Aeren nodded, eager to follow Thalos's instructions. He took a deep breath, his fingers twitching with anticipation as he drew on the magic within him. Thalos had taught him how to control the flow of energy, how to focus his will into a single point.

Aeren raised his hand, his palm open toward the sky. He concentrated, envisioning the ball of flame forming in his grasp, just as Thalos had demonstrated. He could feel the heat beginning to build, the fire stirring within him.

But as he focused more intently, something within Aeren snapped. The magic inside him surged, overwhelming his senses. The fire began to form, but it was no longer the familiar orange hue—it was blue.

Aeren gasped as the swirling flames turned a deep, unnatural shade, glowing brighter and hotter than anything he had seen before. The air around him warped as the fire grew, twisting into a concentrated orb of pure, destructive energy.

Thalos watched in stunned silence, his eyes narrowing as the blue fire continued to swell. "This isn’t normal," he muttered under his breath.

The blue fireball grew larger and more intense, and without warning, Aeren instinctively released it. The force of the blast sent a shockwave through the forest, knocking Aeren off his feet. The fireball shot off into the distance, disappearing into the dark woods, trailing blue light like a comet.

Thalos’s eyes widened in horror as the ball of fire collided with the forest, its explosive impact shaking the very ground beneath them. A deafening boom rang out, followed by a violent rumble. The forest trees trembled and splintered as the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and a blinding flash of light illuminated the sky.

Aeren scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief. The sound of the explosion echoed for miles, and when the dust began to settle, Thalos knew they were witnessing something truly unimaginable.

In the distance, where the fireball had struck, a massive crater now lay in the earth. The edges of the crater were jagged and scorched, blackened by the heat. The size of it was staggering—at least twenty meters wide, enough to obliterate an entire small town with ease.

Thalos’s heart raced. His mind flashed back to the prophecy—the words of the king. "A child born under the shimmering glow of twin moons… if left unchecked, they will bring either salvation… or ruin."

Aeren stood there, staring at the devastation in disbelief. He hadn’t meant for this to happen. It was a fireball, a simple spell—but this? This was far beyond anything he had intended.

Thalos finally spoke, his voice low and gravely serious. "Do you see now, Aeren? Do you understand the kind of power you hold?"

Aeren nodded, swallowing hard, his gaze still fixed on the massive crater. He didn’t know what to feel—fear, awe, or something else entirely.

Thalos took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. "This is only the beginning. You’ve tapped into something beyond any mage I’ve known. But you must learn control. Without it, this power will consume you."

Aeren turned to Thalos, determination now in his eyes. "I’ll learn. I’ll control it."

Thalos nodded slowly, his gaze softening just slightly. "Then we will begin again, Aeren. But this time, we’ll start with mastering the most dangerous weapon you’ll ever wield—your own mind."

Thalos and Aeren made their way toward the massive crater, the ground beneath them still trembling from the explosion. Each step they took seemed to reverberate with the weight of what had just transpired. Aeren walked ahead, his eyes fixed on the destruction he had inadvertently caused. He couldn’t quite grasp the scale of the devastation—he had simply tried to cast a spell, but what had he done?

The air around the crater was thick with heat, and the smell of burned earth and charred wood lingered in the air. As they approached the edge, Thalos stopped, his usual calm demeanor nowhere to be found. His face was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the massive hole in the ground. The shock of what he had witnessed was still settling in, but it didn’t stop the unspoken concern from flooding his mind.

He hadn’t realized just how powerful Aeren was, how far beyond the expectations he had for a child of his age. Thalos had trained many over the years, but never had he encountered someone with such raw, uncontained power. The sheer size of the crater, the depth of the destruction—it was unlike anything he had seen before.

Aeren stood silently beside Thalos, the weight of his power pressing down on him. His hand trembled slightly as he reached out, his fingers brushing the scorched earth near the edge of the crater. The magnitude of his own abilities seemed unreal, yet he knew this was only a fraction of what was to come. His heart pounded in his chest.

"I didn’t mean to..." Aeren murmured, his voice barely audible.

Thalos remained still for a moment before finally speaking, his voice low and steady. "No, you didn’t mean to, but it happened. That’s the truth of magic, Aeren. It’s as unpredictable as it is powerful. And right now, it’s more than you can control."

Aeren turned to face him, confusion and fear in his eyes. "What does this mean? Is it too much for me?"

Thalos glanced down at him, his expression softening for the first time since the explosion. "No," he said firmly. "It means you’re not like others. You have a gift, Aeren, one that cannot be ignored. But with great power comes great responsibility. That’s why you must learn to control it."

He paused, his gaze returning to the crater, and for a moment, Aeren could see a flicker of something in Thalos’s eyes—something that resembled concern, perhaps even fear. "You’re not like anyone I’ve trained before. I’ve seen powerful mages, warriors, but none who can create destruction like this at will. You have the potential to shape the world, Aeren, but you also have the potential to break it."

Aeren’s mind raced as he tried to process Thalos’s words. It was both an honor and a curse to be in such a position. He could do so much, but what if he lost control? What if this power consumed him?

"I won’t let it control me," Aeren said, more to himself than to Thalos. "I’ll master it. I swear I will."

Thalos studied him for a moment, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of caution and respect. "You’re strong, Aeren. But strength alone will not protect you. Control, patience, and wisdom—those are the tools you need. Without them, this world could burn at your feet."

Aeren nodded slowly, determination settling in his chest. He didn’t know how long it would take, or what he would face along the way, but one thing was certain: he wasn’t going to let this power defeat him. He would learn. He would grow.

Thalos turned and began walking away from the crater. "Let’s return to camp," he said, his tone now more practical. "There’s much more to teach you, and you need rest. We’ll begin again tomorrow."

Aeren followed, his mind still racing, but the uncertainty in his heart slowly began to fade. As long as Thalos believed in him, maybe—just maybe—he could do this. The crater was a stark reminder of the dangers that lay ahead, but it was also the first step on a journey that would shape his destiny.

As they walked back toward their camp, the forest seemed eerily quiet, as if the trees themselves were still recovering from the force of Aeren’s magic. Thalos’s words echoed in his mind—he could shape the world, but only if he learned to control the power within him.

The journey ahead would be long, but Aeren was ready to face whatever challenges lay in his path. After all, he was no longer just a child lost in the forest. He was someone destined to change the world.