The Search for Strength

Danial sighed deeply as he entered the training hall, the weight of the past few days pressing down on him. His encounter with the Curse King had left him feeling powerless, a sensation he despised. No matter how hard he had fought, he couldn’t even scratch his enemy. The memory of it gnawed at him like a thorn lodged deep in his chest.

The hall was quiet, a peaceful contrast to the storm raging inside him. Soft light illuminated the polished wooden floors, casting long shadows along the walls. Danial made his way to the center, sitting down in a lotus position, closing his eyes as he prepared to meditate. He had to find the gaps in his technique, to understand why he had failed so miserably.

As his breathing steadied, Danial’s mind grew calm, like the surface of a still lake. Slowly, he raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a small flame ignited on the tip of his fingers. He watched it flicker, the warm orange glow casting shadows on his face. The flame expanded into a