Cosmic Balance: Aether's Awakening

The earth beneath us quaked. A powerful wind roared to life, lifting debris into the air and sending it hurtling toward the Sentinels, forcing them to retreat. But even as I summoned the power, there was a part of me that recoiled at the devastation I was capable of. Edith's golden heart, her desire to protect, mingled with my fear, creating a strange balance. I wasn't just attacking-I was trying to survive.
The Sentinels, now retreating into the shadows, exchanged wary glances. One of them, the leader, gave a sharp signal, and they melted into the darkness, vanishing as swiftly as they had appeared. I stood there, panting, my body trembling with the aftershocks of the power I had unleashed. The storm continued to rage, but the world felt... quieter, as if the chaos within me had calmed-at least for now. "Edith," I whispered, my voice raw. "What did I just do?" Her presence lingered within me, gentle and reassuring. "You did what was necessary to survive. And you will continue to do so. Trust yourself, Aether."
For the first time since the Oracle's Eye had chosen me, I felt a flicker of control. Maybe the Champion was destined to rise-but I would rise on my terms, with Edith at my side. And I wouldn't let anyone, not even the Sentinels, dictate my fate.