Tides of Dominion

The city of Ardanth was alive with the steady pulse of the evening.

The hum of distant conversations, the clatter of wooden wheels over cobblestones, the occasional burst of laughter from a passing group—it all felt disconnected from what had just happened.

Kaien walked forward, his movements measured, almost too controlled, as if forcing himself to act natural. His breath was steady, but his mind was anything but.

The sensation of the stolen Inner Tide still clung to him.

It wasn't like before.

The first time had been raw, unfiltered—the rush of a new ability forcing its way into his body. Back then, he hadn't known what was happening. It had felt like drinking from a poisoned chalice, uncertain if the power gained was worth the cost.

But this time?

This time, it had felt different.

Cleaner. Easier and familiar.

And that terrified him.

Kaien could feel the energy shifting within him, adjusting. The new Tide Shaper's power he had taken was different from the first. He could already tell that much.

It had its own shape, its own rhythm.

The mercenary's tide he had stolen months ago had been brutal and efficient—focused on raw strength and construct creation, allowing him to shape weapons, shields, and barriers with instinctive ease.

But this one...

It was more refined. Precise.

Even without consciously trying to use it, Kaien could sense its nature, the way it responded differently to his thoughts, his breathing. This man had been a master of his craft.

He had spent years honing his Tide, and now, in mere seconds, that lifetime of mastery had been ripped away and absorbed into Kaien's body.

It felt... wrong.

Yet the Negative Current inside him was silent now. Satisfied.

For how long?

Kaien exhaled slowly, pushing the thought away.

He needed time to process this. He needed to be careful.

For now, he focused on one thing—getting back.

The streets of Ardanth were warmer at night.

During the day, the stone buildings trapped the heat of the sun, but once the evening settled in, that warmth radiated outward, mixing with the scents of food, burning oil, and the sea breeze that drifted through the city.

Kaien walked along a quieter road, avoiding the main plazas where the night market was still bustling with energy.

He didn't want to be around people right now.

His mind was still replaying the moment in the alley. The dagger buried deep in the man's chest. The shadow that had vanished without a trace. The name.

Vael.

Who was Vael?

A rival? A betrayer? A killer?

Whoever they were, they were skilled. The way they had disappeared so effortlessly—it had to be some kind of Tide ability. A Tide Traveler, most likely.

Kaien's grip tightened slightly.

For now, there were too many unknowns.

But one thing was clear—he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Or perhaps... the right place at the wrong time.

Because now, he wasn't just a witness.

He was involved.

By the time Kaien reached the building where he and the others stayed, the city had begun to settle.

The night was deeper now, the streets quieter. Most of the other students had already returned from their free day.

The old teacher had converted this place into a mix of living quarters and a training ground. It wasn't anything grand—just an old, worn-down stone structure with a large open hall that served as a practice area and smaller rooms where they slept.

Kaien entered silently, making his way past the common area where a few of the others were gathered.

He caught a glimpse of Lyra, sitting near a lantern, quietly reading through one of the old books the teacher had given her.

Her eyes flicked up as he passed, and for a moment, she studied him—just a brief glance, but enough to make Kaien wonder if she could tell something was off.

He nodded once, a silent reassurance.

She hesitated before giving a small nod back, returning to her book.

Kaien exhaled as he stepped into his room.

Finally. Alone.

The door shut behind him with a soft thud.

He stood there for a moment, pressing his palms against the wood, his heart still beating too fast.

The weight of what had just happened was only now fully settling in.

He had stolen another Inner Tide.

The Negative Current had won again.

And worst of all—it had felt easier.

Kaien slowly pulled off his cloak, letting it slide off his shoulders. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.

He could still feel it.

The stolen power.

A tide that wasn't his, yet had become his.

How long could he keep doing this before it changed him?

Kaien sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair.

He had always feared that the Negative Current would take over one day—that it would push him past the point of no return.

But now, a far darker thought whispered in the back of his mind.

What if it already had?

What if he was past that point, and he just hadn't realized it yet?

He thought about the man in the alley.

He had hesitated. He had fought against it.

And yet, in the end, he had given in.

Would he hesitate the next time?

Or would it simply become... natural?

The thought made his stomach turn.

Kaien clenched his fists.

No.

He wouldn't let that happen.

This was his power, not the other way around.

He just needed to be stronger.

More controlled.

More aware.

Kaien took a slow, deep breath, steadying himself.

He needed to focus.

Tomorrow, training would resume.

Tomorrow, everything would continue as if nothing had changed.

And no one could ever know.

He would have to carry this secret alone.

For as long as he could.