The entity's voice, patient and measured, broke through his reverie. "Your core has grown familiar with your dark affinity. You have made progress that even you scarcely believed possible. Now, try the shadow step once more—see if the darkness flows with you effortlessly."
Kieran hesitated, the temptation tugging at him, yet the memory of past failures warned him not to rush. 'Not yet,' he murmured, deciding that the achievement must be his alone, untainted by the entity's power. With a steadying breath, he rose from his bed and walked to the exact spot where he had performed his previous shadow step. This time, he approached the task with a quiet, measured focus, determined to rely solely on his own skill and will.
