the buildings pressed closer together, casting long shadows across the cobblestone paths.

Then he heard it.

A noise.

It was faint at first—a muffled sound, almost lost beneath the distant chatter of the city. But then it came again. A sharp scuffling, followed by what sounded like a low, pained groan.

Kaien stopped.

His eyes flicked toward a narrow alley just ahead. It was dark, wedged between two buildings, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The air inside seemed colder, the stone walls rough and uneven.

Another sound. A shuffling movement.

Kaien felt his pulse quicken.

His instincts urged him to move along—to ignore it, to pretend he had heard nothing. But his feet had already carried him forward, stopping just at the mouth of the alley.

He peered inside.

Nothing but darkness. The buildings on either side blocked most of the evening light, leaving the passage in shadow.

A breath of wind stirred the dust at his feet.

Then—a whisper.

Low. Urgent. Almost like someone trying to suppress a cry.

Kaien took a step closer.

Another.

He wasn't alone in the alley.

And as he prepared to step inside — A shadow moved.

The air inside the alley was thick with the a metallic scent.

It clung to the damp stone walls, mixing with the distant scent of the city's evening bustle. The alley was narrow, barely wide enough for a cart to pass through and the darkness within seemed deeper than what it should have been.

Kaien's pulse quickened as he stepped inside.

At first he saw nothing, only uneven cobblestones and discarded crates lining the alley's edges. But then, as his eyes adjusted, a shape took form near the ground.

A man, slumped against the cold stone wall.

His clothes were torn and stained with blood, his breathing ragged...a dagger protruded from his chest. It's blade shimmering faintly with Inner Tide essence.

The weapon had been infused with essence, which made it an artifact, but it didn't look like a complete one. It was just a like a disposable weapon.

Kaien instinctively stepped forward, dropping to a knee beside the dying man.

"Hey! Can you hear me?"

The man's head twitched slightly, his glassy eyes struggling to focus. His lips parted, but only a weak, gurgling sound came out. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Kaien tore off a part of his sleeve, pressing it against the man's wound without touching the dagger in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. But deep down, he knew. This man wasn't going to survive.

A movement, a shadow flickered at the far end of the alley.

Kaien's head snapped up.

For a brief second, he saw a figure, cloaked in the darkness. The presence was there, just long enough for him to register it before it vanished. No sound, no footsteps. Just... gone.

Kaien's heart pounded. A tide traveller? A skilled assassin? Whoever they were, they had just killed this man and slipped away like a ghost.

He turned back to the victim.

The man's breathing was growing shallower. His chest barely moved, each intake of air more strained than the last. His eyes, though clouded with pain, locked onto Kaien's with a sudden intensity.

Then, he spoke.

A single, barely audible name.

"Vael..."

Kaien froze.

Vael. The name of his killer? Or someone else? A plea? A warning?

His mind raced, but before he could ask another question – the man's body gave one last shudder and then went still.

Silence.

Kaien swallowed, his hands still pressing uselessly against the wound.

Then, it came.

A pull.

A deep, relentless hunger stirred within him.

The Negative Current, the force buried inside him, awoke.

It had been silent for the last couple days, but still lurking in the back of his mind like a shadow, waiting. Now, it surged up, whispering to him, urging him.

He knew what it wanted.

The man's Inner Tide was fading. The essence that had flowed trough his body, giving him strength, skill and power, was vanishing with his life.

But it didn't have to.

Kaien felt the current inside him tighten, it's presence curling around his chest like unseen chains. It wanted that power. It wanted to steal it.

For a moment, he fought it.

His jaws clenched. His breathing grew uneven. He tried to pull his hands away from the man's body, but they wouldnt move.

As he fought against this instinct he reminded of his new mentor's advice. He shouldn't fight against it, he should accept it.

So, he did.

A shudder run through his body as his Negative Current latched onto the dying man's essence.

This was the second time he stole someone's Inner Tide. The first time it was by an accident, but this time he felt it more clearly.

A rush of energy surged through his veins, cold and burning at the same time. His fingers trembled as the sensation washed over him, like diving into deep, black waters and feeling them consume the man's power.

It didn't last more than 30 seconds, but for Kaien it felt like an eternity.

This feeling was addicting and exciting, like reaching nirvana, yet Kaien knew that this was something very dangerous. He could not afford to let himself lose his mind to this power.

The man's Inner Tide was now his, a Tide Shaper's essence again.

The moment it was done, Kaien staggered back, gasping.

His hands shook as he stared deeply at the lifeless body before him.

The man's body had already lost its natural glow. It's connection to the Inner Tides was completely severed. Kaien had taken everything.

He clutched his chest.

This time... It felt different. More natural, easier.

And that terrified him.

Kaien forced himself to his feet, despite not being the first time seeing death, it still is a gut wrenching sight to be contemplated. He could hear the faint hum of the city beyond the alley.

The laughter, footsteps, the distant sound of life continuing as if nothing had happened.

He had to leave now.

He turned, stepping carefully over the body, his boots leaving faint prints in the pooled blood as he made his way out of the alley.

His heart was still hammering, his mind buzzing with the stolen energy coursing through him.

As he stepped back into the open street, the lights of Ardanth's lanterns illuminated his face. He took a slow breath, forcing himself to calm down, to act normal.

No one had seen.

No one knew.

Yet.

But, someone had killed that man. Someone named Vael.

And now Kaien had taken something from the dead that shouldn't have.